Christmas Day Non-Park Ideas?

[Julanne]

We will be at WDW over Christmas this year, with my DH's entire extended family - both his parents, their four kids and four spouses, and the nine grandkids (from 2 to 22 years old). I am trying to figure out a good plan for Christmas day. I think we would like to avoid the crowds in the parks, and will have time in the days before Christmas to visit. Also, we board the Disney Cruise on the 26th, so we are trying to take it a little easy so we can pack, etc. on the 25th.

I'm thinking about just hanging out at the resort (we are all at the Beach Club Villas) or around the Boardwalk area, or maybe visiting the other resorts to check out decorations. Two other suggestions are going to Downtown Disney or playing miniature golf at Winter Summerland. I can't find information about whether Downtown Disney is even open on Christmas. I assume it would be, but then I'd hate to plan on doing that and have it be closed. Does anyone know? The same goes for Winter Summerland - is it open Christmas day?

Does anyone have any other good ideas for what we can do?

 

[paulh]

last year we went to a park but there was a lot going on around the broardwalk aera
Paulh

 

[tiberius]

OK, here are a few ideas. I would plan a late character breakfast (priority seating a probably must for this date) at a resort location, or a resort buffet breakfast if you do not want a character breakfast.

Then I would plan to tour several resort areas to look at the Christmas decorations. This is easy to do with the monorail resorts--Grand Floridian (GF is always good at Christmas), Poly, and Contemporary. Since you are at the Beach Club you can also check out the Boardwalk area and the resort.

WinterSummerland Golf would be good. If the weather is warm, you can spend some time at the pool. You might also check to see if any resorts have any special activites; Fort Wilderness Campgrounds always seem to have something.

 

[NMAmy]

We're going to Chef Mickey's for breakfast and then we're going to the movies at DTD and then hang around at the Dolphin and/or the Boardwalk. I'm keeping our plans pretty flexible that day.

 

[CamColt]

We spent last Christmas at WDW and we did some of the things mentioned. We started out at MK for opening. We hit 4 rides(all walk ons) before breakfast at the castle. We then left Mk as the crowds were pouring in. We wanted to check out some resorts we hadnt seen decorated yet so we hoped a bus to POR. From there we took the boat to DTD(yep, its open) and while we only planned to make a bus change here, we got a little shopping in. We then took a bus to Pop Century where we did some exploring, then took a bus to Winter/Summer Land and played a round of mini golf. Next we hoped a bus to CBR. We explored a little and had "dinner" at the food court. We had a sleigh ride at the WL booked for later on so we returned to our room at the Poly to freshen up and grab jackets before going to explore the WL. Had a drink in the lounge before the ride,then after the ride we headed back. 1 DS had fallen asleep in the carriage so I took him to the room and DH took our other DS to the arcade to play. It was a fun, but low key day.

 

[Julanne]

That sounds great, CamColt - very similar to our plan. We are skipping MK that day (we almost all live in Southern California and visit Disneyland frequently), though we are stopping in earlier in the week (on EMH day) to see the decorations and go on a few rides.

On Christmas morning we are planning on opening stockings and having an in-room breakfast in the grandparents' room rather than trying to get a PS anywhere - we have some nice breakfasts planned the rest of the week.

As for visiting the resorts, I'm not sure how into hopping busses back and forth everyone will be with 19 of us, and I'm thinking maybe just visiting the monorail resorts to keep it easy. Is it worth checking out the resorts off the monorail line (besides the Boardwalk, Yacht and Beach Clubs - since we are staying in that area, we'll probably check those out)?

Also, we have a 7:45 PS at Teppanyaki.

 

[tinkerbell84]

I'm going for christmas too! We plan on taking a whole day off jsut to visit all the different resorts. At the Grand Floridian they have a huge gingerbread house!

 

[disney4us2002]

We're going to Chef Mickey's for breakfast and then we're going to the movies at DTD and then hang around at the Dolphin and/or the Boardwalk. I'm keeping our plans pretty flexible that day.

Too funny. We're having bkft at Chef Mickey's and seeing a movie at DD as well. Probably Meet the Fockers (not my choice!). Our PS is 10:45. We're just nutty and going to MK first thing at 8am before bkft. In the evening we have a CPP at Chefs de France.