15 of us Dec 26, 2008 to Jan. 5, 2009... whoo!!! Lots of work!!!

[CrazyDisneyMommy1]

I have been trying to convince my husbands family to go for a Christmas vacation all together for a few years now. Now it is finally happening...with a ton of hard work. I have a House to sleep all of us in the right beds...CHECK I have flights for everyone that is in our budgets...because they are crazy right now. We actually had to fly into Tampa as it was $300.00 per person cheaper....CHECK Booked 5 adr's so far as we will eat breakfast at the house each day and will have late lunches/ early suppers. .... CHECK FUN TO BE HAD BY ALL ...120 SLEEPS

 

[joech]

you are going to love all the decor once you get there.

 

[CrazyDisneyMommy1]

My family of 4 went last Christmas and my one sister inlaw was there Christmas 2004. My two nephews, SIL, BIL, FIL & MIL have all been to Disneyland for Christmas. But 9 out of the 15 have never been to Florida...let alone WDW. It is exciting just to see their faces. 5 of us were just there in July and I am so counting the sleeps till we are there again.

 

[Luhts]

We spent New Year's Eve at Hollywood Studios (then MGM) with extended family and it was amazing!

 

[tmli]

Large groups can be fun....we were 16 last summer!!! But there's no way in H E double hockey sticks I would share a house with all of them If I could suggest at least 3 car rentals in case individual families want to do their own thing!

Have a great trip, Disney at Christmas is incredible!!

 

[CrazyDisneyMommy1]

Thank you for your ideas. We actually just talked about doing MK on Dec. 30 for the fireworks and DHS for New Years Eve. We also have already rented three vehicles. I have spent many hours on the looking for everything and planning as much as I can. But everyone will want to do their own things some days, which will be great.

 

[bookbabe626]

Just keep in mind that the holiday week between Christmas and New Year's is the absolute busiest at WDW.

Especially since you're staying offsite, you're going to need to get up early each morning and get to a park before they fill up and close to outside guests. Also, plan your ADR's to match which park you plan to go to each day, since you probably won't be able to parkhop on the busiest days (if you leave a park, you may not get back in, and you may not get into another park either). Avoid EMH days since you can't take advantage of them...those parks are usually the most crowded each day, so plan to go to one of the other parks instead.

It's beautiful, and very magical...but very, very crowded. We were at Epcot for the first part of the day on New Year's Eve a few years ago. You LITERALLY couldn't move. It was wall-to-wall people...worse than "Toronto subway at rush hour" crowded. We had to hold hands so we wouldn't get separated and lost in the crush. Luckily, since we were staying onsite we could still parkhop (they have different criteria for closing to onsite vs. offsite guests during peak times) so we went over to MK which was a bit better. It was still the most crowded I have ever seen it.

I'm not trying to scare you, but just to prepare you for a bit more of a hectic time than travelling to WDW at some other time of the year. If you plan ahead and prepare everyone, it should be fine...but I wouldn't want to arrive there and be surprised by how busy it is.

 

[CrazyDisneyMommy1]

Thanks bookbabe_disneynut ... we actually have been to both Disney World and Disneyland for Christmas. We have also been there for Spring break and the summer. We will probably go with some of TGM'S days and go from there. We are annual pass holders so we know a few in and outs. Last year the only parks that closed over Christmas was Epcot & MK on Christmas day. We knew to stay away from them and went to DHS (MGM still then). We had a great time. We even left for a few hours and had no problem getting back in. As for New Years Eve if we can't get back in for the Fireworks at DHS they are great from outside the Park too. We went last Christmas and did not arrive for one park opening. We had no problems getting in and doing stuff and getting a bunch of fast passes. We then would take a break of 3 to 6 hours and go back to the same park with no problems and use our fast passes to ride. The one night a DSH the second show of Fantasmic was actually only 3/4 full. We will just go with the flow. It will be MAGICAL!!!

 

[MCFADDEN5]

We have been on two Magical Gatherings to Disney. Last Feb we went with 17 in total. I was wonderful to be with everyone, but it can stress you out.
We did separate the odd day, but for the most part stuck together.
We had a few rules. 1 person pees we all pee. After the first few days it felt like we were in the bathrooms all day long. We did make exceptions of course, but tried to keep it to a minimal.
We also went in with a plan. You really cant get much done when your running helter skelter everywhere. But the Disney cast members are great at seating your whole party together.
Have fun.

 

[CrazyDisneyMommy1]

We are all getting excited now. We have the flights, house and some ADR'S. It will be great. Now we are just doing the count down, 103 sleeps!!!! Almost to double digits.

 

[vl4tblfan]

Glad to hear this. We will be at WDW Dec26-Jan5/09, and everything I read makes our choice of visiting during this time seem horrible. I think I have everything planned for each day at the parks. We are staying at Carribean beach resort, and plan on getting to the park before opening and take advantage of EMH in the morning and at night. I have booked ADR's(not on dining plan). Do you have any advice for us regarding getting to ride as many rides as possible during this busy time, and seeing everything there is to see(kids 1st trip to WDW ages 14, 11yrs). We planned NYE fireworks at hollywood studios, good idea or not? Will it be warm enough to visit a waterpark at this time of the year? Thanks for any help/advice you can give!!

 

[Beechnut]

We are all getting excited now. We have the flights, house and some ADR'S. It will be great. Now we are just doing the count down, 103 sleeps!!!! Almost to double digits.

Glad to hear you have some ADR's . we are also going to be there for Christmas and we were unable to get any ADR's between Dec 25 and 31st.
I would really like to catch a fantasmic show, and hope, since you need a cc to book, I am hoping that someone will cancel closer to Christmas.

"see you there" lol

 

[CrazyDisneyMommy1]

Fast Pass, Fast Pass, Fast Pass!!!! Then go back to the same park and use those passes later. Go with the attitude that it will busy and go with flow and take the time to enjoy the sights and entertainment. You will love it. If we can, we will be going every Christmas as it is so magical!!!!

 

[DearDaisyinDurham]

One night last week we ate at Cape May for dinner. It was our anniversary so they put us in the "special VIP" room off to the right of the buffet as you enter. The CM said that "the Rock" had dined in that room to be hidden. LOL.

Anyway - about 30 minutes after they put us in that room, they seated about 20 members (at two tables) of a big family group in there also. So of course I couldn't help but hear all of their plans, etc., and it was fun to overhear such a big group having such a great time.

One lady was obviously the planner and it was neat to hear how appreciative everyone seemed to be for her hard work. So when I read your post, I picture you in that role CrazyDisneyMommy1!

That family was doing their own thing during the days, and meeting for one meal a day to touch base. It was wonderful to watch them and to take away ideas for future planning.

You will have such a magical time!!!!

xoxoxoxoxo

 

[CrazyDisneyMommy1]

I am very excited. It has been alot of planning, but it will be well worth it.
89 SLEEPS!!!!!