Christmas????

[tashasmum]

Well it is only 86 days until we leave for our christmas vacation . As we have never been away at this time of year i was just wondering how people celebrate christmas day. Dd will be 14 so she no longer believes in santa but we still like to get her surprises, do you buy gifts in Florida or do you take them with you?
On christmas day we are planning to go to EMH at Magic Kingdom after ringing family back home. I know this will be extremely busy but it has always been one of my dreams to be in MK.We plan to stay until lunchtime then retire back to AKL to open presents and evening meal is booked in the hotel. New Years Eve we are hoping to go to Epcot, do you think it is necessary to be in there all day to be able to see the fireworks? We do appreciate that all parks are going to be busy and that we are just going to have to grin and bear it.

 

[Scottish-Helen]

Hi there,

We are not there at Christmas but will be there for New Year. From what I have been reading about NYE at Epcot I believe that the only time it has closed was on the Millenium as you are staying onsite (and hopefully using Disney transport) this should help. We are going to chance going in the afternoon as we want to last until midnight.

 

[tashasmum]

Have you more of a chance getting in if you use disney transport or are staying on disney property?

 

[Claire L]

We are also going to Epcot and have an ADR for Le Cellier on NYE so hoping we don't have to get there too early, thinking 2pm may be ok to get in.

Claire

 

[Miffy2003]

We got into Epcot at 6.46 pm on NYE 2004/5 - no problem at all

 

[wayneg]

We have been for 3 NYE all in Epcot, The first time was 2000/01. We arrived 30 minutes after park opening and they were turning people away who were not staying onsite. Luckily we were staying at ASM so we got in. The other twice we have got there for opening time and got in no problem, I have heard if you go mid afternoon a few people have left to go to other parks so you can get in but we want to be in there all day. We stay for 7pm (12pm uk) in "England" which is a brilliant atmosphere then round to watch early fireworks (think its 7:30) then leave with around 60% of the crowd a quick bite to eat then Downtown Disney for Fireworks at midnight. This is our perfect NYE and will be doing it again this year(might see you there LOL).
Expect lines for Soarin and Test track to be 2 hours+ only way to get on them is arrive at opening and get fast passes then on to rides before the lines build.
If you have a reservation for a meal surely they have to let you in.
They give out hats and blowers around 6 pm.
A for pressies last year we Did it day before we left, Santa left a note saying he had heard we were away for Xmas so he brought them early and have a good holiday.
Personally I am suprised santa has time to get them all out on Xmas day anyway with the world population growing as it is. Glad I dont have his job

 

[gilld]

I'm afraid having an ADR doesn't guarantee admission. If there are the maximum number of guests in any park, they won't allow anyone else in regardless of any dining reservation. I would advise you to get there early as they do fill up quite often on holidays.

 

[tashasmum]

We have an adr at the Rose and Crown for 7pm(12pm back home). Are the fireworks on NYE different from the regular ones that they have every night? In all the years we have been going we have never seen fireworks at DTD.

 

[Jets fan]

We go to Disney on 14 December this year so we have plenty of time to shop for presents in the Florida Mall, which we all love. We have been lucky enough to go to Disney for a fair few Christmas's and what we do is make little Chrsitmas Stockings for everybody in our party. We spend $20 on each person, which is not alot but means that as there are 5 of us we each get $100 of presents and they all have to be fairly squashy/small to fit into the stocking. Lots of Disney things!

The only thing that we regularly bring with us is lindt chocolate santa's!

We have attended the Christmas Parade on Christmas Day and it's lovely but very, very crowded. We literally went into the park for the parade and then left as it really was too crowded.

Our strategy is to go on asd many rides as possible in the first few days before the crowds get too much, usually it gets pretty busy from the 23rd.

I have all my ADRs and am starting to get excited as I love Disney at this time of year.

 

[Claire L]

We have an adr at the Rose and Crown for 7pm(12pm back home). Are the fireworks on NYE different from the regular ones that they have every night? In all the years we have been going we have never seen fireworks at DTD.

Yes there are two showings one at 7.30pm and then one at 11.40pm with an extra bit for New Year

Claire

 

[Goofyish]

We were in WDW last Christmas and we spent the day in Epcot. We stayed at the Dolphin, so it was easy to walk into the Internation Gateway entrance.

DW had brough small stocking filler type pressies with us and we put them at the bottom of DDs bed after they were asleep. So they opened them when they woke Christmas morning

We also had a small Christmas tree in our room that we brought with us. We decorated it tree chocolates.

Epcot first thing wasn't that busy - as we entered throught the International Gateway before World Showcase was open, the UK and Canada Pavillions were completely empty.

We had Christmas dinner at Le Cellier around 6pm - that was nice.

Can't really say that the day felt any different from any other days in the parks during our trip though.

 

[Camac]

We will be at WDW from 16th Dec to 5th Jan and will be spending Christmas Day in Discovery Cove with dinner at Boma's in the evening.

NYE we will spend relaxing - a bit of shopping and poolside lounging then we have a adr for the Spirit of Aloha show at the Poly after which we will watch the MK fireworks at midnight from the Poly beach avoiding the mass exodus from the parks. This way we get a bit of Disney magic without the crowds.

 

[Lisash]

We will be there from 14th Dec to 1st Jan. We will be in Epcot on Christmas Day with an ADR for Le Cellier and MK on NYE with an ADR for Crystal Palace. As for Christmas gifts we are planning to pick up a few small things while we are over there to put in some little stockings.

 

[feistyblue]

Our first trip was 21st-28th December and we had a great time. We packed whatever presents would fit and left a couple of really big ones at home (for DS - Playmobil stuff). We also bought some extras out there as all his main presents were too big to come with us - so he got loads of Disney stuff.

On Christmas Day we had a lie-in, had breakfast, opened presents and slobbed around. We had an ADR for Rose & Crown for 6pm. We got there at 5.30 and after waiting for an hour and being told it would be at least another 40 minutes wait we gave up because it was freezing sat outside in the cold with the pager. We had thick coats and gloves on. Basically they had let loads of people in without ADR's, it was very frustrating.

 

[tashasmum]

We are flying out on the 14th as well from Manchester staying at the Fairfield Inn LBV then moving to the AKL on the 24th. Christmas dinner is at Boma's for 7pm, we have only eaten breakfast here before so we are really looking forward to something different.
Will have to buy dd presents in Florida and leave family ones at home, so in effect she will get two christmas days.

 

[misspickle]

we are flying out 16th dec -1st jan
i was going to buy wee pressie for the boys and we have told my eldest son that he could write to santa and tell him hes away and santa would leave him money instead of loads of pressies.and my eldest is over the moon because he can buy whatever he likes.
for hogmany im not too sure what we are doing, but xmas dinner is at ohanas