Everything you need to know about WDW Christmas- Tips & Secrets

[Sher]

I have not gotten through all of the posts yet, but I wanted to share our Christmas day experience from a few years ago as it seems to be different from what others are saying.

We found Christmas morning to be a great time in the Magic Kingdom. We were able to do most of Fantasyland before the morning parade. We were surprised but figured that maybe many famiies with younger children were at their resorts doing some sort of Christmas morning Santa stuff.

On this particular year (2006 I think) It started pouring rain while the parade was still going. We took shelter in a shop for a while and then decided to head back to our room. That was when the fun began...several thousand wet Christmas day tourists trying to exit under the RR station with several thousand others apparently trying to get in the same way. We were shoulder to shoulder wet to our skin for a very long time before some smart CM climbed up onto a trash can and directed the traffic. We laugh about it now, but it was actually a little bit scary at the time. People can lose the Disney magic in a hurry when they are frustrated.

Still it was a great time and while we prefer to be home for Christmas, I have just gotten the brilliant idea to leave from here on Christmas day so that we can be here for family and church traditions but still get a trip in during the holiday break. (teacher) My DH is still asleep and hasn't even heard this brilliant plan yet. haha

Sher

 

[Jessma9902]

I am really excited about finding this thread. Just last night my DH booked our second trip to Disney for 12/1-12/8. This is the first time he is booking the trip (we are more surprising our girls, but he caught me off guard too), I wasn't planning on returning until next Sept . I have always wanted to go to Disney during Christmas time, and since my B-day is in December, this is my early birthday present. Thanks for all the tips that everyone has been given so far (haven't read the whole post yet). I do have one quick question though....how is the weather for the first week of December. We have been in March, June, and September. I know it is nothing like June and September, but is it comparative to March weather? Thanks for any input.

We went the first week of December 2007, and the first day there (December 3rd, I believe) was a day in the 80's- we are from the midwest, and came from 30 degree temps, so we were in tanks and capris that day! The rest of the week we were in capris and tshirts with sweatshirts at night. It was lovely!

Have a great trip!

 

[PoohsFan1]

Thanks to all with the quick responses. We too are from the Midwest (Illinois) so any Southern weather is going to be better than Chicago weather. I will just pack a variety of clothes, along with coats, hats, and gloves (for just incase). Thanks again.

 

[FloridaMM]

I haven't been in December yet, but I've been looking into this too, and most people say that you should be prepared for all types of weather - very cold, warm, somewhat hot. I'm planning on packing jeans, t-shirts, shorts, hats, gloves, sweatshirts (lots of stuff basically).

Florida's winter weather is like "a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get". I am going Dec 19-27. I do know that a lot of times before a cold front moves in, it will rain. Is it better that 20 degrees and snowing

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

floridamm--Yes!!Zyrtec will make you sleepy! As well as Claritin, benadryl,or any allergy RX. I didn't know that about the nasal swelling and what to do for it!! Thanks soooo much!!! Also, I carry Excedrin with me ALWAYS! If I take 2 the second I feel a migraine coming on, it doesn't progress...some times it stops completely, sometimes is just doesn't get any worse. I pack a Ziplock bag in our suitcase that's our own personal First Aid kit!! Tiny Neosporin, band-aids, Tylenonol for adults and kids, Exc for me, Abreva for fever blisters. I just like to be prepared!! Mostly I never have to use any of it, but once you (or a child) starts feeling bad at Disney it can go south in a hurry!!! Besides the meds and stuff there are way more $$$ than what I already have at home.
Weather~~~ I like to wear short sleeves and capris/shorts and bring a jacket. The mornings are cool, restaraunts are usually pretty chilly!!! My kids have asked for extra napkins to cover up with because it's unreasonably cold!! We are from Texas, so we know hot!! I don't know why certain food places are that cold Anyway, it's cools down at night and the wind can get chilly....We have had days wearing shorts, but still need a jacket or something once the sun drops. One year we had to buy tobaggons and gloves to go with it!! The MVMCP was freezing!!!!!!! And damp But, it's not anything unbearable...and they always have clothes there if you just have buy something!!!

 

[siskaren]

This sounds wonderful! What is the best way to get around to view all the resorts if you don't have a rental car?

I don't rent a car either, so here's how I do it.

I take the bus to DHS, and then take the boat to the Epcot resorts. (I don't take the bus to Epcot because you have to enter Epcot and walk back to World Showcase in order to get to the Epcot resorts, which just doesn't make sense to me.) Then I just walk from YC to BC to the Boardwalk Inn. From there I take the bus to MK and then get on the boat to WL. From there I get on the boat to the Contemporary and take the monorail to check out GF and end up at the Contempory to have dinner at Chef Mickey's (unless things have changed since '06, there really isn't anything worth checking out at the Poly). I don't include AKL in this because I always do a dinner at Boma on the day I do AK. From there I take the bus to DTD and transfer to a bus to my resort, after doing some shopping, of course.

 

[RMulieri]

The weather is all over the place. We have been in December when the one day we were sweltering and in the pool ans shorts, only to have the next day require jeans , jackets, and gloves. At this time of year layers work best and you can't really pack all that much till the 7-10 day forecast and even then it may not be accurate

 

[JulieBarlow]

Just about all decorations are up by thanksgiving. (they were in '08 when we went)
And the good news is that osbourne lights will be starting nov 10th this year so you'll have all week to see them!
P.S. See you there!

Just wondering if you know for sure that the Osborne lights start on the 10th Nov? Last year they started after Thanksgiving and as this year is a recession I would imagine it would make financial sense to start it later again. As far as I knew the November calendar wasn't out yet so just wondering where you heard this and how definite it is? Thanks.

 

[RMulieri]

Just wondering if you know for sure that the Osborne lights start on the 10th Nov? Last year they started after Thanksgiving and as this year is a recession I would imagine it would make financial sense to start it later again. As far as I knew the November calendar wasn't out yet so just wondering where you heard this and how definite it is? Thanks.

They were originally supposed to start after Thanksgiving.But Disney has recently said that they are staring Nov 10th this year

 

[tjlemkuil]

Just received our (DW and myself) tickets for MVMCP on Nov 19th. Going to be in the world from the 18th thru the 23rd. Hoping the crowds are manageable and the weather comfortable for our 1st Christmas trip.

 

[DonaldTDuck]

On the WDW website they say this about Osborne Lights
Location:
Disney's Hollywood Studios Theme Park
Season:
Winter
Type:
Outdoor
Dates:
November 10, 2009 - January 04, 2010

 

[Minniekins]

^^^Omg, I just now went and got the exact same text, to copy and paste as you did! Exactly! I just happened to scroll down the page where I was going to enter my post and there it was, lol! That's awesome they are up early in Nov this year. Couldn't have been last year when we were in Nov, though, lol! But I'm glad they went back to their regular schedule, I bet they heard from lots of disappointed guests last year who planned trips on seeing them. This year we can't go till Jan 2, so I guess they'll be up Jan 2, 3, and 4 of our trip, which is great!

Anyone know about the Castle Ice lights, how long they will be up? In another thread a poster said it'd probably be till Jan 3. I was really hoping for longer, like my whole trip till the 10th! This is my absolute favorite, those lights are incredible, and since we've gone Nov the last three years, this year we will really miss them if the aren't up our whole trip. This means we'll have to do MK both Sat and Sun night, and MK is our very favorite, but it does mess with our schedule a bit. Anyway, anyone think or know if they may be up longer than the 3rd of Jan? But we also will have to hop this trip to see Osborne lights one of those nights also, normally we don't end up ever hopping more than maybe once, so we've stopped buying them. Anyway, guess it's hoppers this year.

 

[WendyLovesPeter]

Some people don't understand what it is like to have an airborne allergy. I am also allergic to eating cinnamon, chocolate and seafood. I am the one who makes the choice of what goes in my mouth, but I cannot always make a choice what smells goes in my nose. But I did go to the doctor yesterday and she told me that when you get a migraine from a smell it swells the nasal area right next to the brain. She said that Zyrtec may reduce the swelling and also take Aleeve. But she said to take the Zyrtec at night because it could make me sleepy.
I hope it works because I want to enjoy DW at Xmas

I wonder if Claritin would help. It is a non-drowsy allergy drug.

 

[WendyLovesPeter]

this is just a hopeful brainstorm, but would New Years Day morning be a less crowded time in the parks because of people staying up late on New Years Eve? I realize the afternoon would probably be a different situation

 

[TwoTinkersMom]

I wonder if Claritin would help. It is a non-drowsy allergy drug.

Try taking ZYRTEC at night. I am VERY allergic to cats. I take ZYRTEC, but I take it before I got to bed every night. I am never tired in the day, because I take it at night. But, I do take it at the same exact time every night. It works really well for me, but I have to take it at night or I will feel sluggish. It really is a miracle drug for me, I can actually be around cats. I just can't skip a day! Hope this helps.

Guess what got me going at WDW last year...the Lei's from the POLY! I had to put them in ziploc bags at night in order to breathe! It took us forever to figure out what it was. We knew it was something in the room, but couldn't put our finger on it. I practically had to take half a box of benadryl in a day. I was miserable and EXTREMELY drowsy, but determined to stay at MK. I brought them home and washed the perfume out of them so that my girls could keep them.

 

[TwoTinkersMom]

OOPS! Sorry for the wrong quote in previous post.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

TwoTinkersMom~ Poor u!! I can sympathize!!!!! I never would have thought that...I don't think they bothered me...thank goodness!! I would not have figured it out I don't think!!!
Benadryl knocks me out totally!! I couldn't have made it all day without napping on a monorail or something.
And Claritin does say Non -drowsy,,, but it makes me and my kids sleepy if we take it in the daytime. I 'll tell you what else makes me sleepy...Allegra!! Wow! I was prescribed that and was taking it in the spring...kept feeling tired after around lunch time and HAD to nap. I just could NOT keep going....after about a week, I figured out it was those darn allergy pills. So now they are nighties too!!! I think they are worse than Z or C for me!!!

 

[RMulieri]

^^^Omg, I just now went and got the exact same text, to copy and paste as you did! Exactly! I just happened to scroll down the page where I was going to enter my post and there it was, lol! That's awesome they are up early in Nov this year. Couldn't have been last year when we were in Nov, though, lol! But I'm glad they went back to their regular schedule, I bet they heard from lots of disappointed guests last year who planned trips on seeing them. This year we can't go till Jan 2, so I guess they'll be up Jan 2, 3, and 4 of our trip, which is great!

Anyone know about the Castle Ice lights, how long they will be up? In another thread a poster said it'd probably be till Jan 3. I was really hoping for longer, like my whole trip till the 10th! This is my absolute favorite, those lights are incredible, and since we've gone Nov the last three years, this year we will really miss them if the aren't up our whole trip. This means we'll have to do MK both Sat and Sun night, and MK is our very favorite, but it does mess with our schedule a bit. Anyway, anyone think or know if they may be up longer than the 3rd of Jan? But we also will have to hop this trip to see Osborne lights one of those nights also, normally we don't end up ever hopping more than maybe once, so we've stopped buying them. Anyway, guess it's hoppers this year.

After Jan 3rd ALL the decor drops off fast

 

[snykymom]

Anyone know about the Castle Ice lights, how long they will be up? In another thread a poster said it'd probably be till Jan 3. I was really hoping for longer, like my whole trip till the 10th! This is my absolute favorite, those lights are incredible, and since we've gone Nov the last three years, this year we will really miss them if the aren't up our whole trip. This means we'll have to do MK both Sat and Sun night, and MK is our very favorite, but it does mess with our schedule a bit. Anyway, anyone think or know if they may be up longer than the 3rd of Jan? But we also will have to hop this trip to see Osborne lights one of those nights also, normally we don't end up ever hopping more than maybe once, so we've stopped buying them. Anyway, guess it's hoppers this year.

In Jan 2009, the castle lights were lit on Jan. 3 (Sunday), and dark on Jan. 6 (Tuesday).

 

[kkproulx]

Woo hoo! Just found this thread and read through all 15 pages...copy/pasted lots of good tips into an ever-growing Word document! This is our first Christmas trip as well. We will be there 12/18 through 12/23 and I am really nervous about the crowds! We have been to Disney many times so one thing in our favor is that we do not feel the need to hit everything. We are mainly there to experience the Christmas decorations and activities. I can't wait!!

Keep all the great tips coming!!

We are going at these same times as you! This will also be our first time at Disney in December, we've been only in October before! Christmas decor is our main reason for going also....I have read this whole thread too and put it in an Excel doc! Cannot wait....love all the tips here!