Hello WDWFGU Family

Login to post comments
28 posts / 0 new
Magic Days's picture
Offline
Joined: 11/02/2012
Posts: 601
Hello WDWFGU Family

Hello All,

I have been watching the forum for weeks learning as much as I can for a trip in just 1 week. I really appreciate the family feel this site has nurtured. My Dh, my parents and sister and her husband will arrive in WDW area on 12/9 and we will leave WDW on 12/16. We have a week packed full of Magical Days but we could use some advice for resort touring. We are budgeting time on 12/9 before MVMCP to see some resorts and We would love some tips on the best flow. We do have a rental but will not have our resort pass until 12/10.

A little about us. We are celebrating 18 years as a couple on this trip. This is our third trip to Disney as a couple. We have been making all the arrangements for this trip and we are excited to see our first Christmas in the Magic Kingdom.

__________________

Vettelover's picture
Offline
Joined: 03/28/2009
Posts: 4658

Hi! Magic Days and welcome to WDWFG. Really glad you thought enough of our little (and growing larger every day) group of Disney enthusiasts to join us. There are many here who will join in with touring suggestions for your plans. If you have been checking us out for weeks you know exactly what I am talking about. For resort hopping I would suggest starting at one of the monorail resorts and using that as the transportation means for the GF, Poly, etc.. and then pay a visit to the Boardwalk area to visit the Boardwalk, Beach & Yacht Clubs, Swan & Dolphin etc. as ALL have fantastic Christmas decorations that are well worth your visit. and for sure all of the resorts are worth your checking them out.

__________________

Magic Days's picture
Offline
Joined: 11/02/2012
Posts: 601

Thank you Vettelover. Would you use wdw transportation to go from the monorail resorts to Boardwalk area or just drive yourself?

__________________

Vettelover's picture
Offline
Joined: 03/28/2009
Posts: 4658

Magic Days wrote:
Would you use wdw transportation to go from the monorail resorts to Boardwalk area or just drive yourself?

I certainly would BUT it all depends on how much time you have, using WDW transportation surely would take more time, especially if you are not familiar with the roads in and around WDW. I am sure you will get other opnions on that subject matter.

__________________

Mase's picture
Offline
Joined: 03/02/2011
Posts: 5438

__________________

- 2013 Trip Report!
- My Int3ractiv3 Trip R3port '12 - CLICK HERE!
[url='http://www.wdwforgrownups.com/forum/pick-mases-dinner-disney']- My Interactive Trip Report '11[/url]

JoAnn C's picture
Offline
Joined: 05/20/2011
Posts: 6757

Welcome! Where are you staying? What other plans do you have besides MVMCP?

__________________

Magic Days's picture
Offline
Joined: 11/02/2012
Posts: 601

Hi Mase and JoAnn,

We are staying at Pop. We stayed there last year and loved it. We only sleep in our rooms so are happy with it. Next time it may be POFQ. I focused ADR's for Our main daily meal so we could have a little freedom through the day. My Mom has been with me once in 85 and Dad has never been. My sister and her DH were with us last year. We seem to be the main planners but took caution to give choices when making ADR's. Naturally we had to make a few of our reservation decisions in may to insure we got them but after reading posts here I think we are on the right track.

Sunday is Pepper Market or Whispering Canyon
Monday is Crystal Palace
Tuesday is Le Cellier
Wednesday is Akershus
Thursday is Chefs De France for Candelight Processional.
Friday is Tapan Edo
Saturday is Liberty Tree and Spirit of Aloha
Sunday is free for all

Our lunches aren't solid beyond flame tree while we are at Animal kingdom. Our last bit of tour planning is the first Sunday morning and seeing what hotels we can see. We have a rental to help but I think we may just use Disney to get us around. Saving the driving to the pros seems best to me. We do want to drive around the camp grounds one evening but wondering if security is picky about visitors in the area after dark? Any resort hopping advice is greatly appreciated.

__________________

Offline
Joined: 08/01/2012
Posts: 2037

Hi Magic Days and welcome to our wonderful Disney family. As you have already seen there are so many that will be willing to give you the best advice regarding your time in Disney. So glad you finally decided to jump in and join us. mickey

JoAnn C's picture
Offline
Joined: 05/20/2011
Posts: 6757

I love Pop. I was there last month. I agree with VL on the monorail and Boardwalk Resorts. If you are taking Disney transportation, I would suggest start with the BW resorts since you are eventually going to end up at MVMCP. Take the bus to Hollywood Studios and then from there take the boat. The first stop is the Dolphin and Swan. You can walk to the other resorts from there. At the last resort, take the bus to MK and pick up the monorail.

__________________

Offline
Joined: 12/28/2011
Posts: 1039

I can't really weigh in on the transportation question. We never have a car and rely on Disney Transport. You do have to factor in extra time, but if you have a plan ( Joann C's is great!!) we've never had a problem. Of course we have used taxis at times to make some faster or tighter connections, especially to/from resorts for late dinners.

It sound like you are going to have a wonderful time!!! mickey

__________________

If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.
J. R. R. Tolkien

Magic Days's picture
Offline
Joined: 11/02/2012
Posts: 601

Wow. Thank you for the warm welcome and great advice JoAnn. Does anyone have experience renting mobility carts. I have a reservation with Apple for my mom and I'm hoping to hear they are reliable.

__________________

MrHub's picture
Offline
Joined: 10/29/2009
Posts: 9503

Hi Magic Days and welcome to WDWForGrownups! Glad you decided to come out of the shadows. We just got back and had a wonderful time. It was our first Christmas Season trip. I would follow Joanne's suggestion, sound solid! The Poly just got up there decorations.

nwright72's picture
Offline
Joined: 08/11/2012
Posts: 6

Welcome to the boards! I love helping out new friends and family you have. I second JoAnn's recommendation of using all the Disney transportation you can. The resorts don't mind "extra" guests after dark. However, parking at them in December can cause serious frustration.
Unless the resorts are clustered together like All Star or the Crescent Lake resorts, or the monorail loop, there are really no resort to resort. I have learned many people get frustrated about this when resort hopping.

With the Crescent Lake resorts (Swan, Dolphin, Yacht, Beach, Boardwalk), I if your group is pretty mobile, try using the International Gateway entrance of World Showcase (Epcot) very short walk from Beach Club and the Boardwalk. Then walk to the front of Epcot and catch the monorail. You could also ride the bus from Pop to EPCOT and start from there.

Finally one adventure that folks don't always know about...maybe on Monday (Crystal Palace night) ride the boat from the front of MK to Fort Wilderness. From Pioneer Hall, this is the main building by the dock at FW, you can wander some of the trails and golf cart paths. There are almost always many guests that will dress up their campsites and RVs with christmas lights and other fun decorations. It is a lot of walking but ask some of the Cast Members and they will let you know where the good ones are. From there you can ride the resort to resort bus to Wilderness Lodge if you want to look at some more rustic decorations or just directly back to Magic Kingdom to get back to Pop Century.

I hope you guys really have a great week when you get down here next week!

Magic Days's picture
Offline
Joined: 11/02/2012
Posts: 601

Mr Hub I loved the reports you and Mase shared. Great way to get us into our single digit count down. Thanks for the tips Nwright72. My Mom will be in a mobility cart so we were thinking driving her past some camp sites would be our best chance and encouraging her to drive her cart a little out of the parks. So glad to hear the poly is decorated. Does anyone know if the rest of the deluxe resorts are completed? We are arriving in Orlando on Saturday 12/8 and are thinking about going to the poly for cocktails, water parade, and wishes from their beach. Does anyone have experience doing this or a suggestion of a better resort or location to see the water parade?

__________________

JoAnn C's picture
Offline
Joined: 05/20/2011
Posts: 6757

All the resorts should be decorated by now. I was there the week before Thanksgiving. The tree at Pop was put up early in the week. I had breakfast at the Grand Floridian and the tree was up. They were building the Ginger bread house.

__________________

Magic Days's picture
Offline
Joined: 11/02/2012
Posts: 601

So excited. All the gingerbread work is one of the many things we are excited for.

__________________

MrHub's picture
Offline
Joined: 10/29/2009
Posts: 9503

All the Monorail resorts are done, I know that much. Also the Boardwalk has up the Carousel. Saw that too!

disneydoc's picture
Offline
Joined: 06/27/2012
Posts: 2415

The only resort where I didn't see Christmas stuff up was the Contemporary...nothing up Thanksgiving week, which I thought was surprising, as the other monorail resorts had it going on! The GF was in full swing with the Gingerbread House, and selling it like crazy.

I made it to AKL, Wildnerness Lodge, Beach Club, Yacht Club, Boardwalk, Ft. Wilderness, the Poly, GF, Saratoga Springs and Contemporary. Quite fun! mickey

__________________

magicalkingdoms.com Ticker DIStickers.com Ticker

Magic Days's picture
Offline
Joined: 11/02/2012
Posts: 601

Awesome, it maybe silly but there is little that can move me as much as the sparkle in my moms eyes when she talks about seeing all the ginger bread in person. We spent most of our lives dreaming of WDW for Christmas and watching the specials. Now the real count down is on.

__________________

disneydoc's picture
Offline
Joined: 06/27/2012
Posts: 2415

not at all silly! I got all little-girl giddy when I saw the Christmas stuff all over WDW. I just stood there on Main Street and felt like the luckiest person alive. I find myself silently thanking Walt for his pursuit of it all...he left us quite a legacy. mickey

__________________

magicalkingdoms.com Ticker DIStickers.com Ticker

DisneyDee27's picture
Offline
Joined: 04/02/2012
Posts: 1600

Welcome to the group. I'll be there a few of your days. wink I too love the Pop, I'll be across hourglass lake at AoA. Don't forget to check in online your room has a better chance of being ready when you arrive.
Have a great time and enjoy biggrin
Dee

__________________

Member of the 6 castle club and working to pay for my next Disney vacations: 1/5-10/18, September 2018 for my 50th and 2018 the year of Disney cruising.

Allie's picture
Offline
Joined: 06/26/2012
Posts: 5477

Everyone else has already given great advice so I'll just say hi and welcome to the group! Hope you have a great trip!

Kristen K.'s picture
Offline
Joined: 09/01/2011
Posts: 23803

Hi Magic Days! Welcome to our happy home, we're so glad that you could join us!

For some Resort Hopping before MVMCP, I suggest the monorail crawl starting at the Contemporary. I personally would drive there and park, touring that hotel and then hop the monorail. I frequently start my trips with this resort loop, holidays or not!

This will take you around the Seven Seas Lagoon, with stops at the Polynesian and Grand Floridian before heading right to the Magic Kingdom. I would leave at least an hour for each hotel, there are some great spots to eat, drink, or grab snacks along the way! You'll be able to enter the MK on your MVMCP after 4pm.

One of the things I like about parking at the Contemporary is that you miss the crowds at the Bus line after the party. Post-Party lines can be nuts! It's a short walk from the MK Main Gate to the Contemporary's parking lot and then you can drive directly back to the hotel.

Both the Contemporary and the Grand Floridian are famous for their Gingerbread displays with two of the most stunning on property! The Contemporary has a 17ft Gingerbread Tree with a sweet shop beneath it where you can get both Gingerbread and the amazing white chocolate monorails. They are also special locations with a limited edition Gingerbread pins!

If you want to get a definitive guide to everything Christmas at WDW this year, check out the latest Disney Food Blog Mini Guide. Planning for a holiday trip can be a lot to take in and this fantastic little ebook covers all the cheerful happenings, special events, foodie treats, Christmas shows, and so much more!
http://dfbminiguides.com/holiday

Magic Days's picture
Offline
Joined: 11/02/2012
Posts: 601

Thank you everyone. We have done our early check in and 2 out of the couples just received the fast pass cards. Not us though so not sure how that will work out. We will be in Disney so who cares right? Come on Friday!!

__________________

Jess's picture
Offline
Joined: 03/04/2011
Posts: 3280

Welcome to the best disney board around....Can't wait to hear all about your trip...and i can confirm that when we were there last week the Contemporary had their decorations up

__________________

Magic Mirror's picture
Offline
Joined: 09/18/2012
Posts: 2994

yeah yeah welcome yeah yeah

Wishing you a magical time!

Magic Days's picture
Offline
Joined: 11/02/2012
Posts: 601

Going into my final two days of work before our vacation is so tough. So glad to have this forum to pass the time. I'm sure my peers are ready to stop hearing about it. LOL. Guessing we aren't the only ones that go through this.

__________________

Nancy D's picture
Offline
Joined: 05/29/2012
Posts: 754

Welcome, Magic Days, and hope you have a WONDERFUL time with your family!!

Please come back and tell us all about the look on your mom's face when she finally got to see the Gingerbread Men in person!!!

Have a super-fun time!!