Christmas eve/day

[bhillier]

Hi,

Have a room booked @ GC for the 22-26th. This is the first Christmas for us @ Disney. I think that it will be lots of fun to be in the magic kingdom for Christmas. Has anyone done this? If so can you tell me about the crowds, entertainment, special Christmas eve/day meals. I have not been able to find any info for special x-mas time events.

Thanks,


Laurie

 

[challada]

We always go the week before Xmas....here's what I can tell you:

1. Park is always decorated wonderfully....huge tree at Main Street
2. It's a Small World is decked out
3. Haunted Mansion is done up
4. Santa is at Main Steet circle
5. Parade is usually themed
6. California Christmas theme in CA Adv
7. Characters are usually in Winter costumes (princess in winter dresses, Stitch in Santa hat, etc)

Now...for the bad news...the crowd build and build as Xmas draws near. We've gone week before Xmas to avoid the tons of people but usually by the end, they are coming in....expect HUGE waits on the more popular stuff.

Have fun!

 

[iceskatejen]

I've been on Christmas eve--it was packed. I've never gone Christmas day, though I probably will this year because it looks like my sis is going up to N CA for Christmas and I'll be on my own. If I have to spend Christmas w/o any family, then I would just as soon spend it at my second home. And though I know it'll be packed, I'll be there on the 22nd also because it's my b-day and I want to go to DL on my b-day. While the parks don't seem to do special meals just on Christmas eve or day (the hotels might--don't know), they do add holiday favorites to the menus usually during the Christmas season.

 

[bhillier]

I'm starting to rethink the dates. I don't like packed. Semi crowded is okay sometimes. It seems like when the parks are packed thats when you get short tempers, rude people. Too much of that sort of stuff gets in the way of the magic. I think I may just shoot for earlier in the month.


Anyone ever been for Christmas and had a great trip. Maybe the crowds were not so bad early in the mornings when the park first opens?

 

[Friend_of_Piglet]

I've gone Christmas Day before, be prepared for wall to wall people. We were able to ride maybe 4 rides and gave up and went home around 5pm. We are local.
The best time to go is from November 30-Dec 17th, that way you can still see the decorations and it not be pandemonium.
Just my 2 cents.

Sooz

 

[din]

Originally posted by bhillier
I'm starting to rethink the dates. I don't like packed. Semi crowded is okay sometimes. It seems like when the parks are packed thats when you get short tempers, rude people. Too much of that sort of stuff gets in the way of the magic. I think I may just shoot for earlier in the month.


Anyone ever been for Christmas and had a great trip. Maybe the crowds were not so bad early in the mornings when the park first opens?

Do not know if you are aware of this, but parks may close if capacity is reached. Saw it at Magic Kingdom in WDW and DL.

 

[PryncessChrysty]

I live near DL and my family has made it a tradition the past few years of going on Christmas day. While the crowds are certainly heavier as the holiday season is busiest for any Disney resort, we are always able to deal with it. It never reached capacity, and nobody was turned away. We always get great customer service and some of our most magical memories are from going at this time of year. I know a lot of people won't agree, but I think it's worth it. Christmas has always been very special to me, but I didn't *know* the magic of Christmas until I spent it at Disneyland.

Okay, that sounds cheesy, but I mean every word.

 

[bhillier]

CLOSE THE PARKS WOW!!!!! NOW THATS A LOT OF PEOPLE. I TRIED TO CHANGE OUR DATES AND NOTHING ELSE SEEMS TO WORK. I'M GLAD THAT I KNOW AHEAD OF TIME ABOUT THE CROWDS. THIS WAY I CAN PREPARE MYSELF. SO THANKS FOR ALL THE INFO.


IF YOUR STAYING @ THE GC AND THE PARKS CLOSE ARE YOU STILL LET IN BECAUSE YOUR A DISNEY GUEST?

I'M THINKING ABOUT A SMALL TREE IN THE ROOM AND A FEW GIFTS. DOES ANY ONE WHO HAS SPENT X-MAS @ DISNEY HAVE A FEW MUST DO'S?

 

[din]

At GC there are caroler every night in the lobby dressed in costumes. Also the usual trimmings in the lobby.

Parades are themed as mentioned, and parks deco etc.

For us the great item was christmas dinner at Napa Rose. Great place!!!

If this was WDW I would have more to tell you!!!

 

[bhillier]

Thanks for your the reminder about the magic of disney during the Christmas season. I think if I'm prepared for large crowds I will be able to enjoy the magic instead of getting irritated with the ling lines etc..... I'm very much looking forward to going.


I'll have to watch for the Christmas carolers.

Napa Rose sounds great for Christmas dinner.

I'm thinking about the desert buffet seating for Fantasmic. Anyone try this before?

I'm getting very excited about our trip. Thanks for all the great input so far.

Laurie

 

[din]

We did the Fantasmic dessert previous years. It is great, you get a fair selection and coffee and get a decent view of the show.

What we like is that we do not have to find a spot early, and I mean early. We saw spots taken by 3/4PM in the afternoon for the show. Suggest that you go to the rides in that park of th epark early, because it can get difficult to get through late in the afternoon.

 

[bhillier]

That's just what we will do. My daughter loves Dumbo and Peter Pan so we like to do that area first. My favorite is New Orleans HM and POC. oh yes and I can't forget small world.


I think I'll try for tickets to the Fantasmic show on Christmas eve first choice or Christmas day senond choice. To hold a spot as early as 3-4 in the afternoon is too early.

Has anyone brought their own Christmas tree (small one of course haha)?

 

[din]

Why bring a Christmas tree? Why not go into the courtyard and cut one down? ...

Sorry could not resist!!

 

[dsnylndmom]

Defintely do the Fantasmic! buffet!! We were there last year the 26th-30th and it was PACKED!! The closed the park on the 27th, 28th & I don't remember about the 29th. We actually went to Knott's on the 27th because the park was just absolute ridiculous! which was nice, can't be Mrs. Knott's chicken dinner

If you have an ap(that's not blocked)or a park hopper, I think is what they were saying, you can get back in if you've left and they've closed the parks. I'm 99% sure that's what they told us.

Get there EARLY, the lines for the bag checks can stretchhhh out into DTD, and head straight to Fantasyland(like you just said, duh LOL)

If you are intereseted in Napa Rose, Goofy's or Blue Bayou, make your ressies as soon as the dates allow. So you can get a spot.

If you do Blue Bayou for lunch, that way you can get a monte crisco!, then make it for 11:20/11:30 and you'll be one of the first seated(still request a water table though)you can go do all of fantasyland, small world holiday and then make your it to Blue Bayou, while you are waiting to be seated have someone in your party go fastpass Haunted Mansion Holiday. That way as soon as you are done with your meal you can head over there and ride it.

I know the WDW Florists have small christmas trees for WDW, I would call the GCH and see what their planner's there can come up with. I know you can get really cute things like milk & cookies delievered to your room, tuxedo strawberries etc etc etc. Maybe, they have some sort of Christmas thing also.

Another idea would to bring your own disney stockings and fill them up! How cute would that be!

HTH
Tina

 

[bhillier]

We have th PAP's so there are not any block out dates. I love the idea of Blue Bayou and fast passing HM. Can you believe that I've never had a Monte Crisco. I'm going to have to try one this time around. I also love the idea of milk and cookies being delievered to the room for the kids and their dad who is just a big kid himself. Thanks for all the great ideas


laurie

 

[din]

Hmm forgot about the tuxedo strawberries.... They were good.

bhillier: Have fun on your trip to DL this Christmas!! After DL and if you have not been to WDW during Christmas... put that on your list for your next trip!!!!

 

[bhillier]

Thanks Din. We went to WDW las May for the first time. We stayed @ Poly. I loved the parks and the resort. I felt like they had everything more. The park rides, shows, food, boats, bikes, warm weather. It was @ great trip. I would love to be able to go for Christmas. I bet that the parks and resorts are just beautiful.

 

[Tim-DownUnder]

Hi

I havnt actually been there on christmas, but i will be spending this christmas in Disney World. I went once for 2 days, new years eve and new years day, and it was extreemly crowded! There is usually a special christmas haunted mansion and small world. But on new years, if it is anything like christmas day, i would leave it and go another time when you would actually ne able to walk, we were literally packed shoulder to shoulder with other people trying to walk around new orleans square! if i had a choice, i would leave it for christmas and go at a less busy time. Yes it is very well decorated and there is a great atmosphere, but if you are visiting Disneyland for the attractions, forget Christmas.

Hope i can be some help

Tim

 

[bhillier]

That's what I'm worried about. Attempting to move around when it's shoulder to shoulder while taking 1/2 a step @ a time can kinda squash the "magic". With school, work and kids activities we only have this week open. So, I'm trying to plan this trip like I would A WDW vacation. This way we have ressies and a plan. I'm having fun with the planning. Thanks for the warning. I think it help to have an idea what the park conditions will be like.

 

[hellow]

When we have gone to Disney for Christmas, we bring a small artificial tree (with Disney ornaments) and since our kids know the trip is their gift, we just have stockings for everyone. I use plastic wreath hangers to hang the stockings on the inside of the door.

We probably wouldn't even attempt to go into Disneyland on Christmas Day because it was a madhouse two years ago--Christmas eve too. "Mad" is the operative word because there were rude people pushing strollers into our legs from behind (I guess to hurry us along in the throngs of people), lots of flaring tempers, etc... The worst place for us was around the Indiana Jones ride--the people emptying out from the ride, into a huge crowd seemed to be especially bad there.

However, I do enjoy the Haunted Mansion, Small World, and generally all the decorations. You just have to go with the right expectations and you will be OK.