Christmas week at WDW

RweTHEREyet

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Sep 4, 1999
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For those of you that traditionally go to WDW the week of Christmas, please share me some of your tips for making it really seem like Christmas, even though you are away from home. This will be our first year to do this. We have a 2-bedroom, so we will have a kitchen. Do most of you cook a Christmas meal, make reservations somehwere special at WDW, order a full meal from Publix or somewhere else.

Do you decorate your villas in any way? I know Resort and Park decorations are beautiful, but I would think some small touches in the villa would be nice, too.

Anything you wish to share regarding Christmas at WDW would be welcome.
 
We packed our stockings from home. Also we bought a little tree at the local Walmart, I think it was prelite with lights. Everyone got to pick 2 or 3 ornaments from the DTD store for the tree. Afterwards we simply mailed the tree home in the box. I think all DVC resorts have a balcony, you could do strings of lights. Lights take up little room and pack well. As far as dining, you might want to check this link out: http://wdwig.com/h_dine.htm and for happenings around the world, this link: http://wdwig.com/h_christmas.htm I believe the GF had a present wrapping area in the lobby the year we were there. Whatever you do, it will be great and appreciated by family. After all, your @ Disney!!!!!
-Kim
 
Christmas Week at WDW is really an experience to remember. You have to prepare yourself for crowds like you will never see anyother time of year especially at MK. I would try to enjoy the place by going around and seeing the various decorations at some of the resorts like GV for example. If you have a choice I would go another week in December they still have all the decoarations and special events without the mob. Good luck
 
Doing Candlelight Processional on Christmas Eve was awesome--really focused you on Christmas.
 

We did CP on Christmas Eve and it was great. Plus we got the 15% discount to finish up our Christmas shopping.

We ordered a turkey from Goodings and picked it up on Christmas Eve. Warmed it up on Christmas afternoon after we went to Mass as the Contemporary. I made sweet potatoes with marshmallows, dressing and mashed potatoes. We got gravy with the turkey. (We were at OKW)

We brought a small pre-lit tree from Target plus lots of our Disney decorations and set up the tree as soon as we got there. Strung lights on the balcony (don't forget the extension cord to plug them in). Santa came Christmas eve night, so when the kids woke up on Christmas morning, there were a bunch of presents to open.

We did an Illuminations Cruise on Christmas night.

If you need to wrap presents, don't forget the scissors, paper and tape. I got the pre-cut tape in the little wrist holder.
 
We will be there for 2 weeks this Christmas at BWV, also in a 2 bdrm....After Christmas this year I bought a 4ft tree, when we packed up we packed a box with unbreakable ornaments and lights, and stockings. We also are bringing a bunch of lights to hang on our balconies and door.

We are planning on Dinner at LeCellier and CandleLight Processional on Christmas Eve (Which is also my birthday). We will do Christmas food at the Villa.
 
Well, I understand the crowds and all, but since my son will there on the College Program, it is important to us to be there on Christmas Day. He may be working, but he will get some time off at some point that day and I just could not think of having Christmas without him if I had any choice at all.
 
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So, the people with use years of January and february are the ones who are most likely to get a ressie for Christmastime? What are our chances of we have a June use year?
 
BeachClubVillas

Just because you have June points doesn't mean you have to wait until June when you actually "get" the points to make your ressie. For example, if you want to go to WDW for Christmas of 2004, you make the ressie 11 months out at your home resort--so that would be in January of 2004. You can use your June 2004 points for this (even though you actually don't "have" them until 6/01/04)--AND you can borrow your June 2005 points if necessary--because at the time you are ACTUALLY GOING TO BE in WDW (12/04), the June 2004 points are current points (you got them 6/01/04 and they're current until 5/31/05). It's not when you make the reservation that's important--it's when you are actually going to be in WDW that counts. I hope this makes some sense.
 
I think being at Disney at Christmass is the most magical place to be, this will be our 3rd year in a row our first in our new home:cool: There are so many decorations in every hotel that you don't feel like your missing anything at all, a must is the candle light prosesion at epcot on christmass eve, and then the osborne lights at mgm, We always leave on christmass day, so i can't help you on that one, but what ever you decide it will be magical because you in Disney:bounce: :bounce:
 
We have Sept use year. We go June/July or Nov/Dec.
 
Last Christmas, we had the Candlelight package for Christmas Eve and we selected the last performance. There was a horrific thunderstorm. At the very last second, they canceled it. :(

They let us select preferred seating from subsequent performances, which was perfect.

If you bring lights, be sure to pack extension cords (guess who didn't think of this?;) )

I brought a bunch of easy to pack decorations that I picked up from the dollar store. Since they cost so little, we took them down and got rid of them.

We had Christmas dinner at the California Grille. It was prix fixe, I believe it was in the $45.00 per person range. It was excellent, and we were able to watch the MK fireworks from our table.
 
You guys have given me some ideas. Thanks for the responses. Anyone else have tips for making Christmas at WDW a wonderful time for everyone?
 
BEACHCLUBVILLAS,
There are no January use years, but those of us with a February use year really think carefully before we make Christmas ressies. If we are using banked or borrowed points and have to cancel Christmas ressies, we are in a very bad position. Those points would have to be used by Jan31 or we lose them.:eek:

By the way, we are going down to BWV again this year for Christmas, and it's such fun to check out the resorts at this time of year. Every resort really goes all out, but WLV are especially lovely, and AKL has a really original tree. We love to do this every year. Also, go to MGM on Christmas Eve to see the Osborne Family of Lights, complete with snowflakes. It was truly magical!!
 
We did a Disney Xmas with all 18 members of my side of the family... what a reunion! We had a 2 br and 2 studios @ OKW. SOme things we did:

(1) Everybody brought an ornament. We had a tiny cheapo tree to hang them on. My sil brought strings of beads and a string or 2 of lights -- voila. Afterwards, we drew names to see who went home with which ornament!

(2) My sister brought an obnoxious motion-sensor dancing/singing Santa... I don't recommend this, especially if you are in BCV and are already dangling hamsters from balloons to keep cool! :)

(3) We all got Santa hats to wear, and matching tshirts (the teens balked at this one big time... but we told 'em gotta wear the shirts at least one day for a photo, or no RnRC or ToT! We're brutal.)

(4) Stockings (as mentioned). My kids were also thrilled by the little Disney stocking they received at the door that morning.

(5) We took turns for dinner. Each family took one night as designated "chef", and the remaining nights were dine-out. THis was awesome -- you could stay at the park, then come home to a great meal. THen the adults would draw straws to see who went back out with the teen crowd, and who got to hit the pool / hot tub!

I have to relate this one story, though -- half of our group elected to stay past xmas day, while half left on xmas morning. On xmas eve, we were unfortunate enough to discover a major round of stomach problems hit our group. Some folks left in agony, some were left to simply hunker down in the resort.... either way, not good! We actually had PS for xmas dinner at Epcot (I think it was Chefs d.F, could be wrong...) But since my DH, our 2 kids, and my niece were direly ill, we didn't feel we should do that, so we stayed in. We figured we had leftovers and a kitchen, right? My mom INSISTED we had enough food, not to worry, she would fix something up for us. Ooops -- somebody forgot that we had TEENAGERS prior living with us (they were with the group that left). SO it comes time for dinner and it was like a scene from Mickey and the Beanstalk... Mom scraped up some Kraft Mac-N-C, a few chicken nuggets (enough for everyone to have, uh, ONE), applesauce, popcorn, and then, in a move I can only surmise as a plate-filler, it was salsa as far as the eye could see... (you know, from a big Sam's club sized never-ending jug o' salsa.... yet sadly, NO CHIPS! Darn those bottomless teens! Make 'em put those dorky shirts and hats back on for penance!) I know, I know, we could have ordered a pizza, for cryin' out loud, or gone to Olivia's and asked for it "to go", or SOMETHING... but my poor Mom was so proud that she had managed to put this meal together! And after a week of runnin' and gunnin', we were too pooped to care. So, those of us amongst the lucky healthy crew sat down to eat our "Christmas Feast". My BIL was nominated to say the prayer, so we bowed our heads, at which point we each noticed the odd, scanty array of foods before us. BIL broke the silence and solemnly said, "Oh Lord, our family gathers here, well, those of us that are well have gathered here, to... to thank you for this meal. THank you, Lord, for the bountiful...um, salsa... and the chicken nuggets, er, nugget...that we are about to eat..." At which point, for reasons unknown, in chimes Obnoxious Dancing Santa doing "Jingle Bell Rock". And that's when we all lost it, even Mom! We still talk about that meal every time we're at WDW and we dine-in...it may have been bad, but it left us with a funny memory! :p

Hope you have a magical (and healthy!) holiday at "home"!

Cindy
 
ck1, thanks for all the suggestions. I particularly like the bring an ornament idea. Also like the each family picking a night to prepare dinner idea.

My biggest concern is that all my plans will fall into place, everyone will come, and then I will stress that everyone is having a good time or will get upset when someone complains about something.

Is it really warm enough for the pool and the hot tub in December? I know the pools are heated, but isn't it cold once you get out of the water?
 
Usually the pools are still good, tho' it just depends on Mother NAture. When we went at xmas one year, and again in a November trip, it was perfect for swimming, even at night. It was about 78 or even 80 by day, and the air was cooler of course at night, but the pools felt oh so good. Then we went in January one year expecting the same thing and were denied... it was COLD! In fact, I think 50 degrees was the high of our entire week long trip. Freaky cold snap. I lamented to a CM at Olivia's @ OKW that the kids were upset it was too cold to swim and she winked and said, "GOod thing you have that tub then, huh?" Heyyyyyy...... We went back to our 2 br villa, filled up the tub with nice WaRm water and our 2 boys (ages 5 and 4 at the time) "swam" there. We have a cute pic of their two little wet faces happily "popping up" at the edge of the tub as a memento of the trip!

Cindy:smooth:
 
Don't stress out about everybody having fun or get into the mode of tour director. Set your plans, layout what you and your family will do and if others join in great. When you have families on vacation together, some get up early some late. When we go with other family members, we try to hook up for dinner. If plans for other parts of the day work all the better, if not no one is upset.

Weather over Christmas is all over the place. On average it will be mid to upper 60's maybe 70 during the day, night time will be cool, 50's. Having said that we have seen 80's with humidity over the holidays. Last year christmas eve was a nice day till about 8 PM, when the rain came down in buckets. We were all soaked right down to our shoes. I would rather have cool than rain.

We will be back at OKW 12/28-1/2. Have a magical trip and enjoy
 



















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