First Time Christmas Goer! Tips/Suggestions?

[NoMoneyThanks2Disney]

Hello!

My mother and I are considering going to WDW in December, and we've never been. I would love any suggestions about when in December to go and what fun activities/food/experiences I should book. We've been to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, and absolutely loved it. Is Christmas time just as good? I would really appreciate any and all feedback!

 

[DVCkidsMOM]

We are going for the first time during Christmas also. Veteran WDW travellers, but never late December. If our schedule didn't dictate going when school was out, we would go earlier in December when it is less crowded but still decorated with Christmas events. (We have been in the first two weeks of December and the only glitch is Pop Warner and children traveling in packs that, per my definition, aren't well chaperoned. Either avoid those dates or stay far away from value resorts.) We would also do MVMCP if we weren't arriving after the last one of this year. If you haven't seen the Candlelight Processional in Epcot, I'd recommend that. I also like the holiday story tellers in each "country" at Epcot. The decorations are just beautiful any time after Tgiving to New Years. If you do go and want to eat in restaurants, make your ADRs ASAP since many are on "free dining" making ADRs harder to get. Enjoy.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

I have been twice at Christmas. One time was great! You could get around, do all the things you wanted, we did Mickey's Christmas Party, it was all beautiful Next time, super crowded. Still fun, though. There's just something magical about it snowing on Main Street, and don't forget the Osborne Lights at Hollywood Studios! I have also been the first week of December, and it was great as well. Still get the Christmas spirit with all the decorations. Best thing I can tell you is get your dining reservations asap. There is quite a bit still available for a party of two, but after that it gets tougher. One thing we really enjoyed was going to all the resorts and checking out their decorations. They were fabulous. While Grand Floridian was elegant, I loved the charm of Wilderness lodge. Have a seat in front of the large roaring fireplace and have a moment. We have been so much we have done pretty much everything many times. So we enjoyed touring the places we'd never been, such as some of the the resorts.

 

[NoMoneyThanks2Disney]

Thank you both so much. It snows on Main Street?! I had no idea.

What are the Osborne Lights at Hollywood Studios? What is the Candlelight Processional at Epcot? Are they things we need a special ticket for? What does the Christmas Party have that's not there during the regular Christmas season? Is it like with the Halloween Party, where there are special treats, shows, pins, etc?

 

[Gibbs]

It does snow! And it is a magical sight. I think everyone should experience Disney at Christmas time at least once.

 

[ses1230]

Thank you both so much. It snows on Main Street?! I had no idea.

1. What are the Osborne Lights at Hollywood Studios?

2. What is the Candlelight Processional at Epcot?

3. Are they things we need a special ticket for?

4. What does the Christmas Party have that's not there during the regular Christmas season? Is it like with the Halloween Party, where there are special treats, shows, pins, etc?

1. Huge Christmas light show on the Streets of America. Look up a YouTube video - it's fun.

2. A celebrity narrator tells the traditional Christmas story with a mass choir and orchestra, held in the American Garden Theater. Absolutely incredible.

3. No, just park entry. There are lunch and dinner meal packages offered for the CP. You get a meal, voucher that lets you into the theater before the standby line, and access to a special Illuminations viewing area. I highly recommend the package. For especially popular narrators the SB line can be hours long.

4. Basically yes. Special parade and fireworks, dance parties, cookies and cocoa, snow on Main St.

 

[tink too]

It snows on Main Street?! I had no idea.

Yes, snow on Main Street!

What are the Osborne Lights at Hollywood Studios?.

This is a display that Disney purchased from the Osborne family many years ago and I believe they have added to it over time. It is amazing - and included in the cost of your regular ticket.

What is the Candlelight Processional at Epcot?

There is a guest narrator of the Christmas story, a massed choir and orchestra and is truly a fabulous way to get into the Christmas spirit. You can book a "package" which included a meal and a guaranteed seat in a reserved area of the theatre if you wish (which obviously comes at a cost) but you can join the stand-by line for the shows if you wish. However, they can be very long so if this is something you really want to do, I recommend booking a package.

What does the Christmas Party have that's not there during the regular Christmas season? Is it like with the Halloween Party, where there are special treats, shows, pins, etc.

It's been 10 years since we attended MVMCP, but it is a hard ticket event like MNSSHP at Halloween. There will be special merchandise like t-shirts, pins, etc and special character appearances. For example, we saw all 7 dwarves together in 1 photo location. This is something you would need to buy a separate ticket for.

Hope this helps, but for more information on these offerings, try clicking the "Events" tab on the blue bar at the top of the page here, and that should provide more details on things available during the holiday season.

 

[NoMoneyThanks2Disney]

You guys are fantastic! Thank you so much for the scoop! I'm super excited now!!!!! I hope we get to go.