Christmas Day in DLP

[StuandNic]

Hi this is my first post but have been avid reader for some time...

We have just booked our very first trip a 5 night stay from Christmas Eve (for our sins maybe??)

I know I'm casting the net wide but any advice for staying during this period?

We have a 4 year old daughter and my partner and I have only been to WDW once - so very much newbies! The trip is very much for her so trying to keep it a surprise until we are going on Christmas eve. Her favs at the moment tend to be Mickey and co, Tinkerbell and the Princesses. She is quite shy with people 'dressed up' as characters but still loves them!

We have booked the Sequoia Lodge - Montana Room and as yet haven't booked any board options - we're going from Paddington on Eurostar straight to Disney. I think it get's there about 1.30pm on Christmas eve and we don't leave until 7.30pm on 29th.

I fully expect it to be extreemly busy and have to queue a while for rides, saying that I suspect my daughter will love the shows the most though. Any hints to avoid the crush and make the most of the 6 days we'll have would be fab.

As for food - not sure whether we should get half board option (or whether it is even available over christmas as wasn't given the option when booking online), thanks to the brill info here that I've read, I think we would like to fit in the following 'food options':
Walts (christmas eve/christmas day???)
Auberge de Cendrillon for a Princess dinner
Buffet at Golden Nugget
Maybe a tea party with characters (esp as I expect it may be v. v. busy with little chance of us wanting to queue for 2hrs to meet them in the Park for her to hide behind me!)
We possibly might want to do the Mickeys holiday cruise for a christmassey dinner type affair (anyone know whether these are generally worth the money?)
What about the Wild West Show (waste of time with a 4yr old?).

Any opinions/suggestions gratefully received.

Thanks

Nic

 

[kevankiki]

Hi Nic and welcome to the DIS!

We too are there at Christmas, but don't arrive until Boxing Day. We were also there last Christmas at the same time, and it was extremely busy, I've heard others say it was busier than peak summer months! That said, you are there for 5 nights, which will enable you to do things at a much slower pace.

You are staying in a Disney hotel, so try and make full use of EMH, particularly as your DD will most likely love the rides in Fantasyland, and many of these are open at this time. It is not too far for you to walk back to your hotel if you wish to take a break in the afternoon while the park is at it's busiest. While I've never been there on Christmas Day itself, I've read that it's fairly quiet on this day, so this might be your opportunity to experience many of the rides with less queuing. You might wish to have a look at trip reports from previous years to get some idea of what to expect.

Can't help you much with the food options, since we tend to eat in Annette's or the counter places, but I'm sure others will be along with advice fairly soon.

You have picked the perfect hotel for Christmas IMO, we stayed there at Easter and loved it!

Final word, please don't try and compare DLP to WDW, but see it in its own right and you'll have a fantastic time. Maybe we'll see you there?

 

[StuandNic]

Thanks Annette - you never know we may bump into you, I'll have the child hiding behind my legs.

What tends to be the opening and closing times in Dec? I definitely think we'll do your idea of taking advantage of the EMH to avoid the crowds. We can get up extra early and then go back to the hotel at the peak times for a nap and then back to park for more rides and parades etc.

I'm gald you say Sequoia is a good choice at Christmas! Always a relief to hear!

Is Christmas Day in the Park the same as other days in terms of rides open, resteraunts etc.? I was half expecting it to be a 'limited service' or closing earlier than normal but great news if not!

If anyone knows how half board works for Christmas Day/ Boxing Day that would be useful. From what I can work out you have to buy the board for the duration of your stay but on Christmas Day at the very least you have to book a 'premium' type event meal which has it's own set price and must be booked in advance.

 

[A Small World]

We were there last year from 27th -29th Dec and it was mega busy - much busier then the middle of summer.
DH actually managed to bump into Annette (Kevankiki) and recognised her (from her hat!!!) - I had walked on ahead so missed her.

From what I understand about half board over Christmas is that it cant be booked for Christmas Eve but can for all other days. I know a few people who have been on Christmas day itself have eaten at Lucky Nuggett to get a meal with characters which was the same price as normal

Last year I think the park was open 10-10 over Christmas (with 2 extra hrs EMH)