Christmas 2006

[canwegosoon]

I have never been to WDW at Christmastime Imagine the Horror...and my kids will be 8, so I figure it will be the perfect time. SO if you have gone, please give me tons of advice.

The basic plans include
Driving to WDW(but open to flying if I can get a good rate..please post any tips)
Checking in on the 24th(Sunday)
Checking out on the 29th
Driving Home

Info:
-Would love to make this a grand gatherings with as many family members as possible(but don't have the points to have everyone stay DVC), so should I stay in a shared resort? Should I trade my points for something like POR? Should I have family members rent points? Or just have everyone stay where they can afford?
-We live in the Latham/Albany area of NY, all the rest of the family lives in LI, Driving will be much cheaper, but I guess we could keep our eyes opened for a good flight rate. Does anyone Drive and where do you stop?
-What about things like Christmas Party, etc...I really don't know what is available Christmas Week...or should I scrap the christmas week plans, and do something like a 4 day stay earlier in the month?
-Booking do I have to book at the 11 month window? For a stuido,1brm,2brm?

Thanks, Terri

 

[drusba]

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party does not occur during that week as it usually ends about 12/20 when the huge crowds move in and the parks go to extended hours, like midnight at MK. The Christmas decorations, at parks and resorts, are all very good with the Osborne Lights at Disney Studios being the most impressive (although you can see all the Christmas decorations the entire month). The crowds are huge; example: at 11:30 a.m. in MK you are standing at the base of Main Street and look down toward the castle; you don't see the street, you don't see the sidewalks; all you see is bobbing heads moving en masse toward the castle. Arriving early to get on some rides and use of fastpass (which generally run out before noon for the entire day) are necessary to avoid the usual 2 hour or longer lines for the popular attractions; even the secondary attractions, like the Treehouse, suffer lines of greater than an hour; Test Track and Soarin' will get to 3 hours; for parades, people actually start seizing prime viewing spots 90 minutes before they begin. Eating at a full service restaurant is near impossible without a ressie made well in advance; walk up to Crystal Palace at 5:30 on Christmas Day and ask to be put down for the next available seating time and you are likely to be told January 3 at 5 p.m. Even the counter service restaurants get lines of 40 minutes or more during prime lunch and dinner times. Weather can range from the very pleasant (sunny and 80) to very cool (high 40's) and rainy and that could be during the same week. If you take relatives who have never been, the likely outcome is that they may never speak to you again, believing you insane for thinking WDW to be an ideal place to visit. If you can go earlier in the month, do so -- you get all the Christmas decorations and events and much more manageable crowds, and the point or rental cost is much cheaper. If you want family members to actually spend a lot of time with each other, it is best for all to stay at the same resort.

 

[wdwstar]

Last Christmas we did a family reunoin, i booked the VWL for all the rooms 11 months out dec.23, i rented points from a vwl owner and had the points transfered into my account. then on dec.26 we all moved to the BCV , which i own and stayed until dec.30. On dec.30 we moved to SSR for the great fireworks show from PI. We all sent our luggage with bell service and didnt have any problems. I wanted everyone to get the feeling of at least 3 different resorts, since i doubt that anyone would go back. We went to parks together even did US & IOA, we mnade PS for all our meals that we ate out and we all had a great time. Now, at the end of the family reunoin i find out that they would all love to do it again in a couple of years. I would do it again except i would go with the GV at OKW and BCV again.

I also made all the car rental ressies and just put the car rentals in their name. We also had goody bags for all the kids each day, it was great to see them come back to the room and find little gifts and goody bags. On pool day , the night before all the kids got beach towels. the night before christmas eve they all got mickey christmas t shirts, the night before the magic kingdom the kids all got pirate t-shirts, and so on... thank goodness dsis drove to bring all the stuff. Everyone favorite place to eat was ohana, then we walked to the beach and watched Wishes, oh the nite before all the kids got the Wishes CD. I bought one and we burned the rest.

we also did alot of non expensive things too.

 

[canwegosoon]

OK so I'm getting the hint go earlier...but, if I can not (due to kids school) ...is it horrible? I can deal with crowds(I have done Easter), and love to do the pools, and DTD etc, and we wouldn't be having to go on every ride.
IS it wall to wall all day and night?

If Mickey's Christmas party isn't available...is CP?

And where do I buy tickets for these events, and when do they go on sale? Thanks Everyone!!!

I think I might look into renting points from friends(or borrowing points...) and I guess I should start planning my Adr's soon

 

[Minnie1156]

I have never been to disney around the Holidays either and I plan to go this year. We are going from November 20 to the 26 ov er Thanksgiving. Do they Have the Holiday Parade that early and is it all decorated? Also does Epcot have their Christmas around the World then? Thanks

Ida

 

[LivinADream]

I have never been to disney around the Holidays either and I plan to go this year. We are going from November 20 to the 26 ov er Thanksgiving. Do they Have the Holiday Parade that early and is it all decorated? Also does Epcot have their Christmas around the World then? Thanks

Ida

We went 2006 the week of Nov. 11 thru the 18th. This was also the week that the Very Merry Christmas party and parade started MK was all decorated and the Osborne Festival of lights began. We've been at WDW all differant times of the year and last year was by far the best trip we ever had. Crowds were light weather was perfect and it was my daughters first time made it the perfect trip for us. Now looking at joining DVC soon !!

 

[Granny]

OK so I'm getting the hint go earlier...but, if I can not (due to kids school) ...is it horrible? I can deal with crowds(I have done Easter), and love to do the pools, and DTD etc, and we wouldn't be having to go on every ride.
IS it wall to wall all day and night?

We found that the crowds are heavy at Christmas and build during the week going up to New Years.

Here's what Sunset Blvd at MGM looked like on a typical day:

You can see this was taken on 12/29 but I can't say that it was a whole lot better a few days earlier.

Having said that, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay last year 12/23-30. Would love to do it again some time.

 

[Island_Lauri]

We went this past Christmas. We drove from NY -- stopping for a night in SC -- and arrived late afternoon on Saturday, 12/23. We stayed at the BWV and had a wonderful time. We went to World Showcase the evening of the 23rd - spent just 15 minutes in line for Soaring that evening. (The rest of the week we saw hour long lines at soaring.) We went to Magic Kingdom in the morning on the 24th and we walked right on Splash Mountain and Runaway Train (not sure if that is the correct name). We left in the early afternoon after watching the first parade and the crowds were pouring in - it was actually difficult to walk down Main Street as it was so crowded with the people just heading in. We spent the morning of the 25th at Animal Kingdom. Walked right on Everest Expedition twice. Left there in the early afternoon and had a very nice dinner at Boma's that evening. We returned to the Villa in the afternoons and ventured out again in the evenings and took advantage of the late hours at the parks. We stayed through the 29th and had a wonderful time.

We somehow managed to avoid the crowds -- must have chosen the correct parks on the correct days at the correct time. We were able to do much more than we expected.

 

[kocar]

We love going to Disney at xmas time but have always gone the days leading up to and including xmas day, then leave on the evening of the 26th after doing some fun outside the parks activities like character breakfasts/lunches, mini-golf, downtown disney, etc.

Going on the days before xmas are considerably different than going between xmas and new years for sure. You are comparing the least crowded time with the most crowded time. In addition, your points to stay are higher that last week of Dec. vs. going earlier in the month or even the week before.

Your choice depends upon your level of tolerance for waiting in lines even with fastpass vs. less crowded parks and less waiting time in lines.

Definitely do Hoop Dee Doo at Ft. Wilderness and then take the hayride located just outside. You sing xmas carols and see all the great holiday light displays of the people who stay in the cabins and campground at Ft. Wilderness.

 

[Minnie1156]

We went 2006 the week of Nov. 11 thru the 18th. This was also the week that the Very Merry Christmas party and parade started MK was all decorated and the Osborne Festival of lights began. We've been at WDW all differant times of the year and last year was by far the best trip we ever had. Crowds were light weather was perfect and it was my daughters first time made it the perfect trip for us. Now looking at joining DVC soon !!

thanks for the information. I am really excited now!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Connears]

We have been to WDW for the past four xmas weeks and just made reservations at home resort of OKW for the arrival sunday 12/23 and leaving 12/28 for one night at Royal Pacific @ Universal (for front of line). We love wdw at christmas and , yes it is crowded, but we just take that into account. With FP, it is still doable, but we know that if we miss an attraction, we will be back again. We really have stopped doing the crack of dawn stuff and still have a great time. If we are there for xmas day, we have always avoided any park. This year we have late breakfast at 1900 PF(wonderful) and did disney quest (DH,DS) and DTD for shopping and then Calif Grill for late dinner 9:00pm and great view of Wishes. We did CP for xmas eve with dinner at Teppanyaki and it really made the holiday spirit. Because we stay at DVC we love just relaxing at the resort or taking a pontoon boat out in the middle of the day then returning to parks at night. Have fun!
Connears