1st real planning for WDW at XMAS

[vatali]

We went last year from Dec 22-27 with only 1 ADR, and it was a huge mess. We waited almost 3 hours to get seated on Xmas night. So this is what we are looking at this year.

19 - leCelliers – 7:10
20 - Hollywood and Vine, 5:10 then light show
21 - crystal palace – 5:10 – then MVMCP afterwards
22 - Ohana – 5:30
23 - tony's - 6:10
24 - teppanyaki - 6:30
25 - Concourse Steak House – 6:50

Is the Hollywood and Vine place a good place/time to be to see the Osborne lights? and for XMAS night, is it better to be in the park vs outside it? We have never done O'hanas before either. we have a 4 year old daughter with us, and have been told that it is good we got that reseveration now as it is one of the better places to go.

Any advice is much appreciated.

Vatali

 

[digman6]

Welcome to boards!

I can only comment on the Xmas day aprt of your trip, we are going also then.

I can tell you that we have planned that day and why we did it that way for christmas.

We planned to at first do Ohana breakfast go to park LLT for lunch at 1:15 and dinner at 5:30. I know the lunch and dinner are close but after hearing the lines for counter meals get VERY VERY long I thought heck at least I have a place to sit down and eat. well yesterday I called and got my LTT changed to a bit earlier 11:40 so that was right on for us we have 2 adults 4 kids!

If you plan to go to the park that day i was advised by another Diser to get there when they open and DO NOT leave UNLESS your leaving and have no plan of going back in! she could not inforce that enough. the park will close down and no one will get in unless people leave. 5 leave 5 get inthat type of thing!

So my ADR for breakfast at Ohana is at 7:30 am we are keeping it just on the off chance kids decide to not go to park that morning that early. we are staying all day into the night. our dinner is at 5:30 so if they want to call it a night we can, its our last night in florida.


it will be jammed packed with people, you need to ride all the rides you can as early as you ( lines get long after 10:30am ) and take the rest of the day for shows, parades and things like that. Lunch was suggested to eat at a counter meal place by 11:30 with very little waiting time.

I am one of those OVERLY prepared parents and l like backups. I know I can do CM but I have a TS so I know i will not be in a 1 hour line to eat a burger!

If you go early at 7am grab a bite to eat at the bakery or take some things with you into the park and eat on the way to the rides.

I think it will be alot of fun that day, you have to go into it with some planning and enjoy the day , the moments and the surrounds of the holiday.


If your dd likes princess the 1900 PF dinner is very very good, she gets princess time too.
Also LTT is good I hear for dinner charcters if you look for those with Mickey and goofy etc
Just thought I would throw that in too.
We are there the same week as you are!
we are POR 12/18-26

 

[vatali]

Yeah, that is my concern. Last year we got to the park early, and ate counter for lunch that took almost an hour to get. I am really wondering if it is such a smart idea to leave.

BTW, we are at POFQ. we stayed at POR last year. Tornados hopped the park and the hotels last XMAS. my wife was sick from the mexican food from the night before. so no matter what, this year will go better.

 

[digman6]

I have heard some say that the hand stamp gets you back in BUT DO NOT count on that, full is full a hand stamp will not matter. There is a level that safety comes into play when a crowd is that large. I don' t see WDW breaking it cause "susie wants to go to the parade" you know what I mean.

If I were you I would call and set a TS place up to eat and this way you know its not a 1-2 hour wait for your food , let alone a place to sit after you get it!

OH wow sounds like last year was a tough one there for your family!

I am sure this year will go better, hoping so anyhow.

If your going just plan to stay and plan your meals as well. I know alot of people say grab counter but as i said above i don't want the hassle ontop pf the crowds!
I am sure you can get a table for lunch for the 3 of you and if not call back and try for 4 people sometimes they will not hold out a 4 top for 3 people.Just incase someone HAPPENS to get sick