Here is the link to the thread you were referring to, TiggerNZ:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1980192
Also check out the Merry Eats thread for snacking ideas!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2015536
You are going to be there for a limited time and it will go by very fast, but you can get quite a bit in. You only have one FULL day in DLR, correct? The other day is a half day or a three-quarter day? I think you should make one list of
everything you and your son could possibly want to do while there - this way, if you run into the 'what are we going to do next' slump, you pull out your handy list and have options without having to think about it. Then, make a back-up list of JUST the super-important stuff - the stuff you cannot miss, no matter how crowded it is, if it's raining, if you're tired, etc. The MUST-DO's. This will help you just in case you happen to get to DLR and see that the crowds are daunting and won't be able to do everything. You will have your list of the most imprtant stuff and can hit those things, one by one. I also think you should get your 2-day park hoppers, and when you arrive at DLR, get the lay of the land, see how busy it is and if it looks like you will be able to handle the things on your list, and if it seems a bit crowded or you are not sure if you can get everything in, then you can upgrade your ticket to the 3-day kind if you feel you want the extra time on the 20th. I know you are reluctant to do that because of the long flight and needing the sleep and all, but wait until you get to DLR and see what it looks like before you make your final decision. The Friday and weekend right before Christmas - which that is - is always very busy. Remember, just taking time with your son in A Bug's Land (cool holiday decorations and fun stuff for kids) to explore all the attractions, and then meet Mickey and explore ToonTown will take a chunk of time out of your day. This isn't even counting any other rides, shops, restuarants, picture-taking, etc. And let's not forget the Reindeer Round-Up - another thing that will take a chunk of time.
My trips usually seem to entail about 2 days in the park, roughly. Last December, we had about 2-1/2 days, and that was the most we got accomplished in any recent trip because we were able to space everything out and pace ourselves with rest breaks and what not, so no one got fatigued and unable to carry on, and we got a lot done that we wanted to do! When we tried to condense things into 1-1/2 days - which is what happened this past October and last year in September - we were irritable, cranky and sluggish, and didn't get nearly as much done because we would try to pack too many things into small chunks of time, if that makes sense. So we burnt out faster but got less accomplished at the end of the day!!
Oh, and the GCH lobby is gorgeous. That has the big tree, as Krissy already said. If you like carolers, they sing in the lobby every day and night and people curl up on the comfy couches and chairs and listen to them, sipping drinks and cocoa and what not. There is also the hearth area, where you can sit by the fire. Santa is there too, somewhere between 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. It is a nice way to unwind from a long day. But you don't want to miss the beautiful nighttime lights at the Castle and IASW, and snowfall/lights on Main Street, so make sure you dvote one of your nights to doing that!
You will have a blast! (And you will LOVE Goofy's!)