Christmas week: wwyd non-park day/evening?

[MamaBear12]

We're going to WDW Dec 26th, but won't be going to a park until the 27th. We're planning to arrive at All Star Movies at noon on the 26th to check in and (weather permitting), hang out at the pool until our room is ready, then go to DS or a different resort area for dinner. I've read DS can be insane this time of year though, so wondering if we should plan to head to a monorail resort or the boardwalk for dinner and a stroll instead. Which area/restaurant would you go to? We have two kiddos, 5 and 2. Thanks!

 

[saradela]

Chef Mickey for your kids......

 

[MamaBear12]

Chef Mickey for your kids......

Thanks! We are doing crystal palace and garden grill the following two days. Would that be overkill on the character dining?

 

[srwarden1928]

For a non-park arrival day I have done Disney Springs; I have done a TS resort dining; I have also done La Nouba. La Nouba is going away after this year. If you ever want to see it (for the first time or again) see it now. We saw this show one year on our arrival day. It is an amazing show.

 

[MamaBear12]

For a non-park arrival day I have done Disney Springs; I have done a TS resort dining; I have also done La Nouba. La Nouba is going away after this year. If you ever want to see it (for the first time or again) see it now. We saw this show one year on our arrival day. It is an amazing show.

Thank for the suggestion! Have you done DS during Christmas week? We've been before, but not that week, and I've heard it can be more packed than the parks.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Thank for the suggestion! Have you done DS during Christmas week? We've been before, but not that week, and I've heard it can be more packed than the parks.

We were at DS on Dec. 26, 2015. Don't go. It's insanely crowded. The Boardwalk on the other hand, was totally doable (in fact, when we arrived on Christmas Day that year, it felt deserted!). I would bus to DHS and walk over to the Boardwalk or Minnie Van over. Have dinner at any of the resorts (we like Trattoria al Forno), take a stroll, watch the entertainment (it usually starts around 7 pm), maybe rent a surrey bike, have some Ample Hilss ice cream, play the carnival games (bring cash!), you could even walk over to Fantasia mini-golf which is across from Swan/Dolphin. Also check out the holiday displays in the lobbies - BC has a carousel made of chocolate and they usually have a cookie decorating station at BWI.

Edited to add: Another option is a monorail/boat crawl at the MK resorts. You could bus to MK, boat over to Ft. W and WL (perhaps eat at one of those resorts, you could also try to schedule a holiday sleigh ride at Ft. W - the decorations are really fun there!), boat back over to CR and take the monorail around to see the holiday displays. The gingerbread house at GF is spectacular.

 

[MamaBear12]

We were at DS on Dec. 26, 2015. Don't go. It's insanely crowded. The Boardwalk on the other hand, was totally doable (in fact, when we arrived on Christmas Day that year, it felt deserted!). I would bus to DHS and walk over to the Boardwalk or Minnie Van over. Have dinner at any of the resorts (we like Trattoria al Forno), take a stroll, watch the entertainment (it usually starts around 7 pm), maybe rent a surrey bike, have some Ample Hilss ice cream, play the carnival games (bring cash!), you could even walk over to Fantasia mini-golf which is across from Swan/Dolphin. Also check out the holiday displays in the lobbies - BC has a carousel made of chocolate and they usually have a cookie decorating station at BWI.

Thanks! Just checked out what was still available ADR wise...Trattoria al Forno and holiday displays it is!