Christmas at Disney

[Love Wilderness]

We are thinking about going to OKW for Christmas week. How does Disney celebrate
Christmas? Are the parks crouded? Any input would be appreciated.

Thank, Ken and Pat

 

[Pa@okw95]

Christmas Week is the most crowded week of the year. I did it once and never again. MK was packed to the point you could hardly put one foot in front of the other. The good news was the weather which was great. I think it is something every Disney nut should do once. Decorations are everywhere. There are special celebrations. There is the Osborne Lights. Do it once. I don't think you will be able to get a room for the Christmas at OKW but you might want to try for the following year--2003

 

[Regina]

Every few years, we celebrate Christmas/New Year's at OKW. We're heading back this year for the third time. We LOVE it.

Fastpass is a big help, and we're very big on planning everything well in advance.

The MK has been fine first thing on Christmas morning, but it does get very crowded by midday. We simply head to a different park and enjoy the rest of the day.

You can't beat WDW for New Year's Eve. It's spectacular!

 

[Jdubbs]

I was there last christmas and being from ny it was a great experiance.the castle was the best part of the trip with the christmas parade at night and the osbourne lights at epcot is a sight to see.going again this year.the weather was great also.it was 80 all week.have a blast!!

 

[zurgswife]

I was at WDW 6 years ago at Christmas and yes it was extremely crowded...but I had a great time.......

We are going back to BWV for christmas 2003....and I can't wait...

 

[jimmytammy]

My advice is go a week or two before Christmas. We have gone twice during these weeks and it is great! The parks are not crowded, the decorations are up, the special shows are going on. It is my absolutely favorite time to go to WDW. The weather is great, not hot, just warm. Its worth taking the kids out of school if you have to.
We are going home 1st time to WLV 2nd week in Dec this yr and counting the days!

 

[Muushka]

Hey jimmytammy. I noticed that you are a NASCAR fan, from NC, own at VWL and going 2nd week of Dec.

We are all of the above also.

 

[MarkRG]

I would chime in on this too, Disney begins celebrating Christmas almost immediately after thanksgiving.

And there is no comparison anywhere to what they do for the holiday. GO! You will not be disappointed in slightest. I would also agree with not going Christmas week, but maybe a week or two before. As to what to expect - this is a sample of what's going on:

1) Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party! This is a fun evening in the park, With lots of decorations, caroling, Hot chocolate and cookies, a NICE free 8x10 pic that will get sent home to you, and the wonderful parade that is a 100 times better than you've seen on TV!

2) The Osbourne lights - They might have to come up with a new name, as it's not related to the ones on TV right now. This is biggest display of lights you will ever see. They take over the backot with all the fake houses and decorate everywhere! it is a walking tour so you can just stare for hours if you like.

3) The Candelight Processonal in Epcot - Get the dinner package and get in early. This is a wonderful show hosted at various times by different stars of entertainment, with a wonderful choir behind him, also the Voices of Liberty join in. Also some of the Osboune lights make it over here, stand in front of the unbelievably huge decorated tree and look thru the archway at the dancing fountain for a wonderful show!

4) The Resorts! - Even the resorts get into it with decorations everywhere. Make a point to take some time to at least ride the Seven Seas monorail loop to the resorts there for a wonderful display at each.

And I'm sure I've overlooked something.

 

[WDWLVR]

Just had to chime in and clarify one thing my DH (MarkRG) got wrong. The picture you get at the Christmas party is more a 3x5 than an 8x10. I got him confused when I showed him a bunch of pictures over the weekend and one was the one from the Christmas party and another was an 8x10 we got from our Church directory.

Everything else he posted is 100% spot on - the holidays are a great time to go to Disney! The decorations are fantastic and the Magic Kingdom seems even more Magical. We went in early December and the crowds weren't bad at all. We plan on doing the same thing next year.

 

[jimmytammy]

Which have you got worse, Nascar fever or WDWitis?
Ive got nascar fever pretty bad until we went to WDW 1st time in
'99 and that bug bit me so hard that I havent found a cure and dont think I ever will.

 

[jmminarik]

Howdy,

[you don't mention if you're DVC or cash person, but I'll assume you are DVC since you posted to this board!]

Christmas week can be nuts...lots of people trying to fit a complete vacation in a relatively short period of time. If you go expecting a crowd, get to the parks early, then not worry about doing all of the attractions as the crowd builds, you might find the volume of people and the waits tolerable.

Wifey-poo and I don't like Christmas week because of the crowds, but when we went for the tail end of the week last December, we got to the parks early, did the 3 rides we wanted, then just relaxed, people watched, and headed out early. We knew we'd be back, so we did feel as if we'd missed something. In fact, we actually got to ride the train around the magic kingdom for the first time after a number of trips....

As mentioned, you may not be able to get a room though DVC at this late hour. Christmas week is the busiest of the year, and from what I've read, seems to fill right at the 11 and 7 month marks. However, we were able to get NYE weekend last year in a studio at BWV on 2 months notice, no waitlist....so don't not try!

As to earlier in December, the DVC guides seem to all mention how nice it is to visit during early December because of the 'lower crowds' and WDW is doing all of the holiday stuff. What they fail to mention is that it is one of DVC's busiest times because:

1) Lower point costs per room.
2) Holiday Decorations and activities are attractive additions to (1)
3) DVC'ers are (generally) smart enough to realize how much better it is going in early December than most other times of the year.

For these weeks, it seems most of the time you really do need to have an 11 month window at the resort you want, unless it's OKW which has more rooms to allocate.

 

[The Disney Bunch]

We went the day after Christmas & stayed til the day after New Year's for the Millenium and it really wasn't that bad as long as you are prepared for the crowds & realize that you will not get to see everything you want to. We went in October one year and the crowds were worse.

 

[Lesley]

There is always hope for reservations though.....I found this out when calling to see if I could possibly add a couple of days at OKW to our Dec. trip. First I called to see if there was any availability. None. Then I called to get on the waitlist.....didn't have to, they had a studio available. Then I called later after deciding we'd like to waitlist for a 1br.....which was suddenly available too (it hadn't been earlier). So I wouldn't give up hope, but I'd also have a backup plan!

We also reserved VWL for Thanksgiving at something like 8 months out....

I still called day by day at 11mo for our BWV reservation, didn't want to take any chances there.

But certainly, give it a try, and if you don't succeed....keep trying!

 

[yesdisneyfool]

Originally posted by Pa@okw95
I don't think you will be able to get a room for the Christmas at OKW but you might want to try for the following year--2003

On 8/13/2002 called MS and was able to get a studio at OKW (our home). MS put me on hold for a few moments and came back and said "if I want it now, it's mine" checkin 12/23 and check out 12/27. Looking forward to our first Christmas in the most Magical Place on Earth...crowds or not.

 

[dvc guy]

We were there 2 years ago and left on christmas day Not too bad, as we left MGM mid /late day they were pouring in. Will be in OKW 2 bedroom 12/21 to 12/26.


Best advise relax and enjoy the magic, you won't see it all. The hotels have great holiday themes.

 

[PADVCmember@OKW]

Check out this site:

http://laughingplace.com/Info-ID-WDW-Holiday2000.asp

 

[Tagrel]

Thanks for the great link PADVCmember@OKW!

This will be our first trip to WDW at Christmas time as well. Really looking forward to just enjoying the season (as opposed to trying to do it all!)

 

[Gigashadow]

OOOOOOOOOOO Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[pharmlivin]

The crowds were intense but what I remember the most was the cold (very cold!!!) weather that year. We took the Illuminations cruise but before we could board the boat the ice had to be removed from the seats!!!!! No fooling! It was cold enough to snow (into the 20's at night). I think this was unusual but...it can get cold in December/January in FLA. Although we had a great time, once was enough for me.

 

[gibbys1]

PADVC Your pictures are FABULOUS!