Christmas time @ WDW and first-timers?

[DisneyMom5]

We're hoping to go back to WDW at Thanksgiving '07 (actually the week after.) This will be the 3rd trip for us, but we are planning on going with dh's parents and dh's sis's family, all of whom have never been. Will all the holiday extras be too overwhelming for first timers?
Does it interfere with being able to do all the regular stuff?

This is already turning into a logistical challenge, but they really want to go with us.
(And they are so far willing to let ME be in charge of planning, which is how I prefer things to be. LOL [no, i'm not addicted to disney, really])

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

It is a wonderful time to go. Cooler weather, lots of beautiful decorations to see. In my opinion the extras don't interfere with the normal things...they just add a bit of a different beautiful twist to it. You will just wish you had more time to see everything!

 

[cworld]

We took 12 first timers the week of Christmas 2003. It was great. Take advantage of the extras. The MVMCP and Candelight Processional are must do's. It'll be great.

 

[jeck4]

The Holiday extras will only make the experience that much more enjoyable! The Holidays are even more magical. I love to see WDW through the eyes of a first timer.....talk about magic!

 

[2giddy4wdw]

This is definately the best time to go, especially with first timers. We went with 8 of us in 2004. 3 of them had never been before. The weather was great, the decorations are to die for, everything is wonderful. We go the Friday after Thanksgiving throught the following Saturday. The first weekend after Thanksgiving is still very busy, but once Sunday hits...the crowds drop right off. And the following week is so quite. We love going to MVMCP. It's also been warm enough for us to swim during the week. It gets us in the Christmas mood and we get some Christmas shopping done while we are done there too!!!! Hope that you have a great vacation!!!!

 

[DisneyMom5]

It is a wonderful time to go. Cooler weather, lots of beautiful decorations to see. In my opinion the extras don't interfere with the normal things...they just add a bit of a different beautiful twist to it. You will just wish you had more time to see everything!

Well, we're planning on staying a couple of days longer than them, so that will help!

I am going back and forth between being excited to share it with them and not wanting to share it with them, know what I mean?


Hoping my planning obsession will help the situation, not hurt it! LOL

 

[kima86]

What a great time to go! We have gone for the past 3 years the week after Thanksgiving and IMHO think it's one of the best times to go. The weather is great (we've had mid 70s temps and clear, sunny skies every year), the crowds are low (most attractions had walk-on times, except for Soarin' which we FP'd) and the decorations are absolutely beautiful!

This is a great time to take first-timers to the World because with lower crowd levels, they aren't likely to be overwhelmed. Our first time was with my cousins in 2000 (we were a group of 12 with 4 more relatives joining us several days into the trip for a total of 16 - 7 adults and 9 kids!). We were very overwhelmed because the heat was in the mid to upper 90s each day with the normal high humidity levels of Florida, making it feel like 100+ degrees and the crowds were huge!!! MY DH, who isn't a crowd person, was about to blow a gasket since everywhere we turned was more people! We just followed them around since they've been there before, so we didn't see a lot of things we wanted to. In Epcot's WS, we didn't even make it to the American Pavilion starting from Mexico! Oh, and did I mention the crowds?!!

Since then, we have learned quite a bit, most of which was a result of the boards here and from our own experience over the past years. Take your group and enjoy the holiday season...oh, and the crowds (or should I say lack thereof?)!

Kim

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

Disneymom5. I am also a pshyco planner! So far everybody that has gone with us has really enjoyed the fact that I have everything planned and arranged ahead of time. It makes their enjoyment even greater since they can just sit back and enjoy and not worry about the details. Hopefully your group will feel the same way...if not, hey, they don't have to travel to Disney World with you next time!

What a lucky mom you are. 7 precious gifts to enjoy! DH & I began our married lives wanting 7, but when job layoffs hit we had to downsize our dreams a bit. Every day I am thankful for our 4, which has now grown to 8 (with their spouses) and 5 beautiful grandkids to date. Life can sure be hectic, but I love it! Best wishes to all of you. Enjoy those special trips with all of your kids!

 

[DisneyMom5]

Disneymom5. I am also a pshyco planner! So far everybody that has gone with us has really enjoyed the fact that I have everything planned and arranged ahead of time. It makes their enjoyment even greater since they can just sit back and enjoy and not worry about the details. Hopefully your group will feel the same way...if not, hey, they don't have to travel to Disney World with you next time!

What a lucky mom you are. 7 precious gifts to enjoy! DH & I began our married lives wanting 7, but when job layoffs hit we had to downsize our dreams a bit. Every day I am thankful for our 4, which has now grown to 8 (with their spouses) and 5 beautiful grandkids to date. Life can sure be hectic, but I love it! Best wishes to all of you. Enjoy those special trips with all of your kids!

Thanks for the kind word. We really enjoy our kids. We get questioned for taking seven kids to WDW, but...they're our kids!!! Why wouldn't we want them to do something as great as WDW? Besides, we take seven kids everywhere, so WDW isn't much different. LOL
I wish we were going sooner!

 

[seven dwarfs]

We have been during this time for 5 years straight now (we stay for about two weeks in the camper). We are not going this year during this time. We are going in Sept instead. It is a great time to go. Temp is great, it is so pretty. But I will warn you. The world now knows that it is the best time to go. In 2005 lines got pretty long and the people where everywhere. We went to Downtown Disney twice and both times had to leave it was so crowded. Each year the amount of people going seems to increase. We are hoping Sept will be better but I sure will miss the nice cool weather.

 

[seven dwarfs]

DISNEYMOM5:
We have six surviving kids under the age of 6! Man, nice to know that someone else takes all their kids. And looks....we get all kids of looks. Sometimes stares. The poor kids are at the age where they notice it too. I remember the last time we ate in Canada and this one table watched us the whole time. I just tell them people are amazed at how well they are behaving. I feel the same way as you. The kids go everywhere with us. That is how they learn. And Disney is such a special place for us.