***Official December 2022 Thread***

[Mischievous Daisy]

Hi!
DH and I are staying at CR December 3 - 10! Looking forward to being there again!

 

[cjlong88]

Can I ask who you booked with? I’m thinking of doing the same.

We went with Ace Luxury Transportation for this trip. Seems like there are 4 or 5 really good options in Orlando based on the recommendations on these boards as well as reviews from other sites.

 

[Mischievous Daisy]

We went with Ace Luxury Transportation for this trip. Seems like there are 4 or 5 really good options in Orlando based on the recommendations on these boards as well as reviews from other sites.

We've decided to use Uber or Lyft. They are one of the fastest ways and actually a decent price. Plus we can reserve in advance as we arrive late and will spend the night at The Hyatt, then leave fairly early. (0700 probably)
There are a ton of options though!

 

[magrudersmakes3]

I have updated our trip to December 1-12, still in Gran Destino Tower. We are doing the Orlando Informer meetup on the 3rd and MVMCP on the 4th. It will be weird to not really go to the parks at the beginning of the trip.

 

[sunflow3r]

I'm new here and this will be my family's first trip to WDW. (We are DL pros.) It will be me, spouse and 3-year old child. We will be there December 1-9 and then onto another Florida theme park. So 12/1 will for sure be a travel day and 12/9 I'm thinking should be a non-park day too since we are transferring to our next theme park's hotel and have tix for that park on that day. I have so many questions!

1. Given the Christmas party affecting MK hours and the mention of some big crowds on 12/2-12/4 related to a company event, what order of parks is suggested? Given these two concerns, I have the following. WDW pros, please tell me what you would change? And is it a big mistake to not go to MK first (even though MK is supposedly similar to DL)?

Dec 2 (Fri) Hollywood Studies
Dec 3 (Sat) MK
Dec 4 (Sun) Rest/Resort Day
Dec 5 (Mon) MK
Dec 6 (Tue) Epcot
Dec 7 (Wed) AK
Dec 8 (Thur) HS

2. I'm planning to miss the Christmas party because my child is too young. We are coming from California so the days may be long given jet lag for said child if we attend the party. This will not be our last trip to WDW so we can always go another time. Good or bad idea?

 

[Disturbia]

I would actually move Mk from Sat 12/3 to Sun simply because that is the first full day for the company event and I expect fireworks to be super crowded. Some of our friends that have older kids have chosen US/IOA that day. That might be a great day to hit AK.

The company is not giving any other details on hotel and the kickoff event 12/2 (we were thinking of buying Christmas Party tickets on 12/2). Not sure if they will have the kickoff event near MK (Grand Floridian) or the Golden Oaks club.

We were not allowed to modify our dates so Friday-Sun travel is paid for, but I suppose people can buy their own flight tickets. Our flight leaves at 8:30 am on Friday so kids will have to take that day off.

At a recent six flags event we were given platinum passes and a season pass, so I would expect standby waits to be slightly higher than normal.

 

[ItsMEH]

I would actually move Mk from Sat 12/3 to Sun simply because that is the first full day for the company event and I expect fireworks to be super crowded. Some of our friends that have older kids have chosen US/IOA that day. That might be a great day to hit AK.

The company is not giving any other details on hotel and the kickoff event 12/2 (we were thinking of buying Christmas Party tickets on 12/2). Not sure if they will have the kickoff event near MK (Grand Floridian) or the Golden Oaks club.

We were not allowed to modify our dates so Friday-Sun travel is paid for, but I suppose people can buy their own flight tickets. Our flight leaves at 8:30 am on Friday so kids will have to take that day off.

At a recent six flags event we were given platinum passes and a season pass, so I would expect standby waits to be slightly higher than normal.

Sunday is a party day so that would shorten their day at magic kingdom and they wouldn’t have fireworks if they wanted to see those.

 

[Disturbia]

Sunday is a party day so that would shorten their day at magic kingdom and they wouldn’t have fireworks if they wanted to see those.

AK or Epcot would be better then. But then people who aren’t attending the Christmas party usually crowd the other parks (other than Mk) as well.

HS has the most in demand rides right now, so I would expect it to be crowded that entire weekend (lot of big Star Wars fans and we’ve attended some opening day parties as well).

 

[Mischievous Daisy]

@Disturbia

Hi,
"is the first full day for the company event".
What company event is happening and how long does it last?
TIA

 

[Disturbia]

@Disturbia

Hi,
"is the first full day for the company event".
What company event is happening and how long does it last?
TIA

It’s a big Anniversary celebration. They’re paying for all employees and their immediate family (and one caretaker) to fly out from different locations to Florida for a combo of WDW and US/IOA all inclusive paid event Dec 2-4. They’ve reserved 7 different hotels. Estimated 10k people.

 

[Mischievous Daisy]

It’s a big Anniversary celebration. They’re paying for all employees and their immediate family (and one caretaker) to fly out from different locations to Florida for a combo of WDW and US/IOA all inclusive paid event Dec 2-4. They’ve reserved 7 different hotels. Estimated 10k people.

Do you have any idea which hotels they will be at?
TIA

 

[Disturbia]

Do you have any idea which hotels they will be at?
TIA

No. We’ve tried to ask but we were told we will know more closer to Nov.

I’m thinking maybe they’re trying to work out details based on park preferences and passes.

 

[Mome Rath]

AP discounts on rooms out today, nabbed one for YC.

 

[TEAMJACOB]

Will be at Poly from 12/11 through 12/16, then checking into Dolphin from 12/16 to 12/20.

 

[pixiegoose]

I thought I had commented in this thread back during the winter when I made our reservations but apparently not!

We’ll be at Disney December 3-10 (being rebels and taking the kids out of school for a week), staying one night at Pop before moving to Yacht Club for the rest of our stay. We have 6 day park hoppers but really only plan on 5 park days (no parks arrival or departure day, one resort/pool day but being so close to Epcot made a park reservation/ticket for that day if we want to grab some food) and no MVMCP (I would love to go again but the prices have gotten absolutely ridiculous for it). Early December is our favorite time to go and I’m so excited to finally be making it back (our last trip was December 2018) and staying true deluxe for the first time! 97 days to go!

 

[Disturbia]

American Airlines cancelled our inbound and outbound flights Dec 2 and 4th. Just a heads up for anyone else flying those dates.

 

[Mischievous Daisy]

American Airlines cancelled our inbound and outbound flights Dec 2 and 4th. Just a heads up for anyone else flying those dates.

I am so sorry, that really sucks!
We have flights 12/2 and 12/10. We are booked with SWA, fingers crossed we don't lose our flight!

 

[Disturbia]

I am so sorry, that really sucks!
We have flights 12/2 and 12/10. We are booked with SWA, fingers crossed we don't lose our flight!

The TA said they’re trying to rebook. It’s so frustrating that the airlines still don’t have a handle on this issue. The flight was full and our party was split in separate rows, so it was pretty full; and multiple flights were cancelled.

If I had purchased MVMCP or a full day on Dec 2nd (arrival 11:30 am) it would have been even worse and we would be out $900.

Edit:

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/trav...irlines-new-changes-could-leave-you-stranded/

 

[MsT82]

American Airlines cancelled our inbound and outbound flights Dec 2 and 4th. Just a heads up for anyone else flying those dates.

This made me check flights with Frontier on 12/1 and 12/8 out of interest and both flights have completely changed times. No email from them so glad I checked.

 

[Mischievous Daisy]

The TA said they’re trying to rebook. It’s so frustrating that the airlines still don’t have a handle on this issue. The flight was full and our party was split in separate rows, so it was pretty full; and multiple flights were cancelled.

If I had purchased MVMCP or a full day on Dec 2nd (arrival 11:30 am) it would have been even worse and we would be out $900.

Edit:

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/trav...irlines-new-changes-could-leave-you-stranded/

Agreed!
I think they shouldn't book as many flights to begin with. I don't see the labor force improving any time soon!

They should book to what's available time wise and staff wise now, not projecting into the future, and then disappointing everyone!

Good luck!