Christmas in Orlando

[jm106]

Our family would like to head to Florida over schools winter break since it is so long. I think we will split time between Orlando for a few days and west coast beach(I know it can be cool but warmer then NJ.) We wont be doing parks since w did Disney and US/IoA in October and US/IoA last month. We will also look at areas, as we are trying to relocate to Florida. We will plan to arrive on Christmas eve, with this being a majority of kids gifts (not sure how to make this work with Santa yet.)

On to the point of posting - I wondered if there is anything "Christmas-y" to do, areas with great décor (that isn't church.) I figured we could visit Disney resorts to see decorations, not sure other then I think Grand Floridian which area worth seeing. Any small towns with events or parades? Trying to decide how long we want to stay with most likely no leisurely pool days necessary.
Other Orlando attractions we should consider with 7 and 10 yo boys? We did Gatorland and Showcase of citrus last month. We have done titanic in Philly. I might like to do the EYE if grandma is visiting friends near by be NO WAY will she do it. I am not sure how I will feel about it.
Thanks everyone!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Our family would like to head to Florida over schools winter break since it is so long. I think we will split time between Orlando for a few days and west coast beach(I know it can be cool but warmer then NJ.) We wont be doing parks since w did Disney and US/IoA in October and US/IoA last month. We will also look at areas, as we are trying to relocate to Florida. We will plan to arrive on Christmas eve, with this being a majority of kids gifts (not sure how to make this work with Santa yet.)

On to the point of posting - I wondered if there is anything "Christmas-y" to do, areas with great décor (that isn't church.) I figured we could visit Disney resorts to see decorations, not sure other then I think Grand Floridian which area worth seeing. Any small towns with events or parades? Trying to decide how long we want to stay with most likely no leisurely pool days necessary.
Other Orlando attractions we should consider with 7 and 10 yo boys? We did Gatorland and Showcase of citrus last month. We have done titanic in Philly. I might like to do the EYE if grandma is visiting friends near by be NO WAY will she do it. I am not sure how I will feel about it.
Thanks everyone!

We did Christmas in Orlando in 2012, and are heading back there again this year (December 19th to 26th). Its a little easier for us when our "little one" is almost 20 so there's no Santa stuff to concern ourselves with. The trip is our family Christmas gift.

ICE! at Gaylord Palms is very festive, wintery and "Christmas-y". We did this in 2012, and made a full event of it by adding on the Shrek Feast (character meal at the onsite Villa de Flora restaurant) and then decorated cookies with Gingy the Gingerbread Man in his gingerbread house. The atrium at Gaylord Palms is stunning during the holiday season, with a HUGE Christmas tree, zillions of poinsettias and decorations, and free holiday entertainment (singers, etc.). Big heavy coats are provided for ICE!, but you definitely need mittens or gloves.

SeaWorld's Christmas events are spectacular, and included in regular park admission. Fabulous holiday shows, photos inside a snow globe, amazing decorations, the Sea of Trees, snow in the Marketplace.....its all so perfectly co-ordinated. I know you said no parks, but SW has an annual "Blue Friday" sale on Black Friday each year where you can often get some deep, deep discounts on admission (like BOGO AP's, BOGO single day admission, etc.). Offers change yearly but its worth keeping your eyes peeled, just in case.

This year, we are planning to visit Celebration one evening for their "Now Snowing Nightly" holiday events. From what I have researched, there's ice skating, roaming carollers, horse-drawn carraige rides, a nightly snowfall, and other festive happenings.

We also plan to go to Downtown Disney to have a family photo taken with Santa, and to see the Christmas displays/events at Bass Pro Shop.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

For the record, we are also avoiding the major theme parks for this Christmas vacation (crowds just aren't our thing). For offsite activities, we will be visiting the Orlando Eye (its not scary....honest....and this is coming from someone who is terrified of heights), the Sea Life Aquarium, Madame Tussaud's, Wild Florida (a one hour airboat ride + the animal park), Gatorland, Fun Spot and mini golfing. And lots of time at the resort, particularly taking advantage of the opportunity to swim (a novelty in the winter for us Canucks!) and enjoying the fact that we're avoiding all the family holiday drama at home .

 

[FLCyndi]

Good info. I am trying to plan a trip starting the day after Xmas.

 

[FLCyndi]

How many of these attractions stay open after Xmas?

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

How many of these attractions stay open after Xmas?

ICE! runs until January 3rd:

http://www.marriott.com/hotel-info/...ter/christmas-at-gaylord-palms/csyr9pd/ice.mi

Now Snowing Nightly at Celebration runs through December 31st:

http://celebrationtowncenter.com/events/

This link says Santa is at DTD through December 30th. If I remember correctly, I read somewhere else that its Santa Claus up to the 24th of December and Santa Goofy thereafter:

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/festival-of-the-seasons/

Bass Pro Shops haven't released their official dates and info yet:

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/s...a=bps&cm_ite=santa&cm_sp=SantaWlandNov2013_RD

But this video gives you a general idea of what to expect:

 

[jm106]

For the record, we are also avoiding the major theme parks for this Christmas vacation (crowds just aren't our thing). For offsite activities, we will be visiting the Orlando Eye (its not scary....honest....and this is coming from someone who is terrified of heights), the Sea Life Aquarium, Madame Tussaud's, Wild Florida (a one hour airboat ride + the animal park), Gatorland, Fun Spot and mini golfing. And lots of time at the resort, particularly taking advantage of the opportunity to swim (a novelty in the winter for us Canucks!) and enjoying the fact that we're avoiding all the family holiday drama at home .

Thanks. I now they EYE isn't supposed to be scary but I sort of freaked out at glass elevator at the RIO in Vegas and had to stare at the wall to get up. My mother would never do it.
I will look at the links, I am trying not to spend much since we did a lot of travel this summer.
Wait- you would actually swim in Orlando in December?!? I wont even do it in NJ in the middle of the summer so I know I could not handle it.

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

We love Celebration at Christmas, it is lovely to go and see the decorations.

We also like to walk round Fort Wilderness as the campground is decorated and it seems so much fun. If you get a nice day you can rent a boat in the afternoon, eat at Trails End and then look round once it has gone dark.

We have also visited Blus Spring State park to see the manatees in the spring, you only have to pay entry of around $6 for the car. There is also a boat ride you can take, which we did the last time and really enjoyed seeing the wildlife.

Enjoy

 

[Detailor]

We've gone to Orlando at the beginning of December when the crowd level is much lower a few times, and headed back this year, too. We like to tour as many of the Disney resorts as possible - the Contemporary is worth skipping, in my opinion but many of the others have become 'must-dos' for us. The resorts on the monorail loop are nice and we like the BoardWalk resorts. Haven't made it to the Animal Kingdom Lodge yet but the Wilderness Lodge is our absolute favorite. I agree with the posters who have mentioned Celebration - it's laid-back, it 'snows' every night and there is a small skating rink set up on Market Street near shops and restaurants.

I'm guessing that your trip will be too late for holiday parades (we saw one in St. Petersburg several years ago on a Saturday in late November or early December and then one later that day in Ybor City in Tampa).

Dick Taylor

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Wait- you would actually swim in Orlando in December?!? I wont even do it in NJ in the middle of the summer so I know I could not handle it.

Absolutely we swim! We're hearty Canadians, anytime there isn't ice on the water is considered "pool weather" .

In all seriousness, we've been once in late December and twice in January, and we have swam virtually every single one of those days. Sometimes we don't have much company in the pools but hey, the water is heated, so we're good to go. If the air is chilly, all we need is a big fluffy towel to wrap ourselves up in on the quick dash back to the villa.

 

[prairiesarah]

Absolutely we swim! We're hearty Canadians, anytime there isn't ice on the water is considered "pool weather" .

In all seriousness, we've been once in late December and twice in January, and we have swam virtually every single one of those days. Sometimes we don't have much company in the pools but hey, the water is heated, so we're good to go. If the air is chilly, all we need is a big fluffy towel to wrap ourselves up in on the quick dash back to the villa.

This made me lol - I always can tell other Canadians because for the most part we're the only ones swimming in December in Florida! Like you, as long as there's no ice and its above zero its swimming weather. We'll be there dec 17th to 27th and I plan to swim everyday!

We're not planning a ton of park time - just using up 2 days on old passes. Rest of the time will be Downtown Disney, touring hotels (AKL, Poly, WL, GF for sure), Gatorland, airboat tour, checking out Celebration, outlet malls, Typhoon Lagoon. Gaylord Palms sounds really cool, but I'm not sure if I want to go do something that involves snow and ice on my vacation from the snow and ice!

 

[Hunterr]

As far as Christmasy things to do outside of Disney, as someone already said, the "snow" falling at Celebration. It's really nice. The whole area of homes is nice to take a stroll through, as well.

Also, the decorations at the Florida Mall and Mall At Millenia area really cool, too.

 

[NinaBella]

Our family would like to head to Florida over schools winter break since it is so long. I think we will split time between Orlando for a few days and west coast beach(I know it can be cool but warmer then NJ.) We wont be doing parks since w did Disney and US/IoA in October and US/IoA last month. We will also look at areas, as we are trying to relocate to Florida. We will plan to arrive on Christmas eve, with this being a majority of kids gifts (not sure how to make this work with Santa yet.)

On to the point of posting - I wondered if there is anything "Christmas-y" to do, areas with great décor (that isn't church.) I figured we could visit Disney resorts to see decorations, not sure other then I think Grand Floridian which area worth seeing. Any small towns with events or parades? Trying to decide how long we want to stay with most likely no leisurely pool days necessary.
Other Orlando attractions we should consider with 7 and 10 yo boys? We did Gatorland and Showcase of citrus last month. We have done titanic in Philly. I might like to do the EYE if grandma is visiting friends near by be NO WAY will she do it. I am not sure how I will feel about it.
Thanks everyone!

I would highly recommend staying Christmas Eve at Gaylord Palms! Your boys will love this hotel!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

There's also something called "Santa's Wonderland Village" in Waterford Lakes. It sounds like a Christmas themed "fair" type event:

http://www.santaswinterwonderlandvillage.com/

 

[jm106]

Thanks for the great ideas. I also don't know I want to go do snowy activities, I hate snow and ice and want nothing more then to never see it again unless its ice in my cocktail lol. I will go in a hotels hot tub but not pool in winter. Funny, I was raised in North East but I never got used to it. If it drops below 80, I am in long sleeves unless its really sunny or humid. Pools have to be over 85 to consider a swim

I was told Gaylord Palms is great but we have tons of Hilton Honors and other hotel points so we don't pay for hotels(which is why I got to travel so much this summer.) I would like to visit it though.
Looks like we have plenty of options. So excited. Now to figure out where on the beach we will go.

 

[cheerky]

I suggest checking out the Wilderness Lodge lobby at Disney. The tree is beautiful and there is a huge stone fireplace with rocking chairs. You can enjoy a cocktail or hot cocoa and enjoy the ambiance. SeaWorld at Christmas is, IMO, Orlando's best kept secret. The park is beautiful, not packed, and the Christmas Shamu show is great. Celebration is a quaint little town with a cute tree and fake snow fall. Dinner at The Columbia on the patio would be lovely at Christmastime. As far as beaches on the Gulf, St Pete beach is close to Orlando. Siesta Key and Anna Maria Island are a bit further but just beautiful. The sand is so clean, soft and water is beautiful!

 

[jm106]

Thanks you!!

 

[choppee]

Wow, I'm glad I stumbled onto this thread! Will be in Orlando as well in December and wanted to know what Christmas-y things we could do without it being the parks. Too much crowding and construction going on, so we will be avoiding them. Might stumble into Universal since we haven't been, but that's just a maybe. I know they'll be crowded too.