Pre-Trip Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays - December 2024

Hellooooo Humans!

Our clan is headed back to WDW in less than four weeks! Between work stress, daylight savings sleep deprivation, and election anxiety in the US, I could really use a pick-me-up, so let’s get this Pre-Trip report started!

Who: Me (Katie), my husband Jason, and our 3-year-old son, Lincoln.

When: Sunday, December 1st - Saturday, December 7th

Where: Pop Century! We initially wanted Caribbean Beach, but it wasn’t available with the bounceback offer we received on our last trip. So, we decided on Pop - we love the refurbished rooms, the theming is fun for Lincoln, and it’s still on the Skyliner route.

We’ll have to re-create this picture from 2021!

Why: We go to Disney the week after Thanksgiving every year- you get the full holiday experience without the insane crowds that descend on the parks closer to Christmas.

I look forward to sharing our trip with everyone!

 

[TheMouseFan]

Lightning Lanes are booked! I chose not to purchase LLMP for AK - the only rides we would “need” it for would be Na’Vi River Journey and Kilimanjaro Safaris. We’ll rope-drop Na’Vi during early entry, and hit up Kilimanjaro at official park opening (it doesn’t open during early entry). As for the other parks…

Magic Kingdom:
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (Single Pass)
- Haunted Mansion
- Pirates
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (!)

Hollywood Studios:
- Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
- Toy Story Mania
- Tower of Terror

Epcot:
- Frozen Ever After
- Spaceship Earth
- GOTG Cosmic Rewind (Single Pass)

Living With the Land was oddly unavailable? That was the only other Tier Two we would consider booking.

I just read in one of my Facebook groups that it will possibly become available on Friday when the name officially changes to Glimmering Greenhouses, so keep checking!

 

[k8einwdw]

I thought the same thing. I checked different days numerous times and decided it was one of two things -
1. Disney is not issuing LL for LWTL as a pre-book

Or

2. Thanks to the internet, all LLs are gone because the holiday overlay is a “must see!”

I fear it is #2.

Oh I hope it’s not #2, but I wouldn’t be surprised

We have similar plans!

• Sunday, Dec. 1 - arrive, All-Star Sports
• Monday: Animal Kingdom, hop to Epcot for Cosmic virtual queue, maybe watch MK fireworks from Poly beach
• Tuesday: Magic Kingdom, hop to HS
• Wednesday: Hollywood
• Thursday: MVMCP!
• Friday: Animal Kingdom (our #1 ride is Flight, and that evening we “hop” to Universal)

Got all the Lightning Lanes we wanted this morning. Phew!

Enjoying your trip report so far!

Looks like we’ll be at AK and MK on the same days! I’m glad you got everything you wanted!

I just read in one of my Facebook groups that it will possibly become available on Friday when the name officially changes to Glimmering Greenhouses, so keep checking!

I’m wondering if that’s what it is…I’ll keep my fingers crossed!

 

[Tuvalu]

I just read in one of my Facebook groups that it will possibly become available on Friday when the name officially changes to Glimmering Greenhouses, so keep checking!

Today!

 

[k8einwdw]

Today!

View attachment 827490

Booked! Thanks for the tip!

 

[k8einwdw]

Four days until Disney, and 2/3 of us woke up coughing this morning.

 

[TheMouseFan]

View attachment 827940

Four days until Disney, and 2/3 of us woke up coughing this morning.

Of course you did! Hope everyone feels better soon!

 

[mpaulam]

Oh no!! Sending feel better vibes your way!

 

[bwr827]

Feel better soon!

We leave the same day as you, and one of my kids rolled their ankle in gym class yesterday. It’s a sprain, but now I’m just crossing my fingers for rapid healing!

 

[k8einwdw]

Of course you did! Hope everyone feels better soon!

Oh no!! Sending feel better vibes your way!

Thank you both! We’re throwing everything we can at it!

Feel better soon!

We leave the same day as you, and one of my kids rolled their ankle in gym class yesterday. It’s a sprain, but now I’m just crossing my fingers for rapid healing!

Oh no! I hope they recover quickly!

 

[k8einwdw]

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

 

[k8einwdw]

Last year, Lincoln said “soup-case,” instead of suitcase. He says it correctly this year.

 

[LeighM]

We’ll be at MK on Tuesday up until MVMCP!

I’m so sad to see that area go. I’ve never shed tears over a Disney closure before, but this one got me. I hope they find another place for the show, even if it’s just on Disney +. We’ll definitely be visiting Muppet Courtyard one last time.

I hope I get to see you! We're planning on entering the park around 4PM. We have a 1PM lunch ADR at Steakhouse 71 and are just planning to monorail resort hop and check out the lobbies until then. I'll be wearing a candy cane themed Minnie Ears and t-shirt. I'm struggling to figure out what clothes to pack for this trip because of the low nighttime temps. We're trying to pack light with just a personal bag under the seats since our flight is fully booked and I refused to pay $100 extra to get into an earlier boarding group - the upcharges everywhere are becoming ridiculous! And, with that statement, I have now fully turned into my Granddaddy. It started with complaining about the cable bill LOL.

Lightning Lanes are booked! I chose not to purchase LLMP for AK - the only rides we would “need” it for would be Na’Vi River Journey and Kilimanjaro Safaris. We’ll rope-drop Na’Vi during early entry, and hit up Kilimanjaro at official park opening (it doesn’t open during early entry). As for the other parks…

Magic Kingdom:
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (Single Pass)
- Haunted Mansion
- Pirates
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (!)

Hollywood Studios:
- Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
- Toy Story Mania
- Tower of Terror

Epcot:
- Frozen Ever After
- Spaceship Earth
- GOTG Cosmic Rewind (Single Pass)

Living With the Land was oddly unavailable? That was the only other Tier Two we would consider booking.

I broke down this time and got LLMP for Epcot only. It looked like a busy day with Chrissy Metz being that day's CP narrator and Whoopi scheduled for Friday. I watched Mammoth Club and All Ears so I booked a 9AM LL for Living with the Land so that I can then try to get a LL for Frozen. And switch my Nemo LL for Soarin. Fingers crossed it all goes to plan. I thought about doing it for AK, but I paid for ILL for Avatar, much to my stomach's disgust. They changed the park hours since I initially planned everything so now they are opening at 7:30AM for resort guests (and closing at 8PM) and we are planning to get their early and do Navi. Then eat breakfast and try to do the Safari, see a few shows, ride Avatar, then take a midday break, and go back in the evening until closing. So that has totally affected my carefully planned ADRs I don't know whether to cancel my 7PM Boma dinner or early dinner at Sebastians (I have both booked just in case LOL).

I thought the same thing. I checked different days numerous times and decided it was one of two things -
1. Disney is not issuing LL for LWTL as a pre-book

Or

2. Thanks to the internet, all LLs are gone because the holiday overlay is a “must see!”

I fear it is #2.

Will you and your family be there around the same time? I got so far behind in your last trip reports that I don't know when your next trip is planned.

We have similar plans!

• Sunday, Dec. 1 - arrive, All-Star Sports
• Monday: Animal Kingdom, hop to Epcot for Cosmic virtual queue, maybe watch MK fireworks from Poly beach
• Tuesday: Magic Kingdom, hop to HS
• Wednesday: Hollywood
• Thursday: MVMCP!
• Friday: Animal Kingdom (our #1 ride is Flight, and that evening we “hop” to Universal)

Got all the Lightning Lanes we wanted this morning. Phew!

Enjoying your trip report so far!

So we're all going to be at MK on Tuesday? It would be great to meet up for a quick hello! I can enter the park at 4PM but will be in the area after my lunch at the Contemporary.

View attachment 827940

Four days until Disney, and 2/3 of us woke up coughing this morning.

I have to go back and buy more cold/flu meds for the trip. I finished them all this week LOL. But I do have some Prednisone to take with me in case I need it. The lingering cough is the worst!

 

[Swissmiss]

Last year, Lincoln said “soup-case,” instead of suitcase. He says it correctly this year.

That is sad. When my daughter was little there were really only two words she said wrong. She would say "pini" instead of "fini" (French for finished) and "canafé " instead of "canapé (French for sofa). The day she said canapé I went into the office and said to a friend "It’s pini the canafé". She knew exactly what I meant and was sad too.

 

[k8einwdw]

I hope I get to see you! We're planning on entering the park around 4PM.

We should still be there at that time

 

[k8einwdw]

Someone got a fresh new haircut for the trip

Ready to hit the road in just over eight hours!

 

[Swissmiss]

Oh Lincoln just gets cuter and cuter .

Safe travels.

 

[Tiggertoo56]

Safe travels! Lincoln looks so grown up - but still a little cutie pie.

 

[Back!Elbow!Shoulders!]

Last year, Lincoln said “soup-case,” instead of suitcase. He says it correctly this year.

Awww. I feel ya. Our current mispronunced words are “Frap-punzel” and “Bah-nilla”

 

[meggo819]

Awww. I feel ya. Our current mispronunced words are “Frap-punzel” and “Bah-nilla”

Is it wrong that I still haven’t corrected my 7 yr old saying “sgabetti”? She even told my 4 year old recently “it’s not basgetti, it’s sgabetti”

 

[LeighM]

We should still be there at that time

Safe travels! The cold front messed up all my careful packing plans . If I get reception, I'll try to send you a message on here to see where y'all are located.