Best Family WDW Holiday Events

[cbbi]

We just decided to take a trip to WDW during the 1st week of December. This is the first time we will be at WDW during the holiday season. Any suggestions for can't miss special holiday activities? My children are 22 months, 6 and 11. We will only be there for 4 days. I worry Mickey's Party will be too late and too crowded for my 22 month old and that he will be too loud for the Christmas Processional. Maybe the Osborne lights at MGM? or looking at Christmas decorations at the resorts?

Thanks in advance for your advice --

 

[MrsM]

I would definitely recommend the Osborne lights, just try to avoid going when they first come as that seems to be the most crowded time.

It's also nice to walk around Epcot and learn about holiday tradions from the different countries. There are also special holiday parades at AK & MGM.

The decorations at the resorts are beautiful, and there are also some special holiday things going on at Downtown Disney (Santa's there daily, they used to have an ice skating rink, not sure if that's still there).

 

[cbbi]

Thank you for the advice. I hadn't thought of downtown Disney -- that sounds like fun. One more question - how does Mickey's Magical Party impact the crowd during the day at MK? And will we really be missing out if we don't attend?

 

[MrsM]

We have done MVMCP several times in the past, but we're not doing it this year because, like you, I think it will be too late for our 23 month old. When DH & I have done it in the past, we really took advantage of the full time frame to see everything.

They do have a lot of cute holiday shows, free cookies and hot chocolate, "snow" on Main Street, and the Christmas parade (which is your only chance to see it if you're at WDW prior to 12/18). If I remember correctly, they did some of the special shows during the day, too. The only negative impact I remember to the park during the days of the party is that it closes early and there are no fireworks or Spectromagic.

The theme of the party was great, and I would love to do it again, but we will wait until our children are old enough that we feel we'll get our money's worth out of it.