2016 Christmas "Must Do" Planning

[Padamom]

While the holidays at the parks are fresh in everyone's minds, I was wondering about everyone's "must do" list for a Christmas holiday visit. I'm making a plan for 2016 and in light of the closures that will occur over the next year (Osborne Lights , etc.), I'm wondering what everyone thinks will be best way to make the most of such a magical time of year. I'm hoping to hear about "hidden Disney" adventures beyond the traditional Christmas parties and parades.

 

[siskaren]

Well, I don't know if I would call it "hidden", but I would definitely make time to visit the deluxe resorts to see the decoration. The Candlelight Processional and the Holiday Storytellers at Epcot are must-dos for me, and I would highly recommend the CP dining package.

 

[Accident]

It's "what are the parks doing this year" and "which resorts have what decorations" on property... I can see animal kingdom doing something new with the spring launch of the evening hours next year... not really hidden but there is always some type of new dining or desert experience.. There's a few backstage tours that are specific to the holidays and what it takes to do them.

The Trip and Universal podcast shows went into some of what was going on outside of disney if you want to go back to the last episode or two. ICE at the gaylord palms I'm going to include next year.

 

[Padamom]

Well, I don't know if I would call it "hidden", but I would definitely make time to visit the deluxe resorts to see the decoration. The Candlelight Processional and the Holiday Storytellers at Epcot are must-dos for me, and I would highly recommend the CP dining package.

Thanks! I recently heard about a gingerbread house at the Floridian that I think we would like to see.

 

[Padamom]

It's "what are the parks doing this year" and "which resorts have what decorations" on property... I can see animal kingdom doing something new with the spring launch of the evening hours next year... not really hidden but there is always some type of new dining or desert experience.. There's a few backstage tours that are specific to the holidays and what it takes to do them.

The Trip and Universal podcast shows went into some of what was going on outside of disney if you want to go back to the last episode or two. ICE at the gaylord palms I'm going to include next year.

I'll look up that podcast. I guess I missed it. Thanks.

 

[Accident]

Thanks! I recently heard about a gingerbread house at the Floridian that I think we would like to see.

GF usually has a large gingerbread house, contemporary the last 2 years has had a "frozen inspired" 2d gingerbread display. Boardwalk last 2 years has had a jersey boardwalk style gingerbread stand with some gingerbread snacks you can get there. Not sure if they did it this year but last year yacht club had a gingerbread carousel horse + small winter train display. Wilderness Lodge has the properties largest christmas tree and the whole place is well decorated. fort wilderness unofficially has some things including many that decorate their camp sites. I personally do a epcot resort crawl couple hours (with lunch or something), and a monorail resort crawl (with meal somewhere). Wilderness lodge we'll do lunch or dinner and just leave MK for a couple hours and boat over.

Resorts are initially decorated by halloween but it'll be near thanksgiving when all the displays are up. MK is decorated between halloween and the first christmas party (generally about 1-1/2 weeks apart), epcot starts after food and wine ends with the candlelight starting just after thanksgiving weekend.

Xmas parade that airs on tv dec25 is pre-taped usually first week of december but this year they did it middle of november instead. (usually DL is mid nov). the large xmas tree goes up after the taping. mid december they start to run the holiday parade for all guests and not just the party guests.

That's the rough calendar to try to target when you might want to visit for the holidays. Things will start to appear on the disneypark blogs or unofficial blogs (and here) as they happen or get announced.

 

[siskaren]

1. Resorts are initially decorated by Halloween but it'll be near Thanksgiving when all the displays are up.

2. MK is decorated between Halloween and the first Christmas party (generally about 1-1/2 weeks apart),

3. Epcot starts after food and wine ends with the candlelight starting just after Thanksgiving weekend.

1. No resorts are going to have Christmas decorations up before Halloween.

2. Actually, the last Halloween party and the first Christmas party are normally one week apart.

3. I don't know about the decorations, but the Candlelight Processional and Holiday Storytellers always start the day after Thanksgiving.

 

[Accident]

1. No resorts are going to have Christmas decorations up before Halloween.

I've never seen the gingerbread displays that early and maybe bad wording on my part to not just say that.

 

[kayemgi]

We just got back from a trip, and if we go around the same time next year (planning to!) I would book a dinner package to get seats for Candlelight Processional, and I'd spend more time seeing the Holiday Storytellers in Epcot. The ones we got to see were delightful.