Christmas Eve Question

[PollyannaMom]

Which makes more sense, Disney Springs on arrival night, and Magic Kindgom Christmas Eve, or MK on arrival night, and DS on Christmas Eve?

(The morning of the 24th would be at Epcot either way, and we'd be staying at POFQ, leaving fairly early Christmas day to visit family.)

We've never been at Christmastime, and realize it's insanely crowded, but we're long-time Disney vets, and have no illusions about doing "everything". We're just psyched to experience the holiday atmosphere.

I'm just not sure whether MK fireworks on Christmas Eve would be *the most magical thing ever*, or whether trying to leave after them would just be too stressful a way to start the holiday.

What do you think?

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

Hey there...

So we're been going to Disney during Christmas week the past 8/9 years. We love it and it's an amazing time, really. I will warn - even as Disney vets we made plenty of mistakes our first year.

We usually arrive on 12/24 around 11am. This year will be a little different, as we'll get there later.

We've found that we have the best time/most relaxing time just staying by the resort—especially if it's nicer outside. Christmas weather is a wildcard and it could be really nice out...or really cold out. You need to take full advantage of the nice days and with us being from NY, we try to use nice days as pool days.

Anyway... DS will be crowded, but so will MK obviously. Where are you eating on Xmas Eve? How long are you staying in Disney? These things can come into play, for sure. For us, the trip doesn't start until we go to MK... so we go first thing Christmas morning.

 

[Alesia]

There really aren't enough details. When are you arriving (date and approximate time?) When are you leaving? What are you hoping to do at Disney springs?

 

[nkereina]

Do places at Disney Springs close early on Christmas Eve? I realize the park hours aren't affected by the holiday, but didn't know if Disney Springs might be since there are a lot of retail stores and independently run places.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Pick your poison. They will both be extremely crowded. If you really want to see the fireworks either of those nights, I would consider doing a dessert party (if there is availability), or getting an ADR at an MK resort and watching them from there.

 

[Disneylover99]

I would do MK Christmas Eve, because to me, that would be way more magical than DS. Yes, it will be crowded, but that’s part of the fun at Christmas time. Stay for the fireworks and let the crowds rush out while you hang out and savour the fact that you are at the MK on Christmas Eve.

 

[PollyannaMom]

So we're been going to Disney during Christmas week the past 8/9 years. We love it and it's an amazing time, really. I will warn - even as Disney vets we made plenty of mistakes our first year.

Exactly why I'm here asking questions!

Do places at Disney Springs close early on Christmas Eve? I realize the park hours aren't affected by the holiday, but didn't know if Disney Springs might be since there are a lot of retail stores and independently run places.

Oooh, hadn't thought of that! (See above. )

There really aren't enough details. When are you arriving (date and approximate time?) When are you leaving? What are you hoping to do at Disney springs?

General info:

We'll be spending 3 nights at Disney, 2 nights (3 days) with family, an then 3 more nights at Disney. It's our first time going around Christmas, and our first time staying at AKL (or any deluxe), so those things are the big focus. (Also, our typical trip is during February or April school vacation - half family/half Disney, so DHS always gets squeezed in on departure day. DS wants a whole day there this time!) We didn't try to get any of the crazy-popular ADRs, but decided to try some "new to us" restaurants (except Sanaa - which is a repeat, but a must.)

Specifics:

We're flying into Orlando on the 22nd, around 1:30pm, and stay at POFQ for the first 3 nights. The plan so far is to have a relaxing 1st evening - take the boat to DS, check out the Christmas trees, maybe do the balloon. (This has been on our list for other trips, but we've had bed luck with it being down for weather each time, so I'm not getting my hopes up.) ADR is for dinner at Maria & Enzo's (Italian food for DS.)

The 23rd would be MK in the morning (because it's EMH) and Epcot in the afternoon/evening (because the crowd level is an 8 instead of a 10 .) ADR is for San Angel Inn (which DH has always been interested in trying.)

The 24th would be the reverse - start in Epcot, and end in MK. We generally don't get hoppers, so I'm easing into that feature. - I figured these two were close and easy to flip between. ADR is for dinner at Skipper Canteen (my pick, but nothing to do with it being Christmas Eve.)

We're leaving Christmas morning to spend a couple of days with family in the area, then returning on the evening of the 27th, for 3 nights at AKL. We have a Starlight Safari booked that night at the resort, and plan to do DHS on the 28th and AK on the 29th. - That seemed logical, since those are the closest two parks to AKL, and AK has EMH on the 29th. ADR's for those days are breakfast at Boma on the 28th and dinner at Sanaa on the 29th.

We leave the 30th, but not until evening, so that's our fluff day. We've never flown out that late, so it's more time than we're used to having. Right now the plan is very flexible - do favorite rides again, have a "do-over" of anything that went wrong, add on a water park if the weather is weirdly hot, tour the resort Christmas decorations, just enjoy AKL...I have no idea.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I would do MK Christmas Eve, because to me, that would be way more magical than DS. Yes, it will be crowded, but that’s part of the fun at Christmas time. Stay for the fireworks and let the crowds rush out while you hang out and savour the fact that you are at the MK on Christmas Eve.

That's what I was originally thinking! I'm not sure what made me second-guess it...By the time I had typed it all out, I was pretty much back to my original thought. But I figured it was still good to see if there were any obvious concerns I was still missing, and just gather tips from anyone who'd done it!

 

[Disneylover99]

That's what I was originally thinking! I'm not sure what made me second-guess it. - By the time I had typed it all out, I was pretty much back to my original thought. But I figured it was still good to gather tips from anyone who'd done it!

I think your hopper plans on the 23rd and 24th are excellent! Have fun!
My plans are similar to yours. I like to do Epcot and MK before Christmas and HS and AK after.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

Exactly why I'm here asking questions!

Specifics:

We're flying into Orlando on the 22nd, around 1:30pm, and stay at POFQ for the first 3 nights. The plan so far is to have a relaxing 1st evening - take the boat to DS, check out the Christmas trees, maybe do the balloon. (This has been on our list for other trips, but we've had bed luck with it being down for weather each time, so I'm not getting my hopes up.) ADR is for dinner at Maria & Enzo's (Italian food for DS.)

The 23rd would be MK in the morning (because it's EMH) and Epcot in the afternoon/evening (because the crowd level is an 8 instead of a 10 .) ADR is for San Angel Inn (which DH has always been interested in trying.)

The 24th would be the reverse - start in Epcot, and end in MK. We generally don't get hoppers, so I'm easing into that feature. - I figured these two were close and easy to flip between. ADR is for dinner at Skipper Canteen (my pick.)

We're leaving Christmas morning to spend a couple of days with family in the area, then returning on the evening of the 27th, for 3 nights at AKL. We have a Starlight Safari booked that night at the resort, and plan to do DHS on the 28th and AK on the 29th. - That seemed logical, since those are the closest two parks to AKL, and AK has EMH on the 29th. ADR's for those days are breakfast at Boma on the 28th and dinner at Sanaa on the 29th.

We leave the 30th, but not until evening, so that's our fluff day. We've never flown out that late, so it's more time than we're used to having. Right now the plan is very flexible - do favorite rides again, have a "do-over" of anything that went wrong, add on a water park if the weather is weirdly hot, tour the resort Christmas decorations, just enjoy AKL...I have no idea.

So I'd push to get a lot done on the first leg of your trip, believe it or not.

1) it doesn't get overwhelmingly crowded until the 24th or 25th. The 26th, 27th, 28th all fall during Christmas break + you have a lot of the runners checking in and the NYE people checking in from the 28th on.

2) You're staying at AKL. IDK if it's your first stay there, but I remember our first stay at Beach Club. You pay all that money to stay Deluxe, then you go to the parks instead? We tried to maximize our resort time, going in the pool when it was warm enough and just enjoying the coziness of the area. I recommend you do the same.

With that said... staying POFQ will give you easy access to DS. You don't have to worry about traffic going in or coming back, you can simply hop on the boat. I think that'll be your best bet for a laid-back Christmas Eve... although, it sounds like you already made your mind up for MK(??)

 

[bkfamilyof5]

We’ll be there over the same week, but not leaving and coming back. I have no interest in Disney Springs at all - I don’t get the appeal, it’s just an extra-crowded outdoor mall with a bunch of mediocre restaurants from my experience.

 

[PollyannaMom]

So I'd push to get a lot done on the first leg of your trip, believe it or not.

1) it doesn't get overwhelmingly crowded until the 24th or 25th. The 26th, 27th, 28th all fall during Christmas break + you have a lot of the runners checking in and the NYE people checking in from the 28th on.

That is good to know!!

2) You're staying at AKL. IDK if it's your first stay there, but I remember our first stay at Beach Club. You pay all that money to stay Deluxe, then you go to the parks instead? We tried to maximize our resort time, going in the pool when it was warm enough and just enjoying the coziness of the area. I recommend you do the same.

Yes, it is. It's been a dream of DS's for a while, so that's why we didn't plan a park that first evening back (the night-vision safari is at the resort) or anything concrete on the last day. We may end up just hanging out with the animals. (The pool may still be in refurb, so we're not counting on swimming, but that's not a huge priority for us ayway.)

With that said... staying POFQ will give you easy access to DS. You don't have to worry about traffic going in or coming back, you can simply hop on the boat. I think that'll be your best bet for a laid-back Christmas Eve... although, it sounds like you already made your mind up for MK(??)

I do love the boat! (We stayed at POR years ago.)

We’ll be there over the same week, but not leaving and coming back. I have no interest in Disney Springs at all - I don’t get the appeal, it’s just an extra-crowded outdoor mall with a bunch of mediocre restaurants from my experience.

We don't go every trip, but since we're right there with the boat, we thought we would. - I love to shop, and I do think the Christmas decorations will be fun! (Plus, it's one more chance to hit the balloon on a good day. ) We'll probably do the Design-a-Tee as well.

 

[bkfamilyof5]

That is good to know!!



I do love the boat! (We stayed at POR years ago.)





We don't go every trip, but since we're right there with the boat, we thought we would. - I love to shop, and I do think the Christmas decorations will be fun! (Plus, it's one more chance to hit the balloon on a good day. ) We'll probably do the Design-a-Tee as well.

Warning - when we stayed at POR last time it took about 1.5 hours for the boat and felt like such a waste of time...

 

[PollyannaMom]

Warning - when we stayed at POR last time it took about 1.5 hours for the boat and felt like such a waste of time...

Thanks for the heads-up.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

I voted MK on Xmas Eve.
Yes I'm sure its gonna be nuts but I feel like its just such a magical atmosphere for a holiday even if it is the holiday before the holiday lol.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

not planning on going near MK Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Maybe on the 23rd. but I will go to the Springs because I'm at Old Key West and it will be easier to get there and back.

got the Candlelight Processional on Xmas Eve so I hope it isn't really cold. I've been there when it's cold.

 

[PollyannaMom]

got the Candlelight Processional on Xmas Eve so I hope it isn't really cold. I've been there when it's cold.

Oooh, that sounds fun!!

I looked at it, but didn't think the guys would go for it.

 

[robinb]

I will also suggest Epcot and catch the Candlelight Processional.