Who has done DL or WDW at Christmastime?

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Just wondering how many of you have been to either DL or WDW for Christmas. Please tell us about how wonderful it was? Or not wonderful, whatever the case may be

 

[Luisa]

I've been to both at Christmas, personally I think Disneyland was the better of the two but both were wonderful. It was the fireworks followed by snow on Main St at DLR that won me over. I also think the candlelight processional is a bit more special as they have the carolers walk down Main St singing before taking their place on stage, I imagine they have different people doing the story of Christmas each year but it was Dick Vandyke when I was there - made my day!

The decorations at both are fantastic, love all the different trees at all the parks and resorts at WDW (can't miss the gingerbread houses either!). Everyone and everything is so festive and fun, couldn't recommend a better time of year to go to either!

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

I've been to both at Christmas, personally I think Disneyland was the better of the two but both were wonderful. It was the fireworks followed by snow on Main St at DLR that won me over. I also think the candlelight processional is a bit more special as they have the carolers walk down Main St singing before taking their place on stage, I imagine they have different people doing the story of Christmas each year but it was Dick Vandyke when I was there - made my day!

The decorations at both are fantastic, love all the different trees at all the parks and resorts at WDW (can't miss the gingerbread houses either!). Everyone and everything is so festive and fun, couldn't recommend a better time of year to go to either!

Liusa, when in December did you go? What were the crowds like?

 

[aussiegirls]

I just wanted to say that although I havent yet, if you ask the question again in 12 months hopefully I can say that I have

xxx

 

[Willow25]

We have been twice to WDW and once to DLR. We love, love, love it at both.

We have not done the candlelight processional but we love the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, Osborne's festival of lights, the decorations at all the resort, the special holiday merchandise, the christmas music playing throughout the parks, the tree lighting at epcot, the santa storytellers in epcot, the decorations and change of music at Its a small world.

DLR's It's a small world blows WDW out of the water but I think the fireworks, snow on main street, decorations are pretty on par at both.

We usually go the first two weeks of December before schools let out and we have found the crowds to be great. If you stick to the arrive early you can ride pretty much everything with little wait. You will find that people who stay at the all star resorts will have trouble that time of year due to pop warner, lots of screaming cheerleaders and football players. We usually stay DVC and we have never had a problem!

The weather is also mild that time of year so we find that we do not get as tired as we would when it is hot hot hot. We love this time of year it just feels so magical and you get so much more this time of year for the same price. Also last year in early december they offered free dining.

 

[DVCAustralia]

Having done WDW in December three times in 6 years, the latest this past December, I can say that it is the best time to go as far as crowds, weather, lower accomodation prices and few if any closed attractions. Christmas is really the icing on the cake, since during the first two to three weeks of December you get almost all the benefits of WDW Christmas, including decorations at parks and resorts, shows, fireworks, parades, food and merchandise, without any downside.
However there is a MASSIVE difference between December and Christmas week. From the weekend before Christmas until just after New Year you will be met with exponentially higher crowds, traffic delays and the highest accomodation prices of the year. Returning to Orlando on 31 December 2010 for our flight confirmed that we would never want to experience this again.
Having done DL the week before Christmas once a few years ago and early January this year, whilst it is good it really cannot measure up to WDW given the much more limited scale. For example, the Osbourne lights at HS, the Epcot World Showcase and the WDW resorts really provide something extra.

 

[queenie82]

I also wholeheartedly believe that WDW is far superior in terms of a Disney Christmas.
Resorts - The HUGE Gingerbread House at the Grand Floridian. The Gingerbread carousel at Beach Club. The Gingerbread gazebo at the Boardwalk.
- The Christmas trees at each resort are huge with unique decorations. Where else can you find African masks and Birdhouses as Christmas decorations.

The Osbourne lights. As an Australian especially...NOTHING can prepare you for this amazing spectacular (Christmas Lights are far more common in the US)

Holiday Wishes...and Holiday Illuminations.
Regular Illuminations is nice...but add on the Christmas special ending and it is amazing.

The only downside I can ever find with WDW is that because of all the rip off Christmas Parties you don't get a Christmas Parade at the Magic Kingdom until they are over which is usually the 20-21st December. But the rest of the Magic always makes up for this.

As for DLR
The DLR Small World has always been a better.
But the reason DLR small world blows the other out of the water at Christmas is simply because they have a Christmas Overlay. As you go through the music blends between christmas carols and the regular song. It is pretty special.

One other thing to remember is that at DLR the Haunted Mansion will NOT be the regular one. It will have a Nightmare before Christmas Overlay.
It is very nice and all but if you want the regular one...you need to get your fix at WDW at Christmas time.

If you can only do one do WDW...but try to do DLR as a stopover for a few nights to see what they have to offer as well. It isn't as good...but it is a bit different.

 

[Luisa]

Liusa, when in December did you go? What were the crowds like?

First couple of weeks of December. You miss the Thanksgiving crowds, the decorations are all up and its before the holiday season really gets underway. Crowds were good, the wait times for the rides weren't too long. The only really crowded place I found was at the World of Disney in Downtown at WDW when they had the 20% off vouchers on the bottom of receipts from some stores - then it was totally crazy with people buying Christmas gifts! DLR was 2005 when I last went and it was what I would consider quiet, even with the 50th celebrations going on, the rides were pretty much all walk-ons (in fact, I found a Indiana Jones fast pass that I never used just recently).

If you think you can go in December, don't even hesitate, just book it!

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

You all make it sound so wonderful, I'm feeling a little Christmasy just reading it all . I'm definitely sold on the idea of a December trip, the only problem I can see is that since my kids are a little older and have so many extra curricular activities and with my daughter starting high school next year, not sure how much of the end of the year of school they can miss. Would love to head over on 10th at the latest so we can get all of the WDW stuff done before it gets busy and then head to New York for Christmas around say 21st???

How many days do you think we would need at WDW? I mean obviously there is only so much time I could talk my husband into being there

We definitely want to do one day at Kennedy Space Centre, Harry Potter, and could probably skip Universal since we did the LA one just a few months ago.

Do you think 8 days at WDW plus 2 for the above things would be enough?

 

[DVCAustralia]

You are definately thinking along the right track.
In regard to departure date keep in mind that the last day of low season airfares is generally 9th December so that is the last date you would want to be leaving. As far as missing some school at the end of the year this should not stop you, there is little that is achieved in this time, particularly in year 6 since most students are changing school, and the benefits of travel more than make up for it.
In regard to time at WDW 8 days should be sufficient for WDW, but since the 10 day ticket is only a few dollars more it may be worth having 10 days at Disney. Even if you only have 8 days get this ticket anyway and use it for the evening after Kennardy and Universal (for Harry Potter).

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

You are definately thinking along the right track.
In regard to departure date keep in mind that the last day of low season airfares is generally 9th December so that is the last date you would want to be leaving. As far as missing some school at the end of the year this should not stop you, there is little that is achieved in this time, particularly in year 6 since most students are changing school, and the benefits of travel more than make up for it.
In regard to time at WDW 8 days should be sufficient for WDW, but since the 10 day ticket is only a few dollars more it may be worth having 10 days at Disney. Even if you only have 8 days get this ticket anyway and use it for the evening after Kennardy and Universal (for Harry Potter).

Hey DVCAustralia, I am planning for Dec 2011 so DD will be just finishing her first year of high school which is what has me concerned. Although I have heard that they let out quite early in high school so will be keeping an eye on what happens with some friends kids this year.

Thanks for the info about low fares finishing around the 9th. Is that true? Wow that is wonderful information, I really appreciate it.

Would definitely purchase the 10 day ticket.