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

[Lilu86]

Is there a tree swap? If so how does it work? Going on a romantic trip, without our daughter (how horrible are we? lol) but only for 4nights, the first weekend of december. Looking to make the most of our short time and really embrace the holidays. Any hints? Does the grand floridian still play music and roast chestnuts in the evenings? Thanks!

 

[Marblies]

Is there a tree swap? If so how does it work? Going on a romantic trip, without our daughter (how horrible are we? lol) but only for 4nights, the first weekend of december. Looking to make the most of our short time and really embrace the holidays. Any hints? Does the grand floridian still play music and roast chestnuts in the evenings? Thanks!

How lovely! We stopped by the GF last Dec. (2nd week) and had afternoon tea at the Gardenview Tea Room. In the grand foyer they did have a pianist, roasted chestnuts and hot spiced wine tastings. It was so enchanting. The temps that day never made it above 40 with a fierce windchill, so with the tree,decorations and gingerbread, it really felt Christmasy.

 

[berrytwee]

I'll be going to DW this Christmas. So please keep the tips and secrets coming!

 

[berrytwee]

I'm going this Christmas to DW. I know everyone recommends getting to the parks early, but I wan't to know how early? This is my plan:

Dec. 22nd - AK
Dec. 23rd - DHS
Dec. 24th - Epcot
Dec. 25th - MK

I know Christmas Day especially will be packed at MK. I'm from Florida, so I've been there plenty of times around Christmas time. This year I'm planning on getting to all the parks at least at 8am (they open at 9am). Do I need to get to MK at like 7am or something? MK has EMH on the 25th. I've never been there on actual Christmas Day, so please let me know. I'm used to the crowds, but I just don't want to be left out!

 

[hearts8701]

I'm going this Christmas to DW. I know everyone recommends getting to the parks early, but I wan't to know how early? This is my plan:

Dec. 22nd - AK
Dec. 23rd - DHS
Dec. 24th - Epcot
Dec. 25th - MK

I know Christmas Day especially will be packed at MK. I'm planning on getting to all the parks at least at 8am (they open at 9am). Do I need to get to MK at like 7am or something? MK has EMH on the 25th. Please let me know. I'm used to crowds, but I just don't want to be left out!

most crucial that once your in the park do not leave once its closed due to capacity you will have a hard time trying to re-enter the parks

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm going this Christmas to DW. I know everyone recommends getting to the parks early, but I wan't to know how early? This is my plan:

Dec. 22nd - AK
Dec. 23rd - DHS
Dec. 24th - Epcot
Dec. 25th - MK

I know Christmas Day especially will be packed at MK. I'm from Florida, so I've been there plenty of times around Christmas time. This year I'm planning on getting to all the parks at least at 8am (they open at 9am). Do I need to get to MK at like 7am or something? MK has EMH on the 25th. I've never been there on actual Christmas Day, so please let me know. I'm used to the crowds, but I just don't want to be left out!

You need to keep an eye on the schedule. They WILL change as we get closer to December. Expect some (especially MK) to have earlier opening times. I guarantee it will open earlier than 9 on Christmas Day. Many of the days that week will end up with an earlier opening time. Be there before rope drop.

We had an ADR on 12/19 at 8 AM last year that was SUPPOSED to be before park opening. When they changed opening to 8 AM a couple weeks before our trip, we cancelled that ADR. It was more important for us to get things done in that first hour.

My other tip...... if it happens to rain..... still go. Every trip report I've read with bad weather on Christmas Day had the parks pretty empty until it cleared.

 

[boswellnakia]

Sounds like you'll be there the same days as me and we'll be touring the same parks together. Hope you have Merry Christmas and enjoy the holidays. I can't wait for my Candlelight Processional on Christmas Eve and spending all Christmas Day in Magic Kingdom!

I'm going this Christmas to DW. I know everyone recommends getting to the parks early, but I wan't to know how early? This is my plan:

Dec. 22nd - AK
Dec. 23rd - DHS
Dec. 24th - Epcot
Dec. 25th - MK
:

 

[berrytwee]

Sounds like you'll be there the same days as me and we'll be touring the same parks together. Hope you have Merry Christmas and enjoy the holidays. I can't wait for my Candlelight Processional on Christmas Eve and spending all Christmas Day in Magic Kingdom!

That's great! Hope you enjoy your holidays too. I also can't wait for the CP on Christmas Eve and spending Christmas Day at MK. So exciting!

 

[berrytwee]

Does anyone know if offsite guests can go to Chip and Dale's Campfire Sing-A-Long? If so, what would be the cost for admission for offiste?

 

[TwoLittlePrincesses]

We were at MK last year on December 23rd and saw the holiday parade, the holiday fireworks and it snowed on Main street. I just booked a very short trip at the end of November and one of the nights is a MVMCP night. We weren't planning on going to a park that day, and are going to the MK all day the following day. Will it be worth it to buy tickets and go to the party if we saw the parade and fireworks last year?

 

[canadianmom2three]

Thought I was super lucky to get a CP ADR for 8:05 a.m. on Dec. 23rd. The posted hours as of now are 9 a.m. opening, but now reading some earlier posts, looks like the hours might get extended so that the park opens at 8:00 anyway?? We are staying Dec. 18 - 26, is there any day in there that would be LESS likely to have the hours extended that I could book an early a.m. breakfast? I thought it would be really neat to get in before the crowds and get an xmas photo on main street!!

 

[mom2rtk]

Thought I was super lucky to get a CP ADR for 8:05 a.m. on Dec. 23rd. The posted hours as of now are 9 a.m. opening, but now reading some earlier posts, looks like the hours might get extended so that the park opens at 8:00 anyway?? We are staying Dec. 18 - 26, is there any day in there that would be LESS likely to have the hours extended that I could book an early a.m. breakfast? I thought it would be really neat to get in before the crowds and get an xmas photo on main street!!

If empty park photos are what you are after, you might still get in a bit ahead of the crowd. The time they let you in seems to vary. The reason I cancelled our 8 AM ADR when I found out the park opened at 8 instead of 9 was because it was our last park morning and I didn't want to miss the first hour the park was open. We had already had empty park pictures earlier in the week.

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see them extend hours on all of the days you are there. The day we had issue last year was Sunday the 19th.

 

[canadianmom2three]

Hmmmm, I'm not sure that empty park photos would outweigh the missed hour that close to Xmas... will have to wait and see what happens I guess, and how many things we have been able to do already by that time. Thanks!!

 

[tksbaskets]

Thought I was super lucky to get a CP ADR for 8:05 a.m. on Dec. 23rd. The posted hours as of now are 9 a.m. opening, but now reading some earlier posts, looks like the hours might get extended so that the park opens at 8:00 anyway?? We are staying Dec. 18 - 26, is there any day in there that would be LESS likely to have the hours extended that I could book an early a.m. breakfast? I thought it would be really neat to get in before the crowds and get an xmas photo on main street!!

We generally vacation 12/26-1/2. Magic Kingdom last year had extra magic morning every day that week. The other parks rotated days.


Top row is extra magic morning...bottom row is late night extra hours. Hope this helps!

 

[TinkerChelle]

Great thread! Lots of good info. Anyone know if the Holiday Storytellers in Epcot have a schedule and if so where can I found it? TIA!

 

[DisGal520]

Great thread! Lots of good info. Anyone know if the Holiday Storytellers in Epcot have a schedule and if so where can I found it? TIA!

YES - they have schedules and you can pick that up on the scheduled activities flyer when you enter the park

 

[staceyj2]

Love his thread. So much great info! We went in mid December for short 3 day trip in 2008. We loved it but didn't get to do much because it wasn't enough time. This year we are going for an entire week. Looking forward to all the things we missed the first time.

 

[berrytwee]

On the DHS calendar on DW's website it says that on Dec. 23rd Fantasmic! will only be shown at 6:30pm. Is there any chance that they might add another showing? It just seems odd to me that during the week of Christmas Fantasmic! is only being shown once a night. What do you all think?

 

[berrytwee]

I'm planning on visiting Epcot this Christmas Eve. I've heard that the 5:00pm showing of CP isn't as nice as the later showings because the sun hasn't set yet. So my question is, would I be able to see the 6:45pm CP and still have time to get a spot at the Mexico Cantina to watch Illuminations at 9:30pm (I really love that spot)? Or should I just be safe and watch the 5:00pm CP?

 

[BDL]

I'm planning on visiting Epcot this Christmas Eve. I've heard that the 5:00pm showing of CP isn't as nice as the later showings because the sun hasn't set yet. So my question is, would I be able to see the 6:45pm CP and still have time to get a spot at the Mexico Cantina to watch Illuminations at 9:30pm (I really love that spot)? Or should I just be safe and watch the 5:00pm CP?

It all depends on what you mean by "get a spot"?

Physically, you should be able to make the location with the 6:45 show, no problem. We saw the late show last year. And even though we had to hustle, we still made it to the opposite side of the lagoon to see Illuminations.

If you mean, so you can get front row, I wouldn't know. But you may want to try to put in for a late ADR at La Hacienda de San Angel to at least lock in the locale.