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Hi there!
We're going in December and I think I've got our itinerary down. Now I'd really like opinions, especially from those of you with children! I (Stephanie, 32) will be going with Keven (DH, 36) and Valerie (DD, almost 6 when we go).
Here's the plan...
Sat. 12/18
*arrive MCO 5:50am, pick up rental car and find our way to WDW!
*do paperwork for check-in at POR, pick up a Pal Mickey and head over to MGM for the day (EMH today)
*lunch at Sci-Fi - Keven's a BIG Sci-Fi fan and loved this place when we visited in 1996
*back to hotel around 3 pm to pick up key
*make it an early night (we just took the red-eye )
grab dinner at hotel's counter service or pizza there
Sun 12/19
*off to Animal Kingdom (this is a new one for us, as it wasn't here in 1996!)
*lunch at either Pizzafari or Restaurantosaurus (DH and DD not too adventerous when it comes to new cuisine)
*rest back at POR for a few hours
*we're off to Epcot and WS for an evening of wandering! I love this place!!
*dinner somewhere in WS - counter service
*stay for Illuminations if we can make it
Mon 12/20
*MK here we come!!
*hit the Fantasyland rides FIRST (we learned the hard way on this one at DLAnd one year!)
*lunch at Pinocchio, Cosmic Ray or Pecos Bill (depending where we are at lunchtime)
*rest at hotel for a while during the afternoon rush
*back to MK for dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern
*stay for Spectromagic and Wishes (does anyone know if it will be Wishes at Christmas time or another show?)
Tues 12/21
*sleep in today (DH is looking forward to this day!)
*head over to Downtown Disney to wander and shop!
*lunch at either Earl's or McD's
*now it's time to go to MGM
*Fantasmic dinner pkg at H&V
*do rides and shows we missed before, including Osborne lights!
Wed 12/22
*EMH at Epcot today - trying to take advantage of Future World rides
*lunch & dinner somewhere in WS (I love the patios and counter services here!)
*spend whole day in Epcot until we crash
Thur 12/23
*EMH at MK to do the Fantasyland rides again and anything we missed before
*stay until just after lunch - Pinocchio, Cosmic Ray or Pecos
*rest at hotel for a while
*Downtown Disney - explore Disney Quest (DH and DD are big video gamers)
*dinner at Disney Quest, Earl's or McD's
*shop if we're up to it, otherwise go back and crash
Fri 12/24
*PSB at Epcot today
*spend time wandering Epcot again today until we're done or tired, whichever comes first!
*evening open if we leave early, otherwise dinner at WS counter service
*need to go to sleep at a reasonable hour - Santa's coming!!
Sat 12/25
*open presents!!
*breakfast at Riverside Mill (POR's counter service)
*Animal Kingdom today
*dinner at 1900 Park Fare (anyone ever eaten here for Christmas dinner? - is it still the buffet?)
Sun 12/26
*pack up, check out, and get ready to go
*flight home is at 12:30pm
Wow! The red-eye from California AND early entry at MGM!
When you check into POR you'll be given your room key. While it won't work until your room is ready, it saves you from having to stop back in the afternoon. They'll give you a card with a phone number to call (and they may even tell you what your room number is) - simply call the number later in the day and ask if your room is available.
The fireworks will be Wishes, even during MVMCP.
Have fun and enjoy Christmas in the World - it's fabulous!
Yes, the red-eye and EMH at MGM, if we get there in time! That might make up for us crashing early that night! Oh man, I forgot about MVMCP! Isn't that during the day? I was hoping to skip the daytime parade and do rides instead. If it's MVMCP we'll need to see it! So we could possibly see MVMCP, Spectromagic and Wishes in one day?! We will need to sleep in the next morning!
Stephanie
Hi! It sounds like a wonderful adventure! We have gone every year the first week of December, with 4 children! Westarted when they were TINY (weeks old), so we have been for many years! My advice is to just remember that that is the busiest time, with the exception of July 4th, at WDW. It looks like you have built in plenty of down time, just be aware that you may only see about a third of what you actually plan, depending on crowds. Make sure you all have a family code, so if you somehow look up and DH is gone, you will know what to do! I am a native S. Californian, and I grew up with DL! WDW is HUGE compared to that! When you do the Osborne lights, aim to be towards the back of the teeming mob. We have found that being in the front guarantees getting shoved and pushed much faster than children want to go, and denies you any opportunity for photos, as there are just too many people to stand and focus. Also, you can't see both sides, and you miss things. When you eat at the Sci-Fi Diner, order your daughter a child's menu item. They come on glow in the dark frisbees, which we still use all the time at my house! Please send me a private message if I can help you at all! We will be there from December 3 - 12, so I could let you know when we come home how it was! Take care, and have fun counting down!
Looks like a great plan Stephanie I love how you've built in some downtime most days, and have a few days with shopping or sleeping in late
I did check on 1900 Park Fare, and it states that in Christmas 2003, the menu was the same buffet as usual, so not sure if that will hold out for this year or not.
As long as you are prepared for the crowds, I think you're all set
Thanks for all the QUICK input! In 1996 Keven and I did what we wanted to do on 4 quiet days at WDW, so I'm hoping that on 8 busy days we'll be able to see most of what we want.
Stephanie
Looks great!
According to allearsnet.com, the last day for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is Dec 17th
On the other hand, may want to consider doing the Candlelight Processional one night at Epcot since it looks like you have 3 nights planned there.
Enjoy your trip, sounds like it will be wonderful
Since your daughter is just 6, I think you may be pushing it with your first-day schedule. I know my daughters did not sleep well on the plane, plus they were excited and didn't sleep well the night before . . . so they had no energy to do much of anything the first day, and they were very cranky!
Other than that, your schedule looks great. I'll be arriving Dec 18, too. Have a wonderful trip!
Another quick hint - be sure to bring a stroller for your daughter, or at least rent one in the parks, especially for that first day - at almost 6, my daughter hadn't used a stroller in years, but at WDW - she begged me to rent one, and when we did - took several quick snoozes in it!
Thanks for the stroller tip! I'm definetely going to rent them in the late afternoons and evenings there. Not sure we want to take ours, as it'll be one more thing to bring on the plane. But then again DD can sit in it while we haul things in and out of the airport!!
Stephanie
I would definitely factor in the Candlelight Processional, as it's well worth seeing. We always enjoy the dining package that goes with it, as it means we can enjoy dinner at a World Showcase restaurant and pay for it upfront.
Question on the Candlelight Processional...
Isn't it the telling of the story of Jesus? DH is Jewish, and while I was raised in church my beliefs as an adult are more Jewish than Christian. We celebrate Christmas, but more as a time of love and togetherness that the story of Jesus's birth. The candles and music sound lovely, but not sure of listening to the story.
Thanks for the info!
Stephanie
[ QUOTE ]
Question on the Candlelight Processional...
Isn't it the telling of the story of Jesus? DH is Jewish, and while I was raised in church my beliefs as an adult are more Jewish than Christian. We celebrate Christmas, but more as a time of love and togetherness that the story of Jesus's birth. The candles and music sound lovely, but not sure of listening to the story.
[/ QUOTE ]
Neither DH nor I are religious at all, but we love the Candlelight Processional. The story is told by a guest narrator in about 30 second - minute long chunks in between the songs and I find the music wonderful to listen to. I love watching everyone enjoying themselves as well. On the first year we went, Gary Sinise (our guest narrator) was moved to tears and it was just an amazing experience.
Thanks Cheryl! We love Gary Sinise! It does sound really pretty. Does it take place only in one location at WS? I got the impression that after the "show" they moved around the park.
Stephanie
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I love how you've built in some downtime most days, and have a few days with shopping or sleeping in late 
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