TheBeadPirate
Button Maker Magician & Blinkie toting Sherpa
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2006
- Messages
- 3,075
Sharing some tips learned over the years, we always celebrate the holidays (Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween) at Disney (they decorate for us!)
We are not going to WDW this year for Christmas, we are opting for DL to see how the West Coasters do it...
Long time WDW tradition to spend a week at disney during Christmas... We are DVC at WL.. try to leave on the 24th or 26th each year.. crowds are a challenge
Some things not to miss - Horse drawn carriage ride at WL and FW (I think it books 90 days out, inexpensive and a party of 6 skinny minnies or four regular people can ride).. take cookies and warm drinks (act like it is cold outside).
Ride the monorail and get off at every hotel, walk through the lobby, see the decorations and enjoy a free cookie.
Go to a tree lighting at one of the resorts, free candy canes, singing, etc.. a great time (you might get lucky and get to throw the switch to light the tree)
Take a trip to the gaylord palms (the ice exhibit is fun)
At each country in Epcot you will learn (through live presentations) the legend of the holidays in that country. You can spend a day going from country to country (and Epcot tends to be the least crowded of all venues)
On Christmas day we always take a load of Christmas beads (we are from New Orleans, we celebrate everything with beads) with us and give them to the CM's as a way to thank them for working the holiday.... It will be enough to just shake thier hand and thank them, they make the holidays special...
Do not miss the Candlelight Processional (get the dinner package, Morrroco is usually available for last minute planners and is a fun time)... while waiting in line send a party member up to Italy and get a couple of Rosa Regale wines and a couple of peices of choclate.
Spend an evening at the Osbourne family of lights at Hollywood Studios watching the lights, drinking hot chocolate and eating roasted chestnuts...(try and find the black cat)...and it snows!
Set the alarm clock for 3:00 AM and go into the hotel lobby and watch Santas helpers working thier magic as they maintain the beautiful decorations...
You might notice that I left out the park rides... you will spend hours in lines and may loose your holiday spirirt if you come with the usual expectations concerning rides... This is a great time of year to walk, enjoy the decorations, meet the characters, tour the hotels / resorts (go to places that you normally do not have time to do)... the commando disney types may meet with some competition or dissapointment this week..
Ship your tree, ornaments, lights, decorations, etc. ahead... Do not forget cable ties (balcony lights), clear duct tape, extension cords, siccors, and a breaker strip... If you have a kitchen, have your groceries delivered and cook Christmas breakfast in the room (we usually meet a family during the week that does not have a kitchen and invite them over)
I know this may be unheard of, but try and relax, sit down on a bench and listen to the great background music and watch all of the little ones at the most exciting time of the year (Boardwalk is a great place for this)
If you really want to have some fun wrap up a couple of kids gifts ahead of time (ship them) and place them in front of a room door that you know has a couple of kids in them... the squeals in the hallway will alert you that your good deed is appreciated
Enjoy!
We are not going to WDW this year for Christmas, we are opting for DL to see how the West Coasters do it...
Long time WDW tradition to spend a week at disney during Christmas... We are DVC at WL.. try to leave on the 24th or 26th each year.. crowds are a challenge
Some things not to miss - Horse drawn carriage ride at WL and FW (I think it books 90 days out, inexpensive and a party of 6 skinny minnies or four regular people can ride).. take cookies and warm drinks (act like it is cold outside).
Ride the monorail and get off at every hotel, walk through the lobby, see the decorations and enjoy a free cookie.
Go to a tree lighting at one of the resorts, free candy canes, singing, etc.. a great time (you might get lucky and get to throw the switch to light the tree)
Take a trip to the gaylord palms (the ice exhibit is fun)
At each country in Epcot you will learn (through live presentations) the legend of the holidays in that country. You can spend a day going from country to country (and Epcot tends to be the least crowded of all venues)
On Christmas day we always take a load of Christmas beads (we are from New Orleans, we celebrate everything with beads) with us and give them to the CM's as a way to thank them for working the holiday.... It will be enough to just shake thier hand and thank them, they make the holidays special...
Do not miss the Candlelight Processional (get the dinner package, Morrroco is usually available for last minute planners and is a fun time)... while waiting in line send a party member up to Italy and get a couple of Rosa Regale wines and a couple of peices of choclate.
Spend an evening at the Osbourne family of lights at Hollywood Studios watching the lights, drinking hot chocolate and eating roasted chestnuts...(try and find the black cat)...and it snows!
Set the alarm clock for 3:00 AM and go into the hotel lobby and watch Santas helpers working thier magic as they maintain the beautiful decorations...
You might notice that I left out the park rides... you will spend hours in lines and may loose your holiday spirirt if you come with the usual expectations concerning rides... This is a great time of year to walk, enjoy the decorations, meet the characters, tour the hotels / resorts (go to places that you normally do not have time to do)... the commando disney types may meet with some competition or dissapointment this week..
Ship your tree, ornaments, lights, decorations, etc. ahead... Do not forget cable ties (balcony lights), clear duct tape, extension cords, siccors, and a breaker strip... If you have a kitchen, have your groceries delivered and cook Christmas breakfast in the room (we usually meet a family during the week that does not have a kitchen and invite them over)
I know this may be unheard of, but try and relax, sit down on a bench and listen to the great background music and watch all of the little ones at the most exciting time of the year (Boardwalk is a great place for this)
If you really want to have some fun wrap up a couple of kids gifts ahead of time (ship them) and place them in front of a room door that you know has a couple of kids in them... the squeals in the hallway will alert you that your good deed is appreciated
Enjoy!
