Anyone want to tell me about their December trips?

[PollyannaMom]

So, we are booked for the first week of December this year, and I'm so excited! It's our first time in WDW during the holiday season, though, and I know that our strategy might change based on different factors (weather, in particular). We'll be factoring in MVMCP, and wanting to focus on the holiday-oriented things. Also, we usually spend a decent amount of time at the pool, given we usually visit in warmer weather, but I'm not sure if it'll be warm enough to swim. On the other hand, reduced heat might mean we last longer in the parks!

Anyway, I'm really hoping to hear about those December trips! Where did you stay, eat, what holiday-related events/attractions did you enjoy, how did you structure your days?

Here's the link to a mini-trip-report I did for one we took a few years ago:
https://www.disboards.com/threads/“the-ultimate-split-stay”-december-2018-trip-report.3738929/
...

 

[Cynt]

We usually go May or September. I'm a little nervous about our trip the week of Christmas. I know it will be crazy busy so I'm trying to mentally prepare for the crowds. I'm interested in any tips to tour the parks during Christmas week.

 

[PollyannaMom]

We usually go May or September. I'm a little nervous about our trip the week of Christmas. I know it will be crazy busy so I'm trying to mentally prepare for the crowds. I'm interested in any tips to tour the parks during Christmas week.

Just keep your expectations realistic. A Christmas trip isn't about riding as many rides as you can in a week - it's about the atmosphere: the decorations, the special touches, watching all the people around you who love Disney and Christmas as much as you do... You're going at that time for a reason, so don't make it a competition with your previous trips.

If you're not energized by crowds, make sure to scout out some out-of-the-way places to just take a few breaths and rest a bit during your day.

Take some time before your trip if you can to research what attractions have "overlays" for the holidays (for example, the Jungle Cruise becomes the "Jingle Cruise") or what restaurants have special holiday menus, so you know whether you want to prioritize them.

One good thing - it will probably be a lot cooler than you're used to!