Disney At Christmas

[Icecoldpenguin]

Hello fellow DISers,
My Fiance and I are heading to disney for christmas this year. We will be in the world 12/22-12/28. The reasons for this trip are for us to get away and enjoy our first christmas together without family drama, to sign our letter of agreement for our disney fairy tale wedding and to see what it will be like during our honeymoon next year.

What are some of the best things to do at christmas, the things we need to make sure that we don't miss? If there is anyone that goes at christmas what are things you like to do? We are staying at the wilderness lodge.

your best disney christmas tips are much appreciated

Teresa

 

[pepe of ohio]

but as for the timing....I'd never schedule a trip at Christmas....mass crowds can really put the dampers on a WDW vacation.....possible park admittance closing, huge huge crowds and long long lines.....plus the resorts are getting peak rates.....if push came to shove, I'd go week before Xmas or even 2 weeks....rates are alot cheaper and moderate crowds...but you do what you must...for us....not on your life.....

WL is a great resort but better during Xmas, really done up, great tree in the lobby...you'll love the lodge....takes your breath away....sorry for the above...just my honest opinion..

 

[Icecoldpenguin]

but as for the timing....I'd never schedule a trip at Christmas....mass crowds can really put the dampers on a WDW vacation.....possible park admittance closing, huge huge crowds and long long lines.....plus the resorts are getting peak rates.....if push came to shove, I'd go week before Xmas or even 2 weeks....rates are alot cheaper and moderate crowds...but you do what you must...for us....not on your life.....

WL is a great resort but better during Xmas, really done up, great tree in the lobby...you'll love the lodge....takes your breath away....sorry for the above...just my honest opinion..

Well to be honest with you, we do not have the luxury of being able to go in the non peak seasons. I am an athletic trainer at a high school so I am limited to our school breaks and the breaks in athletic seasons. We do not really care about the peak rates and we also do not get annoyed easily by crowds. We met at disney, got engaged at disney and are getting married at disney because it is the right thing to do. We are getting married in december because we like winter but don't feel like freezing. I appreciate the comments though and I am glad the Wilderness Lodge is going to be so pretty I love it when it is normal.

Teresa

 

[JennaGlatzer]

You met at Disney? How cool! How did you meet?

 

[Icecoldpenguin]

You met at Disney? How cool! How did you meet?

We actually met on the Disboards and then we figured we were both going solo to Disney. We met up on our trip and that was it! Check out my wedding planning journal it has all the info about the wedding, how we met, the engagement and all that. It is linked in my signature

Teresa

 

[jcb]

I was going to post what we enjoy about Christmas but then I noticed you met your DF on the disboards. You might cross post on the podcast forum as the usual inhabitants there are saps for folks like you.

In any event, the crowds at Christmas will require a lot of patience. Since you work at a high school, I figure you have plenty of that.

My favorites are

Illuminations (with the holiday ending)
Castle lighting ceremony at MK in the evening
Osborne Lights at DHS
Seeing all the resorts decorated for the holidays. We sometimes spend about half a day riding the monorail to see the resort decorations. Other visits, we walk around the EPCOT resorts (BC, YC & BW as well as the Swan/Dolphin) to see those decorations.
I'm not a big Candlelight Processional fan but it is extremely popular. It is a long wait if you don't have dining reservations. I don't bother with the seats but sit out by the American Adventure and just listen.
If you like massages, you might book one for midway through your trip, especially if you and your DF like to go "commando" in the parks.

Generally, I try to slow down and just enjoy my DW's company.

 

[Icecoldpenguin]

I was going to post what we enjoy about Christmas but then I noticed you met your DF on the disboards. You might cross post on the podcast forum as the usual inhabitants there are saps for folks like you.

In any event, the crowds at Christmas will require a lot of patience. Since you work at a high school, I figure you have plenty of that.

My favorites are

Illuminations (with the holiday ending)
Castle lighting ceremony at MK in the evening
Osborne Lights at DHS
Seeing all the resorts decorated for the holidays. We sometimes spend about half a day riding the monorail to see the resort decorations. Other visits, we walk around the EPCOT resorts (BC, YC & BW as well as the Swan/Dolphin) to see those decorations.
I'm not a big Candlelight Processional fan but it is extremely popular. It is a long wait if you don't have dining reservations. I don't bother with the seats but sit out by the American Adventure and just listen.
If you like massages, you might book one for midway through your trip, especially if you and your DF like to go "commando" in the parks.

Generally, I try to slow down and just enjoy my DW's company.

Thank you all of this was very super helpful. are there any resorts that don't decorate very well for the christmas season?

we are going to be there to really just enjoy each other's company as well so I am very excited.

Teresa

 

[jcb]

Thank you all of this was very super helpful. are there any resorts that don't decorate very well for the christmas season?

we are going to be there to really just enjoy each other's company as well so I am very excited.

Teresa

Here are my subjective opinions I agree with a prior post that WL is among the best decorated resorts. AKL is pretty similar in its decoration. Of the monorail resorts, I think the GF is the best, then the poly. Oddly, the Contemporary doesn't do a whole lot of big decorations in the lobby but I enjoy seeing the exterior wreath. I think BC and YC are better than BW but then I like model trains.

But judge for yourself. Check out this thread and the links in it: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2508981

 

[nicki.momof3]

but as for the timing....I'd never schedule a trip at Christmas....mass crowds can really put the dampers on a WDW vacation.....possible park admittance closing, huge huge crowds and long long lines.....plus the resorts are getting peak rates.....if push came to shove, I'd go week before Xmas or even 2 weeks....rates are alot cheaper and moderate crowds...but you do what you must...for us....not on your life.....

WL is a great resort but better during Xmas, really done up, great tree in the lobby...you'll love the lodge....takes your breath away....sorry for the above...just my honest opinion..

Please take what people say with a grain of salt. We travel every year at Christmas and Easter week and we love it. Yes it is busy but it is also magical and full of the holiday spirit. It is all how you look at it. RElax, have fun and take in all the holiday cheer.

Personally we used to go during the summer (week beofre labor day) but even though the crowds were less the people were so grumy from the heat. Everyone seemed to be in bad mood. Christmas is busier but people are not hot and sweaty so they are happier.

 

[pwdebbie]

Joined in to see what people tell you and now I can't wait to read your story. I have signatures turned off but I'll find it one or another.

I have friends who are going -- his mom (very very wealthy) decided to have all the family together at WDW this year. She's never been and says her TA handled everything for her. I honestly don't know what Wealthy Grandmother was thinking -- trying to bring 17 people to WDW at this time of year and she doesn't even have a single ADR for anything! I am hoping that maybe since she is very wealthy that she will book VIP tours for the family. My friends have a 4yo, 3yo, and 1yo, and I know that in one of the other sibling's family there are also children this age.

Any way, thought I'd pop in here and see if I could get any good tips to pass on to them.

 

[wbeem]

I particularly enjoy seeing the Christmas trees in the resorts. They're huge and the ornaments take on the characteristics of the resort theme.


Merry Christmas by wbeem, on Flickr

The decorations are already up for Christmas. I visited today, but didn't really take any shots of them because I had something else on my agenda.

Although I live locally, I stayed at the Wilderness Lodge a couple of years ago for a Christmas trip (I usually go to Las Vegas). It was exceptionally expensive for the room, extraordinarily crowded, but still enjoyable. Just take your time and don't put yourself in a position where you gotta get somewhere in a hurry. The crowd moves at its own pace and you may wind up frustrated if you try to hurry.

Congratulations on the engagement and I hope you have a great time.