Christmas tips

[Magicdad]

I'm going to Disney over the christmas week. This will be my first time during the holidays. Any tips?



Magicdad

 

[Kristineamb]

Plan, plan and plan some more!!!
We were there last year December 17-29...crowds were manageable before the holiday but got increasingly larger as the holiday approached....we didn't even attempt a park on Christmas day (opted instead to tour the resorts to see their decorations!) Subscribed to TGM and had all ADRs in place....good luck and Merry Christmas

 

[wintonfarm]

not sure of your dates but we have had a great time at the mickey's merry christmas that they do at the magic kingdom

 

[patbri]

There are 10 of us and we'll be there December 25th - January 1st so will also be interested in the tips. I know many people think we're crazy but we could not find another time everyone could go.

Patti

 

[BamaTigger]

If you go to the MK on Christmas Eve, DO NOT LEAVE EARLY, or you might not get back in, because it fills to capacity...also get there EARLY Christmas Morning, because last Christmas Morning at the MK, it was already closed at 10am due to capacity!!!

Get your ADRS NOW.. if not you will be eating counter service at every meal.

It is SUPER SUPER CROWDED there...(the busiest time of the year) and it gets elbow to elbow, so be prepared for the crowds.

Another tip... if you want a GOOD VIEW of the Christmas Parade, you better grab your seat about 2-21/2 hours BEFORE it starts, or you wont get a great view (On main street mainly).

Have a great time, THE DECORATIONS ARE BEAUTIFUL!

 

[Bob P]

Pleae have a look at this long but thorough thread so you can manage your expectations:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1490464

 

[Echo queen]

In line for tips.

 

[cmul04]

We were very scared, but we had more fun and rode more rides than we ever imagined. Yes, there are more people than you'd like, and yes, there are lines, so just know that and roll with it.

BUT, there is still a LOT of fun! The decorations are absolutely beautiful, it is very festive everywhere you go. Make it a point to get good family photos with Christmas things in the background. Ours have become part of our annual decorations and we relive that special Christmas every year.

Get into the park early and do not plan to parkhop. They do close every park (except for Epcot) due to capacity.

Get your fastpasses immediately. Use everyone's tickets, even those who don't plan to ride it, that way some will get to ride twice, or plan for two different rides. It was really fun to bypass the 185 minute standby line at Soarin' two times in a span of 15 minutes! Sorry to the bored people in line!

Find out where the parade route is and plan to sit near the end of the route. You'll never get a seat on Main Street, who really wants to sit there saving seats for over two hours? In MK, watch from the bridge in front of Splash Mountain, not a direct view, but still okay. In AK, watch from the drums area, no one ever thinks of it and there's an ice cream place right there to enjoy while you wait! We skipped the parade in DHS, caught a little, that was enough. By the way, the MK Christmas parade they show on tv is done at specific times that week, and was definitely worth catching.

Let everyone pick one or two things they'd really like to do each day and hit those for sure, everything else is a fabulous extra.

On Christmas Day after Wishes, it took us forever to get to the front gate. We could not figure out what the deal was, UNTIL we got to Main Street...it was snowing! Just like the MVMCP that we had missed. It was so magical!

Be prepared to be flexible and patient, just go with the flow. It's all about expectations, so set them appropriately and you CAN have a magical Disney Christmas.

Maybe we'll see you there! We'll be there, too!

 

[MCFADDEN5]

Is there any decorations off the beaten path, hidden gems to look for?

 

[cmul04]

They are literally everywhere! They even replant the flower beds everywhere! One of my favorite places off the beaten path is when you first enter the MK just to the right of Exposition Hall, there's a nice garden area by the ramp - sometimes there are characters over there. There's an entire page in my scrapbook of just that garden! So pretty. Just keep your eyes open, you know Disney.

 

[Jakesmom1]

Ok, now Im nervous, I just booked POP for Dec 26 thru Dec 30.

Am really excited, We have been in December in the past but not right after Christmas, but this was a last min decision because I wanted to see the decorations ? Again

Am looking forward to spending a quick 5 day trip, since only time we can go again this year because of Ds's school schedule.

June was just too hot for us, and we live in Fl.

Lets hope the economy keeps the crowd levels down a little

 

[DiznEeyore]

Lets hope the economy keeps the crowd levels down a little

I feel the same way! I don't want people to have financial problems that make them stay home, I just want them to think something along the lines of, "Maybe I should skip this Christmas and wait 'til the economy stabilizes a bit." That's not too much to hope for, right?

 

[MCFADDEN5]

I am extremely excited, its like combing the 2 best seasons together. disney season & Christmas. Its sunday afternoon, I've been watching planning videos, home videos and looking at pictures all day and its not fun. Too long to wait.