Camping at Christmas?

[AlyLynn]

This will be our first Christmas away from home. We are all excited to be going to FW, but I have a question particularly for those of you who have been away for the Holidays. I normally start buying Christmas gifts for the kids in January--because we have 4 kids...that way we don't feel the crunch so badly. Obviously, we have to scale back being in the trailer, but how do you do it so the kids are just as excited about Christmas? Any ideas would be appreciated.
The kids will be 3, 6, 11, and 14 by December. Thanks!

 

[becky1960]

I do not think you will have a problem, being at WDW they will be excited enough. We put out lights and decorations to make it feel like home and you will see many, many sites decorated at Christmas.
We are also planning on being there at Christmas after all its my Birthday 12/25..

 

[VAN]

The one year that we were in Vegas at Christmas, we took a very few small things for them to open on Christmas day, but left the "big" gift at home. Each of my kids got a stereo ... it was not quite as exciting as opening it on Christmas day, but the kids understood as they were on VACATION!

 

[Shannone1]

This will be our first Christmas away from home. We are all excited to be going to FW, but I have a question particularly for those of you who have been away for the Holidays. I normally start buying Christmas gifts for the kids in January--because we have 4 kids...that way we don't feel the crunch so badly. Obviously, we have to scale back being in the trailer, but how do you do it so the kids are just as excited about Christmas? Any ideas would be appreciated.
The kids will be 3, 6, 11, and 14 by December. Thanks!

Hi Aly (??)

We will be there at th same time. Mine will be 14,12 and 7. I have been thinking about this also. I want to give the kids gifts of course, but it will be a challenge since storage space is limited. I don't want to give them to them before we leave and I don't want to wait until we get home.

With my older two most of what they like is small anyway. Music, books, money, lol. My youngest will be harder because to him the amount of gifts under the tree still matter and he won't realize that the trip IS part of the gift.

I'm going to put a 2 or 3ft tree on the dash of the MH and our stockings too. We will read "The Night Before Christmas" as is our tradition and then sneak out and put the gifts near the tree when you youngest falls asleep. They may not as many gifts as in years past, but I think we can still make it fun for the kids. And it's a good time to reinforce the fact that Christmas isn't really about the presents anyway.

 

[AlyLynn]

Hi Aly (??)

We will be there at th same time. Mine will be 14,12 and 7. I have been thinking about this also. I want to give the kids gifts of course, but it will be a challenge since storage space is limited. I don't want to give them to them before we leave and I don't want to wait until we get home.

With my older two most of what they like is small anyway. Music, books, money, lol. My youngest will be harder because to him the amount of gifts under the tree still matter and he won't realize that the trip IS part of the gift.

I'm going to put a 2 or 3ft tree on the dash of the MH and our stockings too. We will read "The Night Before Christmas" as is our tradition and then sneak out and put the gifts near the tree when you youngest falls asleep. They may not as many gifts as in years past, but I think we can still make it fun for the kids. And it's a good time to reinforce the fact that Christmas isn't really about the presents anyway.

That's exactly why we wanted to try camping at Christmas! We are brand new to camping, but we all love it, and we all love FW! The presents have gotten TOTALLY out of control at our house (TOTALLY my fault), and I wanted to try to bring back the "real" meaning of Christmas without "traumatizing" the kids! Anyway, thanks for the ideas, hope we get to meet you at Christmas!

 

[4daubers]

This will be our first Christmas trip to WDW. We travel with another family. Both families have gone through extended family issues that basically made us realize that spending Christmas with 80,000 strangers will be less stressful than the past few Christmases....so we're running away to the Fort. We started right after we made the reservations. It's been fun and kind of a way to celebrate all year long. In my "mad at extended family, hell bent on making this the Christmas to remember" frenzy mode, I want it to be bright, shiny, glittery Christmas...my kids are a little worried with all the glitter..

Here's what we're doing:

1. Surprise Christmas stockings in the RV
2. RV Christmas tree with different ornaments than home tree. All ornaments are reminders of camping/trip memories. I have a new love for Mill Hill beaded cross stitch ornaments. They're small, beautiful, and easy. Also made Mickey head ornaments last week. Our tree isn't all Disney...ooh I may not need to share that.
3. Christmas garland bough with battery lights draped around inside slideout frame to hang stockings.
4. I've begun buying smaller gifts and stashing away. For the bigger gifts (not that there will be many), I'm going to have envelopes with a card stating what the bigger gift is and that it's at home waiting for them. Plan to have homemade envelopes with confetti, etc. to make it special when they open them.
5. Mickey Lamppost will be decorated for Christmas as will the satellite dish and outside decorationd.
6. We're hoping to do the Candlelight Processional on Christmas Eve (in place of our Christmas Eve service at home) and opening gifts on Christmas morning.

You could also have gifts shipped to Fort Wilderness to pick up when you arrive.

This is so much fun!

 

[kc5grw]

For our first surprise Christmas trip in 2003 we brought the stockings and small items to fill them. I bought VISA gift cards for the kids and gave them to them as their presents. They really liked this and it worked out really well. Our trip ended just a few days after Christmas so they didn't spend every last cent of the cards in Disney and were able to get some cool stuff once they got home. It also worked out well for me since I was able to stay to a fixed amount much easier with the gift cards. For reference on this tirp our kids ages were; DS 15, DD 10, DD 8.

 

[SandrA9810]

I'm sure there's stuff you can buy at Disney for gifts as well. there's always the shipping option for more obviously large gifts.

Don't forget like the first week in July is when you can get reservations for the Candlelight. Being that Gary is the one always there for Christmas and Christmas eve, it's REALLY popular. And there is a credit card number hold on it as well. I was there for Christmas day and it was totally worth it to have the reservation. And if he keeps up his record Gary will perform his 100th Processional on Dec 23. (we were there for the 99th!!)

 

[araishin]

I congratulate you on your decision to attend during the Christmas season. For the past couple yars my family and I have camped out at FW in our RV and relaxed. Just touring the sites and seeing the other people's decoratons is a treat.

If you get the chance, by all means go to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. It is the most amazing night and the way the park comes out showing its Chrismas spirit is amazing! It is what I look forward to all year just before Christmas. It's my second favorie day of the year! The only other experience I could liken it to is GradNite . . .

 

[kmurawski]

We'll be there also during Christmas. Last time we stayed at Disney for Christmas (pre-camping) in 2006 we packed 2 small trees (1 for DH and 1 for us). One suitcase was just for Christmas stuff (we drove from Chicago) but DH didn't know that. We were at AKL. I think the trick is that once kids get older the gifts get smaller in size but more expensive in price. At almost 13 y.o. we are in the IPOD Touch, computer, XBox 260 phase. Well that year his gift was the XBox 360. This didn't take up very much room and the games were easy to pack. Best of all I got very sick on Christmas Day (after eating breakfast at Cinderella's Castle) and DS and DH were able to hook up the XBox to the TV in the room and play all day. OK, so camping is a little different. That year is what just happened to work for us. Now you got me thinking about what we're going to do this year....UGH!

 

[AlyLynn]

Thanks for all of the great ideas! We have been to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, and it is wonderful! Unfortunately, the day we check in is the day after the last day for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party! Our older kids are also into electronics, so that's a help. Our oldest son wants electronic drums this year--that would go over real well for everyone trying to relax at at FW! (You'll recognize him as the kid who takes a pair of drum sticks everywhere he goes!) Anyway, we look forward to spending the holidays with such a great group of people!

 

[4daubers]

We're missing the MVMCP as well. We arrive on the 20th. Guess that will be a reason for a return Christmas WDW trip.

 

[Shannone1]

We're missing the MVMCP as well. We arrive on the 20th. Guess that will be a reason for a return Christmas WDW trip.

I didn't realize those dates had been released yet. Where did you find them ??

 

[seabee]

AllEars has them posted.

November 10, 11, 14, 16, 20, 21, 30
December 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14,
16, 18, 19
Tickets on Sale May 1, 2008!

I am still looking for the halloween dates. I know it is OT but if anyone knows them I would be very appreciative!

 

[2goofycampers]

AllEars has them posted.

November 10, 11, 14, 16, 20, 21, 30
December 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14,
16, 18, 19
Tickets on Sale May 1, 2008!

I am still looking for the halloween dates. I know it is OT but if anyone knows them I would be very appreciative!

MNSSHP dates....http://www.mousesavers.com/wdwspecialevents.html#mnsshp

 

[Shannone1]

AllEars has them posted.

November 10, 11, 14, 16, 20, 21, 30
December 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14,
16, 18, 19
Tickets on Sale May 1, 2008!

I am still looking for the halloween dates. I know it is OT but if anyone knows them I would be very appreciative!

We aren't coming in until Dec 22nd. I thought they would have the Christmas party right up until Christmas

 

[kc5grw]

We'll be arriving the 19th. Based on our trip in Dec 2003 I figured that the last day for the party would be the 19th. It just so happens that our Dec 2003 arrival was also on the 19th, the last day of the MVMCP for that year. We'll definitely do the party again this trip. I wouldn't miss it.

 

[4daubers]

We aren't coming in until Dec 22nd. I thought they would have the Christmas party right up until Christmas

We did too. I posted a question on another site and they posted that MK will have all the parades and activities of the parties during each day...just not a closed park to party.

I am excited about the EPCOT Candlelight Processional...we're planning on going on Christmas Eve.

 

[merryweather20]

Keep in mind that, no matter how well you know your kids, you probably have no idea what traditions your kids find really important. I remember how shocked my Mom was when she asked what my favourite Christmas gift was, and I told her that "Santa" always took the time to pick out a magazine he knew I'd really like, and not only that,but I could name every one I'd gotten from 7 to 19. Yep my faourite Christmas gift cost $2.99

Think about what they'll be missing out on from the 20th to the time you get back. Do your kids really get excited over Christmas baking? Specific decorations? Can any of that be rescheduled or brought with you?

Most important, when do they shop or make their Christmas gifts for you? This was my pet peeve when we travelled at Christmas, because there was no room to pack my Christmas gifts to my parents. No kid likes to here their presents don't count

 

[seabee]

MNSSHP dates....http://www.mousesavers.com/wdwspecialevents.html#mnsshp