Ahhh our favorite time of the year, altough we do not travel between christmas and new year .. but rather the weeks leading up to Christmas. This year it will be the week before christmas week ..can't wait ...
When we visit in December we concentrate on the holiday events as opposed to going into the parks for the attractions. Here's our guideline:
The Deluxe Resorts .. Most are decked out in their holiday finest and are worth the effort to visit and spend some time checking out the decorations, entertainment etc ..
Grand Floridian .. An amazing tree and full size ginger bread house that has an actual store inside! Their lobby is very inviting with cozy places to sit, sip a drink and listen to music, etc., Check out their schedule and time your visit with their entertainment ..you can call the front desk and obtain information.
Wilderness Lodge .. Another beautiful lobby and tree not to be missed!
Boardwalk and Beach Club -- Amazing displays in chocolate and gingerbread!!
Animal Kingdom ... Very beautiful tree and lobby area
In years past the dolphin or swan had a huge tree in their lobby made out of poinsettias with a large train set around the tree ..there was a man playing carols on the piano, tables and chairs, and it was great to sit, listen or sign along.
The Poly and Contemporary are decorated, but unless they've changed in the past year, their decorations don't have the same wow factor as the other deluxe resorts.
We normally rent a car and spend one day resort hopping to check out all the decorations ...once you pay for valet parking once, you don't have to pay again ..however, now that AK is now a
DVC resort, the only place you'll need to pay for valet is the Grand Floridian .. or, if you want, just hop on the monrail after spending time in the MK ... then after your visit to the GF hop back on the monorail to the MK for your resort bus ride home.
Epcot ...
During the Day, they have Christmas around the world .. there is a published schedule with times during the day that every country will have someone come out (in their traditional costume) and tell the story of how their country celebrates this season. Excellent
Not to be missed .... The candle light processional ..this is our all time favorite, it's uplifting, inspirational and beautiful ..we always do the dinner package, get in line a bit early and then aim for a seat mid-way up from the stage ...before the line of trees ..for an excellent view of the cast and guest narrator. Given the crowds during the time you plan to visit I would recommend a dinner package when they go on sale this summer I would reserve immediaely.
Tree lighting and the lights of winter ... The Epcot tree is beautiful and the lights of winter arches are fun to sit and watch as the lights are in motion to music. There is a tree lighting every evening that is very nice too.
Illuminations -- it is the regular illuminations show, but at the end of the regular show there is a special holiday ending that is beautiful.
Magic Kingdom .. OK this park looks like a normal rockwell painting .. mainstreet is decked out you have beautiful views looking down the street to the castle and back to the trainstation with christmas tree. last year, they added the "ice" to the castle ..we haven't seen it yet, but the pictures are fantastic ..we can wait to see it this year A tree lighting takes place here every day too.
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party -- shows, a great parade, snow, hot chocolate and cookies .. the parade is wonderful ..and sitting for a spell (go to the ice cream parlor) and watching the snow on mainstreet with the holiday music and watching the people is fun ..grab a holiday hat and join the fun!!
MGM and AK -- their trees are outside the park gates ..
AK -- camp minnie mickey you can see all the characters in their holdiay finest and they have the jingle jammin parade at 4 pm every day.
MGM ... main street is decked out for the holiday ..but not to be missed are the osborne lights .. over 5 million lights ...with changes every year ...simply amazing
Going to disney during the holidays is a guaranteed way to get into the holiday spirit, we were unable to go last year and I have to say I never was able to find my holiday spirit and we really missed being at Disney during this time frame.
As a DVC member, if you staying at one of the larger resorts, like OKW, you'll see the members also get into the spirit and bring lights for the decks, etc. We do too ..we get a small tree from
walmart and a string of lights for inside our unit and then put lights outside too ..it's great to come home at night and see the placed all decked out ..not only by Disney, but by the members themselves.
Sorry this is so long ..but wanted to share all of our favorites with you ...
one thing to watch for ..the travel channel .. Samatha Brown has done a couple of shows at Disney during Christmas, she did a new one last year that includes the new ice show on the castle ...I'm sure it will be on during the fall again ..not sure if the Samatha Brown shows are available as a rental or not.
Good luck with your wait list, but if you must book at the 7 month mark, don't delay ....it's a VERY busy time of the year!!
Enjoy,
Peggy
Yes, the crowds are insane, but we've learned our way around it. We somehow manage to take in 20+ attractions on the 4th -- with a mid-day nap at our resort! 
