Pre-Trip The trip that should have been three years ago...

Once upon a time we planned a trip to Walt Disney World for my son's 3rd Birthday..... then COVID happened.... so we canceled.

Well now, three years later, here we are - planning our trip.

I'm sure some of you will remember when I was a terrible influence just under two years ago when I encouraged all of you fine people to follow in my footsteps after my best friend and I planned a last minute (like less than 2 weeks before) trip because flights were $38 round trip. Welp, no such luck on that front these days, but whatcha gonna do?

Here's our plan:

December 2023
10 days in Orlando.
5 nights at Disney's All-Star Sports.
5 nights at my parent's timeshare condo.
3 Disney Park Days - Definitely doing full days at Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Epcot.
Undecided if we want to upgrade to Park Hoppers.
1 night at Hollywood Studios for Jollywood Nights.
1 night at Magic Kingdom for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.
At least 1 day at Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure, but we can't decide our plan for there yet.

The only sit-down meal I'm definitely scheduling this trip is Breakfast/Brunch at Chef Mickey's on one of our "Rest" days.
Otherwise I think we're going to stick to QS.

We are renting a car, but we're undecided on whether we'll rent one for our entire trip or wait until we're moving to the condo.

Anyone that's been to WDW in December and have some favorite Christmas/Holiday things to do?
Anyone that's been to WDW recently and can help me not cry when I think about how complicated Genie + seems? Think it'll be worth buying?

 

[mpaulam]

I've been a few times in December and highly recommend the story tellers at Epcot's Festival of the Holidays. We enjoyed listening to all of the holiday traditions in each country.

 

[littleroo]

Following along and taking 2nd place!

 

[Bullseye1967]

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

The holidays is my favorite time to visit the parks. I love the Christmas Party and the Candlelight Processional. Oh and eating at the Festival of the Holidays in Epcot.

 

[Swissmiss]

Candlelight Processional is also a favorite of ours, as is visiting different resorts to see their themed decorations/tree.

 

[cgersic]

Sooo much is wonderful about Disney at the holidays, but the decorations at Hollywood Studios, especially at night, are one of my favorite things! So glad you get to finally make your trip!

 

[k8einwdw]

Anyone that's been to WDW in December and have some favorite Christmas/Holiday things to do?

We go every year during the holidays, and some of our favorite festive activities include:
- Resort hopping to see the Christmas decorations at the deluxe resorts
- Renting a golf cart at Ft. Wilderness and driving around the campsites to see everyone’s decorations (best done at night)
- Playing mini golf at Winter Summerland
- Epcot Festival of the Holidays - try to check out as many of the holiday storytellers as you can
- Getting hot cocoa from Ghirardelli and walking around the Christmas Tree Stroll at Disney Springs
- And of course MVMCP!

Anyone that's been to WDW recently and can help me not cry when I think about how complicated Genie + seems? Think it'll be worth buying?

I highly recommend checking out Mammoth Club on YouTube. They have some super helpful Genie+ videos. We get it because we have a 2-year-old and there’s no way in hail I’m waiting in a 45-minute line with a toddler. But, quite a few reporters here have had a great time in the parks without the Genie.

 

[Swissmiss]

@k8einwdw ’s post reminded me that one year we did the horse drawn carriage ride to see the Christmas lights in Ft. Wilderness.

 

[LeighM]

Following along. We a trip booked for Thanksgiving (if life allows it) and we're so excited to be going back during the holidays. I used to think March and early spring was my favorite time to go to WDW but I think November/December have bumped it. I can only imagine how great it is going with young children.

 

[kimberlymautz]

The holidays is my favorite time to visit the parks. I love the Christmas Party and the Candlelight Processional. Oh and eating at the Festival of the Holidays in Epcot.

I can't wait for the menu to be released for Festival of the Holidays! The festivals are my personal favorite part of going to Epcot.

I've been a few times in December and highly recommend the story tellers at Epcot's Festival of the Holidays. We enjoyed listening to all of the holiday traditions in each country.

Oh my gosh, that's so sweet. I'm definitely adding that to my "Must do" list! My son LOVED Olaf's holiday special talking about different holiday traditions so I think he'll enjoy it too. Thank you!

We go every year during the holidays, and some of our favorite festive activities include:
- Resort hopping to see the Christmas decorations at the deluxe resorts
- Renting a golf cart at Ft. Wilderness and driving around the campsites to see everyone’s decorations (best done at night)
- Playing mini golf at Winter Summerland
- Epcot Festival of the Holidays - try to check out as many of the holiday storytellers as you can
- Getting hot cocoa from Ghirardelli and walking around the Christmas Tree Stroll at Disney Springs
- And of course MVMCP!

I highly recommend checking out Mammoth Club on YouTube. They have some super helpful Genie+ videos. We get it because we have a 2-year-old and there’s no way in hail I’m waiting in a 45-minute line with a toddler. But, quite a few reporters here have had a great time in the parks without the Genie.

These are all amazing! I have a "must do" list of things we don't want to miss and all of these are going on mine.
This will be our last WDW trip for a WHILE so I'm trying to do and experience as much as possible.

@k8einwdw ’s post reminded me that one year we did the horse drawn carriage ride to see the Christmas lights in Ft. Wilderness.

That's so cute! I'll add that idea to my list!

Following along. We a trip booked for Thanksgiving (if life allows it) and we're so excited to be going back during the holidays. I used to think March and early spring was my favorite time to go to WDW but I think November/December have bumped it. I can only imagine how great it is going with young children.

There's just something about the holiday season at WDW.
We've been many times and have visited at least once each season and November/December are definitely my favorite times to visit. I also LOVE Halloween so that's a close second, but it's still too hot for my liking then so that throws a wrench in it. Haha. I hope you get to go! So many people had such fun ideas!

 

[lindawdw]

Resort hopping is my all-time favorite thing to do at WDW during the Christmas season! I also love all the decorations at DHS although it looks like you don't get to enjoy the projection show on the TOT and the holiday billboards this year unless you pay extra once again for another event ticket party.

 

[kimberlymautz]

Hello Friends.

I'm just gonna come over here and cry for a minute. I'm absolutely positive that crowd levels will be pretty much insanity during my upcoming trip.
So much so that I would 100% reschedule if I hadn't already brought Jollywood Night and MVMCP tickets.
We're scheduled for December 1st-6th on property. We'll I saw someone post that they're going the week before and their TA was able to get them lower rates. I looked them up and I can't find ANY value resorts available those dates. None. Zip. Zero. Nada.
There's only five resorts that show up as having availability at all.
I knew that booking that week was a bad idea when I kept seeing people posting that it's a great week for crowd levels, but I hoped no one would listen.
So far all of the parks are showing availability, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything. Christmas still shows availability at this point.

Ugh. I'm going to consider reevaluating my park day plans and drink a glass of wine.

Sorry to whoever decided to listen to me rant and whine.

 

[k8einwdw]

I'm just gonna come over here and cry for a minute. I'm absolutely positive that crowd levels will be pretty much insanity during my upcoming trip.

Deep breaths. The first week of December is almost always less crowded than the last two weeks, because kids are still in school.

We're scheduled for December 1st-6th on property. We'll I saw someone post that they're going the week before and their TA was able to get them lower rates. I looked them up and I can't find ANY value resorts available those dates. None. Zip. Zero. Nada.

I just checked, and I saw lots of availability for 12/1-6. Not much left at a discounted rate, but quite a few resorts left at rack rate.

 

[kimberlymautz]

Deep breaths. The first week of December is almost always less crowded than the last two weeks, because kids are still in school.

I just checked, and I saw lots of availability for 12/1-6. Not much left at a discounted rate, but quite a few resorts left at rack rate.

Ugh. I know that it used to be. We loved that week because the Pop Warner Tournament was that week which would deter crowds. We just went to whatever park didn't have extra magic hours because that's where the teams seemed to rush before/after their competitions.

I'm just going to be sad for a little bit about it. I was hoping to avoid needing Genie+ and ILL, but I'm going to budget it in now that I have this feeling of how busy it'll end up being.

Hopefully I'll be wrong and will have worried for nothing, but at least I'll be prepared.

 

[LeighM]

I'm planning on being there Thanksgiving thru Dec 1st and I just assumed that it would be less crowded than past trips since Disney keeps releasing so many room and dining discounts. The last time I went was for only 3 nights in Dec 12-15, 2021 and it was crazy packed! And very, very hot LOL.

 

[kimberlymautz]

I'm planning on being there Thanksgiving thru Dec 1st and I just assumed that it would be less crowded than past trips since Disney keeps releasing so many room and dining discounts. The last time I went was for only 3 nights in Dec 12-15, 2021 and it was crazy packed! And very, very hot LOL.

I'm fully expecting the worst. Hahaha. I'm hopeful that it won't be too insane, but I've already told myself it's going to be 100 degrees and we'll be waiting in obnoxious lines even though I'm going to spend entirely too much on Genie+.
Now anything better than that is a win.

 

[kimberlymautz]

Okay. I'm thinking of switching up my park day plans. Tell me if you think I'm crazy (spoiler: I am) and which one makes the most sense to you. We are also still up in the air over whether we want a day at Universal, we might add park hoppers, and now my in-laws might be coming for a few days at the end of our trip so that would also throw a wrench into any possible plans. Can you tell I do REALLY well without having my plans set?

OPTION 1: The OG
Friday: Arrival at MCO - Pick up rental car, stop by Walmart, check into All Star Resort.
Saturday: Animal Kingdom (Hop to MK for Fireworks)
Sunday: Magic Kingdom (Hop to HS for Fantasmic)
Monday: Rest Day
Tuesday: Epcot
Wednesday: Check out of All Stars, Check into Condo - Jollywood Nights
Thursday: Rest Day
Friday: Rest Day - Possibly Universal
Saturday: Rest Day
Sunday: MVMCP
Monday: Rest Day
Tuesday: Fly Home


OPTION 2: The "Attempt to Avoid Crowds" Plan
Friday: Arrival at MCO - Pick up rental car, stop by Walmart, check into All Star Resort.
Saturday: Rest Day
Sunday: Magic Kingdom
Monday: Epcot
Tuesday: Animal Kingdom
Wednesday: Check out of All Stars, Check into Condo - Jollywood Nights
Thursday: Rest Day
Friday: Rest Day - Possibly Universal
Saturday: Rest Day
Sunday: MVMCP
Monday: Rest Day
Tuesday: Fly Home

OPTION 3: The In-Laws are Coming!
Friday: Arrival at MCO - Pick up rental car, stop by Walmart, check into All Star Resort.
Saturday: Animal Kingdom (Hop to MK for Fireworks)
Sunday: Magic Kingdom (Hop to HS for Fantasmic)
Monday: Rest Day
Tuesday: Epcot
Wednesday: Check out of All Stars, Check into Condo - Jollywood Nights
Thursday: Rest Day
Friday: Magic Kingdom (Hop to Epcot)
Saturday: Rest Day
Sunday: MVMCP
Monday: Rest Day
Tuesday: Fly Home

If my in-laws come we'll very likely skip Universal as they aren't huge ride fans, though maybe they'd want to just drop us off and go adventuring on their own. We'd probably just do one day at Islands of Adventure as I don't think we'd be able to get done both parks in one day. Unless we spend extra money and do the express tickets. I don't know. That'll all be a last minute decision I think. Maybe we'd save it for Monday to avoid bigger crowds, but I'm not sure with MVMCP the night before.

The struggle.

 

[kimberlymautz]

Alrighty then....
New plan. Mostly. Kind of. UGH.

So we're working on switching a HUGE part of our plans because the trip that started off as myself, my boyfriend, and our two kids has somehow morphed into the four of us, my boyfriend's parents, his sister and her husband, and his cousin and her daughter (9 years old) for about half of our trip.
My boyfriend, our daughter, and I have been to Disney several times together. My son has been only once when he was 7 months old. We actually took my boyfriend's cousin's daughter (our niece going forward) when she was 2, but no one else has ever been so we're REALLY excited.

Now the plan is:
Friday - Arrival for myself, my boyfriend, and our kiddos (12 and 6). We're renting a car and will stop at Walmart for snacks and toiletries so I don't have to pack them in my bag. We'll be checking in to All Star Sports.
Saturday - Resort Day to go swimming (weather permitting), play at the arcade, and maybe go to Disney Springs.
Sunday - Park Day, but we're letting my 12 year old pick which park we go to.
Monday - The in-law's fly in! They're going to stay at the same resort we'll be at for the second half of our trip so they'll be checking in there early this afternoon and then we will be meeting them at Disney Springs.
Tuesday - Epcot! This is my favorite park and I think because it has the most variety for everyone it's a great park to start with. The kids are excited about the Moana exhibit, the rides, and the play spaces. The adults are excited about the rides and the food.
Wednesday - Magic Kingdom! My 3 and I will be leaving around 4pm as we have Jollywood Nights this night, but we'd already bought the tickets months ago and obviously can't change them. This is also the only night that Magic Kingdom is open late enough for regular fireworks while the in-laws will be with us and they want to see them. I'm just sad we won't get to see them with them. Happily Ever After is my FAVORITE and I don't think we'll get to see it at all this trip. Hopefully Jollywood Nights is worth missing it with them. We'll also be checking out of All Star Sports and checking into our timeshare spot this day.
Thursday - Animal Kingdom! My boyfriend's mom (I'm just going to refer to her as mom going forward - I LOVE them) LOVES animals, especially elephants and birds so this is what she's most excited for. It's also only open until about 7pm and I think the earlier night will be needed after so much excitement in such a short amount of time.
Friday - The in-laws are leaving! We're sad to see them go, but I'm so excited that they'll get to be with us for part of our trip. I think we might visit the Boardwalk this morning/early afternoon (they have to leave for the airport at about 3pm) or maybe visit Disney Springs again.
Saturday - REST DAY. We're going to need it at this point. If the weather is nice enough maybe we'll go in the pool. If not we discussed playing mini golf or going bowling if we're up to it. At this point we might just lounge around our condo and watch movies though.
Sunday - Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party! Our last park visit of this trip. We're planning on arriving by 4pm so we can make the most out of it and yet also leave once we feel like the kiddos have had enough. We're going to spend the morning hanging out and relaxing (and making sure the kiddos - and I - nap).
Monday - Time to do all of our laundry so it's clean when we get home and I'll only have to wash a small load of what we wore this day and the next day. Probably one last trip to Disney Springs and/or Walmart for last minute souvenirs.
Tuesday - Fly home! We currently have a later(ish) flight home and I think I might try to move it earlier. I don't normally like early flights home, but I think that heading home earlier and being able to shower/change/relax a little before heading back to work Wednesday would outweigh staying in Orlando longer - especially with our schedule.

Now let's see how many times this plan changes between now and December....