Christmas

[fwm]

We have spent NYE at BWV, but have never been away from home for Christmas. We are considering spending a Christmas at WDW and are curious what it is like to be there on Christmas Day. Where do they have Christmas masses? Are the parks and resorts any different on Christmas day. Thanks for the help.

 

[DVCJman]

I am very interested in this also. I have always been in June, July, and August in the past, but have a planned trip to BCV for Dec. 21-27. Already have three nights booked with the seven month window and three more nigths to go. MS said I should have no problem booking on the day after Memorial Day, but I will call bright and early at 9;00 am anyways. Currently have a 2-BR at the BCV.

I am all ears on this topic too.

Thanks.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

We'll be at the BCV for christmas as well. What's it like? One poster said Chistmas am was slow but cheek to cheek by noon. MGM apparently was not crowded all day.

 

[Regina]

That was me Captain Midnight. We've been at Christmas twice before, and will be there again this year.

It's been our experience that the MK has been very slow first thing on Christmas morning. BUT, that was when they had Early Entry. We'll have to see what it's like this year if EE is not back.

Mass is held at the Polynesian.

I strongly recommend booking the Candlelight Processional Package during your stay. It's awe-inspiring.

 

[PamOKW]

Where do they have Christmas masses?

For Christmas and Easter they move the Catholic Mass to the Contemporary and usually add a noon Mass as well. (Protestant services are also held at the Contemporary.) You also have a variety of Masses available both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at the Mary Queen of the Universe Shrine. The shrine is not a parish. Its sole purpose is to serve the visitors to the Orlando area and they also conduct the Masses at WDW. If you check their website as Christmas approaches they'll have the Mass times for both WDW and at the Shrine. The Shrine is decorated quite beautifully and has a life size manager as well. Many local residents do participate in their choirs....and many local residents are also performers at WDW....they do a beautiful job. Here's the web site Shrine Info The map looks a little confusing but it is very close to DD. If you head out Hotel Blvd. towards the Crossroads/Gooding's Shopping Center, instead of going straight into the shopping, you take a right. Go under the highway (stay in the left hand lanes). Turn left at the light into Lake Bryan and just follow the road until the Shrine appears on your right.

There is not that much different at the parks and resorts from the rest of that time period but everyone is in a very festive mood. You'll also probably find a little something from Santa on your door in the morning. I agree that fitting in the Candlelight Processional is a must. I love Christmas at WDW.

 

[DisneyLodgerz]

We stayed at WDW over Christmas in 2000. Like some of you mentioned, it was something we always wanted to do.

On Christmas Day, we used early entry (how I miss that!) to get into the Magic Kingdom and that worked out great. We had the time to stop for coffee and danish on Main Street.

The crowd started to hit around 10 a.m. and it was shoulder to shoulder by noon. We had already been there for several hours and decided to go to the movie studio. It was an average crowd over there.

After stopping back at WL for dinner, we went over to the Magic Kingdom for the fireworks. I heard that earlier in the day that MK had reached the limit and didn't allow any more guests into the park for a while. We were there around 7 and walked right in.

As for the lodge, they had carolers singing in the lobby on Christmas Eve and on Christmas morning, a Mickey Mouse stocking full of candy was left on our door. We also went to the Candlelight Procession in EPCOT on Christmas Eve and that was fantastic. I highly recommend it.

The inevitable question is: Would we do it again? My answer is probably not. It seemed to me that anyone who goes to MVMCP gets the same atmosphere (snow on Main Street, etc.) and the same parades and shows. And there are a lot less people to contend with.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We went to Mass on Easter Sunday at the Contemporary Ballroom. It was a good mass, not too crowded, though the earlier one was packed. It felt more like mass than Sunday mass at the Polynesian. If I remember correctly, there were three masses on Easter Sunday and I would expect it to be similar for Christmas.

We will also be there on Christmas, arriving a few days before and leaving a few days after. I think we have 8 nights in all. We already have tickets to the last MVMCP of the Christmas season 2002.

We will be bringing our small artificial tree and ornaments to decorate our one bedroom at OKW.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I would love to be at WDW for x-mas. Unfortunately, my employer has a no vacation rule 12/20-1/4.

 

[PamOKW]

Deb & Bill -- If you are so inclined, you can toss in a string of lights and run them around the balcony railing. (There's an outlet right on the balcony.) Even if you don't bring your own, take a look out at the neighbors who do put up lights. It's very festive!

Uh oh! You're making me wish I could go for Christmas this year.

 

[DVCJman]

Do the other DVC resorts allow you to string lights along your balcony too?

 

[PamOKW]

I think they do. I know people string them in the windows of the other WDW resorts. Outside decorations (even towels hanging to dry) aren't permitted the rest of the year, but they seem to make an exception for the holidays.