Pre-Trip Report: December 20-27, 2012 Contemporary Resort

[Skippydoo]

Travel dates: 12/20/12 arrive, 12/27/12 depart
Travel method: air and Magical Express
Resort: Contemporary (1st time- wanted to try a MK monorail resort and ruled out the GF due to kids)
Ages Represented in Group: 3 adults in our 30's, 1 4yr old, 1 2yr old
Disney Resort Experience Represented in Group: a mix (see below)
The Cast:
-Skippydoo (Me) 4th WDW trip
-Mad(DM) 5th WDW trip
-Mad's Hubby (DJ) 5th WDW trip
-R 4yr old boy (Kid 1) 2nd WDW trip
-H 2yr old girl (Kid 2) 1st WDW trip

Introductions:
Let me introduce us. I'm Skippydoo and my friends M and J and I have been close friends since J and I met in middle school and then met M in college. DM and DJ got married and added Kid 1 and Kid 2. We've been taking WDW trips together many times (January 2010 for my birthday being the last one). When DM and DJ said let's do Christmas at WDW I thought that's a bit crazy. It'll be crazy crowded and insane... and it'll be WDW so it will still be fun.

Planning:
DM got us a planning, we had a scare that they wouldn't get the dates off from work, but then it all came together and DM made the reservations just shy of an entire year in advance. We wanted to have the convenience of the Monorail this trip so Contemporary Resort was the pick plus Deluxe Dining Plan (it's so convenient-it's a ton of food but we really prefer table service and we're foodies who love fancy dinners so it ends up paying for itself). We Skype'd a planning meeting in January set out our park schedule, special events schedule, and a rough plan of what we wanted for ADR's (which would have to wait until 180 days from date of trip to make). Then I started looking around to see what had changed since our 2010 trip. And of course the Disney bug had bitten me with news of Star Tours updates, new MK stuff, and a few other things that had jumped out from other holiday trip reports. The one big planning thing I wanted to do for this trip is to get myself in shape, so that the massive walking and standing in line thing that almost kills me every trip doesn't happen to nearly the same degree. So, taking the miles walked from a Steve Russo report (love his reports) I set out to get myself in shape to a point where 5-8 miles a day of fast walking was no big deal. Sigh... it's easier said than done.

The Plan so far:
This plan has gone through numerous changes as we learned new info.

• 12/20/2012 arrive
• 12/21/2012 EPCOT Morning: can sleep in if needed and head to Epcot, Morning stuff in the front (Soarin, test track, etc.) L=Le Cellier, the world showcase in afternoon, Land Pavilion Garden Grill for dinner
• 12/22/2012 DHS Morning: Need to be at park at opening; DJ and Kid 1 to sign up for Jedi training, the girls to get fastpasses for Toy Story Mania, then ride Star Tours, and Muppetvision, Hollywood &Vine for lunch, Disney Jr stuff in afternoon, Osbourne Lights, then boat to Boardwalk and dinner at Kouzzina
• 12/23/2012 rest Relax in morning Chef Mickey's for Breakfast,maybe visit resorts to see Christmas decor,Lunch counter service in DTD (Earl of Sandwich or Wolfgang Puck Express), shopping @ DTD in afternoon, then Hoop De Doo Review show in the evening,
• 12/24/2012 MK 7am EMH: Peter Pan and Haunted Mansion, the 8am Adventure land come back to Crystal Palace for mid morning breakfast ADR, meander through park, Liberty Tree Tavern for lunch, 3pm Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Parade, and new Be Our Guest in the evening (1900 Park Fare as backup in case Be Our Guest isn't open or taking ADR's)
• 12/25/2012 MK Merry Christmas! 7am EMH: Pooh and Small World then 8.30 Cinderella's Castle Breakfast, 10am Family Magic Tour, Lunch ADR at Plaza, then MK to try and do what we couldn't day before, and California Grill for dinner'
• 12/26/2012 AK Tusker House for breakfast ADR, safari then other AK stuff, Flametree BBQ for lunch, then park hop to Epcot for dinner @ Tutto Italia
• 12/27/2012 fly out Kona Cafe Breakfast Take ME to airport and fly away home...

So that's the plan (as of today) so any hints and tips are greatly appreciated.

[tinkaparis]

I can't wait to see pictures from the Contemporary at Holiday time

[Skippydoo]

I am so looking forward to pictures of just about everything. I upgraded my camera memory and have been considering an upgrade of camera, but need to pay for trip first

[scoobydooby]

Sounds fun. Just be aware. It will probably not be EMH on Christmas day, just expect the whole park to be open at 7am.

[Skippydoo]

Sounds fun. Just be aware. It will probably not be EMH on Christmas day, just expect the whole park to be open at 7am.

That's interesting... TouringPlans.com has an 8am opening with 7am EMH. I know that the crowd calendar is expected to be a 10+ out of 10, so I can see opening early to help with the crowd control... do you think the whole park will be open or would they open to everyone and still have the limited EMH attractions?

[scoobydooby]

That's interesting... TouringPlans.com has an 8am opening with 7am EMH. I know that the crowd calendar is expected to be a 10+ out of 10, so I can see opening early to help with the crowd control... do you think the whole park will be open or would they open to everyone and still have the limited EMH attractions?

When we visited the whole park opened at 7am. They messed with EMH and park openings several times prior to the trip.

[Skippydoo]

When we visited the whole park opened at 7am. They messed with EMH and park openings several times prior to the trip.

Well, we may end up not really riding much on Christmas Day then... messing with the EMH could put us a bit behind in a plan...

I can't believe it's 6 months away still. I haven't wanted it to be Christmas already like this since I was a very little girl!!!

[relaaxedwheniamthere]

also something to remember if you leave the parks you may not be allowed back in . you must try a visit to grand floridan to see the tree & gingerbread house . oh & try a dinner @ cittricos in g.f. you will not be disapointed

[D2000lands]

That's interesting... TouringPlans.com has an 8am opening with 7am EMH. I know that the crowd calendar is expected to be a 10+ out of 10, so I can see opening early to help with the crowd control... do you think the whole park will be open or would they open to everyone and still have the limited EMH attractions?

As of right now, the official Disney site still shows it as EMH at 7 am for the MK that day. However, they have opened the park early and cancelled the EMH before. I'm going again this year for the holiday stuff after my cruise on the Disney Fantasy, but it is much less crowded then. I'll be at the parks from Dec 8-17.

[Skippydoo]

also something to remember if you leave the parks you may not be allowed back in . you must try a visit to grand floridan to see the tree & gingerbread house . oh & try a dinner @ cittricos in g.f. you will not be disapointed

Grand Floridian Gingerbread is a must for us to see. I couldn't convince everyone on Cittricos... I'm thinking next visit

As of right now, the official Disney site still shows it as EMH at 7 am for the MK that day. However, they have opened the park early and cancelled the EMH before. I'm going again this year for the holiday stuff after my cruise on the Disney Fantasy, but it is much less crowded then. I'll be at the parks from Dec 8-17.

Dec 8-17 does sound like a much time to visit WDW... but my friends are convinced we should do the actual Christmas day there... I'm actually pretty sure it won't be nearly as magical as their convinced it will be... We've always been off season people so this will be an adventure...

[lovdisney]

Have a great time. I've been at Christmas before and loved it

[Skippydoo]

Thanks! I want to be Christmas sooooo bad... I can't wait for it!!!

[LarryfmScotland]

I spent Christmas at the AKL and it and itwas all wonderfull. Find some time for resort hopping it's the best time of the year with all the lovely trees and decorations. The crowds will be pretty tough so use FP wisely. Most of all have a great time and tell us all about it. Cheers Larry.

[TinaMouse]

Can't wait to read about your holiday!

[Skippydoo]

Now all our planning is done and time feels like it is just standing still.

So now we're thinking about adding a trip to Disneyland for the spring.