Pre-Trip I Ordered a Tomboy but Got a Disney Princess Instead...

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[DryerLintFan]

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[DryerLintFan]

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[gdisneyfans]

Looks good! A great mix of park time, nap time, pool time and of course food time

 

[12in12]

Sounds like a perfect first trip with a little one!

 

[MinnieM123]

After a week of quality time with the MDE app and TouringPlans reservation finder, we have our dining (and thus, our itinerary) locked down:

Dec 24 - Arrival day

• Explore the resort/pool. Dinner at the resort food court.

Dec 25 - Christmas Day at MK

• Rope Drop MK and tackle Fantasyland
• Breakfast at Be Our Guest
  
• Leave MK before noon to hoof it back to the resort for naptime
• Disney Springs for dinner and shopping and Christmas fun

Dec 26 - Epcot

• If we get the FP+ we want, we don't have to be at the park until 9ish
• Eat around the World Showcase at lunchtime
• Back to the resort for naptime
• Explore the resort/pool. Dinner at the resort food court.

Dec 27 - Evening at Magic Kingdom

• Wake up whenever. If the weather is nice we'll hit the pool. If it's too cold we'll resort hop, or play mini golf, or hit DS again for some souvenirs
• Cinderella's Royal Table for an earlyish dinner
• Go on a couple rides in Adventureland with FP+ and then take the Moving Park Bench from Frontierland to Tomorrowland
• Make our way to the Fireworks Dessert Party (garden plaza) and enjoy festivities along the way. Stuff ourselves with sugary goodness, watch some fireworks, then head out.

Dec 28 - Go home, unpack and do laundry

Thoughts?

I really like how you added in space to breathe on your trip. Some people plan every minute, and then go nutty when something doesn't fall exactly into place. I'd say your plans are just about right!!

 

[DryerLintFan]

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[DryerLintFan]

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[amjt660]

Hopefully she goes though a growth spurt!!

Not to be a doubting Thomas but I am not a huge fan of your plan

We have done Christmas Day twice now and avoided MK on that day
We found Epcot was manageable

I would suggest you switch the two days if you can

MK crowds are insane on Christmas Day

I know you already have your ADRs so this is probably not what you want to hear

But I would rather give it to you straight themjust say "plans look great" and know what you are getting into

To be there for rope drop you will have to show up at least 2 hours before the park opens

Just my two cents

Max

 

[DryerLintFan]

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[amjt660]

I did consider Epcot for Christmas day because the Christmas around the world seemed like it would be pretty neat to experience in Christmas morning. I'll see if I can get the same reservations for the second day to keep our options open until our FP+ window opens up.

I had posted a thread asking which Park was best a few weeks ago and the response was that as long as we were there for rope drop and left by noon we should miss the bulk of the crowd on Christmas day. Half the answers were "neither" though, but that's not an option with my stubborn husband who insisted on this time frame

Please understand that I am only trying to help based on my experience

If you get a chance search up Christmas Day line up pics at MK
The parking lot backs up pretty good, not sure how early the buses run from AOA

Max

 

[DryerLintFan]

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[DryerLintFan]

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[Zipadeelady]

Doesn't this look MAGICAL though?!

Everyone looks so happy to be at the most magical place on earth!!

Your plans do look good, especially plans that include a toddler, not too much not too little. Going to MK on Christmas sounds wonderful to me but I'm sure @amjt660 is right. I guess I would try to switch ADR's with Epcot day but if you can't..... You're Spending Christmas Day at MK!!! And you're being realistic, you know that the crowds will be crazy. It's the people that go with no clue that end up having a horrible time.

I can't wait to hear about your trip when you get back!

 

[bee]

Doesn't this look MAGICAL though?!

FYI (you may already know) the middle two photos are Disneyland, not MK (though I'm sure you can find similar photos of MK!). I can't tell for sure where the other two are. Looking forward to your TR! It's amazing to me how everyone makes their own experience of holiday crowds. You may love it or you may say, "Never again!" Or maybe a little of both.

 

[DryerLintFan]

FYI (you may already know) the middle two photos are Disneyland, not MK (though I'm sure you can find similar photos of MK!). I can't tell for sure where the other two are. Looking forward to your TR! It's amazing to me how everyone makes their own experience of holiday crowds. You may love it or you may say, "Never again!" Or maybe a little of both.

My money is on "it would be fun to go again but NEVER AGAIN at Christmas"

 

[DryerLintFan]

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[12in12]

Your daughter is adorable in her Rapunzel dress!
I think by being on this board and doing all this research, you are as prepared as you can be for Christmas at WDW. I am lucky because my work allows me to take time off during quieter times at WDW so I have never been during high crowd levels and after seeing the pictures you posted I don't think I want to.

 

[DryerLintFan]

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[amjt660]

Did I mention that I ordered a tomboy?

View attachment 214373

If you'd have told me a few years ago that I'd wake up early on a Saturday morning to Craigslist a pint sized Disney princess dress I'd have thought you were crazy but that's how I spent my morning

We do some crazy things for our kids because, well, because their our kids!!!

Max

 

[amjt660]

Thank you!

I get a healthy amount of vacation time from work that I can take whenever, but because I have a two year old germ bucket, most of my vacation days are used taking her to the doctor, staying home with her when she's sick, or staying home when she makes ME sick, or going on adventures when her school is closed on an administrative day. I'm really looking forward to the days when my vacation time can be spent on actual vacations again, LOL. I hear this gets easier around the time they go to Kindergarten.

Her school closes from Christmas to New Years so they can get in there and repaint the walls and do any updates and renovations they need to. Since I already have to take time off for that, might as well use it for something magical

The regular vacation time will come as she gets older
We held off on Disney with our two until they were 5 and 6.5
I personally did not want to deal with strollers/diapers et all at Disney.

Christmas time at Disney is magical but it is very different than other times of the year.
You just need reasonable expectations and know when to leave the parks when it gets too crazy.
I have faith in you.

One bit of parenting advice that I do have (if you want it)

"As they grow up it does not get easier - it just gets different "

Max