Christmas?

[2002Disneybride]

For those who've been to WDW during the christmas season, can you suggest some must do's and don' miss's? Also touring strategies?Thanks in advance

 

[off2disney]

Yes, I would like to know too.

 

[DisneyFan79]

Just returned and am planning on a pre Christmas trip specifically the 5-12. I talked to several cast members about Christmas and they told me that from Christmas Eve through New Year's Day you are definitely taking your life into your own hands. Everything is full capacity. One bus driver told us he has even see someone get grabbed by the throat at a bus stop b/c they accidently stepped on their child's foot trying to get own. Hope you all have a great time anyway. I am gonna try to experience without the crowds, but with all the Xmas decorations. Hope this helps a little bit at least

 

[Penny2]

Been to Disney three times during Christmas and it is crowded. Pre-planning helps but be flexible. If one park is too crowded...check to see if the other parks are (utilize guest services) or hang by the pool...go to Ft. Wilderness, etc. Watch for special hours and events...usually the crowds follow these!

Due to thier size, it always seemed that Epcot and AK were less crowded. Lines are still long but, for the most park, you can walk without tripping over others. Although Epcot one New Years Eve was so crowded..we left and went to Boardwalk. Just not fond of crowds where I am elbow to elbow with people.

One of the funnest things to do is resort hop...especially the deluxes. If you do some things in a park and it gets too crowded...go to a few resorts, have a meal and return to the park or try another. Every resort is decorated, but the deluxes go all out and most have special events of their own. If you haven't seen the Grand Floridian at Christmas....you don't know what you are missing! Their main Christmas tree has to be 3-4 stories tall! The Yacht/Beach had children's storytelling as well as a tree and fantastic christmas themed train display.

I have a different perspective, though. No children, know I'll go back...it's been many years since I felt the need to be a park commando. However, I understand that flexibility isn't an option for everyone. I remember back to my first trip with my gram and mom and how I had an itinerary for every day and drug them all over....if I had the time back I sure wouldn't make them do all the stuff we did. Time well spent anywhere with a loved one is better than time spent stressing over what you'll miss in any theme park...even Disney.

 

[2002Disneybride]

I agree with you penny.This is our 4th trip to disney, we have no kids..so we can be pretty flexible. We park hop as it is, so I think we'll be able to do some different things this trip!We were thinking a tour or two..sme different places to eat...etc

 

[DemonLlama]

We are now impatiently waiting for our third Chritmas trip in December of 2004. Yep, 2004.

We love going at this time of year. We were at the Magic Kingdom on Christmas morning this past year and it was absolutely magical. We were there from Dec. 18-26.

#1 Tip
GO EARLY.
If you are not one to be at the gates before opening, perhaps this isn't the time to visit. If you can plan accordingly, though, the payoff is amazing. We enjoyed a nearly empty park most mornings during the first two hours. By the second hour we were in the back of the park that hadn't filled up, so even though it was crowded at the front, we were still, say, riding Goofy's Barnstormer seven times in a row without getting off on Christmas morning.

We did leave the MK around 11:30 that day because it was getting very crowded and we has ridden everything we wanted to and met all the characters we hadn't already gotten. Peter Pan and Wendy were together that morning on Main Street, and Uncle Scrooge (Donald's) was at the castle, so we were thrilled.

#2 Tip
Have enough days to not feel like you have to hit everything in one day at one park. Leaving at noon most days, and going to another park after lunch and naps just to do a few favorites made us feel like we were touring at low season. If we were trying to race from one thing to the next to get it all done in a day we would have hit the wall of crowds and despaired.

Some Fun Stuff:
This time of year is just amazing. Massive decorations, from sky scraping Christmas trees to life size gingerbread houses to the gigantic all-chocloate replica of the Christmas Boardwalk in the BWI, all to the sound of Christmas carols, can't be beat.

Don't forget to buy the Santa Mickey Ears hat ASAP. They seemed to be everywhere the first part of the week but when I went to get one for Christmas morning I discovered they had completely sold out by the 23rd!

The tree lighting at the MK at 6:00 in the evening is breathtaking. If you are hanging around with your kids about 5:15 at the hub where the giant tree is, you have a chance of a cast member asking your children to help with the ceremony and they get to join Mickey and Minnie and lots of Christmas friends up in the balcony of the train station do the lighting.

Do the MVMCP -- go early and get the wristband to stay in the park between the end of regular hours and the start of the party. Ride Space Mountain with no waiting until the party opens up to the rest of the park. Catch the second Christmas parade. Best seat is curbside in front of the Emporium. Enjoy the "snow" on Main Street. Skip the hot chocolate and cookies. Get the free family party picture done first back in Fastasyland.

The Country Bears show is all Christmas Carols and all the bears are in their holiday finest, so that's fun.

Resort hop to see all the amzing Christmas stuff.

Meet the Santas around the World Showcase in their native dress.

Hope some of the above helps!

Above all, enjoy the weather -- no heatstroke makes the crowds much more managable