Christmas in Disney?

[DISvirgin1]

If you've gone to Disney over Christmas with little ones and still did Santa - how did you do it?
Did you like being at Disney at that time?

 

[Darcy03231]

The week between Christmas and New Years is one of the busiest times of the year and it will be wall to wall people in the parks.

If your travel plans are flexible, I would go during the first three weeks of December. All of the decorations are up, MVMCP is going on, as is the Christmas parade. We did the week of Christmas once and I'll never do it again!

As far as the gifts go, I would bring the stockings and a few small things and perhaps a table top tree with some decorations and explain that Santa had to leave the bigger stuff at home and you'll open it when you get home.

 

[Disneymadhouse]

We are planning to go next year around mid Dec staying until around 27th. As well as taking Santa presents we have also got to take our DD birthday presents as its her b'day on Christmas eve!
We will probably buy a few bits for both b'day and xmas while we are there as we have the issue of luggage allowance because of coming from the UK.
I joke (he thinks) with DH that all we will be able to pack is one set of clothes each and i'll be doing lots of laundry! that way we'll be able to bring - and buy lots!!

Claire

 

[brattosa]

We're looking at going to WDW next December between Christmas and New Year's as well. Since Santa sees everything through his magic snowball (thanks Rankin-Bass) he will bring gifts the weekend before and then deliver stockings to our WDW resort. The DS was tickled that Santa would make two trips just for him.

 

[nicki.momof3]

We were at WDW Dec. 16-25, 2010 and LOVED it. We have 3 kids (ages 5,6,7) and as any normal mom I have a santas direct phone #. I called (as you know only mom's and dad's are allowed to call him) santa a few times before we left and asked him to please stop at our house on the end of his trip around the world. We got home on Dec. 25th at about midnight.

I had everything already wrapped and stored in a safe place. When the kids woke up on Dec. 26th as promised he had come. It was a wonderful end to an amazing week.

Santa can come any day of the year - parents just have to call and reschedule. My kids 100% believed me and we had a great day.

We loved being at WDW for the holidays - it was so magical and amazing.

Depending on when you are going Santa can come before or after your trip. We did not bring any gifts to WDW - to much to fly with.

We even stopped by and saw santa at MK on x-mas eve and reminded him of our arrangement - he was great.

 

[nicki.momof3]

The week between Christmas and New Years is one of the busiest times of the year and it will be wall to wall people in the parks.

Don't stress about the crowds. We only travel to WDW Easter week or X-Mas (I am a teacher) and I think that WDW is so much worse at Easter.

It was not wall to wall people from my experiences. We never had a park closing, I rode everything more than once, we LOVED it. It is WDW at X-mas - it is amazing. If you go early with a plan and expect to move slower you will be fine. It is all about your frame of mind.

We even went to the last MVMCP and loved it. We rode all t he rides, saw the parade and fireworks, went to 2 dance parties, and had treats. We even saw lots of characters. People on these boards try to scare everyone about crowds. Take it with a grain of salt.

We loved x-mas week so much in 2010 we have already booked 2011.

 

[katla33]

AAAHHH! Don't say that! We are going the week before Easter this year!!

 

[nicki.momof3]

AAAHHH! Don't say that! We are going the week before Easter this year!!

Don't stress you will have an amazing time. We went Easter week 2007, 2009, and 2010. If it was so bad we would not have continued to go. The weather is wonderful - perfect temp and we never had any rain. Epcot is all done up for flower and garden. Easter Sunday is so pretty at the MK - all the ladies out in their fancy Easter dresses.

Just plan your days, start early, know their are going to br crwods but you are at WDW and not not home. If you are a family that stays up late plan for some great late nights. They keep the parks open very late Easter week and it really clears out after 10pm (all the families with little kids head to bed). You have your choice of ride late.

 

[katla33]

Thanks Nicki! I have little kids but we have had some of our best times at WDW at night! An afternoon rest makes a world of difference and we seem to catch a 2nd wind when the sun goes down!

I would love to go at Christmas sometime. Maybe for our 2012 trip!

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

We had an amazing time over Christmas this past year. Yes, it is crowded. However, with extended park hours and a longer trip, we were able to do everything we wanted to do. We went prepared for crowds, but other than NYE, it was never miserable.

Santa visited our hotel room. I don't know how he got in, but he must have been very quiet for all of us to sleep through it. I sometimes travel to Disney with a suitcase full of "extra" stuff, by the way. DD never questions extra luggage - it is pretty boring to kids. Just put a towel or something boring on top in case the bag gets opened in front of the wrong eyes.

 

[amym2]

We went the week before Christmas in '06 and the crowds were great. Santa left some Disney dollars and a note that he had left their stockings and gifts at home. They were fine with that (at 3 and 5 yo).

This past Christmas we were there and DD7 had sent Santa a letter saying we would be in Florida and he could leave her gifts at home in Indiana. Fortunately Santa wrote back (love our public library) so she wasn't worried. We brought our stockings with us and he filled them at our resort (and DH and I sleeping in the living room didn't hear a thing!). Our kids are 7 and 9 and didn't think that was at all strange. Amazing what kids will believe when they want to.

 

[Megkel]

We are planning on going to the World during Christmas this year too! I told DH that I wanted to plan on getting DD the play castle that she asks for every time we visit. I think we will do an all Disney Christmas. Usually Santa gets her a gift and then Mommy & Daddy each get her a present. I think it's all how you think your kids will do best. If it's the start of your vacation you could do stockings with things for your vacation.

 

[Godwindaniel]

We are planning to go to the disney christmas in the coming year. I want to enjoy the christmas there.

 

[dixonismydog]

So beautiful that time of year. AND Santa is AMAZING!!! He is just beautiful!! The real deal as my hubby says!

 

[SnipsNSnails]

Our kids only get 1 present each from "Santa" so it was fairly easy. We brought the Santa gifts with us and they opened them before leaving for AK for the day and we held off on the rest of the gifts until returning to my grandparents house that evening, but you could either do your family gift exchange either before or after your vacation. My kids are never home on Christmas morning. We are either at my grandparents in FL or my ILs in AZ so they are used to the idea that Santa finds then wherever we are! If you usually do more than 1 gift, you can buy things once you get there too or tell them that Santa sent you money for the trip so there is only 1 present from him this year.

 

[nicki.momof3]

Thanks Nicki! I have little kids but we have had some of our best times at WDW at night! An afternoon rest makes a world of difference and we seem to catch a 2nd wind when the sun goes down!

I would love to go at Christmas sometime. Maybe for our 2012 trip!

So true about the nap. We always hit the parks at rope drop (kids are early birds) and return for a afternoon nap (it is a reqiurement at WDW you know) and than party at night.

I love WDW at night - nothing better.

 

[floatinourboat]

We did Santa on the Disney Cruise. Did you know he comes down the smoke stacks of the cruise ship when all the passengers are asleep!!!

 

[Andrew78]

From the time I was 5, through age 25, my family went every year during the Christmas to New Years week. I have also been back, during non holiday times

It is extremly decorative and festive that time of year. I think that the experience is incredible and it is one of the best memorable times we had.

But of course everyone is different. And the one thing I think is fair to say is that it is INCREDIBLY crowded there. For some people, it's understandably too much. Waits for rides can be hours, to make dining reservations, you better make them months in advance. Also, the weather while usually ok, can be hit or miss. I have been there during both warm and cold.

We stayed at Monorail hotels which really cut down travel times to the parks, buses often can be so full, you have to wait for awhile on very crowded ones.

 

[Darcy03231]

This thread has some great pictures showing the crowds at Christmas. We did it once, and will never do it again!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2618303

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

I think the word crowded is a bit relative to the person. I'm amped to be going this Christmas to Disneyland though everyone keeps saying we are insane. I like crowds. Those pictures don't make me worry or freak out.