Christmas Season Must-Do's

[familyfirsttimer]

I have never been lucky enough to visit during this time...until now!!!

So please share your must dos for the holiday season

I do not want to spend the $$ for the MVMCP (not even sure if tix are available anyway)

I know I want to see GF gingerbread house, it's those kind of things I am looking for!

TIA for sharing your knowledge

 

[WEDWDW]

Fort Wilderness decorations as seen from the Wagon Ride.

 

[tinka-belle]

All the deluxe resorts have fabulous themed holiday decorations! The best by far is the GF, but you can tour or grab a bite to eat many resorts and have a look at their holiday theming, just jump on that resort's bus (or monorail) from whatever park you are in. Disney Springs will have a "festival of trees" this year, a new event.

We always do Holidays Around the World at Epcot. If you are interested in different cultures and their celebrations they are good to see. Some are very good whether you are into the holidays or not, like Italy, UK, Norway. Each one is about 10 minutes, offered at all the countries at staggered times so it usually takes us two days to see them all. And of course sampling the holiday foods this year at the Epcot booths!

 

[hiroMYhero]

Here's a current thread:
The 2016 Holiday Season: What's New, What's Returning, What's Gone

 

[familyfirsttimer]

Here's a current thread:
The 2016 Holiday Season: What's New, What's Returning, What's Gone

Thank you so much! I searched Christmas and thousands of threads came up! Thanks again

 

[Harambe]

I have always wanted to see the tree in the Animal Kingdom Lodge lobby! And a lot of other deluxe resorts have Gingerbread Houses/Villages, so see those in addition to GF.

Lucky stiff!!!!!!

 

[cassie58]

Try to see the castle lighting ceremony while you are at MK - amazing to see it light up for the night with all the icicle lights! You have already mentioned visiting GF, we also like the chocolate carousel at Beach Club. Wilderness and AK Lodge are both beautiful. Epcot has the Candlelight Processional(see the thread above) which we love, but best to do w/dining package. If you are into characters, Minnie's Holiday Dine at HS has Santa Goofy for a pic, and then Mickey, Minnie, Donald, & Daisy. Great interaction if you can get an ADR.

 

[PlutoFan10]

Candlelight Processional is a must. As mentioned, the deluxe resorts are great. Gingerbread at GF, Contemporary, and Beach Club (carousel), plus Wilderness Lodge lobby is gorgeous.

 

[familyfirsttimer]

Try to see the castle lighting ceremony while you are at MK - amazing to see it light up for the night with all the icicle lights! .

So is this listed anywhere with the time? I definitely do not want to miss that, chills already thinking about it (being honest here, when I watched it on tv during the holiday special last year, I cried HAHA!)

 

[disneygolfer1985]

I would suggest holidays around the world in the Epcot. The storytellers are fun and the candlelight processional is amazing. Depending on the narrator it could be extra special.

 

[familyfirsttimer]

Candlelight Processional is a must. .

Is it hard to see this without the dining package? I am going 11/29-12/3 so not right @christmas. It looks like they have it 3 times a day. The dining packages are SO expensive! I have done them in the past for other events but these prices just seem so high to me. Just wondering the reality of being able to see it without the package.

 

[hiroMYhero]

So is this listed anywhere with the time? I definitely do not want to miss that, chills already thinking about it (being honest here, when I watched it on tv during the holiday special last year, I credit HAHA!)

Frozen Holiday Wish is the Castle Lighting show. The showtime is listed in the link above and it is shown nightly for all guests.

On Party nights, scheduling may be a little later because Once Upon a Time Castle projection show is getting scheduled in to occur prior to the lighting show. This was recently noted in the MVMCP thread.

 

[cassie58]

So is this listed anywhere with the time? I definitely do not want to miss that, chills already thinking about it (being honest here, when I watched it on tv during the holiday special last year, I credit HAHA!)

It is usually around 6:30pm - called Frozen Holiday Wish this yr. I believe it only done on non-party nights for regular guests, not sure if you have already planned to be in there for one of those, since I know you are not doing the party. Check park hours for your day. They also just started a new projection show, Once Upon a Time, that will show after Wishes. Not sure if you had seen the last one, Celebrate the Magic, which we loved, and they had added a Christmas portion that was really cool, but not sure if they are doing it with the new one.

Is it hard to see this without the dining package? I am going 11/29-12/3 so not right @christmas. It looks like they have it 3 times a day. The dining packages are SO expensive! I have done them in the past for other events but these prices just seem so high to me. Just wondering the reality of being able to see it without the package.

It is possible to do it without the package, just harder. We have only done it once due to the expense/2 credits, but it was very good, and we also got reserved area for Illuminations which was a bonus. If you do not have reserved tickets from the package, you can line up for any seats leftover(standby), it just depends on each day's crowds and the narrator - they are celebrities, so some are very popular, like Neil Patrick Harris, where lines are crazy. You will have to check who is there for your dates. You will have to wait in line early, so it does take away park time. You can also see it from outside since it is an open theater, but it will be harder to hear and get the full effect. I think the 4:00 show is less popular since it is not dark yet. You can always walk by and check out if there is a line at say 2:00, to gauge it. You can also find a spot to watch from outside, and get a taste of it, and plan it for a future trip.

 

[Blue32]

Is it hard to see this without the dining package? I am going 11/29-12/3 so not right @christmas. It looks like they have it 3 times a day. The dining packages are SO expensive! I have done them in the past for other events but these prices just seem so high to me. Just wondering the reality of being able to see it without the package.

We will be there those dates as well. Neil Patrick Harris will be the narrator those dates so it will be difficult to see without a dining package. We were also not interested in paying that much for this show so we plan to listen from back near the American Adventure. We won't be able to see the stage but the music will still be able to be heard.

 

[familyfirsttimer]

We will be there those dates as well. Neil Patrick Harris will be the narrator those dates so it will be difficult to see without a dining package. We were also not interested in paying that much for this show so we plan to listen from back near the American Adventure. We won't be able to see the stage but the music will still be able to be heard.

Thank you, I just saw that NPH was the narrator and while I'd LOVE to di it, I can not justify $300 dinner without tax and gratuity (plus we will want a adult drink or 2)..

It is our first time @WDW for the holidays, I know there are SO many beautiful and festive things to do, I am not going to let this discourage me, nor waste 2 hours standing in line for anything.

Thanks to everyone for your input!!!!

 

[brookie714]

Thank you, I just saw that NPH was the narrator and while I'd LOVE to di it, I can not justify $300 dinner without tax and gratuity (plus we will want a adult drink or 2)..

It is our first time @WDW for the holidays, I know there are SO many beautiful and festive things to do, I am not going to let this discourage me, nor waste 2 hours standing in line for anything.

Thanks to everyone for your input!!!!

Last year I was able to watch NPH but chose to stand in the area right outside of the theater. If that's an option you're ok with, I think we arrived with less than an hour to go. We were the very first people to line up there, as everyone else was heading to the line for stand by seats. It was the earlier show, but still breathtaking. We were able to grab some of the seasonal food and drink offerings beforehand and enjoy them while watching. I can also say that there were many people that were unhappy in that standby line because they didn't get a seat. I was content to stand and watch and didn't waste hours in line for something that wasn't a guarantee.

 

[Blue32]

Frozen Holiday Wish is the Castle Lighting show. The showtime is listed in the link above and it is shown nightly for all guests.

On Party nights, scheduling may be a little later because Once Upon a Time Castle projection show is getting scheduled in to occur prior to the lighting show. This was recently noted in the MVMCP thread.

Do you think that Once Upon a Time will get scheduled that way for all party nights? I'm only seeing that way on this coming Tues. schedule.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Do you think that Once Upon a Time will get scheduled that way for all party nights? I'm only seeing that way on this coming Tues. schedule.

Perhaps they are testing to see how running Frozen Lighting earlier > OUAT affects the Party start, as in, can they safely direct all the regular guests out of the park before the Party officially begins.

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

You said you enjoy adult beverages, yes?
Perhaps getting a lovely libation from the Poly and hanging at the beach to watch the MVMCP fireworks (which are amazing) would work for you.
Also, Hollywood Studios has a new Christmas light/fireworks show to take the sting out of the missing Osbourne Lights, Of course I haven't seen it, but it's rumored to be spectacular!
There is going to be a new light drone show several times nightly in Disney Springs (free) as well as a "Trail of Trees" also free. You could grab hot cocoa and some sweets from one of the million food carts/bakeries/counter service places.
There are a lot of good ideas by all the Disers!
Have a magical holiday!

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

Is it hard to see this without the dining package? I am going 11/29-12/3 so not right @christmas. It looks like they have it 3 times a day. The dining packages are SO expensive! I have done them in the past for other events but these prices just seem so high to me. Just wondering the reality of being able to see it without the package.

Also have you looked at the breakfast CP packages? They are MUCH cheaper and maybe could be affordable for you. (Don't know your budget but maybe plan a late breakfast as a lunch and kill 2 birds with one stone)
NPH is going to be VERY popular so probably no stand by...

Edited to say: Probably long long waits for stand by...