Christmas Traditions at WDW

[karebear1]

My family is going to the World the week before Christmas! We are so excited!! I'm in need of some ideas of what I can do to make the memories sweet.

What are some of the traditions you and your family do while at WDW at Christmas time?? Are there special places you need to eat? Do you decorate the room? If so- how?? Do you have special treats for them??? PLEASE = share your family WDW Christmas traditions with me! I think it'll help me in making our family's Christmas at WDW more special!

THANKS everyone!

Karen

 

[princess sparkle p]

Our first Christmas trip is this December and we are so excited, well I am and my extra enthusiasm makes up for DH...LOL.
I have read a great deal on these boards about CP and the tree lighting ceremonies being such magical events. There is a Yuletide tour. We plan to tour the hotels on the monarail loop and AKL and WL for sure, hopefully more. We will also be doing MVMCP.

 

[karebear1]

Princess Sparkle P-

I see you live in Canton. I was raised not too far from there in Chardon- ever heard iof it?

Can you give me more info on the Yuletide tour??

 

[Noelle]

I love Xmas at WDW. We started going in 2003, so this will be our 4th year.
We decorate the room. Since we're flying, I usually buy Christmas themed window static clings. (They're flat and easy to pack.) Then I also buy some garland (light and also easy to pack - plus it's cheap so if I need more room in my bags going home I can just thow it out.) Don't forget to bring tape...You will not find it any place at WDW. (Our first mistake the first year!) I've seen people with lights, but for us that would be too difficult to pack. Then we bought stockings at the Xmas store in Downtown Disney that we bring with us each year. They're flat and easy to pack too. I usually order a small 2 to 3 foot pre-lighted decorated tree from Jackson & Perkins. It's really small and we just set it on the table in our room.
As for traditions, we always see the Candlelight Processional on Xmas Eve (for us it's like going to church). We go to the Mickey's Very Merry Xmas Party even if I know we're catching the last party and it's going to be super crowded. It really puts us in the Christmas mood. We spend alot of time at the World Showcase seeing all of the Christmas storytellers. We go to MGM to see Osbourne lights. No matter what you do, you'll have a great time. Christmas at WDW is beautiful.

 

[karebear1]

Noelle-

Is there a schedule for the story tellers and how long do each of them take?
When we've been there around Christams in the past, we've never done these things, but I think this time it might be fun to listen to them.

 

[Noelle]

karebear1,
Yes, there's a schedule released in the Epcot booklet you receive at the enterance gate. Plus you'll see little signs at some of the countries that will give you times too. Some are really easy to find...Canda is in front of where the Le Cellier walk way is...Japan is at the steps of the big temple. Others are a little harder...England is in the back near the gazebo and hedge maze. My favorites are Japan & Norway. I loved Japan's holiday tradition so much that I actually bought one of the little red men things. (I don't remember what it's actually called right now...But you paint in one eye and tell it your wish for the new year. Once it comes true you paint in the other eye.) Each show is about 15 minutes. If you have all day and you don't mind bouncing around a little, you could watch all of them.

Another tradition that I forgot to mention is the peppermint pig from SSR. It's a candy peppermint in the shape of a pig. It comes with a little mallet to break it. You pass it from family member to family member. Each member recalls a special family memory from the past year, then hits the pig with the mallet to break off a piece of the candy to eat. It's really cute and helps my family remember how important being a "family" is at Xmas.

 

[princess sparkle p]

Princess Sparkle P-

I see you live in Canton. I was raised not too far from there in Chardon- ever heard iof it?

Can you give me more info on the Yuletide tour??

We are all so connected!!! Yes I am familiar and my DH works in Wickliffe.
I cannot post links b/c I am too new. Check out the main wdwinfo page and go to holidays and Christmas.

The Yuletide Fantasy Tour shows you all the great festive decorations that cover Disney! The cost is currently $60 per person, not including tax. It's a nice 3 1/2 hour tour of Disney.

 

[battlecat533]

wil be the first week of December with my DGF and her 6 yr old daughter. We cant wait to see all of the Xmas stuff.

You all are so close. I live in Parma

 

[vsimeone]

Our first Christmas trip is this December and we are so excited, well I am and my extra enthusiasm makes up for DH...LOL.
I have read a great deal on these boards about CP and the tree lighting ceremonies being such magical events. There is a Yuletide tour. We plan to tour the hotels on the monarail loop and AKL and WL for sure, hopefully more. We will also be doing MVMCP.

Hi Princess!!! I live in Canton too and we are also traveling to WDW for Christmas. Wanna car pool??? I'd love to fly but I don't think we can afford flights for the 4 us.

We have spent several Christmases at WDW. The last one was 2004. We don't really have any traditions. We did the Candlelight Processional in 04 and have a dinner package to do it again this year. I know it is a big NO, NO, to go to MK on Christmas Day but we always do. Even if we don't ride a single ride, we just walk down Main St. on Christmas Day. This year, we're considering EMH hours at MK on Christmas night after our dinner at Artist Point if we feel up to it!

Have a great time KareBear and Princess and other Christmas vacationers!!!

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I absolutely *ADORE* Christmas and have wanted to go to WDW during the holiday season since I was a young child. My boyfriend and I are going this December and I just cannot get enough information about what to do and see. Thanks for this thread!

 

[SqueakyMouse]

Christmas at WDW is so much fun!! Yesterday morning, we made our ressies for this year. This year, we're going from 12/20 until 12/27; but we went around the same window of time last year. We usually check-in mid-day and head to MK. Because the last MVMCP has been held already, we get to experience the snow on Main Street, the snowflakes projected on the castle, the Christmas parade, etc. Just wandering down Main Street and checking out the holiday window displays is a treat. Of course, we have to check out a showing of the Country Bears Christmas show!

We also enjoy eating roasted almonds while checking out the lights at Epcot and at MGM. The kids also enjoy the "snow" at MGM.

All of the shops, but especially those at MGM, were filled with neat Christmas decorations last year. Nearly everything was on sale (not deeply discounted but definitely marked down!) by the week before Christmas.

We took a small, 4 foot collapsible tree that I bought at Hobby Lobby for around $10. It was perfect atop our bedside table. On our window, we placed Christmas-themed clings. Interestingly, we saw far more room decorations at WL than at ASports.

On Christmas Day, we had brunch at Chef Mickey's last year. While the food was NOT good, the kids enjoyed seeing the characters. This year, we are having brunch at Crystal Palace, a family favorite. MK is great Christmas morning but way too crowded in the afternoon for our enjoyment, so we head to Epcot. We all enjoy listening to the story tellers and visiting the Kidcot stations.

Last year, we had our Christmas dinner at Whispering Canyon. It was wonderful and so family friendly!! This year, we are eating earlier so the kids can enjoy the meal more. Afterwards, we go into the MK for the evening. It was not at all crowded last year. By 11 pm, nearly everything was a walk-on.

The things I did wrong last year: At home, we usually have a very formal Christmas Eve dinner. While Kona Cafe is definitely not the most casual restaurant at WDW, it just didn't feel right to be having our meal with folks dressed in sweatshirts and jeans. This year, we're having our Christmas Eve meal at the California Grill (early so the kids don't offend others); and eating at Kona (a family favorite) earlier in the week. Also, I am doing all of my Christmas shopping at home and buying less. What I buy at WDW will just be "icing on the cake," if you will. Last year, dh and I decided to do all of our shopping in Orlando. Ugh! Big mistake. I don't enjoy shopping at home during less crazy times of year, so I really hated having to take time out from our touring. As usual, we bought waaayyy too much and had trouble getting it all home. Additionally, the kids were so excited about being at WDW at Christmas that they really didn't give much attention to the gifts we bought.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

GF last Christmas -- great photo op in front of tree

 

[SqueakyMouse]

Holiday themed trashcans at MGM

 

[SqueakyMouse]

WONDERFUL DECORATIONS

 

[SqueakyMouse]

EPCOT

 

[SqueakyMouse]

Snowflakes projected on Castle:

 

[d.kurz]

We will be taking our first Christmas time trip this December!! Great thread!

SqueakyMouse: thanks for the pics!!

 

[karebear1]

You are all getting me even more excited about this (and who'da EVER thought that was possible!)

Squeaky- LOVE the pics!

Did you guys make your own window cling things or buy them??

I have 2 rooms I'll need to bring decorations for. All my kids are young adults - the oldest being 25. I want their room to be fun too. I wonder if I can check into their room for them and have it all decorated and done before they even get there?? My DH and I will be getting there 2 days before they do and we're all staying at BCV's. I have a 1 bedroom and a studio reserved. Girl's in one room and DS, DH and I in the other! I wonder if I should be doing stockings with some essential WDW stuff in them??? Any suggestions?

 

[PatriciaH]

We are staying at the Grand Floridian the 23rd and the 24th. On the 23rd we are going to the spa followed by dinner at Victoria and Alberts. On the 24th we will order room service for breakfast, go to the MK for the Christmas Parade, hopefully do the carriage ride at Wilderness Lodge and have dinner at Trails End at Fort Wilderness. Breakfast on Christmas morning will be at the Grand Floridian Cafe. Then home to cook Christmas Dinner with family

 

[princess sparkle p]

Hi Princess!!! I live in Canton too and we are also traveling to WDW for Christmas. Wanna car pool??? I'd love to fly but I don't think we can afford flights for the 4 us.

We have spent several Christmases at WDW. The last one was 2004. We don't really have any traditions. We did the Candlelight Processional in 04 and have a dinner package to do it again this year. I know it is a big NO, NO, to go to MK on Christmas Day but we always do. Even if we don't ride a single ride, we just walk down Main St. on Christmas Day. This year, we're considering EMH hours at MK on Christmas night after our dinner at Artist Point if we feel up to it!

Have a great time KareBear and Princess and other Christmas vacationers!!!

I cannot believe there are so many fellow DISsers so close to me!!! I am soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo excited about this Christmas trip. We are going Dec 1-10, we are flying. All my trips growing up we drove. We can olny afford to fly because it is only me and DH, we don't have kids yet.