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

[Disney Mommy 3]

happydog..we do have park hoppers..we use them every year!! We do our park-pick-of-the-day, then go over to Epcot and eat in a different country! I will probably do this again this year...just knowing that one night will probably be the Christmas Party. I guess if my days and his just don't jive, I'll have to switch stuff around. That is really all I can do! Make a plan the best I can, and change if I have to. I did look at Dec park hours and worked off that...the only drawback is that on the TGM site, and here too, I have read that Disney is really changing it up this year for December!!! Diff EMH days and shows like Fantasmic! are different. I know most parks opening and closings will probably be the same...just curious about those EMH mornings!! I really want to avoid them!!! Well, we don't have tooooo long left to agonize! At least it is passing the time!! Best wishes everyone!! Hope you get the ADRs you want when your turn gets here!!

 

[WeatherbySwann]

2. are the princesses dressed in anything special in december and if so is it all the time or just during MVMCP?

I think some of them wear gloves, scarves, or small capes, but I'm not sure if that's just for MVMCP. As LOVEMY3KIDDOS said, Belle has a red Christmas dress, and I think Jasmine wears a jacket.

what time do they light the castle..we will be there the second week of dec

I think it's at 5:45pm, unless they change it this year.

 

[ado121]

i have small children...at that time they will be 6,4, 2 and 2 weeks shy of 1 years old....my question is...will they really get anything out of the processional? meaning...if they cry and talk out loud will they be stared at....

we went to church for christmas eve mass 1 year when kids were 4 and 2 and well, the oldest yelled at the top of her lungs, "i need to talk..., don't tell me to shh"

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

i have small children...at that time they will be 6,4, 2 and 2 weeks shy of 1 years old....my question is...will they really get anything out of the processional? meaning...if they cry and talk out loud will they be stared at....

we went to church for christmas eve mass 1 year when kids were 4 and 2 and well, the oldest yelled at the top of her lungs, "i need to talk..., don't tell me to shh"

that is sooooo funny!! I think we all have one like that...what they have to say is very important and they do NOT want to forget!!! Ha! I think maybe--if it were me----I wouldn't do it this year. Even if they are quiet...it's a long time and you might not enjoy it for worrying about them distracting others. That's one reason we haven't done it before. Last time we were there for Christmas, my youngest was 3. I knew she would hate waiting that long, so we just skipped it.

 

[exwdwcm]

BTW- whoever asked about the characters- you can also find the princes sometimes in Epcot- i've seen Beast wtih Belle in France, Aladdin with Jasmine in Morrocco. I know Jasmine wears a cape in the cold.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh I just read this entire thread and I am now bursting with excitment and swimming with all the notes and tips that this thread contains!

I too am interested in the sleigh ride -- anyone have any info, pics?

I am COMPLETELY worried about ADRs.... WHY oh WHY didn't they start the 180 window back August 27th and not October ??!! Anyone else worried? Strategies?

We are at the BCV Dec 20 - 27... I am so excited to go and see everything that is Christmas -- We are bringing a tree, too We were at WDW in July, the 4th to be exact, and I figure if we can survive that, we can survive anything!!!! HO HO HO...

Someone was asking about TGM... after subscribing for our July trip he made a believer out of me! I am signing up again for sure.

Can't wait to stay up with this thread all the way to Christmas!!!

we've been planning for 2 years and have based our current plan on last year's Dec hours. i don't expect a ton of changes, but you never know this year, considering all the last minute changes they have made, fewer fantasmics etc. We will see- i am hoping hours are out first weke of sept as we make our ADRs on 9/11. and i have 12 meals to book (we are there 10 days and doing a few meals out of pocket like HDD and special dinners for a few couples within our group separate). i am just interested to see which days are EMH as we like to do the morning EMH.

we have tickets already for the 12/15 party. We are also anxiously awaiting the invite for the DIS/Dreams Unlimited party after hours at toy story mania/pixar place on 12/12 (for DU customers and then open registration for others will come later).

Grumpy92- I have asked this question several times and have gotten different responses. I know some people do not notice the smell of cinnamon but, I am allergic to cinnamon. I get a migraine. Do you recall anywhere besides the resorts with the gingerbread houses that you noticed the smell of cinnamon?


.

my mother has bad asthma and can't wear perfume, smell candles or be around heavy smells like pot pourri- walking through craft fairs with those heavy smells always sets her off coughing. as for cinnamon- besides some of the displays like at the GF or other resorts, i can't think of a ton. I would avoid the christmas store at DTD, just in case they have some in there for the holiday. I would try and perhaps calls disney guest services and ask- they are always willing to help out with special allergies, diets etc. Maybe they can be more specific on where to avoid.

i have small children...at that time they will be 6,4, 2 and 2 weeks shy of 1 years old....my question is...will they really get anything out of the processional? meaning...if they cry and talk out loud will they be stared at....

we went to church for christmas eve mass 1 year when kids were 4 and 2 and well, the oldest yelled at the top of her lungs, "i need to talk..., don't tell me to shh"

good question- i did the CP about 10 years ago and not again since. Now that i have a toddler, i don't think we will go. I just worry he would fidget too much and interrupt not only others, but my enjoyment as well. Unless he is asleep, but that's no guarantee- I can't even get him to watch a cartoon more than 5 minutes, so i dno't see the CP happening. We might walk by and watch a few minutes from the very back without going in. You can se eand hear some if you just are back in the american adventure area in general. I am sure there are tons of kiddos in there, so i wouldn't worry too much about the kids, but i know some parents are more paranoid than others etc. I know i wouldn't enjoy myself having to worry about entertaining my little one, so we will pass until he is bigger. it is truly beautiful though!!!!

 

[Echo queen]

Main street bakery MK has cinnamon rolls.

 

[TiggerAllie]

Does anyone know what times in the past the parks have closed for capacity during the Xmas-NY week? I'm wondering what time we should plan to get to MK on Dec 30 and Epcot on Dec 31... TIA!

 

[WeatherbySwann]

Does anyone know what times in the past the parks have closed for capacity during the Xmas-NY week? I'm wondering what time we should plan to get to MK on Dec 30 and Epcot on Dec 31... TIA!

I would get there at park opening, just to be safe.

 

[TBGOES2DISNEY]

Is anybody else stressing about what the crowds will be like? I'm going the first week of December and part of the second week. I've heard so many different opinions about what the crowds and wait times are going to be like. I don't really know what it's going to be like, esp. with different levels of free dining adding to the crowds.

The first time I went to DW was in Sep 2006 after Labor Day. Wait times were walk on a lot or around 20 minutes. The big headliners might have occasionally got to 50 minutes, but not often. We only used fastpass a few times and sometimes fastpass wasn't even open!

Our next trip was at the end of January 2008. The wait times were a little longer on some rides. If I remember right, maybe 30 minutes average, 60-90 on most headliners at peak times. We used fastpass a lot and didn't have to wait much. There were a lot of crowds in the parks - at least compared to my first trip - but there were a lot of huge Brazilian tour groups.

Last trip was the end of September 2008. I thought it was a lot more crowded than our 2006 trip. The park crowds were smaller than in January, but I'd say the wait times were probably a little longer than the January trip. Headliners probably averaged 60-90 at peaks, but occasionally 120. (Going by memory here again.) Still, with fastpass, it was great.

So, in December, if the crowds are a little busy, and the wait times get up to 60-90 minutes on headliners, with fastpass, I figure I can handle it. But if it's wall to wall people and all the rides are at least 60 minutes, I may just freak out a little. I'd be disappointed. I'm trying to prepare myself for worst case scenario, but I keep hoping that it's going to be okay.

YIKES! (Oh, I just noticed - 100 days till vacation! )

 

[jmjwillis]

Congratulations on your 100 day mark! We were also there in January 2008 and have not-so-fond memories of the Brazilian tour groups. Navigating around their flags was a nightmare!

 

[jmjwillis]

Is anybody else stressing about what the crowds will be like? I'm going the first week of December and part of the second week. I've heard so many different opinions about what the crowds and wait times are going to be like. I don't really know what it's going to be like, esp. with different levels of free dining adding to the crowds.

The first time I went to DW was in Sep 2006 after Labor Day. Wait times were walk on a lot or around 20 minutes. The big headliners might have occasionally got to 50 minutes, but not often. We only used fastpass a few times and sometimes fastpass wasn't even open!

Our next trip was at the end of January 2008. The wait times were a little longer on some rides. If I remember right, maybe 30 minutes average, 60-90 on most headliners at peak times. We used fastpass a lot and didn't have to wait much. There were a lot of crowds in the parks - at least compared to my first trip - but there were a lot of huge Brazilian tour groups.

Last trip was the end of September 2008. I thought it was a lot more crowded than our 2006 trip. The park crowds were smaller than in January, but I'd say the wait times were probably a little longer than the January trip. Headliners probably averaged 60-90 at peaks, but occasionally 120. (Going by memory here again.) Still, with fastpass, it was great.

So, in December, if the crowds are a little busy, and the wait times get up to 60-90 minutes on headliners, with fastpass, I figure I can handle it. But if it's wall to wall people and all the rides are at least 60 minutes, I may just freak out a little. I'd be disappointed. I'm trying to prepare myself for worst case scenario, but I keep hoping that it's going to be okay.

YIKES! (Oh, I just noticed - 100 days till vacation! )

Congratulations on your 100 day mark! We were also there in January 2008 and have not-so-fond memories of the Brazilian tour groups. Navigating around their flags was a nightmare!

 

[Happydog]

In order to see them you would have to become a paid member of his site. One of the stipulations of joining is that his tips cannot be posted on a public forum.

Hi, yes of course that is known by everyone who does subscribe to his site, but thanks for the reminder-- what I WAS going to to do is give the LOCATION of the "article" -- since I am sure you know the one thing about TGM is that it can get you a bit disoriented.. or at least it does that to me -- not wanting to presume. Thanks!

 

[Happydog]

Happydog,

Can you post the link to TGM's last years tips? Thanks!

Hi -- if you go on his site to "December 09" it will suggest that you go back and read the article -- I have not seen the park hours, only his "tips" article from last year, but I am sure the old hours are there. The EMH mornings are listed on the DISboard page, too... looks like there were EMH every day and more than one park a day...

Hope that helps -- happy planning.

 

[Scooby3x1y]

Maybe the lack of economy will help the crowds?

 

[RMulieri]

Maybe the lack of economy will help the crowds?

Doubtful.Disney has offered pretty good incentives all year to combat the economy and the crowds have been pretty normal.

 

[RMulieri]

Does anyone know what times in the past the parks have closed for capacity during the Xmas-NY week? I'm wondering what time we should plan to get to MK on Dec 30 and Epcot on Dec 31... TIA!

It varies.If being in MK is important to you on those days, get there for rope drop.Some years MK has closed as early as 10am.Then reopened then closed again.Capacity closures can go back and forth .

 

[resq343]

great thread!

 

[Puget Peach]

I'll be going right after Thanksgiving, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed I can see as much as possible in a 3 1/2 day trip...eeek!

Anyway... I've heard there is a life size gingerbread house in the Grand Floridian.

There is indeed a lifesize gingerbread house and you can eat the roof! Well, the shingles, anyway. The inside is actually a little gift shop and you can buy a roof shingle. One side is coated with chocolate! YUM!

 

[Puget Peach]

We'll be there from the 4th to the 8th. I've heard you need tickets for this. How would you get them?

Thanks,
Colleen

The "parade" may not be what you expect. They do one float at a time, with production crews, etc. filming each one. It is not a parade where you see it in half an hour and you're done. In addition, it really mucks up Main Street traffic. I avoided the Magic Kingdom the days (yes, two actually) they were doing the filming. It is a much more fun parade to watch when the filming is not taking place.

 

[Puget Peach]

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!

I visited with my BFF from Chicago in December 2007 also. We were there December 2nd through the 15th. That year was an anomaly in that November had 5 Thursdays and the Thanksgiving crowds were all safely home before we traveled. I'm already planning my trip in 2012 when that happens again! It was like an extra week of holiday magic! The weather was absolutely gorgeous the entire two weeks - days in the high 70's/low 80's and nights in the 60's and not a drop of rain until our departure day. BUT I have been at the same time where it was VERY windy and in the 40's. December right after Thanksgiving is always my WDW time of choice.