Calling All Christmas Crackpots!

[Planecrazy4dis]

Count us in. Myself, my wife and our son, along with my parents will be arriving on December 18 staying through the 26th. We are staying at AllStar Movies.

 

[poohangel]

This will be our first trip at Christmas. I can't wait. We will be there from 12-3-05 to 12-08-05, I hope that it will not be very crowded then.

God Bless, poohangel

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I'm starting to have nightmares about going on the holidays now. Even though I have been before, I wonder if my vacations have always been a fluke...I had no problems following my plans and getting things done during the busiest time of year....but listening to others talk, one would think that there's no way you can even MOVE in the parks at Christmastime. Then I start to question myself...how did I do it before? Can I do it again? Will I have a good time? AM I CRAZY????? . Well, yeah. So, I have nightmares of being lost in a sea of strangers, no attractions in sight, just the back of other peoples' heads....
I know this won't really happen, but I guess when you spend the better part of a year planning a thing, you start to imagine all that COULD go wrong.

 

[Danauk]

I too am beginning to panic about the crowds. But then yesterday I phoned CR to book some backstage tours we anted to do. We managed to book the backstage magic tour for the day we wanted (23rd December) and the segway tour on the day we wanted as well (27th December). So now those are booked I am a lot happier. At least if the parks are really crowded on the days we are in them I will have had fun doing the tours.

 

[Lucky4me]

We're a crackpot family of 12 already planning for Christmas 2006 trip! We'll be staying at Pop for 8 nights leaving the day after Christmas. I've never been to the World in late December. We used to traditionally go the week of and/or after Thanksgiving so we have seen the Christmas decor, but I have a question.
For 6 of our family members this will be their very 1st trip. How horrible are the crowds. Will it be at capacity every day?! in every park?! They all know I'm a disney addict and I am doing all the planning for the trip. Would hate it if their first trip is frustrating because of crowds.
Wonderful father-in-law is paying for our whole trip as his Christmas gift to us - should I try to talk him into going the week after Thanksgiving instead?

I'd try to convince him to switch it, especially for the sake of the first timers. Yes, it will be at capacity or close to it on Christmas and the days preceeding and after Christmas day. The park hours are extended so that does help, especially if you are a night owl and can stay in the parks till the wee hours.

The week after Thanksgiving is still crowded, but nothing like Christmas week. If you can switch, I'd plan on going to Mickeys Christmas party and really showing the newbies how wonderful and relaxing a Disney vacation can be. If that's not possible and you do go Christmas week, plan on waiting for everything from seats on busses, to meal times, rides, shopping and even elevators. Add the total hours you will wait into your itinerary. Don't let the newbies be shocked at how crowded it will be. Forewarn them all.

 

[MinnieFan]

We'll be there 12/26 - 1/1, our first trip at this time of year. Our anniversary is 12/26 so this will be a special way to spend it. We know this is the worst week of the year crowd-wise, but we're really looking forward to the special parades, decorations, etc. and are not so worried about getting on every ride. We want to do the Candlelight Processional and maybe one of the backstage tours, maybe even a Wishes cruise. So I guess we'll see you all there!

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I too am beginning to panic about the crowds. But then yesterday I phoned CR to book some backstage tours we anted to do. We managed to book the backstage magic tour for the day we wanted (23rd December) and the segway tour on the day we wanted as well (27th December). So now those are booked I am a lot happier. At least if the parks are really crowded on the days we are in them I will have had fun doing the tours.

Oh, I was going to book a Segway tour...I have to look up more info, though, like, how much they are. I didn't realize you could book those so far in advance! Darn, hope I'm not too late!

 

[Danauk]

The segway tour is $80 but we got it for $68 with a DVC discount. We phoned the WDW-TOUR number and got the date we wanted. If you phone this week I am sure you will get on the tour you want to as well.

 

[2belles'mom]

We have been at Christmas time several times over the past 6 years. It IS do-able, and you can have a blast! The secret is getting up EARLY and taking advantage of the 8:00 (or 7:00!!!) openings, and then bailing when gridlock hits--usually by 11:00 a.m. I have pics of an EMPTY tomorrowland on December 27 (of course, it was 7:30 a.m. )--but those pics remind me how important it is to get up early.

We spent Dec-28, 29 and 30 last Christmas (after our 10 day cruise ), and had a great time. My girls have increased Disney-stamina compared to past years, so we even stayed in the parks and did park hopping during that crazy period!

Next year we are going with a big bunch--my parents, my brother and SIL and their 3 kids--, staying Dec 17-27 at BWV. Two years ago the same bunch went on roughly the same dates, and things were so much fun everyone agreed to do it again (I am the disney addict in the family, so I take heart when the non-disney-aholics agree to go again, especially on those dates!).

Those of you going before the 25th, as a previous poster stated, will not have trouble with crowds until the 25th draws near. But remember, if you force yourself to get up and out there early (and come on, its not like you are going to WORK, so the early-up won't be as hard!) you will beat the crowds.

One last note: I just returned YESTERDAY from 7-days at BWV and the Swan. This is the first time I have gone at this time of the year. I actually was disappointed because of the late (9:00) park openings, which made it more difficult to beat the crowds. So for me, I found that I am actually able to avoid the crowds more effectively during the Crazy Christmas crowds--yes, my three days this past Christmas (Dec 28, 29, 30) were more productive than this trip!!!!!! go figure...

 

[Dcat2u]

We spent Xmas 2002 there, a few weeks before DH left for Iraq. We did the CP on Xmas eve, rainy but nice. XMas day we spent at a clinic DD#2 got bronchitis, we decided to extend our stay by 2 days at the WL and they honored our discount rate we had for the original stay. We are going this year 18-24 Dec w/my mom & 2 younger brothers (high school age) and then driving back to Pensacola to spend Xmas w/them. My girls chose to stay at Pop even though I said they could stay where they wanted (mom's friend is a cast member).

 

[UrsulasShadow]

So, what's everyone's plans for Christmas Day? What are you doing for dinner?

 

[dgaston]

So, what's everyone's plans for Christmas Day? What are you doing for dinner?

As I sip a glass of wine, I'll cook our traditional turkey in the oven, and do a small spiral ham in the crockpot. I'll try not to set off all the smoke detectors in the house the way I did in 2003!

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I'm arriving on Christmas Day night, so I'd like to have a special dinner when we arrive, and I do NOT want to cook! Any suggestions out there as to a good restaurant somewhere in WDW that does a nice Christmas dinner?

 

[UrsulasShadow]

oops, should post this in Dining, I guess...

 

[7thdwarf/dopey]

Dec 7 - 14th I wish it would hurry up and be December already....

 

[ztam3]

I am soo excited. I love Christmas in Disney. Any suggestions on which restaurant to choose for the CP package?
THANKS

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I am soo excited. I love Christmas in Disney. Any suggestions on which restaurant to choose for the CP package?
THANKS

I'm hoping to book PS's at Le Cellier for the day after Christmas...I love that restaurant! They do good salmon there. And my DH likes the steak.