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

[GJF323]

The Candlelight Processional is wonderful - and there is a CD of the music. Not sure if they're more widely available now, but when I bought mine some years ago I only found it in the Imagination gift shop of all places. Maybe they're better about it now. Has Phylicia Rashad as narrator.

 

[westonkamom]

I'm going when it's supposed to be lighter crowds so we're going to chance it and wait in line.

I just wanted to mention that we went last year from Dec.11-20 and the stand-by line for CP was over 2 hours...poor people looked miserable waiting in that line. Luckily we just stood right outside and could hear everything, but vision was obstructed. It really was beautiful. Some of the people that didn't get seats in the earlier show continued to wait in line for the later one...totally crazy! I made sure and booked the CP package b/c there's no way my kids or worse, my husband would ever wait in that line!!

I hope you don't have to wait too long if you're going to just chance it. Epcot is packed on CP nights in December.

 

[TCGatorSJU]

Last Year, My wife and I celebrated out first anniversary with a trip from December 10 to the 15. It is my all time favorite Disney Trip. So much so that last week, I told my wife we were going again. (She didn't fight me much) Here were some of the hi-lites for me, which hopefully helps other people.

Magic Kingdom - We went to MVMCP on a night in the middle of the week. The first parade was almost twice as crowded as the second parade. It was funny bc I thought we would take the time to ride all the rides with the extra 5 hours and I think we rode 1 ride the entire time. The character meet and greets are a lot of fun but expect to wait in line. We waited 30 minutes for 8 dwarfs, and that was at 11 PM. Still worth the money in my opinion.

Epcot - My one regret is that we didn't get to hear all the storytellers, and we spent 3 half days there. This year it will be a priority. My favorite storyteller was Father Christmas in United Kingdom. In regards to the CP. Our first night was a Friday night, and it was packed. Whoppie Goldberg was doing the procession, and there were really long lines. We didn't go that night but the shortest lines looked to be during the 3rd show. We went back on a Monday night and this time it was a lot less crowded. We saw Steven Curtis Chapman, who I'm sorry to see isn't doing it this year. We saw the 2nd show and there were seats left during it, for the 3rd show, we walked up 2 minutes before and the place was maybe 2/3rd filled. Definetly try and go during the week if possible. Finally, the ending to Illuminations is incredible.

Hollywood - The lightshow is Fantastic. Enough said. I could spend 3 hours just listening there. Grab a drink at the Holiday drink cart and enjoy.

Other fun things - DTD is a madhouse, esp in the morning. It seems like people go there first before a park.

Try and visit as many of the Deluxe Hotels as possible to see the decorations. Our favorite was Wilderness Lodge with GF a close 2nd. Most have cool trees or Gingerbread Houses.

Also, as soon people said, last year it was cold, like winter coat cold. It was like we never left Philly. However, I will say, at things like MVMCP, it made it feel more like Christmas. Maybe thats the NorthEast in me talking. I do hope this December is a little warmer.

 

[wildelady]

When can you book the tickets for MVMCP, we are going for xmas 2012.

 

[MinnieLovesMickey]

When can you book the tickets for MVMCP, we are going for xmas 2012.

Historically, tickets go on sale May 1..

 

[wildelady]

Historically, tickets go on sale May 1..

Many thanks, we are trying to keep the whole trip a secret from ds who will be 8, it will be his first trip to wdw

 

[AMG373]

I just wanted to mention that we went last year from Dec.11-20 and the stand-by line for CP was over 2 hours...poor people looked miserable waiting in that line. Luckily we just stood right outside and could hear everything, but vision was obstructed. It really was beautiful. .

Hi there, out of curiousity can I ask if you could see the narrator clearly? I have dinner package for CP on Sat Dec 3rd (now Geena Davis) so will get to see the whole show then, but I see that Edward James Olmos is the narrator a few days later and would like to see him in the flesh (Battlestar Galactica fan ) . I don't want to wait for hours having already seen CP a few days earlier, but if I thought I could just see him from standing outside I would make the effort to be in Epcot during one of his shows. Thanks.

 

[AMG373]

Historically, tickets go on sale May 1..

Delete - apologies ignore, I had replied with date of sale of CP package not MCMCP. May 1st is correct for MVMCP

 

[Pinkocto]

Thanks so much for the CP advice. We'll be there Dec. 9-12, I'm going to shoot for the last showing on the 10th. Really want to see Neil Patrick Harris. So looking forward to this trip

 

[McKelly]

Any rumor of the Lights of Winter returning to Epcot? I thought I recall reading that Disney didn't put them up one year because they were upgrading the lights to be more energy efficient and they would return at some point....

I am sure I didn't dream that up, anybody know if the lights will be back?

 

[mom2rtk]

Any rumor of the Lights of Winter returning to Epcot? I thought I recall reading that Disney didn't put them up one year because they were upgrading the lights to be more energy efficient and they would return at some point....

I am sure I didn't dream that up, anybody know if the lights will be back?

No, they were discontinued because htey were obsolete. They didn't say they were actually upgrading them.

 

[vanillarum]

kellieb71, that is a FANTASTIC fireworks shot ! Just found this thread. We will be there Dec 3-10, and it is our first NON August trip ! We (our family) are all so jealous of our DS as he is doing an internship at WDW August thru Jan. If I could only turn back time !!

 

[eculmone]

This will be our first time doing MVMCP. We'll be down Nov.26-30th Staying at GF to see the world with the holiday decorations:
Sat - Nov. 26th AK - Christmas Decor and check out AKL at night
Sun - Nov. 27th HS - OFL hopefully check out BW and BC decor?
Mon - Nov. 28th Epcot - Christmas around the world and hopefully CP but not waiting 2 hours in a line up. If we get in, we get in, if not... Good excuse to go again? LOL

Tues - MVMCP so checking out WL, Contemporary decorations in the a.m. Chef Mickey's for Brunch; then head back to resort to relax swim (weather?) and eat chestnuts in the lobby? Is it true? I love roasted chestnuts - yum

Wed - Breakfast at Kona Cafe - TONGA TOAST and then boo hoo time to board the magical express back home

I LOVE DISNEY!!!

 

[PopArtGal]

We are planning on going Christmas 2012. We were there once in early December but this time we'd be there December 22 to January 1. Any recommendation for Christmas eve and Christmas day?

 

[PopArtGal]

By the way. Are you guys bringing your winter coats on the plane? Or using a suitcase for them?

 

[mom2rtk]

By the way. Are you guys bringing your winter coats on the plane? Or using a suitcase for them?

Because of the prediction for bitter cold right before our trip last year, I did throw our winter coats in the suitcases. However, I never could bring myself to wear my winter coat to the parks. I just couldn't face having all our photopass pictures with me looking like I was ready to run the kids to school or practice back home.

We opted instead to go with layers. I had about 5 layers of shirts, long johns, and 2 fleece jackets with gloves, scarf and hat. The best secret weapon was the stash of chemical handwarmers I brought along. They got us through.

Having faced and stared down the cold monster........ I'm leaving the winter coat home this year!

 

[gonecrusin]

Last years trip was so cold except for the last day and it was mid-70's. We are hooked now after 4 years. It just doesn't seem like the holidays until we come home. This year is extra special because our older DD and DSIL will be with us for their first Christmas visit. Can't wait!!! Still waiting to see who the guess celeb is going to be for 12/16-12/19.

 

[PopArtGal]

I think I remember seeing a schedule for santa and carolers on Christmas day at POR?

 

[actualxash]

one thing i'm really looking forward to are seeing the resorts this christmas. I know the deluxe resorts are the best, we're staying at WL and i'm already planning on taking a boat to MK and then the monorail to Contemporary, poly, and floridian, and then the ttc to get the monorail to epcot so we can see boardwalk, YC, and BC. i was wondering if it would be worth it to see the swan and dolphin. also, we are planning on going to AKL, but should i make sure to go to kidani village and jambo house? also what about the moderates, values, and vacation club villas? my favorite resort is saratoga springs, but i have heard nothing about their decorations. i have heard that caribbean beach has a nice tree, as well as PO having good decorations. I'm going with my mom, who has seen very few of these resorts, so even if they aren't extravagant lifesized gingerbread houses, even through decorations would be nice. we won't have a car though so will it be hard to get around these resorts? do you think it would be only worth it to see the monorail and epcot hotels?

 

[Pinkocto]

I'm going to try to see as many of the hotels as I can if not all of them. Each has a different theming and tree, but I'm thinking if we don't get them all in there's always next year. We also haven't actually laid eyes on all of the resorts so it will be nice to just see them in real life. We won't have a car either, but I don't think it will be hard to get to them. Of course do the monorail resorts as a group, and the Epcot ones as a group. Then I'll kind of use Hollywood Studios as a hub to see the ones close by. Caribbean Beach, POR, and Coronado Springs might be tough to get to since I think they have dedicated buses but if you go to one resort, grab a bus to the closest park, then get a bus to another resort it shouldn't be too bad. SSR and OKW can be reached by boat from DTD.

Does this make sense to those who have done it before?