Disney World Christmas and Dining?

[pumpkinjl]

Let me start by saying that we have been to Disney World a few times before. We are taking our children ages 3 and 5. This will be their second trip. We have been at Christmas before and we know about the crowds, advanced reservations, etc. We will be staying at the Polynesian Resort. Does anyone know how long it will take by bus to get to Hollywood Studios and to Animal Kingdom?

During the holiday (Christmas) do the Disney World restaurants have earlier hours (know they are not posted for December yet)? Specifically, on a day that the park, say Animal Kingdom, opens at 8:00 will there be any reservations (Tusker House) earlier than 8:00 or is that the earliest? I also want to know about Hollywood & Vine and Askershus.

Another question - If I want to get reservations at the California Grill for Christmas dinner (I know it is VERY hard to get) what time should I make the reservations so that we can watch the 10 PM fireworks?

Last question - We LOVE Chef Mickey's for breakfast. However, we were thinking about doing Ohana! this time for breakfast (we have never been there). Is this a good idea? If we do Ohana! instead, would you recommend Chef Mickey's for lunch or dinner? Is it as much fun?

Any other suggestions?

 

[csjordan]

subbing...going during this time...need advice, as well!

 

[EeyoreJen]

I was wondering the same thing. This will be my first Christmas at WDW and I CAN NOT WAIT!!

 

[IllinoisMommy]

Would love to see what others say as we will be at WDW at Christmas too. We did a Chef Mickey's dinner on our first night last trip (no parks, just go to the hotel/swam/explored) and the food was good. It was really fun to do this for our first night as it really kicked off our vacation and feels like a celebration. My kids loved it BTW- it was their highlight and they were about 6 and 3 then.

 

[jennnafziger]

We are going to be at Disney for Christmas too (December 23-27). I am a bit worried about getting reservations for ANYTHING we want. Any suggestions? We would love to book the Candlelight Processional on Christmas Eve. Is that going to be impossible?

 

[EeyoreJen]

We are going to be at Disney for Christmas too (December 23-27). I am a bit worried about getting reservations for ANYTHING we want. Any suggestions? We would love to book the Candlelight Processional on Christmas Eve. Is that going to be impossible?

I have the same hope

The only thing I can suggest (based on what I have heard) is keep an eye on the announcement for the packages being open to book and call straight away! Also, I suggest some flexibility. Have at least a 1st and 2nd choice restaurant and a couple of different dates you could do it. I know what I would LOVE to have but I won't be disappointed if I have to go with another choice.

Good luck!

Jen

 

[vicki_c]

The restaurant opening times in the parks do not normally get pushed up another hour when the park opens an hour earlier, that I know of.

CP on Christmas Eve - call on the first booking day as soon as they open (or online if you can do that - I'm not sure) and be flexible with your restaurant choices and times, and you will probably get it.

We are not big Chef Mickey fans, although I find breakfast okay. But we really enjoy the 'Ohana Best Friends breakfast - I would do that. The food is better (although less choices) and you don't have to get up and deal with the buffet line.

 

[jennnafziger]

Any suggestions for good places for a party of four adults to eat during Christmas week?

 

[Yvie]

Subbing to this thread as well I've been rather indecisive about where to eat over Christmas. Hopefully I can get some tips to help make up my mind

 

[ADisneyQueen]

During Christmas week, we had both a dinner and New Years day brunch (at noon) at Chef Mickey's. Both were good, but the brunch/lunch was really festive and had more food choices.
We ate at Crystal Palace one night and had a table facing the castle. It was beautiful when it was lit, what a view! That was our favorite meal.

 

[pumpkinjl]

jennnafziger-

We have done it on Christmas Eve everytime we have been. Book early and you should have no problem! (You just have to watch for the dates)

 

[osu2k1]

We are going before Christmas for our first trip, so I have zero idea as to what to do! Just reading books on dining makes my head hurt and stomach growl.

We are not staying on property though, so we'd have to drive to either the park or hotel to eat.

For character dining where would you suggest? My boys are 7.5 and 4.5, and just need a fun atmosphere to be happy. I was looking at the Akershaus Royal banquet hall because we are Norwegian, but it's princesses. So the other idea (for in park) was Crystal Palace.
If we do out of park in a hotel, I'd love suggestions.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

Let me start by saying that we have been to Disney World a few times before. We are taking our children ages 3 and 5. This will be their second trip. We have been at Christmas before and we know about the crowds, advanced reservations, etc. We will be staying at the Polynesian Resort. Does anyone know how long it will take by bus to get to Hollywood Studios and to Animal Kingdom?

During the holiday (Christmas) do the Disney World restaurants have earlier hours (know they are not posted for December yet)? Specifically, on a day that the park, say Animal Kingdom, opens at 8:00 will there be any reservations (Tusker House) earlier than 8:00 or is that the earliest? I also want to know about Hollywood & Vine and Askershus.

Another question - If I want to get reservations at the California Grill for Christmas dinner (I know it is VERY hard to get) what time should I make the reservations so that we can watch the 10 PM fireworks?

Last question - We LOVE Chef Mickey's for breakfast. However, we were thinking about doing Ohana! this time for breakfast (we have never been there). Is this a good idea? If we do Ohana! instead, would you recommend Chef Mickey's for lunch or dinner? Is it as much fun?

Any other suggestions?

We stayed at the Contemporary last trip so the drive times from there vs. the Poly should be similar. Sadly- I don't remember the exact timing when we went from CR to DHS and we didnt do AK last trip. We had an 8am at Hollywood & Vine...we got out there for a bus around 7:15am...and I think we were at DHS around 7:30a. I know it took like no time b/c we waited a while to be let into DHS. I can say this with AK and Tusker House...allow more time for this one. Tusker is pretty far into the park...so you've got some walking from the bus, to the entrance, and then to the restaurant.

I handled the ADR booking for my friend's Christmas trip last year and we found earlier hours. Case in point- Chef Mickey's usually shows dinner starting at 5pm when you look online, but I booked her in a 4pm dinner there. As for morning ADRs...those usually are set in stone. i.e. if you have morning EMH or they open an hour early b/c it's holiday level crowds...the various character meals inside each part will still begin seating at 8am. These are the times when I like to get to the park early for touring and do a late breakfast or early lunch vs. an 8am TS meal...but that's just me. It should be the same scenario for Akershus (only have done lunch and dinner here, but I would imagine breakfast follows the same model) and Hollywood & Vine.

We did Cali Grill over the summer w/Wishes at 10pm. I was advised to try for something between 8-8:30pm...with the earlier side of that window being more favorable. The best I could get was a 7:55pm ADR. We waited a good 30-35 min to be seated, but we were seated about 1 row off from the MK facing windows and were being served dessert just as the lights were dimming for Wishes. It was AWESOME!

We've done Chef Mickey's breakfast and 'Ohana breakfast. I felt the service, setting and character interaction at 'Ohana was superior to Chef Mickey's'; however, we got much better breakfast food at Chef Mickey's. We've eaten at Chef Mickey's for dinner and it was pretty gross. As for lunch...it's not normally open for lunch, but they may if #s show they will be busy enough to justify it. I have a feeling it will happen just b/c of all of the FLE hype, but that's purely speculation.

Hope this helps!

 

[pookybean]

We had Chef Mickeys for Christmas dinner in 2007 and it was horrible. I will admit that we are not adventurous eaters, but I can usually find something plain, or to eat around. There was really not much there, it was all "fancy" food.

I think we ate more dessert than anything! lol

Breakfast at Chef Mickeys is always great and that is a must do every trip. Ohanas dinner food is much better, but no characters.

Good luck deciding, we are in that phase now too (also going Christmas week) and Im trying to hammer down where and when. We were hoping for HDDR for Christmas Dinner, but I just found out it will be closed during that entire week. So now Im thinking Ohana.

Im also waiting for the CP packages, we want Christmas Eve with dinner at Teppan Edo. Fingers crossed!!!