Christmas week, BCV owner needs help.

[tooncanator]

I have talked my wife into a Beach Club Villa Christmas vacation for 2008, but I have some fears about getting a reservation at the 11 month window.
I assume I must book day by day to get these difficult days Christmas week.
My questions;

1. What is the best way to book this reservation{ member services 0r Member web site }

2. Do I need to book day by day?

3. We have two small children & at the time they will be 1 & 3, will the tree in the lobby be enough or do we need a tree in our room.

4. For those who have been at the great Magic Kingdom show Christmas day,
what can we expect.

Thanks in advance, Toon

 

[beacher]

I book all our reservations day by day at the 11-month mark anymore, even when I think it isn't a busy period. We love our home resorts (BWV & BCV) and I think it's worth the effort. For Xmas, you'll need to book day-by-day no question. Call MS (can't make reservations online) and call early in the day if you can.

I don't have kids so I can't really answer the tree question - Xmas decorations are EVERYWHERE so I don't think you'll miss the Xmas feeling but maybe a kid just has to have a tree in their space on Xmas day. There's a great thread here where DIS members share a tree and you can also purchase a tree through WDW Florist.

Have only been to WDW early Dec. and did MVMCP but was never there Xmas day; I can only imagine it's a perfectly wonderful, if crowded, experience.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If your 3 yr old will be expecting Santa, you need some sort of tree.

What do you mean by the the great Magic Kingdom show Christmas day??? We skipped all the parks on Christmas Day when we went that week.

 

[disneydenisel]

For us, there are plenty of trees and holiday decorations at BCV and all around. It is so beautiful, you and your kids will love it . There is a very festive tree right in the foyer area of the villas, plus the carousel in the Beach Club lobby.

If I were going for Christmas (we are going for Thanksgiving), I would definitely call at the 11-month mark day by day. Like others, I would probably call 11 months out for almost any time of day to guarantee the booking. Good luck!

 

[epicureangirl]

Based on how much my (almost) 3 year old daughter understood Christmas this year, we still had to tell her on the morning where the presents would be. She didn't make the association from the previous year (too young). She knew Santa, and that she should be good if she wanted lots of presents (yep, she needs bribing) but didn't understand the significance of the tree. At that age I could probably tell her "If we put milk and cookies out for Santa the reindeer can SMELL there way here!" Since your kids are on the "nice list" already, Santa just needs to know where to put the presents -- you could leave him a note to let him know! If you need a tree though, you can find ones as little as 18" that you can squish down in your luggage and fluff up later.

 

[Camster0307]

I have never been to MK on Christmas but I've read the threads on these boards and everyone reports that it is SUPER-CROWDED.

I think if you go over to the ThemeParks & Attractions and search for "crowds on Christmas 2007" you'll be able to read some reports from people about park closings and etc. May also see some pix.

 

[La2kw]

I'm one for having a tree in the room. You could look into the swap, byo. We ship ours UPS, and it's there waiting for us at checkin. We then ship it back home. I've also seen folks check theirs like baggage.

If you are referring to the televised Christmas parade, that's not live. It's taped in November/early December.

 

[tooncanator]

I can't believe the Christmas show is taped, that is very funny. We watched it on TV this year and that is what convinced us we must spend Christmas in Disney this year. Maybe I will stay with my original plan for the 1st two weeks of November, maybe I can catch the taping of the Christmas parade.
A man who knows little, Toon

 

[lizanne]

I can't believe the Christmas show is taped, that is very funny. We watched it on TV this year and that is what convinced us we must spend Christmas in Disney this year. Maybe I will stay with my original plan for the 1st two weeks of November, maybe I can catch the taping of the Christmas parade.
A man who knows little, Toon

If you really want to be there for the taping you should probably plan to be there the first weekend of December.

 

[yitbos96bb]

I have talked my wife into a Beach Club Villa Christmas vacation for 2008, but I have some fears about getting a reservation at the 11 month window.
I assume I must book day by day to get these difficult days Christmas week.
My questions;

1. What is the best way to book this reservation{ member services 0r Member web site }

2. Do I need to book day by day?

3. We have two small children & at the time they will be 1 & 3, will the tree in the lobby be enough or do we need a tree in our room.

4. For those who have been at the great Magic Kingdom show Christmas day,
what can we expect.

Thanks in advance, Toon

I'm NOT a BCV owner, and was easily able to book at the 7 month mark... although I did it day by day. I think you will be fine IF you are an owner and won't need to book day by day. I'd call MS personally. Its easier and if the internet guy messes up then you have to deal with that. If you are going to do BCV, I'd sign up for the DVC tree exchange. It works well and will give you a 4 foot tree for the holiday.

As for the magic kingdom... its crowded... very crowded... trip over people sitting on main street for hours and hours waiting for the parade crowded... many of whom are waiting for the TV parade and celebrities which OF COURSE was filmed weeks ago. It was just wall to wall people. Personally, I think you are a brave person to do the MK on XMAS DAY with kids that young, but thats just my opinion. We went to all 4 this year and AK seemed to be the least crowded, followed by Epcot, Studios, and MK as the most crowded.

 

[yitbos96bb]

For us, there are plenty of trees and holiday decorations at BCV and all around. It is so beautiful, you and your kids will love it . There is a very festive tree right in the foyer area of the villas, plus the carousel in the Beach Club lobby.

If I were going for Christmas (we are going for Thanksgiving), I would definitely call at the 11-month mark day by day. Like others, I would probably call 11 months out for almost any time of day to guarantee the booking. Good luck!

Again, I got in at the 7 month window at BCV with no problems. I know your being extra cautious by calling day by day at 11 months, but I really think it s a bit overkill. Has anyone here ACTUALLY been unable to get a room at the 11 month window during christmas?

 

[yitbos96bb]

I have never been to MK on Christmas but I've read the threads on these boards and everyone reports that it is SUPER-CROWDED.

I think if you go over to the ThemeParks & Attractions and search for "crowds on Christmas 2007" you'll be able to read some reports from people about park closings and etc. May also see some pix.

I was there. It was UBER CROWDED. Worse than Fourth of July. We opened at AK, went to MK (BIG MISTAKE... We left pretty quickly), the studios, and then ended up in Epcot after Dinner to watch Illuminations.

 

[happymommy]

Beware - we went on Dec 26th for a week (AKL concierge room) and did very little at the parks - you can't believe the crowds! We went to a park for a couple of hours in the morning, then back to the resort to relax. I felt sorry for folks who were there for their first visit, and expected to actually get on many rides. We enjoyed the resort and pool/hot tubs, and went on an Illuminations cruise on Breathless on New Years Eve (the concierge had that booked for us, I had just requested some night that week to get an Illuminations cruise, didn't know Breathless was a special one!). It was awsome to sit on the boat watching, while people above us were literally crammed together. Then we just took a cab back from the Yacht Club to the AKL - why bother with the crowded busses?

I would never go that week again, as much fun as we had. We don't do the parks commando style anyway, but that was unbelievable for the crowds! With very little kids, I'd find another time of the year, or go a couple of weeks before Christmas. We did that one time (drove down) and stayed at BWV (my kids were similar ages to yours, as they were 2 and 4). We did bring a tiny tree with little lights, and I set that up on top of the armoire. I also got window clings for the door to the balcony, and other little decorations for the room. It made it festive. That was a very nice time of the year, and there was nobody there (it was right after 9/11, so we literally had the parks to ourselves). It used to be very uncrowded the first couple of weeks of December, and the decorations are beautiful. I would do that time of the year instead with little kids, then be home for Christmas.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The parade taping on the first weekend in December takes all weekend and then some. The parade that they showed on tv this Christmas had scenes from both WDW and DL. They film a parade section multiple times - up the street, down the street, over and over again. The musical spots may be taped days ahead of time.

If you want to spend the entire day standing in one spot, be there for the parade filming.

 

[Camster0307]

I was there in Nov.24-30, 2007 and they taped a good part of the parade on Friday, Nov.30th. I saw notices about it in MK.

 

[yitbos96bb]

We were there this year from Dec 15 to Dec 26. From the 15th through the 22nd, the parks were GREAT. The longest posted wait was 30 minutes... it took about 5-10 minutes in reality. THAT'S IT. Most rides were walk in. FANTASTIC. Except for 1 day, the weather was great. We got every ride ridden before the crowds multiple times and then spent the days when it was uber crowded looking at Hotel Decorations, doing other Disney things and exploring the Epcot Countries.

Beware - we went on Dec 26th for a week (AKL concierge room) and did very little at the parks - you can't believe the crowds! We went to a park for a couple of hours in the morning, then back to the resort to relax. I felt sorry for folks who were there for their first visit, and expected to actually get on many rides. We enjoyed the resort and pool/hot tubs, and went on an Illuminations cruise on Breathless on New Years Eve (the concierge had that booked for us, I had just requested some night that week to get an Illuminations cruise, didn't know Breathless was a special one!). It was awsome to sit on the boat watching, while people above us were literally crammed together. Then we just took a cab back from the Yacht Club to the AKL - why bother with the crowded busses?

I would never go that week again, as much fun as we had. We don't do the parks commando style anyway, but that was unbelievable for the crowds! With very little kids, I'd find another time of the year, or go a couple of weeks before Christmas. We did that one time (drove down) and stayed at BWV (my kids were similar ages to yours, as they were 2 and 4). We did bring a tiny tree with little lights, and I set that up on top of the armoire. I also got window clings for the door to the balcony, and other little decorations for the room. It made it festive. That was a very nice time of the year, and there was nobody there (it was right after 9/11, so we literally had the parks to ourselves). It used to be very uncrowded the first couple of weeks of December, and the decorations are beautiful. I would do that time of the year instead with little kids, then be home for Christmas.

 

[happymommy]

I agree - if you go BEFORE Christmas it's really great. The week after is crazy crowded.

We did that Dec 15th timeframe also before - it's really nice! Dec 26th and beyond is too crowded.

 

[dvc guy]

Yes the parks will be packed, but with proper planning you can survive and even enjoy.

As mentioned I would avoid MK on Christmas day, it is not a pretty site. We have been over Christmas the past 9 years( did not go this past year, very sad but that is another story). We have gone from starting 12/22 and stayed till 1/1. If you can get to WDW a few days before Christmas if is helpful. Every day from the 25 to the 31 the crowds will grow. Have a plan ADR and be flexible, you will never see everything.

As DVC member I relax knowing that if i miss something there is always next year.

The entertain is great parks have SUPER long hours and all the hotels have great displays.

Weather is a wild card, we have seen everything from 80 to 50. Average is mid 70's during the day and getting cooler as soon as the sun goes in.


Have fun and send us a report.