Disney "must dos" in December

[princess-rn]

Ok..this is my family's first Christmas/December trip to Disney. I need to know some absolute "must dos" for this time of year. We LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!

Thanks!

 

[Debi]

Candelight Processional (Epcot), MVMCP (MK), and Holidays Around the World (Epcot) are favorites for me. Don't forget to check out the holiday decorations at all of the Disney resorts!

 

[Brise Nannie]

Definitely don't miss Osborne Lights and stop by the GF to see the life size Gingerbread House. They have tasty samples of gingerbread for you to try. I totally agree with the suggestion to check out the resort decorations.

 

[princess-rn]

Thanks for your replies!!

We have the CP at EPCOT covered. We are doing the Le Cellier CP package. I can't wait to see it. It sounds BEAUTIFUL!!!

We have MVMCP at MK covered. We are doing LTT dinner before the party. My son is MOST excited about this party.

We have osborne lights at MGM on our list. I've heard SO much about it.

We are spliting our resort stays with the last half being at GF so we have that covered. I can't wait to see that GB house!!! I also have it on our "plan" to cruise around the resorts and see the decorations. With the way we are eating we should hit most of them just with our ADRs!!! LOL

Now, the only thing that sounds "new" to me so far is Holidays Around the World at Epcot. Tell me more about that.

Thanks so much! Keep 'em coming!!

 

[Steve_WDW_TRIP]

This will be our first trip during the Christmas season, we are Dis vets and never been during Dec. We can not wait.

 

[Hillary12.8.07]

Checking out the resorts is my FAVORITE thing to do, anytime, but esp during the holidays.

I also like just taking the time to walk slowly down Main St, through Epcot, etc. There is so much to see, it's just beautiful if you take the time to see it all.

Subscribing to this thread, I'm also interested to see what others suggest!

 

[mikamah]

We went last december and did LLT and MVMCP and had a blast. The christmas parade during the party was awesome. We were total newbies, and didn't organize to see the christmas shows, but hear they are great. We walked right on splash mountain during the fireworks, because we had seen the fireworks before the party. The one thing I wish we did was make more time for character greetings in their christmas attire. We did indulge in the cookies and cocoa at Crystal Palace and saw the show in front of the castle while we sat outside and ate them.

The Osbourne lights were breathtaking. We went to see them one night after a busy day in MK, and got an egg nog, and just meandered down the street, kids fast asleep. I hear if you're there when they first start up it is amazing, but you still see them dance to the music.

We didn't get to the Candlelight processional, but friends went and said it was beautiful.

I think Holidays around the world are different story telling in the countries. We saw a santa in England telling stories, and they were putting on a little skit in Norway, with the santa's dressed from those countries. We didn't spend a lot of time in epcot.

The resort decorations are beautiful from what we saw. We stayed at ASMu, but saw CR and GF.

Have a wonderful trip. I want to go back.

 

[CCIntrigue]

Go over to Fort Wilderness and ride the bus around the loops. You will be absolutely amazed at the decorations. They are not Disney -- the people who are staying there put up phenomenal displays.

 

[weloveprincesses]

Go over to Fort Wilderness and ride the bus around the loops. You will be absolutely amazed at the decorations. They are not Disney -- the people who are staying there put up phenomenal displays.

This is sooo true, we've stayed there the last two years in the R.V. park, and have met people that winter there, so they put up decorations. We even met one older couple that have been coming every year (winter) since it opened. (He said they used to pay 7 dollars a day to stay many years ago.)

But I digress.

Some folks put up all kinds of outdoor decorations, lights, activated outdoor displays, it's all rather fun. My girls always liked to get in the golf cart (the ONLY way to get around the campsites) and drive around to see everything.

Christmas is my favorite, favorite time to go, we're going on year number four at this holiday. I like it so much we're leaving DH home cuz he didn't want to go again so soon. Pish, it's ONLY been a year.

Have fun!
Maggi

 

[Piglets Mommy]

Go over to Fort Wilderness and ride the bus around the loops. You will be absolutely amazed at the decorations. They are not Disney -- the people who are staying there put up phenomenal displays.

That sounds really cool! I never knew about that, but it will be an easy one for us wince we're staying at WL!

My kids loved seeing all the different Santas at Christmas around the World in Epcot.

We also loved seeing all of the Characters in their Christmas outfits

ETA: Princess-RN, I just noticed our tickers show the exact same time! What day are you doing LTT & MVMCP? Ours is on Dec.2. Maybye We'll see you there

 

[Wishes91]

Ok..this is my family's first Christmas/December trip to Disney. I need to know some absolute "must dos" for this time of year. We LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!

Thanks!

The Candle Light show is a must!!! We do it every year when we go down there. Our last trip they had Lou Diamond Phillips. This year (when we're seeing it) they are having Stephen Curtis Chapman. He's by far the best that I've seen doing the Narrator bit.


You MUST do Mickey's Very Merry Christmas party. That is such a great part of Disney around the Holiday season! You get a wristband so the staff workers won't kick you out and all that. Lol. And around The Magic Kingdom park they have free coco and cookies they are handing out. You can get your picture taken with the characters, and for the younger kids their picture taken with Santa Clause. You also get a picture of your whole group that you're with in Tomorrowland. Last year it was there anyway. Not sure about this year.
They have characters out, a Christmas show on the stage of the Castle, and you can of course ride rides. It ends at midnight. If you have little ones I suggest a 2 hour nap before you do this. The kids will be grumpy or they will be falling asleep.
They also have a Disney themed parade. That's cute.

I can't seem to think of anything else for you to do at the moment.......

But you really should take advantage of the Magical Park thing. . . I can't think of the name right now, sorry. A certain park opens one hour early, or stays open an extra 3 hours. That's pretty awesome! It's really fun do that around the Holiday season!!!!

Have a great trip!

When are you going?
My family and I are heading down Decemeber, 7th and leaving the 16th.

 

[princess-rn]

Sorry I have responded to anyone. I haven't been getting updates on this thread for some reason!!!! **YIKES**

CCINTRIGUE: So, ride the bus over to fort wilderness and just stay on through all the stops. I've heard they have some great decorations out there. Just wasn't sure how we could go see them.

WISHES91: We are leaving on Dec 1. (driving down from Alabama) We are staying at DTD Hilton the first night then transfering to POFQ for 5 nights and then on to GF for 5 nights.

PIGLETS MOMMY: Hi again!!! I know we have been chatting on my trip report page...but I didnt' want to ignore you here either!!! LOL

 

[WClancysbro]

You have to make a stop at The Boadwalk Resort, the garland they have hung is fabulous. Also they make a boardwalk theme park completly out of confectionary products. The holidays are such a magical time, just make sure the pack some of the special sweets for home!

 

[kgilchri]

This will be our first trip in December and we are so excited to see the Christmas decorations. I'm glad I ran into this thread. I can't wait to see all the things you all have suggested. Thanks!!

 

[AnneMT]

In addition to the fantastic ideas already posted, I would suggested you be sure to go to Down Town Disney during the holiday season. They have a spot for visiting with Santa. Also there are generally a bunch of performers who appear on the the stage outside the World of Disney and all around the area.

Anne

 

[bigkid@disney]

Great Thread...

This will be our first and probably only time we will visit during the holidays, so I want to make sure we don't miss anything special. I think I have it all planned, but will keep checking here for hints and suggestions.

We have the package for the Candlelight Processional, I hear that is great! We are doing the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party the Tuesday before Christmas, told the best night to go that week.

Planning on Osbourn light show, as I myself, love decorating our house for Christmas.

My DW loves the idea of a life size gingerbread house at the GF, so we'll be checking that out.

We won't be able to see all the resorts, so are there must see resorts for decorations?

Anything else? Keep the ideas coming.

 

[mum of two pirates]

The thing I liked most was all the decorations. We did the sleigh ride and I wasn't real impressed. Everyone talks about how nice it is with all the lights. It was lit up becouse of the steet lights in the parking lot, but nothing after that.

 

[Cristy]

We're going in December, too! Can't wait to see the decorated trees at the resorts. I especially liked the trees in GF and WL when we were there in December five years ago.

 

[Lileigh]

I am so glad I found this thread, as I am going to WDW in December for the first time, and want to make sure I see as much as I can. I have my most important elements down, but was looking for little things to do. I hadn't even thought to travel to the other resorts, so I now have that on my list.

Thanks for the tips and not to miss focal points!

 

[TinaLala22]

My #1 would be Osborne Lights - it's amazing to stand in the middle of the street when the music is playing! Don't forget to find the hidden Mickey's in the decorations.

#2 I would go to Beach Club, Grand Floridian, Polynesian and the Wilderness Lodge to see the chocolate creations and the trees. The gingerbread house is amazing and so are the unique decorations on each resort's trees.

#3 Santa - Now's your chance to get a special Disney picture with Santa - do I hear your christmas card calling??

#4 MVMCP - even if you have to hangout for an hour sitting on Main Street it a lot of fun seeing the kids faces when it starts to snow.

#5 Twas the Night Before Christmas show at MK - we had a lot of fun watching the Mickey version of the story that we read every year.

If you have children I wouldn't do the candlelight procession, it's a long time for the kids to sit. I would visit the Santa's around Epcot and hear their stories of christmas.