Experienced Christmas Week Disney Guests - favorite tips?

[j_lehr]

Thought it would be great if all the experienced Christmas week guests to share their favorite tips for beating the crowds and favorite show/parade/firework viewing areas for us 1st timers

My family of 3 will be there Dec 23 (well actually we arrive very very late on 12/22 - just in time to go to bed) to Dec 27. I am a bit nervous although these boards and TGM makes me feel somewhat better. I have been to WDW twice before but never during a peak time.

Thanks so much!
Jessica

 

[vsimeone]

I don't have any really good tips other than EARLY EARLY and EARLIER! Make a list of your "MUSTS" for the trip and get up as early as possible each day. When the parks start getting crowded, hang out either other places (like DTD or the resorts) or just people watch in the parks.

We have been several times at Christmas and this is how we work our trip. If we want to see a parade or fireworks, we stake out a spot EARLY and people watch, take turns shopping, get a bite to eat or relax.

We also take the opportunity to do the less popular attractions where the lines are shorter - WEDway (Tomorrowland Transit Authority) CoP and others.

Did I mention EARLY? Have a wonderful time!!!

 

[phisigprincess]

If you want to ride something during an afternoon parade, make SURE that you're in that "land" before the parade starts. We tried to get from Liberty Square to Frontierland during the afternoon parade and the crowd was literally at a standstill. We were forced to stay and watch the whole parade. Plan around the parades if you don't want to watch them.

 

[StephSalyer]

As you probably already know, you are going at the busiest time of the year. I would bring a lot of "Fairy Dust" and "Holiday Spirit". Disney World is beautiful this time of year and even more magical. When we go this time of year we just plan on enjoying the ambiance of the parks and if we get to ride our favorite things it is a bonus.

You may want to invest in Tour Guide Mike or ***************** to help you come up with a strategy. I personally use ***************** and it has always worked out great for me. We had a family reunion at Disny the week of 4th of July and our group of 18 got to ride everything we wanted to using the plan.

Have a great trip and Merry Christmas!

 

[disnut8]

Hate to say this but two years ago, we avoided Magic Kingdom all together even though we had a 6-1/2 year old. She didn't care, she sucked the life out of the other three parks. She's been to Magic Kingdom once before and it didn't thrill her so she didn't mind. Epcot is her favorite park so we spent a lot of time there.

 

[Scratch42]

Have your ADR's in place!

And go with the flow!

Have Plan A and a Plan B and a Plan C in place!


j

 

[dvc guy]

We have been to WDW over Christmas week 8 times and are headed back for our 9th trip.

You have been given perfect advise from OP's.
Commit the comments to memory and you should be golden. Have a blast

 

[suzannedid]

bump bump

 

[crazy4dizney]

I see you have a 13 yr.old so, if you would like to go to MK on X-mas day . My suggestion is to go late . We did and plan to this year it was great ..We did all the rides we wanted without a long wait. Just our experience..

 

[FormrCastMbr]

I see you have a 13 yr.old so, if you would like to go to MK on X-mas day . My suggestion is to go late . We did and plan to this year it was great ..We did all the rides we wanted without a long wait. Just our experience..

About how late did you go? TIA!!!

 

[crazy4dizney]

About how late did you go? TIA!!!

After 9:00 pm Untill closing 12:00 midnight

 

[HMHunters]

Best advice - get to the parks early!!!! Do that to and get your "must-dos" out of the way. Then you can stress less about the lines later in the day.

My family really enjoyed the Candlelight Processional at Epcot. We did it once without the dinner package and once with.

Have a great time and enjoy the holiday spirit!

 

[j_lehr]

As you probably already know, you are going at the busiest time of the year. I would bring a lot of "Fairy Dust" and "Holiday Spirit". Disney World is beautiful this time of year and even more magical. When we go this time of year we just plan on enjoying the ambiance of the parks and if we get to ride our favorite things it is a bonus.

You may want to invest in Tour Guide Mike or ***************** to help you come up with a strategy. I personally use ***************** and it has always worked out great for me. We had a family reunion at Disny the week of 4th of July and our group of 18 got to ride everything we wanted to using the plan.

Have a great trip and Merry Christmas!

I do have TGM but I am wonder what ***************** means?

Thanks for all the great tips!

 

[disneyfan19712006]

After 9:00 pm Untill closing 12:00 midnight

I believe this year is EMH evening which would make a close time of 3 AM. That's our plan arrive after dinner and then do whatever we can.

 

[ransom]

I do have TGM but I am wonder what ***************** means?

Thanks for all the great tips!

Touring Plans Dot Com. If you type it out like you would in your browser, it's considered a "bad word" here on the DIS (which is sponsored by competitor Tour Guide Mike). That's why it gets asterisk'd out.

 

[tink576]

bump!

 

[j_lehr]

Touring Plans Dot Com. If you type it out like you would in your browser, it's considered a "bad word" here on the DIS (which is sponsored by competitor Tour Guide Mike). That's why it gets asterisk'd out.

That's funny!!