December 2008?

[problemchild718]

We were thinking about staying DVC in December this year so we could enjoy the Holiday decorations. We would travel the first week of the month. Anyone been then? Tips or Suggestions? How are the crowds? Any suggestions on which resort? We like them all, but want to get the most holiday feel that we can.

 

[problemchild718]

Come on DIS'ERs, give me a hand! Bump....

 

[bobbiwoz]

I'm always in school the first week of December, but being at WDW the second or third week has been wonderful.

DVC resorts are very very busy during that time because of the decorations and the low point costs. In terms of the "best" decorations, I would rate, VWL/WV, BWV/BW then BCV/YC as the three that I most often visited.

The taping of Disney's parade is sometime during that week, I think, and sometime it's Pop Warner week, but that affects the value resorts more than DVC's.

January is a hard time to reach MS because many many DVCers are making their December ressies, exactly 11 months out.

Best wishes!
Bobbi

 

[tgropp]

The Villas at the Wilderness Lodge is my favorite. Very Christmassy!! Also my home resort. Things to do to get into the Christmas spirit the most are
1) Candlelight Processional
2) Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
3) Santa's around the World at Epcot
4) Tree lighting ceremony at Epcot
5) Resort Hopping to see the Decorations
6) Osborne Lights at Disney Studios
7) An evening at MarketPlace

I could go on forever. You have picked a great time to go. Have fun

 

[DebbieB]

I've done that week many times, it's awesome. Crowds are not bad. Pop Warner is Dec 6 to 13 this year, but that usually does not affect DVC resorts.

You need to make reservations now, that week is very popular for DVC.

 

[JodyTG]

Christmas at WDW is the absolute best time to go. At least, that's what my family thinks...

 

[problemchild718]

Thanks folks, thats what I needed to hear-now to check out the crowds....UGH hope the lines aren't bad!

 

[bigmoonmullen]

Thanks folks, thats what I needed to hear-now to check out the crowds....UGH hope the lines aren't bad!

Hi:

Our Grand Gathering was from 11/29/2007 thru 12/08/2007 at WL last year. Everything was great... we were worried about the crowds (Pop Warner was there but we rarely saw them AND when we did run across them were well behaved) and really never experienced crowds except during the MVMCP on Thursday (parade & fireworks).. We arrived at the parks before it open each morning and till lunch time were able to almost walk right onto most rides… The two exceptions were Soarin and Expedition Everest… and we fast pass them… We were able to ride Soarin 3 times before noon and still took in Mission Space twice, Test track and Nemo all before noon. The parades have a tendency to get crowed but if you want to see them just get there 45 minutes early.

You will enjoy the decorations… Go and have fun.

Mark

 

[Wendybird55]

I've been to Disney I woud say at least 15+ times the week after Thanksgiving and love it. And the years Thanksgiving was laster that was the 1st week in Dec. I never found the crowds to be bad - in fact I think they're a bit lighter then. The weather can be a bit wacky. Some years it was very hot, others it got colder at night and I needed a sweatshirt or jacket.

I'm not a DVC mameber and alwasy stayed at hotels and they all are beautifully decorated for the holidays. You should try to check them out while you're there. Grand Floridian has this gigantic gingerbread house and each hotel has trees that goes with it's theme.

The Candlelight Processional in EPCOT is FANTASTIC. A beautiful Christmas celebration. It's at the theater in the American Pavillion. You don't need a ticket, but the line fills up quickly. I suggest you make reservations for the Candelight dinner plan - Like Fantasmic in Hollywood, you make dinner reservations at one of the choice restaurants and it includes priority seating for the Candlelight Porcessional plus in past years a 10% discount coupon you can use in EPCOT stores that evening. It's well worth it as you will be guaranteed a seat and this is definately worth seeing.

You should also find out what nights they are having the Very Merry Christmas party in Magic Kingdom. They close the park early on certain days and then re-open in the evening for this Very Merrry party. You need an seperate admission ticket for this. Not all the rides are opne, but some are. Plsu they have hot coca, tons of Christmas activities and shows and the highlight is the Christmas parade on Main Street (the same one you see Xmas day) and the fireworks afterwards. Plus they make it snow on Main Street I was there the first year they did it and it is truly magical. Make sure you get your tickets for this as soon as they go on sale.

Also I think they still have the Jolly Holidays dinner show. When I went (long time ago) it was at the convention center at Contemporary. It's a nice dinner with a Christmas show Disney Style. I've only been once and enjoyed it.

The Country Bear show is changed for the Chrsitmas Season. So make sure to see it. In Disney Hollywood they have the Osborne Christmas lights display which is really neat. No special admsission for this and since it's all throughout the backlot there's plenty of room for the crowds.

I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time...Disney is alwasy magical, but around the holidays it's eve more so.


Enjoy,
Wendy

 

[toyboy]

problemchild,
I've been to Disney during the 1st two weeks of December 3 or 4 times - most recently was just last month. It is a great time to see everything decorated up.
I will concur with what others have said - VWL seems to have the most "xmas-y" feel to it. The tree in the main lobby is extraordinary. Crowds during that time of year seem to be very low compared to other busy times of year. Longest wait was 20 minutes for Space Mountain and Soarin' unless you wait until later in the afternoon when it picks up. The only "negative" to going this year was that both my wife and I thought that their holiday decorating at the parks was significantly down this year from when we had been there in the past. Still very nice, but not as extensive. If you have never been there during that time you won't know the difference.