Christmas 09

[MyVirtueAidan]

Hey All !!!
From RI... Just began planning our 1st Disney World Christmas Vacation within the past week... Completely new to the boards and looking to get as much info as possible to make this vacation a special one for my family!!!
In the process of considering the POFQ but keeping all my options open at this time... Any advice pass it along my way... Thanks
Valeen

 

[fottafamily05]

Christmas is an amazing time to visit WDW. It is the most festive and not to mention GREAT weather. The best time to go to avoid "Xmas Crowds" is Dec 1-14th...also the rates are the lowest at these times as well. Make sure to take part in Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party...It is sure to please. Our family DW, DH, DS 7, DD 5, DD 3 are going at the end of April and then again the beginning of Dec because we LOVE it that much. Make sure to take time to visit some of the Disney Hotels...they are so wonderfully decorated at this time of year. The Grand Floridian has a life size ginger bread house in its main lobby and probably the biggest Christmas tree that you have ever seen. I am sure that this will be a vacation that your family will never forget. Any other questions please feel free to ask...We have been to Disney SO many times lol.

Kerri

 

[MyVirtueAidan]

Christmas is an amazing time to visit WDW. It is the most festive and not to mention GREAT weather. The best time to go to avoid "Xmas Crowds" is Dec 1-14th...also the rates are the lowest at these times as well. Make sure to take part in Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party...It is sure to please. Our family DW, DH, DS 7, DD 5, DD 3 are going at the end of April and then again the beginning of Dec because we LOVE it that much. Make sure to take time to visit some of the Disney Hotels...they are so wonderfully decorated at this time of year. The Grand Floridian has a life size ginger bread house in its main lobby and probably the biggest Christmas tree that you have ever seen. I am sure that this will be a vacation that your family will never forget. Any other questions please feel free to ask...We have been to Disney SO many times lol.

Kerri

So how was the candelight procession??? I know i would love it... But unsure about the children... Ages 2 years 9 months and 6 years...

 

[fottafamily05]

Umm I think they would be OK. You may not be able to stay for the whole thing but even some of that is worth it. Make sure to check out all of the different countries in Epcot to see all the different decorations and holiday traditions from around the world...It is really beautiful!!!

 

[yanners]

We went to POR in 2007 for XMas and it was wonderful.

My advice is to have a TOURING PLAN. We never waiting more than 10 minutes for anything which is amazing since the park was at capacity (isn't it 90, 000 people or something).

I also subscribed to Tour Guide Mike. I found that essential for that time of year because he broke it down in to what parks to visit on what days (for am and pm).

Make your dining reservations the first day you are able.

Plan to see the best things and don't be disappointed if you miss the not so great things. The festivities and atmosphere more than make up for any not so great attractions.

Buy a Christmas Hat while you are there. We did that and wore them this year at home. Buy a monorail toy while you are there as well. This year ours circled the tree and reminded us of our vacation.

Try and visit the other resorts to see their decorations. It is easy if you take the monorail.

Hmm....I think that is all I have for now.

 

[DWFan4Life]

Wow, that would be a fun trip for all of you. We just got there last Christmas holidays and the experience is really wonderful, now we are planning to go back for the next holidays. I'm a little bit excited again. We can meet by then.

Have a safe trip everyone.

 

[cjlvsccm]

So how was the candelight procession??? I know i would love it... But unsure about the children... Ages 2 years 9 months and 6 years...

We really enjoyed the Candlelight Processional... a mass choir and orchestra doing traditional Christmas songs/ hymns and scripture readings by the celebrity narrator. Only you know if your kiddo can sit for that kind of thing... might sleep through it! Most folks we saw trying to enjoy it with infants and pre-toddlers, didn't seem to be having much luck, I'm sad to say.

The dinner package gets you guaranteed seats closer to the stage, but stand-by should be ok too, if you go early in Dec. If you needed to step out with a fussy little one, that might be an easier exit from higher up toward the back of the amphitheater.


OP, I definitely recommend resort-hopping to see the gingerbread and chocolate creations! Grand Floridian's giant gingerbread house, Contemporary's Gepetto & Pinocchio, and Polynesian's collection of gingerbread houses all are an easy trip by monorail. And the Yacht Club's huge Christmas village & train set-up, and Beach Club's fabulous chocolate carousel, were worth a good walk from Epcot's International Gateway.

I forgot... we saw terrific decorations at the other deluxe resorts as well! So if you've got the time, do some exploring.

Happy planning for all Dec trippers out there!

 

[Sukie]

WDW in December. What could be better than that?

 

[Aubrielle]

It is my dream to have a Disney christmas some day! Have fun planning!

 

[Kristineamb]

My best advice for Disney @Christmas is plan, plan and plan some more! Book all your ADRs, reserve Candlelight Processional Dinner Package, utilize the Fantasmic Dinner & Show Package, use all resources (ie tourguidemike, Disboards, etc) to find out which park to visit each day...be prepared and you will be able to enjoy yourself despite the crowds!

 

[MarkinNM]

​

My parents took us to Disneyland during Xmas waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back when I was 10 years old and all I can say I STILL remember that trip......

 

[KeepSwimmingDory]

Christmas is a beautiful time at WDW. Definitely get some dining reservations when you can because otherwise you will eat all counter service. We enjoyed going through the hotels to look at Christmas decorations and it is a nice "down time" from being in the parks.

Have fun planning!

 

[tiggerfan1]

That's exciting that you and your family are going to WDW for the first time! You'll find a lot of great info here on the DIS. Happy trip planning!

 

[dogodisney]

Hey All !!!
From RI... Just began planning our 1st Disney World Christmas Vacation within the past week... Completely new to the boards and looking to get as much info as possible to make this vacation a special one for my family!!!
In the process of considering the POFQ but keeping all my options open at this time... Any advice pass it along my way... Thanks
Valeen

I am planning our first Christmas trip for this year too! We are going Dec. 19th - 27th. We are staying POR for 5 nights and SOG for 3.

Happy Planning and Welcome!

It is my dream to have a Disney christmas some day! Have fun planning!

I didn't think that we'd be able to go for Christams until maybe 2011 but I am planning a for this year!

Thank you Disney for the military deals that you are doing!

BTW, if you take AU off your name, you have my DD's name.

 

[Metro West]

 

[guelde96]

We are planning our first Disney Christmas vacation this year. We received the 40% off code this year The dates are good for Dec 13-24. I assumed the crowds are expected to be lower gor this deal to be offered. What does everyone else think?

 

[experiment659]

Hi there!

First I'd like to say that I'm really new to the boards - been lurking for about a year, but have taken up Pete's challenge to lurk no more! So I hope what I have to say is helpful to you.

Our whole family - 12 of us now - spend the week before Christmas at the world every other year and we love it. We've been doing it since 1997. Our early experience was that the crowds start off pretty light and build as Christmas approaches BUT it seems to me that as DVC has grown the crowds have gotten bigger earlier in the week. Seems like it's a popular time for DVC members. I also think it can be affected by where Christmas falls in the week which affects when kids get out of school, etc.

We're also going down that week in 09 - just made our reservations at BCV. Crowds or not, I think you'll love it. It's so beautiful and there's so much going on. Our kids are grown and married and they all can't wait to go. Many of our best memories have come from our Christmas trips. Hope it goes well for you and yours! Thanks for letting me share!

 

[guelde96]

Hi there!

First I'd like to say that I'm really new to the boards - been lurking for about a year, but have taken up Pete's challenge to lurk no more! So I hope what I have to say is helpful to you.

Our whole family - 12 of us now - spend the week before Christmas at the world every other year and we love it. We've been doing it since 1997. Our early experience was that the crowds start off pretty light and build as Christmas approaches BUT it seems to me that as DVC has grown the crowds have gotten bigger earlier in the week. Seems like it's a popular time for DVC members. I also think it can be affected by where Christmas falls in the week which affects when kids get out of school, etc.

We're also going down that week in 09 - just made our reservations at BCV. Crowds or not, I think you'll love it. It's so beautiful and there's so much going on. Our kids are grown and married and they all can't wait to go. Many of our best memories have come from our Christmas trips. Hope it goes well for you and yours! Thanks for letting me share!

Thank you for your response. That makes me feel better. We went to WDW the week before Easter in 2004 the place was packed. I just don't want to have that situation again.