Christmas/New Year's holiday ideas

[momtotwinglesx4]

Could everyone please post their ideas for family activities on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve? Fun/special ways to spend time with family at WDW other than fighting big crowds in the parks?

Some ideas I thought of:

Ride the monorail and visit each of the monorail resorts and have a cup of hot chocolate (with or without the peppermint schnaaps!) while admiring the lobby decorations.

Go Christmas caroling around the boardwalk--start off with just your own family and see how many other folks join you on your way! (Is there any "organized" Christmas Caroling at WDW?)

Attend Christmas services at a local church.

What else can you all think of?

Sue

 

[VickiVM]

I'm interested in how others personalized their holiday while in the World. We're Presbyterian and I'm going to try to find a church nearby that might have a late evening Christmas Eve service. We'll probably do the CP, but earlier in the week. I'm also going to rely heavily on the Concierge planners to do some of the gift details for Christmas day...which won't be a lot of items since we're forking over a chunk for this vacation, but still a handful of small gifts for the kids that won't take up a lot of space in the van on the way back home.

 

[ozziewags]

We went to CP on Christmas Eve, then spent Christmas Day at MK. Had PS at Liberty Tree Tavern right after the afternoon Christmas Parade. There were lots of people, but all in a holiday mood and everyone just went with the flow. It was truly magical. Of course, we had decorated our room and windows at the Swan on the day we arrived. Put gifts under the tree Christmas Eve, and opened them on Christmas morning before having breakfast on the CL, then going to MK. Even hung stockings and filled them.
Takes some planning and shipping ahead if you fly, but worth it.

 

[Bunchkin]

Well, we're very much up in the air about where to eat for Christmas dinner!
I wish we could make up our minds!!

I do have a 3' pre lit Christmas tree that I bought on sale after this past Christmas with the intentions to bring in with us. We plan on setting this up as soon as we arrive and decorating it. And believe it or not I already have presents for our children to bring with. Luckily we are driving so we should have enough room for everything. We also plan on doing quite a bit of shopping for additional presents while we are there.

I think we may try to avoid MK. But we'll see.

We are staying at FW Cabins so we will be bringing lights for outside decorating too.

I was told by a CM at CRO yesterday that DTD has carolers and a really, really nice Santa. With whom you can have your picture taken with.

 

[PamOKW]

DTD has carolers and a really, really nice Santa.

Don't forget that Santa goes back to the North Pole after Christmas Eve.

 

[bravestwj]

We are going to be at the World from December 23-27th. I hadn't thought about decorating our room, or taking a miniture tree, but those are great ideas. I do know that Santa will be visiting our DD, age 9 at the hotel, and she has a list of small things (size wise) so Santa will be able to get them to her no problem at the hotel. I also love the idea of going to a couple of the resorts and getting hot chocolate and caroling. I'm a music person, and will sing just about anywhere!!! Any suggestions for what resorts are a must do? I've decided probably WL, or AKL, just because we love the outdoor look. Any others? Did I read something about GF?

P.S. We have decided to do a Christmas Eve late lunch/dinner at CRT, and Christmas Day I think we are planning on going to one of the resorts to eat Dinner. We are planning Christmas Day at AK, only because I read that should be the least crowded. Anyone have suggestions on good resort resturants for Christmas Day after a day at AK?

 

[momtotwinglesx4]

Originally posted by bravestwj
Any suggestions for what resorts are a must do? I've decided probably WL, or AKL, just because we love the outdoor look. Any others? Did I read something about GF?

Yes, GF is supposed to have absolutely gorgeous decorations, and I've read that the Boardwalk Inn lobby is worth a trip as well.

I'm trying to decide where to have a Christmas dinner as well; I'm sure Artist's Point at the WL would be lovely, but expensive. I'm trying to think of somewhere "Christmas-y" but less expensive.

Sue