Christmas 2007 @ OKW. Any help?

[kespo]

Hi-
We are planning our first Christmas trip to Disney. We are staying in a studio @ OKW for the dates of Dec.22-29. We don't know where to begin planning. We want to go to the Very Merry Party. I think it might end on the 22nd. Anyone know for sure?
Also, do the crowds die down after Christmas passes or do they stay until New Year's? Any advice would be great!! Thank you.

 

[dianeschlicht]

As for the crowds...You are going to be there the absolute BUSIEST week of the year for WDW. Crowds will be log jammed your entire trip, and they don't really settle down until after New Year's Day. With New Year's being on a Tuesday this year, it will likely drop way off right on New Year's Day itself. Our experience has been that the crowds drop off right away when NY is toward teh middle of the week, but stay on through the weekend after if it's late in the week.

BTW, you will LOVE how lots of folks at OKW decorate their balcony for the holidays. We usually take lights along and put them up on the balcony for any December trip.

Eight days is a long time to be in a studio!!! I doubt I could do it. I'd want that Jacuzzi, full kitchen, and laundry room too badly!

 

[jekjones1558]

This site http://www.intercot.com/infocentral/holidays/christmas/mvmcp.asp reports that the last date for MVMCP will be Dec. 21 in 2007.

 

[daisyduck123]

subscribing;....

 

[Granny]

Hi-
We are planning our first Christmas trip to Disney. We are staying in a studio @ OKW for the dates of Dec.22-29. We don't know where to begin planning. We want to go to the Very Merry Party. I think it might end on the 22nd. Anyone know for sure?
Also, do the crowds die down after Christmas passes or do they stay until New Year's? Any advice would be great!! Thank you.

We just went this past Christmas for our first trip to WDW at that time of the year. Diane is right....it is the single busiest week at WDW. Here's a shot of Sunset Blvd on a typical day that week:

Here's some things I found to be helpful.


- Absulutely plan on making your dining reservations exactly at 180 days out. It is very hard to get ADR's for that week if you wait longer, especially at the more popular restaurants.

- Depending on how you like to visit the parks, take advantage of EMH and get out of the parks by mid-morning.

- Book a Candlelight Processional package meal. It's not cheap but it is a great way to get a good meal and see this beautiful spectacular.

- Make sure you go over to MGM and see the Osborne Lights....just wonderful!

- Take time to enjoy the holiday parades...they are very nice.

- When the parks are busy, take some time to go visit other resorts to see their holiday decorations. We liked VWL, BWV and GF the best though the more you can see the better.

- Go to EPCOT and listen to the Christmas storytellers in each country.



We found that the crowds on December 23 and 24 actually weren't all that bad, but from Christmas on it got more and more packed in the parks. A couple of times they closed the parks due to capacity for several hours.

It's a wonderful time to visit, but not a great time if you want to go on ride after ride.

Use EMH and FastPasses and relax and enjoy the festivities!

 

[kespo]

jekjones- Thanks for the website.. Very helpful


Granny- Wow, thanks for the photo and all of the info. Great ideas. I was wondering about how far in advance I would need to make AD ressie's. Can you tell me more about the candelight processional package meal? Thank you!


Dianeshclicht- Thanks for the advice. On waitlist for a 1bdr. I know what you mean about a studio. Although, I have not yet stayed in a studio.. I have been spoiled with a 1 or 2 bdr. unit so far. Keeping my fingers crossed !

 

[Granny]

Granny- Wow, thanks for the photo and all of the info. Great ideas. I was wondering about how far in advance I would need to make AD ressie's. Can you tell me more about the candelight processional package meal? Thank you!

Here's a link from this site with info about CP. You can find more information on any Disney site or just Google Disney Candlelight Processional.

Candelight Processional Info .

Enjoy the planning!!

 

[dianeschlicht]

I would also like you to know that you can call 180 days ahead for ADRs rather than 120 days. VERY important for that week! We are going for Thanksgiving, and I have the 180 day marked on my calendar!

 

[Granny]

I would also like you to know that you can call 180 days ahead for ADRs rather than 120 days. VERY important for that week! We are going for Thanksgiving, and I have the 180 day marked on my calendar!

Arghhhh!! How could I have missed that!!

Yes, I meant 180 days!!!

Sorry about that.

Here's the ADR planning calculator from this site:DIS ADR Calculator

 

[kaelarad]

DH and I have been at Disney for Christmas for the last 7 years and as another poster said, the crowds are not that bad until Dec 25 and each day after that the crowds grow. NYE is the busiest day for Disney. Make ADR at 180 days use EMH and pack your patience!

 

[jdvm]

Well, I'm glad you're trying to get a one bedroom. I'd call member Services every few days and see if they have ANY of the nights you want. I'd add them one by one. A one bedroom is far preferable in my view. Good luck
J

 

[want2bamommy]

Hi-
We are planning our first Christmas trip to Disney. We are staying in a studio @ OKW for the dates of Dec.22-29. We don't know where to begin planning. We want to go to the Very Merry Party. I think it might end on the 22nd. Anyone know for sure?
Also, do the crowds die down after Christmas passes or do they stay until New Year's? Any advice would be great!! Thank you.

DH and I are also going during this time (arriving the same day as you 12/22 and leaving on 1/1). I was SO DISSAPOINTED that we are missing the Christmas Party by ONE NIGHT!! Oh well maybe another time.

I am wondering when they will release info about the Holiday Meals for 2007. Everywhere I look they are still up for 2006. I have my ADR day marked on my calendar and a reminder set in my cell phone but I'd like to read more about them this year. I assume that they will be the same each year but still I want to see the for 2007. I do want to do the Candlelight Processional and most likely Christmas Dinner (lunch really) at the Liberty Tree Tavern.

Another thing that worries me is the parks closing at capacity and not being able to get back in for a dinner ADR. We typically go back to the resort for a little while in the afternoon but it sounds like we will have to stick around all day at the parks for the dinner ressies.

Missie

 

[kespo]

want2beamommy-I was disappointed too that we are going to miss the christmas party by one night.

I did hear that they do the same thing(parade, snow,etc. )on the 24th and
25th in the parks with regular admission. But, I also heard that the parks fill to capacity at about noon on those days. Can anyone confirm that? And does anyone know when you can buy a ticket to the Christmas party? We were thinking of just going a day earlier with a cash ressie or staying with family. Thanks!