First-time holiday season visitor offers mixed critique

[Fargoman2]

Our family of five recently returned from a 9-day stay (Nov. 23- Dec. 2) at the Dolphin. We had been to the World five previous times--each time in the brutal heat of summer. This time, at the encouragement of a fellow Disney fanatic, we opted to take the kids for a new experience--less heat, less crowds and Christmas decorations. What follows is a bulleted break down of my reaction:

* Less heat: In a word, "fabulous." Temps were in the low 80s most every day and only one day did rain play significant havoc. It was far more comfortable than the July-August trips we made.

* Less crowds: Yes and no. During the day we did find the ride wait times to be fairly manageable most of the time. However, I was expecting a more stark contrast in crowd levels between summer and this time. Summer is heavy, call this "fairly busy" at least.
Furthermore, only one park has extra EMH evening hours (only 1 park left open once you reach a certain time) and everybody and their cousin, friend and dog start pouring into that park, largely negating the advantage. Now, we did find some quick "no line" experiences near the very end of closing times--but any notion that you are going to spend the majority of time essentially "walking on" rides would be extremely misleading.

* Christmas decorations/events: In a word, "beautiful." The Osborne dancing lights blew us away! Candlelight Processional--powerful. MVMCP shows and holiday parade and fireworks were spectacular (However, this was a crowded event--even on a late Nov. Tuesday evening.)

Bottom line: I'm so glad we went for this "new" Disney experience. However, call me crazy, but I miss the well-established routine our family had established during our summer visits--early to the parks, mid-day rest/nap, and returning to the parks for a late evening--love the longer hours in the summer. And oddly enough, I miss the regular park music. As a northerner, there was something almost disconcerting about Christmas music in 80-degree weather.

Next trip for us? Probably summer. I bet I'm in the minority with this thinking? Any other holiday first-timers out there share my perspective at all?

 

[The Mick]

Really, I'm torn about it. I like the longer summer hours better too, but to be honest, I like WDW better at night, with its atmosphere. Especially with christmas decorations up.

Yeah, the heat can be oppressive, but you can also go to the water parks and hit rides like Kali in AK. So the summer has that going for it.

If push came to shove and I had to make a choice, I think the more comfortable weather and night-time atmosphere of this time of the year would win out though.

 

[MidgeD79]

fargoman2, I completely agree with - and couldn't have said it better myself.. Summer here we come!

 

[SuperTink]

"As a northerner, there was something almost disconcerting about Christmas music in 80-degree weather."

My mother and I said the same thing.

It was weird.

 

[Swimnoid]

We always go in May/June and Dec. For me its hands down December for my favorite time. We go right beofre christmas though so the parks are open a little later.

Cant wait! 1 more day!

 

[AmyBWV99]

We like the summer, too. We don't mind the crowds at all (our favorite time to go is over the 4th of July). As a felolw northerner, there's just something weird about 80's and Christmas trees.

We're leaving for the World in 11 days for Christmas and NY; our second time.

We went for the F&WF this year for the first time and have decided that it will become part of our routine annual after having such a great time!

 

[Disneyof3]

I've never been in the summer but I would be the same way to get hot weather at Christmas time. It is like Turkey without Gravy up here. I'm right now looking outside my window and the rain is coming down and I'm freaking out because it is warm and Christmas is coming and it isn't the same without the white stuff on the ground. We go in the winter months so we can get away from the cold weather if there is no cold weather up here what is the point of saying to friends, "last week we went swimming in 80 degree weather"!!!!!, and coming back here with a tan in March or February just is the icing on the cake.

 

[spectromagic fan]

On Dec. 3 we returned home from our first trip at this time of year. It was the first trip to WDW for our youngest grandchildren. We had a great time, wonderful weather, and short lines (except the day the parade was being taped)--all were great for the kids' first trip, but it felt strange seeing Christmas decorations in the parks and hotels. I love summer, but don't like long lines. We wish Disney could have a FOTL pass like we get when we stay at Universal, but we realize that Disney has too many rooms for that to work. I missed late park hours, but we found lots to do and we were tired by night. We were there for one of the days the Xmas parade was being taped--BIG crowds that day. In the staging area Santa told me that his skin was leaking (it was in the 80's)--strange to see Santa and his sleigh in hot weather. We stayed in the Poly--the holiday flowers and large Xmas tree were lovely, but I missed the feeling of summer. We don't have specific plans to go at this time of year again, but if the opportunity arises, I'm sure we'll be on our way to FL. Glad to know we're not the only ones to have mixed feelings about our holiday trip. Any trip to Disney is magical!

 

[DOOM1001]

I live in Florida and don't really understand how anybody can prefer going in summer to winter(especially during december, with everything Christmasy).It probably has to do with how it's oppresively hot down here 8 months of the year and when the weather starts to cool off and rain less in the winter, at least for me nothing beats going to Disney.However the point that it's not a whole lot less busy than during summer is very true, anybody who is a regular at Disney can tell you that the time called the "off-season" doesn't really exist much anymore, it's pretty much busy year round with a couple of weeks here and there were crowds are minimal.Events like the Food and Wine Festival and the Flower and Garden Festival and Christmas events that basically start in November create crowds throughout the year!

 

[Karibeth19]

And oddly enough, I miss the regular park music. As a northerner, there was something almost disconcerting about Christmas music in 80-degree weather.

We were there Nov. 26th-Dec.4th for our first "Christmas" Disney trip, and all three of us felt the same way! It just seemed strange to enter Epcot and hear "Sleigh Bells" instead of the usual Epcot music. I really missed all the regular park music!

I did absolutely love the Osborne Lights and the Candlelight Processional! They were both breathtaking.

 

[disnut8]

From looking at the locations of some of the posters, it is easy to see why so many people prefer the summer to the winter at Disney World. If you are used to snow or cold weather when Christmas time comes around, it's not going to be the same going to Florida at that time. It is basically a shock. We lived in Nebraska for 12 years and battled the snow and the ice and the sub zero degree weather. Christmas for us wasn't complete without your nose freezing together when you went outside. You needed hot chocolate, you needed the warmth of the fire.

Then we moved to Georgia and it's quite different. People now are still in shorts. There's no snow. There's no ice. They sell firewood but people think you are crazy for buying it. If it were to snow here, the entire city of Atlanta shuts down. I think we have two snowplows and they go to the airport.

It's the perception that you are used to. Most of the locations get the same summer heat and humidity that Florida gets. Even us in Nebraska got hot, hot weather. So going to Florida in the summer isn't that big of a difference. But going to Florida in the winter is a culture shock.

 

[skier_pete]

"As a northerner, there was something almost disconcerting about Christmas music in 80-degree weather."

My mother and I said the same thing.

It was weird.

You want weird, go to Arizona in December and see all the people stringing lights on their cacti.

SkierPete

 

[Keggy]

I am a local - but I love WDW this time of the year. The weather is fantastic and I love the Christmas decorations. I have only lived in Orlando for 6 years, and I am still not used to not wearing a winter coat on Christmas day, but I love it! The heat here in the summer is crazy hot, what makes it worse is the humidity. Much different than where I am from, in Ohio.

It is good that everyone likes going different times of the year. If everyone liked the same time - it wouldn't be the same in the parks!

 

[Madi100]

Our family of five recently returned from a 9-day stay (Nov. 23- Dec. 2) at the Dolphin. We had been to the World five previous times--each time in the brutal heat of summer. This time, at the encouragement of a fellow Disney fanatic, we opted to take the kids for a new experience--less heat, less crowds and Christmas decorations. What follows is a bulleted break down of my reaction:

* Less heat: In a word, "fabulous." Temps were in the low 80s most every day and only one day did rain play significant havoc. It was far more comfortable than the July-August trips we made.

* Less crowds: Yes and no. During the day we did find the ride wait times to be fairly manageable most of the time. However, I was expecting a more stark contrast in crowd levels between summer and this time. Summer is heavy, call this "fairly busy" at least.
Furthermore, only one park has extra EMH evening hours (only 1 park left open once you reach a certain time) and everybody and their cousin, friend and dog start pouring into that park, largely negating the advantage. Now, we did find some quick "no line" experiences near the very end of closing times--but any notion that you are going to spend the majority of time essentially "walking on" rides would be extremely misleading.

* Christmas decorations/events: In a word, "beautiful." The Osborne dancing lights blew us away! Candlelight Processional--powerful. MVMCP shows and holiday parade and fireworks were spectacular (However, this was a crowded event--even on a late Nov. Tuesday evening.)

Bottom line: I'm so glad we went for this "new" Disney experience. However, call me crazy, but I miss the well-established routine our family had established during our summer visits--early to the parks, mid-day rest/nap, and returning to the parks for a late evening--love the longer hours in the summer. And oddly enough, I miss the regular park music. As a northerner, there was something almost disconcerting about Christmas music in 80-degree weather.

Next trip for us? Probably summer. I bet I'm in the minority with this thinking? Any other holiday first-timers out there share my perspective at all?

We just returned, and that first week of December is what gets me going for Christmas. After a week of that heat, it just doesn't seem like Christmas. I'm not complaining, we had a wonderful, wonderful time. However, back home it's not Christmas time here yet.

 

[Tara8595]

My favorites are May (Flower and Garden) and October (Food & Wine / Halloween Parties). October is a great time to go - not too crowded, food and wine stands - Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween parties, far less heat, most of the hurricanes are done, just a great time to be there.

I think when you go to DisneyWorld in the holiday season, you just have to make it a 'Holiday trip' altogether, because it's true that a lot of the 'normal' things you'd otherwise look forward to are going to be different.

I went 9 days this past august though, and I will never ever do that again. Wall to Wall people all the time and raining like crazy and upper 90s... never again. Bleh.