Darn that Raven, I never had the WDW Christmas bug before

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

I have the TiVo set to record anything with "Disney" in the description. Last night, we watched a recorded program starring Raven Symone. It was all about Disney World at Christmas time.

Our family has been to Disney World many times, but never at Christmas. We've always done either summer or Halloween. Christmas was always a time to be at mom and dad's house in Pennsylvania. I never had the slightest urge to be in Disney for the Christmas holidays.

That was until we watched Raven's show. They made it look so darn magical.

So. Now we're planning to use our DVC points to go for Christmas 2007. I suddenly feel like a total Disney novice. I have no experience with booking things for this time of year.

I'm assuming that to get a room at SSR, I'll have to do day-by-day bookings at exactly the 11-month point; calling as soon as Member Services opens each day.

Any other tips? Are there tricks to getting tickets to the Candlelight Processional? MVMCP?

Do we need to be there for actual Christmas day? Are there advantages/disadvantages to going before/on/after Christmas day?

I was thinking of possibly going the week before Christmas, and flying to Pennsylvania on Christmas day. We could drive to mom and dad's, leave the car there, and have them drop us at the Philly airport. There'd be little to no traffic in the airport on Christmas day, and we wouldn't miss Christmas dinner. I'm not locked into this plan, though, if there are crowd considerations or something special we'd miss by picking these dates.

Any and all advise would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Becky521]

Go for it! We also never thought of going at Christmas until an Aug. '04 trip had to be reschedualed. What a great time!! Can't wait for our second Christmas trip in just 33 days. Do it and fave fun.

 

[loveDmouse]

I had the same problem. They got me just before last Christmas. Between her (I think) show I saw on Food Network and the one on the Travel Channel I had to book for Christmas time. We will be going in 27 days!!!!! YEAH!!!!!!

GO FOR IT!!!! It looks awesome.

 

[mkpat]

If you go the week before Christmas, it won't be that crowded. If you do the EMH or just get there when the park opens you should be able to ride everything. But Christmas Day and afterward up until New Year's is EXTREMELY crowded. Especially at Magic Kingdom. But it is worth it. We were there last Christmas Day and though it did feel unusual at first, it was one of our best trips. Oh yeah, we are not DVC members and we booked a one bedromm at Saratoga Springs like 5 months before and didn't have any problem with availability. We also got ressies at the Garden Grill for Christmas dinner. You will enjoy it, guaranteed...


BTW, when did that Raven show come on?

 

[Quinn222]

Did you get to see the whole thing? It's supposed to be an hour long but it stopped after 30 minutes and the next showing of it shows 30 minutes also.

 

[disneyaggie]

I am not sure why the Food Network did that but it only showed 1/2 of the WDW Christmas program. The last 1/2 is scheduled for November 25th. It is actually a 1 hour show. If you loved the first 1/2, get ready to love the second 1/2 even more!

 

[Not so Dumbo]

I had the same problem. They got me just before last Christmas. Between her (I think) show I saw on Food Network and the one on the Travel Channel I had to book for Christmas time. We will be going in 27 days!!!!! YEAH!!!!!!

GO FOR IT!!!! It looks awesome.

I love these two programs. Does anyone know if they will be on again? I recorded the one with Samantha Brown but accidently tapped over it.

 

[dpuck1998]

We watched it 4 times yesterday ;-) We put up our tree and decorations last night so we had the show on during the entire time!! (I know its early, but we do xmas at my inlaws during thanksgiving and will be out of town next weekend....can you tell I've been defending myself every day) Love the show and we TiVO anything with the word Disney too!! We always go in Jan, but now I really want to go during xmas too!!

 

[buffalogirl]

We'll be in WDW the end of Nov./beginning of Dec.


dpuck1998-
Please tell me more about the Raven special- what kinds of things did they show? Why is it shown on the Food Network?

Thank you.

I'll be watching and recording Nov 25!!

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

She is the reason we are leaving in 3 days!!! I've never been to Disney during the Christmas Season and I'm so happy that they are starting early this year with all the holiday stuff. I'm only going to miss the Candelight Procession--(BUMMER, as I hear its NOT to be missed!!)

 

[blondeheroine]

I love this special as well. It gets me a little weepy because it makes me think of Christmas at Disney. Obviously.

And yes, if you can - definitely do WDW at Christmas. It is magical.

 

[pepperw23]

We watched it 4 times yesterday ;-) We put up our tree and decorations last night so we had the show on during the entire time!! (I know its early, but we do xmas at my inlaws during thanksgiving and will be out of town next weekend....can you tell I've been defending myself every day) Love the show and we TiVO anything with the word Disney too!! We always go in Jan, but now I really want to go during xmas too!!

I live in a Military town, so it is not unusual to see Christmas things up as early as October, heck, I have seen them in June and July before.

 

[Pig Pen]

Those darn holiday programs seemed to have worked their Disney magic on more than just me! I watched all those specials last year and insisted on going at Christmas this year. I can't wait.

I managed to get BWV at the 7 month window, but will have to move from a studio to a 1 br partway thru the trip due to no studios available. Oh well, I guess we will "suffer" in a 1 br for a few nights!

 

[griswalds]

I am not sure why the Food Network did that but it only showed 1/2 of the WDW Christmas program. The last 1/2 is scheduled for November 25th. It is actually a 1 hour show. If you loved the first 1/2, get ready to love the second 1/2 even more!

Thank you, I thought I was going nuts because I only got 1/2. Do you know what time on 11/25?

 

[gssmks]

I had the same problem. They got me just before last Christmas. Between her (I think) show I saw on Food Network and the one on the Travel Channel I had to book for Christmas time. We will be going in 27 days!!!!! YEAH!!!!!!

GO FOR IT!!!! It looks awesome.

Does anyone know when these shows will be on next. I saw them last year and could not resist scheduling a Christmas trip for this year. We will be there from Dec 16th -Dec 29th. I can't wait. We would love to get to watch these shows again this year to help get the excitement going before we leave.

 

[dpuck1998]

We'll be in WDW the end of Nov./beginning of Dec.


dpuck1998-
Please tell me more about the Raven special- what kinds of things did they show? Why is it shown on the Food Network?

Thank you.

I'll be watching and recording Nov 25!!

Hopefully I don't forget anything, but basically its Raven showing Disney getting decked out for xmas. They show the resort displays, such at the gingerbread house at GF and the carosel at Y/BC. They talk alot about the food, covering the food at a private party, the MVMCP, and the bakery on main street. While they do talk alot about food they cover the decorations also. They show the Trees and the Osborn lights. Its the readers digest version of everything christmas at Disney. They cover a lot quickly.

 

[buffalogirl]

Thanks for the details dpuck1998.

 

[Joan S.]

Hi, I did the same thing! I TIVOED the Raven Christmas Special LAST year and saved it. It made me want to see WDW at Christmastime (again-we had been the week after Thanksgiving back in 1999). This time we are going to be in WDW the week before Christmas and we will be there for my and my DS ! I have watched that Raven show over and over -and each time I watch I get SO EXCITED!! Glad to hear I am not ALONE! MAGICAL HOLIDAYS to one and ALL! Joan

 

[chrissybear]

I saw those specials last year. I watched when they were doing all of the gingerbread stuff, sipping my gingerbread tea. I had smellavision!! It still wasn't the same as being there. I wanted to go this year for Christmas, but my Dad thought that was a terrible idea. He wants to have Christmas same as usual. So DH the 3 kids and I are going for Thanksgiving instead! I get to see all of the Christmas decorations, do CP and MVMCP. The kids are only missing a few days of school. I can't wait only 9 more days.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Did you get to see the whole thing? It's supposed to be an hour long but it stopped after 30 minutes and the next showing of it shows 30 minutes also.

I thought it was a problem with my TiVo. Guess someone messed up.