Christmas day/lunch, to park or not to park?

[eyoreaud]

Hi guys

A question for all disers that have been at Christmas time, we have been before in Dec but never over the Christmas period

I'm having a problem deciding where to have christmas lunch this year while in Orlando, i know it will be crowded but just HOW crowded do the parks actualy get on Christmas day?
Am i MAD even to consider it??? Or should we avoid the parks and go to someplace else?

Is Downtown Disney (say at Raglan Road, for instance) any quieter than the parks? Or do ANY of you have an idea of where would be good for 2 Adults and 2 teen girls (both 18) to have lunch? I don't know what to do for the best.

What would you suggest? We're not staying on-site.

Any info will be appreciated

 

[daveyc150]

I was there for Christmas a few years ago and during Christmas Day the parks weren't much busier than they normally would be, maybe even a little quieter. It got busier in the afternoon/evening. New Years Eve is the day where you have to on your toes and get into a park early due to crowds.
You could make priority reservations for Liberty Tree Tavern, they do a turkey dinner, but lot's of other restaurants may have seasonal offerings too.

Have fun it's a great time of year to be there.

 

[Danauk]

When we were there MK and Epcot both had closures on Christmas day, if we were to go to a park we would have gone to AK or DHS. Instead we choose to have a park free day. My friend and I went to the spa at Sartoga Springs for a massage, did some shopping in DTD (nothing like buying baubles in the WDW christmas shop on christmas day!!), then we hung out at the hotel and used the pool (I got chatting to a friendly American couple who were asking if we had heard of Alton Towers in England as they wanted to go there one day - we have annual passes!!) For food as we were staying in a 2 bedroomed villa at the Beach Club Villas and had a full kitchen mine and my friends husbands cooked a proper English Christmas dinner whilst we were at the spa and shopping!!

So if you do want to go to a park, MK will close very early (it had shut by 10am when we were there) and Epcot won't be far behind. DHS and AK would be your best bets.

Overall on that trip as we had a plan and followed the best park to visit on what day advice from various touring guides we actually didn't find the parks that bad. We had a great trip and we are going back for next Christmas and New Year to do it all again!!

 

[loobylou44]

We are going to be in WDW for the first time this Christmas, and after reading lots of different views we have decided to avoid the parks on christmas day. We have booked Cirque du soliel for 6.30pm, and are considering going to see 'ICE' at gaylord palms in the morning and then having the Christmas day brunch there. Then off to DTD for shops and cirque. Has anyone done the Christmas Day brunch at Gaylord palms?

 

[eyoreaud]

Loobyloo, we were thinking of doing Cirque again this time as well, never thought of going christmas day though Maybe we'll see you there!

Thanks for the ideas guys, much appreciated, i thought MK would be a tad

Anyone used anywhere non Disney on christmas day? Like Dana, i wanted to cook a traditional lunch in my own (fully equiped) condo kitchen but dh says i cook all year and need a day off Do you think thats a nice way of telling me he's fed up of MY cooking?

Any more suggestions?

 

[loobylou44]

Loobyloo, we were thinking of doing Cirque again this time as well, never thought of going christmas day though Maybe we'll see you there!

Like Dana, i wanted to cook a traditional lunch in my own (fully equiped) condo kitchen but dh says i cook all year and need a day off Do you think thats a nice way of telling me he's fed up of MY cooking?

Any more suggestions?

We are staying in a villa and have considered cooking a traditional christmas lunch, but have decided that when it comes to it we wont really want to cook, and will be wanting to be out experiencing something that we wouldn't normally do on christmas day.

 

[A Small World]

We have done 2 Christmases at WDW but several yrs ago

The first yr we were staying off site - we went to Typhoon Lagoon and spent the day lazing on the beach and grabbed a snack lunch there. We then went back to our hotel where they were serving a christmas meal - i remember we had soup, a full Turkey dinner and I think it was pumpkin pie.

the 2nd year was a bit cooler so we went to Epcot and spent the day in World Showcase and had lunch in Mexico and cakes in France later in the afternoon

 

[gordonandjackie]

Hi Audrey

Maybe see you there!! I plan to book ICE for Christmas day but I don't think it's available to book yet online?
Jackie

 

[loobylou44]

Hi Audrey

Maybe see you there!! I plan to book ICE for Christmas day but I don't think it's available to book yet online?
Jackie

I think I have read somewhere that booking will be mid-august, so hopefully anytime soon!

 

[aaronandterri]

lol im bringing my mum so she can cook lunch for us on christmas day, im hoping to get ressies for christmas eve, havent decided where yet though (any suggestions), and new years at epcot.

 

[eyoreaud]

Thanks for your replies guys

I have heard that October is the time to book adr's

Any more suggestions for christmas day lunch would be very welcome

Have any of you tried Raglan road?

 

[Camac]

We spent last Christmas Day in Orlando and this is what we (Me, DH, DD 18, DS 14) did:-

Leisurley breakfast, opening gifts.

10.30am Segway Tour of Celebration - this was one of the highlights of our holiday. The Segways are great fun, seeing parts of Celebration we wouldn't normally see complete with a running commentary was great, lots of residents coming outside to wish us Happy Holidays!

1pm Lunch at the Celebration Hotel - OK not a traditional Christmas Dinner but a wonderful buffet style meal, a pianist playing Christmas carols all in a beautiful old colonial setting with proper linen table settings annd attentive waiters. Marvelous.

pm - Time spent relaxing poolside.

9pm - Blue Man Group at Universal Studios. One of the other holiday highlights, a great show, so different, so funny.

I just know that this Christmas Day I will bore everyone stupid "This time last Christmas......"

 

[loobylou44]

We spent last Christmas Day in Orlando and this is what we (Me, DH, DD 18, DS 14) did:-

1pm Lunch at the Celebration Hotel - OK not a traditional Christmas Dinner but a wonderful buffet style meal, a pianist playing Christmas carols all in a beautiful old colonial setting with proper linen table settings annd attentive waiters. Marvelous.


I just know that this Christmas Day I will bore everyone stupid "This time last Christmas......"

I love Celebration but hadn't thought about the Celebration Hotel it sounds great, what sort of food was in the buffet, and can you remember roughly what the price was? thanks

 

[Camac]

There was a vast range of food - steaks, prawns and fish dishes, pastas, various salads, potatos, rice, omlettes and crepes cooked for you. too many desserts - masses of food and no restrictions.

The cost was $59.95 for adults and $21 for kids (3 - 12 years). Including a glass of champagne for the adults.

I think it was our most expensive meal during the holiday but it was well worth it, and something a bit special for Christmas Day.

I booked via www.opentable.com but you can book direct with the hotel if you wish.

 

[loobylou44]

There was a vast range of food - steaks, prawns and fish dishes, pastas, various salads, potatos, rice, omlettes and crepes cooked for you. too many desserts - masses of food and no restrictions.

The cost was $59.95 for adults and $21 for kids (3 - 12 years). Including a glass of champagne for the adults.

I think it was our most expensive meal during the holiday but it was well worth it, and something a bit special for Christmas Day.

I booked via www.opentable.com but you can book direct with the hotel if you wish.

Thanks for that, its a definite possibilty. Also did you need to dress smartly ?

 

[eyoreaud]

We spent last Christmas Day in Orlando and this is what we (Me, DH, DD 18, DS 14) did:-

Leisurley breakfast, opening gifts.

10.30am Segway Tour of Celebration - this was one of the highlights of our holiday. The Segways are great fun, seeing parts of Celebration we wouldn't normally see complete with a running commentary was great, lots of residents coming outside to wish us Happy Holidays!

1pm Lunch at the Celebration Hotel - OK not a traditional Christmas Dinner but a wonderful buffet style meal, a pianist playing Christmas carols all in a beautiful old colonial setting with proper linen table settings annd attentive waiters. Marvelous.

pm - Time spent relaxing poolside.

9pm - Blue Man Group at Universal Studios. One of the other holiday highlights, a great show, so different, so funny.

I just know that this Christmas Day I will bore everyone stupid "This time last Christmas......"

Sounds great! I never thought of spending christmas day at Celebration We love eating at the Boston Garden so maybe will look into that

Thanks

 

[Camac]

Thanks for that, its a definite possibilty. Also did you need to dress smartly ?

We all wore casual clothes for the Segway Tour and then used the restrooms of Celebration Hotel to change into long trousers and skirts. We needn't have bothered to change, judging by what some others were wearing, but we felt happier looking a little smarter.

 

[castanea1985]

We went to ICE during the day then back to the villa for a swim, then went to Citricos for our Christmas evening meal, followed by watching the fireworks last Christmas.

Here are some pics.

DS, me and DD at ICE

GF entrance at Xmas

GF Christmas Tree 08

Citricos Salmon with Olive pasta Xmas 08

Citricos lamb Xmas 08

Citricos Chocolate pud Xmas 08

Tracy xx

 

[loobylou44]

We all wore casual clothes for the Segway Tour and then used the restrooms of Celebration Hotel to change into long trousers and skirts. We needn't have bothered to change, judging by what some others were wearing, but we felt happier looking a little smarter.

Thanks for that, yes I think we would want to dress a little smarter!

We went to ICE during the day then back to the villa for a swim, then went to Citricos for our Christmas evening meal, followed by watching the fireworks last Christmas.

Here are some pics.

DS, me and DD at ICE

GF entrance at Xmas

GF Christmas Tree 08

Citricos Salmon with Olive pasta Xmas 08

Citricos lamb Xmas 08

Citricos Chocolate pud Xmas 08

Tracy xx

Lovely photos Tracy.
We are considering ICE on Christmas Day, I see that tickets are now on sale for this year, did you book in advance and also roughly how long did it take to see everything?

 

[castanea1985]

Hi

It was really good going to ICE, but you're round it in less than an hour.
There is a nice atrium where you can get hot chocolate and have a good look round afterwards. Its quite nice just to sit and relax there.

A couple more pics of ICE

The atrium at Gay Lord Palms