Christmas 2008 to go or not to go.....

[Greatfalls]

landiscarrier --

By all means, you should go. We went Thursday to Monday right before Christmas (left Christmas Eve) this year. Although there were crowds, they weren't oppressive. From what I understand (and others have said in this thread), the crowds are huge the week between Christmas and New Years, but as we saw, the crowds even the weekend before were okay. If you're going on the 19th you'll have a couple of weekdays before the crowds get there, and even the weekend shouldn't be bad. The musts are (1) Very Merry Christmas party, so you can see the ice castle and lights at MK at night. We went on a night when it was sold out, but they limited the number of tickets. There were absolutely no lines in any of the rides and most of the people were concentrated on Main Street. Tickets go on sale in May. (2) Candlelight Processional. They have dinner packages at the Epcot restaurants, which guarantees that you have seats in the amphitheater. Also, the countries are a lot of fun with traditional holiday ornaments and activities. (3) Gingerbread houses in the hotel lobbies, especially Grand Floridian, Beach Clud and Boardwalk

We didn't get the chance to do the Osborne lights, but my parents did and had a great time, although they said that was wall-to-wall people. Finally, I tend to be turned off like Charlie Brown by overly commercial Christmas, but there really was none of that. They try to be traditional, with garlands, toy ornaments, and colored lights. It's absolutely warm and welcoming. A great family time.

 

[WolfpackFan]

I'm in the process of making our ressies now for our stay in a 2BR at VWL next Christmas (Dec. 21-26). We went this last December and WDW is so completely different at that time of year than any other. Next Christmas going on different attractions is not going to be very important to us. Rather we will be there just for the great Christmas atmosphere that is everywhere. We hope to do CP on Christmas Eve and Osbourn lights the night before. The only attractions that we will probably actually have to do will be Soaring, the new SSE, Haunted Mansion and an AK Safari. I can see us spending a lot of time walking around seeing all the decorations, listening to the Christmas music, etc. On Christmas Day, we will probably do AK in the morning and then come back and have Christmas Dinner at Wilderness Lodge. It will be me, DW, DD28 and DS32. This will be the first time we've ever been away from home at Christmas and we're really looking forward to it (at least DW and myself are, DD and DS are just kind of humoring us).

 

[Muushka]

I'm in the process of making our ressies now for our stay in a 2BR at VWL next Christmas (Dec. 21-26). We went this last December and WDW is so completely different at that time of year than any other. Next Christmas going on different attractions is not going to be very important to us. Rather we will be there just for the great Christmas atmosphere that is everywhere. We hope to do CP on Christmas Eve and Osbourn lights the night before. The only attractions that we will probably actually have to do will be Soaring, the new SSE, Haunted Mansion and an AK Safari. I can see us spending a lot of time walking around seeing all the decorations, listening to the Christmas music, etc. On Christmas Day, we will probably do AK in the morning and then come back and have Christmas Dinner at Wilderness Lodge. It will be me, DW, DD28 and DS32. This will be the first time we've ever been away from home at Christmas and we're really looking forward to it (at least DW and myself are, DD and DS are just kind of humoring us).

It must be something in our nearly extinct, very expensive Cary water!

We just completed a Disney Christmas and we did just about everything you are going to do.

Next Christmas going on different attractions is not going to be very important to us.

Same for us. We had no visions of doing a lot of attractions, just soaking up atmosphere.

We hope to do CP on Christmas Eve and Osbourn lights the night before.

we did this exactly. You may want to add the Harlem Gospel Choir at MGM. Hopefully they will perform every Christmas, a wonderful show.

Christmas Dinner at Wilderness Lodge.

Yup. We had breakfast there also, both at WCC. That is also where we stayed. No parks after Christmas Eve for us.

I hope you have a wonderful time! Great plan

 

[amscherm]

I have to say that I am so happy to have read this thread... We are going this year from the 22-27th... while we are expecting crowds... I think the atmosphere and such will make up for it, if we go in prepared.... it's nice to hear such positive responses for going at this time.... Thanks!

 

[WolfpackFan]

Yup. We had breakfast there also, both at WCC. That is also where we stayed. No parks after Christmas Eve for us.

I hope you have a wonderful time! Great plan

Muushka - Yep it must be in the water. A question - what did they have at WCC for Christmas dinner? Did they have anything special or just the regular menu? I hadn't thought about breakfast, but may do that also at WCC. We decided yesterday to fly down if the SW airline rates are reasonable.

 

[tomandrobin]

We hope to do CP on Christmas Eve and Osbourn lights the night before. This will be the first time we've ever been away from home at Christmas and we're really looking forward to it (at least DW and myself are, DD and DS are just kind of humoring us).

We could go see Osborne lights every night. When they play the music and have the lights syncronized to Trans Siberian Orchestra.....its just wonderful!

I have been trying to convience the DW for the past couple of years to stay during Christmas, but she just can't do it yet. This year we will be going the 12/27th-1/3 and the kids are staying home. They all bailed on us. Actually the oldest can't becuase of work and not having 3 weeks of vacation time a year.

 

[WolfpackFan]

You know we would never have considered being away from home in the past, but both are kids are grown adults now. We have no grandchildren. In the past we've gotten together with my brothers and their families, but we're just ready for a change this coming year. I know when we tell my brothers, they are going to think we're being anti-family or something, but we're just tired of the same old thing year after year. We're also thinking about doing Christmas at HHI year after next.

 

[tomandrobin]

You know we would never have considered being away from home in the past, but both are kids are grown adults now. We have no grandchildren. In the past we've gotten together with my brothers and their families, but we're just ready for a change this coming year. I know when we tell my brothers, they are going to think we're being anti-family or something, but we're just tired of the same old thing year after year. We're also thinking about doing Christmas at HHI year after next.

We are just a couple years behind you. The youngest is three years and 5 months away from graduation. I think after that, we can give it a go.

 

[mickeymom629]

We went this past Christmas week (we did Christmas week in 2003 also), followed TGM's advice and had a great time. The weather was beautiful. My teenage kids loved the Osbourne Christmas lights. We had a couple of days off of the parks (Christmas Eve and Thursday after Christmas). We hit one park each of the other 4 days. Got to the parks at opening (and we even stayed offsite with our van), gathered fp's and headed back later in the evening. Went to the Comedy Club the evening of AK. DTD and mini golf the Thursday off.

We did things we had never done before, but still didn't see all of course, and just tried to take it slower as the crowds filled the parks. We did so much in the a.m.'s! We had just gone in July, and knew we are going back spring break and in June (gotta get our fp money's worth!!)

We didn't eat at any TS restaurants to save money.

I would not hesitate to go during the crowded times. Have a plan and relax.

 

[disney dumbo]

We were there this past Christmas Dec. 23-27... I too was nervous... but it was a FABULOUS Christmas!!! We went with the attitude... may not get to do it all... but actually did all we wanted! My suggestions:
1. use TourGuide Mike and plan EARLY!
2. get CP reservations
3. if you have young kids... get midday reservations for character meal... then you don't have to deal with the lines to see them at the park and it gives you something to do when it gets crowded!
4. try and get dining reservations for 1 meal a day... because if you want to eat at those places... you will not be able to! We discovered a problem with my planning (long story) going down on the 23rd... and tried to book a different dinner reservation... nothing available... except 9pm at some undesirable restaurant. (In the end... it was great that I made the mistake... opened up other options in parks for us! Be flexible!)
5. Definitely see Osbourne lights! AWESOME! Disney snow!
6. Definitely see Harlem Gospel Choir! Could have enjoyed that twice or more!

Best bonus for us while staying at Wilderness Lodge:
Seeing Santa Christmas Eve.
Seeing Mickey & Minnie in the lobby Christmas Eve.
Hearing a high spirited ladies group sing in the lobby Christmas Eve.
Swimming in the pool Christmas Eve!
Seeing their magnificent Christmas tree!!!

Only thing we probably wouldn't do again... Sleigh Ride. It was neat... a good way to slow down... and get away from it all... but was difficult to find the time to fit it in... next time probably pass.

We brought some Christmas lights and minimal decorations... enough to make our room feel special.

A surprise:
Not seeing people as we are walking the hall to our room... we probably saw 3 families in that total time. A little like staying in the haunted mansion!

What surprised me most:
That I'd come home and say... I'd do it again!!!

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[Wendybird55]

I've never been to Disney at Christmas time BUT I have gone MANY times the week after Thanksgiving - in fact that's my favorite time to go. We usually leave the Friday after Thanksgiving or sometimes Thanksgiving eve. Traveling is not bad as everyone is stuffed with Turkey. The rest of Thanksgiving weekend (Fri, Sat, Sun) the parks are open late and you get to see electirc parade and all. PLUS the parks and hotels are decorated for Christmas. You have the entire Christmas feel which is wonderful. Also the candlelight processional (which is wonderful), Mickey's Merry Chrsitmas party (they open MK at night and have the Chrsitmas parade - it's like a dress rehersal) and the Osborne light show are all available at that time AND the crowds are light. I've been to Disney I'd say at least 14 times the week after Thanksgiving and never found it to be over crowded. And I love the Christmas feel. Plus this year Thanksgiving is late in the month which means more of the Disney Christmas celebrations will be available the week after Thanksgiving. Sometimes if Thanksgiving is early in the month and you don't stay long enough some of the Christmas celebrations are not yet ready.

If you're afraid of an overcrowded Chrsitmas week I strongly suggest the week after Thanksgiving - I've always found it a great time to go. Just make sure you keep calling reservations and as soon as the Chrsitmas shows (Candlelight processional, Very Merry Christmans party are available, make your reservations.) The Candlelight Processional is at American Pavillion in EPCOT you can wait on a general line to get it. They also have a "dinner" plan where you buy a ticket - have a choice of dinner at select restuarants and then priority seating for Candlelight Processional (much like Fantasmic). The Very Merry Christmas requires additional ticket purchase as well. Plus they have the Jolly Holiday dinner show which also requires advance ticket purchase. Good Luck

 

[wildernessDad]

AUGH!!!

I am confused, my wife really wants to go in December but I dislike crowds and standing in line. I am used to the early May or October crowds....

Then I suggest going early December, when the crowds are much lower and the Christmas decorations and celebration is going full speed.

 

[Muushka]

Muushka - Yep it must be in the water. A question - what did they have at WCC for Christmas dinner? Did they have anything special or just the regular menu? I hadn't thought about breakfast, but may do that also at WCC. We decided yesterday to fly down if the SW airline rates are reasonable.

They had a special menu for Christmas day. To be honest, I was underwhelmed with the meal. It was turkey, gravy, stuffing, pork (I think), and corn bread and some vegetables (green beans I think) and a yule log for dessert. The pork was good and the stuffing was good, but that is all I enjoyed. I didn't even like the yule log and neither did my husband (and he is a choco-holic!). But it was so sweet wandering down to the lobby to eat dinner.

I'm sorry to be a downer. Maybe that would be a good question for the dining board, see if anyone else enjoyed it.
But I have a feeling it would have been like that at a lot of places (holiday rush and all).

 

[landiscarrier]

It definitley seems as though there are more positives than negatives!

Maybe we will go in May for 5 days (our regular time) and then 4 days in December!

Thank you everyone for your comments!

 

[mackeyapp]

Disney Dumbo

Thank you for writing such a wonderful commentary about Xmas. We just booked BWV for our first trip for Christmas. We have always arrived on the 26 and stayed into January. We asked our two DS 10 & 11 if they would like to be there for Christmas and they loved the idea. DH and I still have a few reservations but I just emailed your note to his blackberry- it made it sound so wonderful. We will be arriving on the 21st and I will certainly be taking your advise. We still aren't sure what to do about Xmas dinner?? We are thinking about cooking a turkey with all the trimming since that would be our traditional dinner and not sure we would find that anywhere. Any other tips or advise would be greatly appreciated.

Joan

 

[mackeyapp]

Will Santa be visiting all the resorts on Christmas Eve?? We will be staying at BWV and want to make certain we don't miss him.

 

[disney dumbo]

Disney Dumbo

Thank you for writing such a wonderful commentary about Xmas. We just booked BWV for our first trip for Christmas. We have always arrived on the 26 and stayed into January. We asked our two DS 10 & 11 if they would like to be there for Christmas and they loved the idea. DH and I still have a few reservations but I just emailed your note to his blackberry- it made it sound so wonderful. We will be arriving on the 21st and I will certainly be taking your advise. We still aren't sure what to do about Xmas dinner?? We are thinking about cooking a turkey with all the trimming since that would be our traditional dinner and not sure we would find that anywhere. Any other tips or advise would be greatly appreciated.

Joan

Glad I could help on your trip... as soooo many people on this site have helped me!

I'm impressed you want to cook!!! Unless Christmas without cooking would just not be Christmas... I would vote to put your time into something totally different for Christmas that you can only do since you are NOT at home! Disney offers some great options. Then I'd either do the cooking at home as a pre-Disney or post-Disney celebration. I'd be sad if I was inside cooking and everyone else was enjoying the pool on Christmas Day... but then again, I've got a bad selfish streak!

Thoughts for Christmas Day: do the CP then (we did it Christmas Eve- we did the early show... had late lunch as the meal... we got Coral Reef... sat right by tank... had a HUGE turtle sit directly infront of our table for most the meal! With the early show, it's not dark... but it does give you extra time that night for other activities. Did a later one the year before... and I really like it better at dark--- but always a plus and a minus!)... or do MGM - see the Harlem Gospel Choir (hope they make it an annual event!) and the Osbourne lights. That's what we did... funny, this is the night I messed up! We had the Norway Princess Lunch then had planned the Canadian steak house as a gift to me... 'cause I've always wanted to eat there! After a quite a few tears when I discoverd my blunder, I decided we'd have fun whatever we did and I wasn't going to let it ruin my trip. Now, I can't remember what we ate! But that Gospel Choir and the light show was a Christmas night designed just for me! Thank God for unanswered prayers!!! My own plans really don't measure up to His plans!!! (FYI- It was neat to have so many options to celebrate Jesus's birthday while at Disney!).

If you don't want to do parks on Christmas Day... reserve!!! a place your boys might think was cool... there are so many choices.

Whatever you choose will be special... because your family will be celebrating Christmas together... in a very fun place!

 

[mello]

I absolutely love this time of year! We went the 18th to the 25th of December 2006. Getting outta Dodge on the 25th was the right thing to do, for several reasons: A) the crowds get insane huge the week of Christmas B) it is actually cheaper to fly on Christmas Day, than the day after Christmas.

Follow the link in my signature to read our 2006 Christmas trip report.

We will likely return for this same week in 2009.

Javamom, I read your entire TR, and wound up with tears in my eyes on your Christmas Eve. Thanks for sharing!

We're planning a surprise trip Dec '08 and I can't wait!

Ok, back to your regularly scheduled thread...

 

[mackeyapp]

Thanks for the reply Disney Dumbo

DH and I just read your reply and are RETHINKING this cooking thing.

What were we thinking!!

We will have to decide what we want to EAT and DO and book accordingly.

Thanks again for all your help

We only got back from Disney on the 9th of January and here we are planning again. DH has a bad case of addonitis (we just bought more points (BWV) when we were down) so many more trips will hopefully be in our lives.

Joan

 

[MattIL]

We have visited Walt Disney World before Christmas (Dec 18-Dec 23), over spring break and during the summer (late July/Early August). Compared to the spring break and summer trips the crowds right before Christmas were great.

I think if your typical trip is during a slower time of the year then the days right before Christmas will seem crowded, however if you normally visit during busy periods the crowds won't bother you.

I think all Disney fans should visit the parks at least once during the Holiday period to enjoy the decorations and festivities of the parks. I know I really enjoyed our trip and look forward to visiting again during December.