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

[DisneyChristian]

Just wanted to say THANK YOU FOR STARTING THIS!!!! I love it!! I have read about the whole thing! I am soo excited for my first Christmas at Disney!! We are going Dec 16-24th

Your Welcome. I am glad I could help you and so many other people out by starting this thread.

 

[lurkyloo]

Does anyone know how I can time my walk around World Showcase so that I can be there when each Santa tells his Christmas story?

Supposedly you can start in Mexico at 11am when World Showcase opens and see the first story, then make your way around clockwise and catch every performance in a row.

Tourguide Mike is not worth the money in my opinion. TouringPlans.com is cheaper and has the croud calender and best parks also. Tourguide Mike is just too expensive. The information on there can all be found on the disboards or in a guide book you can check out at your local library for free. He really should just write a guide book.

I guess it's just personal preference. I'm a member of both TGM and TouringPlans.com and I find TouringPlans' numbers for indicating park crowds are meaningless to me. Plus, they have one number for the whole day, whereas Mike addresses morning and evening separately. However, I agree that much of the rest of the info on Mike's site is replicated by guide books and a few solid weeks spent reading the DIS!

 

[WeatherbySwann]

Oh, geez. I've finally got our plans pinned down and all of our ADR's made, and now I'm finding out that the "live performance" is taped on Friday? I knew the parade taping was Saturday so I avoided the MK that day in my plans (even though it's my birthday, and Walt's birthday, and I wanted to be at the MK that day!). If the dang Jonas Bros are at the MK on Friday, it will be a zoo, right? A tween dream, but an adult nightmare?

Little background: I'm traveling with my husband, and we're taking my (80 y.o.) parents with us, for our first Holiday Season trip to Disneyworld. We only have 2 days with my folks, (the 4th and 5th) and the MK is a must-do, in my book. Will it be manageable on Friday? Has anyone got advice about the "live taping" for me?

I'd say try to go, anyway. Although I don't have any advice about crowds, usually most of the performances take place in front of the Castle with maybe some in Town Square.

 

[siskaren]

Supposedly you can start in Mexico at 11am when World Showcase opens and see the first story, then make your way around clockwise and catch every performance in a row.

I don't know how much the schedule might change from year to year, but in the schedule I have from '07, the first Mexico storyteller comes out at 1:45, while the first Norway one (which is the next country going clockwise) is at 3:10, which wouldn't be too efficient. You'd probably have to do some backtracking to see more in a shorter period of time.

 

[quantumottle]

has anyone ever used Tour Guide Mike?? Is it really worth the money, and do his tips work??

Please keep reading the DIS for a few days before you decide on TGM. The reviews are very mixed, some like it while others hate it. I prefer Ridemax to either of the choices mentioned so far, and Ridemax has far, far less "negative" reviews (not to mention, the only option with a money back gurantee). Either way, do your homework before you hand over your money.

 

[mickeysaver]

The Epcot Santas and Storytellers take a bit of planning and backtracking around the WS if you plan on seeing them all and doing much of anything else in the WS. We spent two days working our way around the WS and backtracking still quite a bit in order to see them all last year.

To see the 2008 schedule, check out Steve Soares' site. http://pages.prodigy.net/stevesoares/christmas.htm It's pretty clear that there is no easy flow pattern to their appearances. I do wish that Disney would smooth out the flow a bit. The schedule didn't vary much from 2003 to 2005 or from 2007 to 2008, but there were minor time shifts, changes, and additional appearance tweakages. This will be our 4th holiday season with the Mouse and I can't wait!

 

[EMom]

If the Osborne Lights begin at dusk, what exactly does that mean? I've watched it on youtube and I know the lights are synchronized with music. But I assumed that part happened once a night, and that for the rest of the evening all you would see is the pretty lights. Am I wrong? Do you get "the whole kit and kaboodle" more than once a night? Of if you want to see the music part of it, do you need to be in place at a certain time, since it only happens once a night?

 

[ScarletFire]

If the Osborne Lights begin at dusk, what exactly does that mean? I've watched it on youtube and I know the lights are synchronized with music. But I assumed that part happened once a night, and that for the rest of the evening all you would see is the pretty lights. Am I wrong? Do you get "the whole kit and kaboodle" more than once a night? Of if you want to see the music part of it, do you need to be in place at a certain time, since it only happens once a night?

We went two years ago; my recollection may not be perfect. It does not happen once a night. The lights synchronized to the music are on replay. You can get there whenever and leave whenever.

It's a festive atmosphere. People are milling around; some with a drink in their hand; many are singing along; lots of fun.

We are retuning this X-mas.

 

[DisneyChristian]

Please keep reading the DIS for a few days before you decide on TGM. The reviews are very mixed, some like it while others hate it. I prefer Ridemax to either of the choices mentioned so far, and Ridemax has far, far less "negative" reviews (not to mention, the only option with a money back gurantee). Either way, do your homework before you hand over your money.

ridemax is great for those who want a detailed plan of each and every ride, attraction, show, break, etc that a group wants to do throughout the day. However, if you rather just wing it with an educated knowledge of what rides are the busiest, what the fastest loaders and slowest loaders are, etc you wouldn't need ridemax either. However, if going during Christmas week or any other super busy time it might be a good idea to use ridemax.

 

[snykymom]

If the Osborne Lights begin at dusk, what exactly does that mean? I've watched it on youtube and I know the lights are synchronized with music. But I assumed that part happened once a night, and that for the rest of the evening all you would see is the pretty lights. Am I wrong? Do you get "the whole kit and kaboodle" more than once a night? Of if you want to see the music part of it, do you need to be in place at a certain time, since it only happens once a night?

It happens once every half hour or so, for about 10-15 minutes. You won't miss it.

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

Any body know where I can find more info about MVMCP? More specifically I am interested to find out what time shows/parades/fireworks happen. We're planning on going the 10th!

Thanks!

 

[pgsahm2]

I can't wait to see it all at Christmastime. We'll be there 12/12 (evening) through 12/17. Are the crowds lighter during the mid part of the month?

 

[FINFAN]

looks like we're going as well. but our trip will be broken up I think...we are booked 12/17-1/1, (but that is to cover us for now)I think we wil be @ WDW 12/18-25 ( depart on the 25th to go see family, then return on the 29th for 3 nights to experience NYE. Our kids are older, 15 and 19 so we are gonna brave it. We did do NYE at SW about 7 years ago and it was jammed there so I Imagine Multiply that x10 for WDW But we are going RIGHT PAST WDW on our return deive home, so what they heck? It's GOT to be better than at home, and Chicago can get crowdwd, but it's COLD...and Florida is so colorful and lush even if it is chilly. SO...all you NYE experts, prepare me!

 

[lurkyloo]

The Epcot Santas and Storytellers take a bit of planning and backtracking around the WS if you plan on seeing them all and doing much of anything else in the WS. We spent two days working our way around the WS and backtracking still quite a bit in order to see them all last year.

Wow! That really is a lot of backtracking - I wonder when that review I read on AllEars was written. It kinda bums me out cuz I really don't want to have to be all commando about seeing every single storyteller. But Steve Soares' site looks like a great resource for at least getting an idea of the times before we get there.

Any body know where I can find more info about MVMCP? More specifically I am interested to find out what time shows/parades/fireworks happen. We're planning on going the 10th!

Thanks!

There are many, but here's a good one:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/holidays/mvmcp.htm

And this is an excellent thread full of tips and tricks for MVMCP:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2236819

 

[Melani]

Apparently the times have changed.
The TA site had different hours than WDW site.
What are the correct hours for Spectro & Wishes Dec. 19 - 24, Pleas?!

 

[RMulieri]

I can't wait to see it all at Christmastime. We'll be there 12/12 (evening) through 12/17. Are the crowds lighter during the mid part of the month?

Usually yes.Until around the 19th or so the crowds are lower-moderate

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

There are many, but here's a good one:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/holidays/mvmcp.htm

And this is an excellent thread full of tips and tricks for MVMCP:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2236819

Thanks!!!

 

[rie'smom]

We're going back on November 19th! Because the MK has the MVMCP, I know it will be decorated for Christmas. What about the other parks and resorts? Thanks!!!

 

[EMom]

There HAS to be a summary of this somewhere.........

What are some of the special decorations in the resorts that would warrant a side trip just to see them? I know the GF has the huge gingerbread house and I believe the Beach Club has the chocolate carousel. We're eating at The Flying Fish, so if The Boardwalk has anything we can easily see it. Same for AKL, since we're eating at Boma. (Do those two have anything to see?)

What other resorts have "wow" decorations? Photos would be greatly appreciated!

 

[RMulieri]

We're going back on November 19th! Because the MK has the MVMCP, I know it will be decorated for Christmas. What about the other parks and resorts? Thanks!!!

Osborne lights at DHS will be up but Alot of the rest will be up or in phases of going up.Nothing is guaranteed to completion till Thanksgiving weekend