Possible trip (finally!) in December 2015

[Disney80]

Good afternoon!

We may be (finally!) heading back to the World after a 10-year hiatus for my parents and a 7-year hiatus for me. We are more than overdue.... *LOL*

Few questions.... I know this is far in time but this trip would be also a celebration of my 35th birthday: yay! I may have already convinced my mom to be at MK for my birthday (which is Walt's too!)

Anyways, here goes my list... that I have so far. If I were to be at WDW during the first week of December 2015, give or take a few days. For this example, let's say a stay from Nov. 29 until December 6:

1) Being right after Thanksgiving, I'm guessing crowds would lower, meaning ideal for visiting?

2) If you remember an old thread of mine (maybe, maybe not *lol*), which Value is best? Never been in a Disney hotel, just been with our RV at Fort Wilderness. I am torn between AoA and Pop. But that's just me and based on what I've seen online.

3)
a) Are there any possibility of a promo/deal in that timeframe? (aka free dining).
b) If free dining is offered, what's included?

4) Normally, would it be warm enough to swim in hotel pool during the afternoon. Meaning we'd spend morning in the park, go back to hotel to rest and then go back to park OR stay at hotel until mid-afternoon and head to park until late at night.

5) Haven't been to AK since 2002. Honestly, since the walking surface is not leveled, it is hard for my dad to push me around in wheelchair. Are we missing out on something aside from Everest?

6) Any suggestions to help celebrate my birthday?

7) Has anyone ever attended a tour at WDW. Which one would you recommend and why? (Note that I must move the parks in a wheelchair, long distances are hard for me to handle [the joy of disability!*snort*]

Any other information is appreciated and more than welcomed. I'm sure I'll have other questions as the planning goes along. It is still in the early planning stages... but I am so excited to have something to look forward too... and going back to the World.

 

[sxeensweet]

Tips:

*Yes going after Thanksgiving crowds are a lot lower. Recommend getting there the week after and not the very weekend after Thanksgiving.

*Weather is a big big iffy situation! Lol it has been hot to really cold, to warm and rainy, to perfect in December for us. Lol. So going to the pool all depends.

*Parks close earlier in the evening due to less crowds etc, and because of the Christmas party at MK on certain nights which is a seperate paid event ( really worth it though!!). So going back to the room in the afternoon might not make sense because some places close at 5-8 pm. Epcot is usually always open until 9pm but all the others vary. EMH help them stay open later on some evenings though.

*Recommend highly the "Keys to the Kingdom" tour at MK. We loved it so much we would do the tour again.

*Do not miss these Christmas te activities
1) MK's Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
** (Castle Lights every evening at MK AS WELL)***
2)Osborne Lights at HS (if they are still there in 2015)
3) GINGERBREAD house at The Grand Floridian, Boardwalk, andContemporary displays.
AND MANY MORE! It is absolutely the best time of year to go in my opinion!!!

*Me and DH never miss out in AK! We love the park and would recommend you go but understandable with the situation with your wheelchair etc.

*Yes there is deals at this time every year like free dining, room discounts etc. They will come out around August 2015 but it is highly recommended you book what you want ASAP and if a deal comes out try to switch over to the deal.
TRAVEL AGENTS ARE FREE AND CAN DO ALL OF THIS FOR YOU AND ALSO BOOK ALL DINING AND HAVE YOU LOTS OF GREAT ADVICE AS WELL SINCE IT HAS BEEN SO LONG SINCE YOUR FAMILY HAS GONE. Would be a great help for you!

 

[bee]

I answered the ones I think I'm pretty knowledgeable and left the others for those who have more experience in those particular areas.

1) I second the recommendation to wait until the week after Thanksgiving rather than go the weekend right after. Last year I was in MK on Black Friday and I will NEVER do that again! That said, we went to Epcot around 5 or 6 and it was nearly empty. I'd still wait, though.

2) I personally prefer Pop and it tends to be priced lower than AoA. My GF and I stayed at Pop for her birthday last year and both loved it. We would definitely stay again.

3)
a) Watch for the availability of free dining next year.
b) If free dining is offered you would get the quick service plan with your value resort stay (2 quick service meals and 1 snack per person per night plus one refillable resort mug per person). You could also upgrade to a better plan for a fee.

4) The weather varies wildly during this time of year. It can range from the 40s to the 80s, sometimes on the same day!

6) Get a birthday pin from your resort so all the CMs will wish you a happy birthday! My birthday is also in December and last year my GF and I went to Epcot for Holidays Around the World. The DVC booth we went to was out of Birthday buttons so the CM there made a crown and sash for me out of DVC stickers and I kept getting compliments all night on my princess gear! A CM at one of the Holidays booths asked about it and when I told her it was my birthday she gave me a free gingerbread cookie. If you like dessert and sparkling wine I also recommend the Illuminations Sparkling Dessert Party at Epcot. We went on my GF's birthday and had a fabulous time (and once again the CMs did something special by giving her a special cupcake). You can read my review here.

7) We went on the Epcot Behind the Seeds tour last year. It's much cheaper than most of the tours and only about an hour and a half. We enjoyed it but then, we love just about everything at Epcot (if you couldn't already tell)! I'm not sure how the accommodations would be, though.

You will have an amazing time no matter what you do! Be sure to visit the resorts to see the different Christmas decorations if you like that sort of thing. We always take a trip around the Monorail for GF, Polynesian, and Contemporary.

 

[Disney80]

Thanks to @sxeensweet and @b33b33 for your input, I truly appreciate it. I think Epcot has a lot of potential things to do that I never even thought of...

As for time of year, I'd like to check in on Monday November 30, leaving Saturday, December 6 so that we can go to a park (MK!) on my birthday (December 5). *LOL*

Side note: I wanted to fly into Florida on November 22 (this year in 2014) but the flights were quite expensive! By flying in a week later, the price dropped almost 50%... So, for sure, I would be flying in right after Thanksgiving Thursday) I'd fly in the Saturday after...

Keep the suggestions and input coming. I may reserve the hotel only by the end of the week (which only requires a one-night deposit) and then modify it if a deal or promo code comes along

 

[FrostyNaples]

Thanks to @sxeensweet and @b33b33 for your input, I truly appreciate it. I think Epcot has a lot of potential things to do that I never even thought of...

As for time of year, I'd like to check in on Monday November 30, leaving Saturday, December 6 so that we can go to a park (MK!) on my birthday (December 5). *LOL*

Side note: I wanted to fly into Florida on November 22 (this year in 2014) but the flights were quite expensive! By flying in a week later, the price dropped almost 50%... So, for sure, I would be flying in right after Thanksgiving Thursday) I'd fly in the Saturday after...

Keep the suggestions and input coming. I may reserve the hotel only by the end of the week (which only requires a one-night deposit) and then modify it if a deal or promo code comes along

Flying on the weekends directly on either side of thanksgiving is an enormous expense. More so, the weekend directly after, they gouge all the travelers returning home. Your going to want to plan that one accordingly.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

We're returning to WDW next year also after a 7 year absence !!

We were in The World in December 2008 - arrived Boxing Day and stayed at AKL and GF. While at AKL it was warm enough to swim which we did one day. The weather changed though when we went to GF and the vests went back into the drawers and out came the jumpers. Swimming was a def no no.

Free dining (certainly for UK guests) is only being offered for stays at The Moderate or Deluxe resorts

Animal Kingdom - Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safari, The Lion King Show, Its a Bugs Life

 

[Tink28]

I am going Nov 25th 2015, all booked and yes did get free dining from UK so planning where to eat already lol!
Will be there for Thanksgiving (we don't celebrate Thanksgiving in the UK so forgot about the date) and will just go with the flow knowing it will be busy but hoping for a quieter time the following week, can't wait!!

Been Christmas time once before but back in 2001 when we had beautiful weather, really warm, fingers crossed for similar next Year!

 

[Disney80]

Flying on the weekends directly on either side of thanksgiving is an enormous expense. More so, the weekend directly after, they gouge all the travelers returning home. Your going to want to plan that one accordingly.

I know! Prices are crazy around that time. Even though I'm Canadian and our Thanksgiving is in October. Prices are more reasonable 2 days right after Thanksgiving. As long as I know soon enough from my boss at work (gotta love waiting for seniority), I'm booking my flights ASAP... Also, I'm not flying into Orlando (MCO), I am going a bit further southwest to Fort Myers. We'll do drive from there (erm, meaning Naples) to the World... *LOL*