Disney at Christmas

[insmom]

We are going on our 1st family Disney trip during Xmas time. I understand that this is a very busy time of year at the MK. Any suggestions that will make this an enjoyable and not too streesful time? My kids, 8yr girl and 10 yr old boy are really looking forward to going, as well as my husband and I. We are staying at the Pop Century and want to get in as much as we can. Thanks

 

[rogers803]

Are you going the week of christmas or the week after? We have been twice during Christmas but have always left on Dec 27. We noticed the crowds don't get real heavy until right before Christmas day. I would recommend early starts to your day this cuts down the crowds. I would also recommend early lunch ps and character meals . We loved Mickeys Chistmas party and CCP at EPCOT. We used a dinner package for the CCP this was a big help. Then we made sure to have dinner ressies during the MK park closing for the MMCP. This enabled us to be inside the park when the party started. Hope this helps

 

[daystar]

Hi,
We went last year for christmas Dec. 23 to 28.....People kept telling me about the Mickey's Christmas Party but it ends on the 19th so we were not able to go.....As for the crowds it really didn't get busy until christmas day....
Christmas is my favorite holiday so i thought what a great place to be.....To tell you the truth we all missed home on christmas day, it's just not christmas without being at home....We stayed at the All Stars Sport.....We brought with us a small table top tree for the kids.....Alot of people decorated their windows with light and cling ons....On christmas day the hotel leaves a gift bag outside your room for each of your children, i think it had candy in it....
The decoration were beautiful in every park.....Each park has their own huge christmas tree....At night on main st. in MK there was fake snow falling from the top of the stores....It was very beautiful...
I hope this helps.......

 

[insmom]

Thanks so much for the replys. We are arriving 12-23 and leaving 12-30. I think it will be a great time. I am glad that the hotels do something, even some candy, for the kids at Christmas time. I was going to pick up a few things for them anyway just so they know that "Santa" knows where they are and thinking of them.

Any other suggestions for a birthday during this time. My son turns 11 on the 29th and thought of going to the Hoop Di Doo for dinner. My travel agent wants to set reservations in September for that and Cinderellas Char Breakfast but from what I am reading that seems to late. Should we be making them now?

Has anyone used the Happy Limo town car service? Did you like it, where they on time, friendly? Do they make a 15 minute stop at a grocery store?

Thanks again for the help-I want to get as much info before I go so we can enjoy the time that we are there.

 

[daystar]

Hi again,
Slowly i'm starting to remember everything we did last year when we spent christmas in WDW....Sometimes i hard a time getting replies back on christmas......Also i wanted to tell you that in Mk there is a santa.....Kind of just like in the mall where the kids get to sit on santa's knee for a visit and have their picture taken....Also i know that during the afternoon time there is christmas parades in Mk and AK....But at night there was a different parade not a christmas one....I'm not sure about the other parks....

 

[kocar]

We spent xmas 2001 at Ft. Wilderness cabins and were worried we would miss the northern Ohio White Christmas. Were we mistaken! Besides the awesome decorations themed in each hotel lobby, we took a nighttime hayride under the stars through the Ft. Wilderness cabins and campground after going to Hoop-De-Doo. We were amazed at the extravagant decorations some people brought with them! That was the first year for those 8-ft. tall inflatable snowmen and people had these and other large displays adorning their cabins and campsites. On xmas eve we walked through the Osbourne family light display at MGM. Like main st. at MK, they had "snow" as you strolled along the new york city street to the light display. Walking through the light display, we were greeted by toy soldiers walking down the street and elves selling hot chocolate!

This was one of our most memorable christmases as a family. We too noticed the crowds increased the day after xmas. Go early, leave early would be a good rule to follow for the days after xmas. Take advantage of EE if you can. It wasn't offered when we went due to the 9-11 restrictions.

Hope this helps. Enjoy your holiday!

Michelle:thewave:

 

[Noelle]

We went for for Xmas last year and we loved it so much we're going back again this year. We were there from 12/19 through 12/29. Like one of the previous posters said, the crowds weren't bad until Xmas day.

A few tips that we learned....

1. Don't go to the Magic Kingdom on Xmas day unless you really have your heart on it. It was so crowded there that they closed the gates at something like 10:30. Too many people to enjoy ourselves. (We headed over to Epcot and it was MUCH better.)

2. The Candlelight Processional with the Dinner Package was great! No need to wait in the huge lines to see the package.

3. The Santas in the World Showcase. There was a different Xmas Santa or character in each of the different country showcases. My kids loved it! We took pictures with everyone and put them in our scrapbook.

4. Pack a small set of xmas tree lights, a few window static clings, and stockings for your room. (We bought our stockings at Downtown Disney and we'll bring those back with us this time.)

5. Go to a online florist website and order yourself a decorated small xmas tree (about 3 feet tall) and have it delivered to your resort. We did and it really helped my family feel like we were still celebrating Xmas.


As far as Hoop Dee Doo Review....Book that now! The earlier you place your reservation the better seating you have. HDDR starts booking 2 years out.

Have a great time!

 

[insmom]

Once again I received alot of helpful information from everyone. I must say this chat/site is GREAT!! I did not see anything about the Happy Limo-towncar questions. Has anyone used Happy Limo with the towncar for transportation from Orlando airport to their hotel? I hear it is better than a shuttle, just because of the time that you save.

For those that brought stuff for their children from "Santa" did you buy it there or have it shipped to the hotel ahead of time? I can do the stockings and I can bring the window clings-good idea. I wanted to get my kids one item to open, like a doll or something like that and a gift for my son. Do all the hotels let you send a package ahead of time? We are staying at Pop Century. If you do send a package ahead of time-how far in advance do you send it?

Again thank for the great info and help!!

 

[daystar]

Hi,
When we went for christmas in 2003 we looked into the christmas trees from the florist but they were around a couple hundrend dollars and thats more than i want to spend so we brought our own artificial tree from home.......We actually had three christmas that year, before we left we had santa come by our house , then at disney and when we returned thats when we celebrated with the family.....So we bought gifts for home and left them at home to open, less baggage to carry.....Then when we got to WDW we bought stuff for christmas day for my boys....You can find toys in every shop you go into so it wont be hard....Just a reminder don't forget to bring wrapping paper and tape....I bought these items and forgot them i went to buy them, no one sold wrapping paper or tape...So we had to alot of extra bags and wrapped them, then stuck them with stickers...That was really bad, i didn't know what else to wrap them in.....
As for EE night i know last year they did not offer it for the week of christmas....I know you can ship stuff to the hotels that you are staying at but not sure how it is done some one on here i'm sure will help you....If you don't get answer on the Happy Limo maybe you should put a thread on the transportation to see if you get any answers there.....

 

[insmom]

I would not of thought of wrapping paper and tape!! Thanks! We will celebrate with the rest of the family after we get back. I think I will check into mailing a package (presents all wrapped) to the hotel. Thanks for your help and ideas!

 

[HollyJoy]

We'll be celebrating part of our Christmas season this year too! We'll be there the first full week of December, and we can hardly wait! I am so excited about sharing the Disney Magic with the girls, and I know it will be even more magical during Christmas! So far, we have purchased our tickets for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, and plan to take in the holiday events in the other parks as well. We can hardly wait!

I'm sure you'll have a blast!

 

[insmom]

HAVE A GREAT TIME!! I have gotten more information from my travel agent and now I am getting really excited!!! My kids have never been before and my husband and I haven't been since we were younger (teenagers). Things change so fast there that it is a new experience everytime you go. I would like to make this a every few year thing if possible. Again have a great trip!!

 

[Disboy1020]

OH MY GOSH!!! I go there bout' 3-5 times a year!!! (WDW IS THERE)