First time over Christmas

[J. Galt]

We travel to Disney every few years with my extended family. Because my nephew is off to college now, Christmas break is our best time to travel together so we are biting the bullet and heading to WDW over Christmas this year. We will be there over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but home before New Year's Eve. I'm looking for all of your "not to be missed" over Christmastime activities... both large and small. Also... what to do on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning? My mom would really like to see the Candlelight Processional on Christmas Eve, and we have a villa at the Beach Club so we have a place to gather Christmas morning. Any other ideas? My youngest really isn't too keen on this plan (she really wants to be home with "our traditions") so I want to do some things to make this extra special.

I should say that we are a party of 11, grandparents to kids (boys and girls), ranging in age from 80's to 11.

Thank you for any help you can give the newbie!

 

[margot31]

Resort Hopping. So cool to look at all the deluxe particularly and how they are decorated.

 

[sharonabe]

If you're going to do CP on Christmas Eve, you WILL need to do a CP package with a meal somewhere that day. With 11 of you, you need to be looking daily, and probably several times a day, for when those packages open up for booking. Look at last year's list to get an idea of two or three restaurants that will be okay for all of you, so you have options when you go to call.

As to DD's desire for some tradition, think about what you can take from home to make that a part of this special year. Since you have the villa, could you even do a traditional meal "at home" instead of in the parks that day? Maybe not even go into the parks on Christmas Day. I don't know, but I would do what I could to make at least a little bit of normal happen for her.

 

[glassslippergirl]

For traditions, I would consider putting up a tree in the villa. If you have a car, just buy a small one before you leave and bring some ornaments. I think you can also order one from WDW that will be delivered right to your room, or order from Amazon. You could decorate the tree when you arrive and open presents around it on Christmas Eve or morning (whenever you would at home).

You can't do better than the CP on Christmas Eve. What pageantry! As PP said, get the dining package as soon as it comes available, and enjoy a wonderful meal on Christmas Eve. Make sure you see the holiday storytellers at Epcot. The one in Norway is my favorite. If carols are part of your tradition (or you just wnat to hear some amazing carols), check out the Voices of Liberty in the America pavillion and the Dapper Dans on main Street. Both do beautiful holiday shows.

You could order Christmas dinner from Publix. You would have to pick it up on Christmas Eve and heat it up on Christmas day, but that's possible with the kitchen in a villa. And Publix deli meals are really good. Their pumpkin pie is a good as anything you can make at home. Maybe do that for late lunch/ early dinner, and then go to a park in the evening. Perhaps cap off Christmas with a dessert party and some fireworks.

Also, you must visit the Grand Floridian and see the life-sized gingerbread house. Buy some shingles. They are awesome!

More likely than not, your daughter who is reluctant will forget all about wanting the traditional Christmas once she gets there and starts having fun. Have a nice trip!

 

[J. Galt]

Ooh...great tips so far! Thank you! I think the CP package will be a must. Do they traditionally become available before the ADR ressie window opens? Or do I just need to make a dining ressie and then try to concert it to a CP package when those open up? We will not have a car, but I think we will try to do Christmas morning breakfast in the villa. We are planning a grocery stop so we can pick things up. My mom is planning to ship kringle down there too so that we can keep that Christmas morning tradition . I like the idea of a tree. My girlfriend mentioned a "pop up" tree that we could pack. Anyone know a great one I can order?

 

[sharonabe]

Ooh...great tips so far! Thank you! I think the CP package will be a must. Do they traditionally become available before the ADR ressie window opens? Or do I just need to make a dining ressie and then try to concert it to a CP package when those open up? We will not have a car, but I think we will try to do Christmas morning breakfast in the villa. We are planning a grocery stop so we can pick things up. My mom is planning to ship kringle down there too so that we can keep that Christmas morning tradition . I like the idea of a tree. My girlfriend mentioned a "pop up" tree that we could pack. Anyone know a great one I can order?

You won't be able to convert a regular ressie to a CP pkg, but since you're looking at Christmas Eve, they should be out before your 180 days comes up.

 

[DVC4US]

Definitely see the Santa's & Storytellers in the countries in Epcot - we do this on Christmas Eve when we are there. We have gone several times at Christmas - 1st time I wanted to be in MK on Christmas morning so we go up early(I think park opened at 7 or 8) went in rode some rides and we were leaving by about 10:30am when it was getting really crowded. Now we try to do other things on Christmas day. We usually have a lazy morning - have mimosas and a light breakfast in the room and open gifts, then we will do something for the day. One year we went bowling at Splitsville, another year we went resort hopping to see all the decorations, and another year we played mini-golf and sat by the pool. We stay in the DVC villas too, so it's nice to have a place to congregate. We always decorate our room with a small tree and other decorations.

The thing to keep in mind about Christmas is it will be very, very crowded. So make a plan and go with the expectations that you might not get to do everything.

 

[HeidiGW]

Once your kids get a taste of Disney on Christmas, they will be ruined! Well, maybe not them, but you. I love it when we go as I really get to enjoy the holiday without all the cooking and cleaning!
When we went for Christmas 2015, we loved the Minnie's Holiday dine. No one was more surprised than me!

 

[disneydreamer781]

I'm also planning on a first time trip to WDW for Christmas 2018. I'm planning on Fri 12/21/2018 - Thu 1/3, 2019. I'll be 60 next year but it's something that is on my bucket list. Also attempting to include our 24th anniversary into this trip which will be 1/2/19. I'm tempering my expectations because I'm aware of the crowds and I'm also aware of the price as it's generally costlier for air, hotel, any extra events, and also the AP upgrade from Gold to Platinum but I'm determined to do this before I'm no longer able to and what could be better than doing it during my 60th year on this beautiful planet.

 

[J. Galt]

Once your kids get a taste of Disney on Christmas, they will be ruined! Well, maybe not them, but you. I love it when we go as I really get to enjoy the holiday without all the cooking and cleaning!
When we went for Christmas 2015, we loved the Minnie's Holiday dine. No one was more surprised than me!

Hahaha! Right now I have mixed feelings. I'm going to miss some of our traditions too. I'm really going to miss seeing all of my cousins because we don't get together that often (we usually get together on Christmas Day). I am not going to miss making all the Christmas cookies. I like Christmas cookies, but my family makes WAY too many and we just end up eating too much. Not that we won't eat too much at Disney I suppose, lol!

 

[J. Galt]

I'm also planning on a first time trip to WDW for Christmas 2018. I'm planning on Fri 12/21/2018 - Thu 1/3, 2019. I'll be 60 next year but it's something that is on my bucket list. Also attempting to include our 24th anniversary into this trip which will be 1/2/19. I'm tempering my expectations because I'm aware of the crowds and I'm also aware of the price as it's generally costlier for air, hotel, any extra events, and also the AP upgrade from Gold to Platinum but I'm determined to do this before I'm no longer able to and what could be better than doing it during my 60th year on this beautiful planet.

Wow! Congratulations on everything!!!!!

 

[J. Galt]

Ooh.. this raises a question too. Three of us were considering getting AP's because we have to go back in April for my daughter's marching band trip. Are there blackout dates I need to be aware of? Do I need a certain level of AP to go over Christmas (and Easter for our next trip)?

 

[disneydreamer781]

Wow! Congratulations on everything!!!!!

 

[disneydreamer781]

Ooh.. this raises a question too. Three of us were considering getting AP's because we have to go back in April for my daughter's marching band trip. Are there blackout dates I need to be aware of? Do I need a certain level of AP to go over Christmas (and Easter for our next trip)?

If you're staying during Christmas and Easter you'll at least need the Platinum Pass. The Gold Pass is only available to FL residents and DVC members and there are blackout dates on that pass that include those holidays.

 

[disneydreamer781]

Hahaha! Right now I have mixed feelings. I'm going to miss some of our traditions too. I'm really going to miss seeing all of my cousins because we don't get together that often (we usually get together on Christmas Day). I am not going to miss making all the Christmas cookies. I like Christmas cookies, but my family makes WAY too many and we just end up eating too much. Not that we won't eat too much at Disney I suppose, lol!

You could always make cookies before your trip and bring some with you. I also make a lot of cookies for the holidays and I may also bring some myself and freeze the rest until I get back.

 

[J. Galt]

If you're staying during Christmas and Easter you'll at least need the Platinum Pass. The Gold Pass is only available to FL residents and DVC members and there are blackout dates on that pass that include those holidays.

Thank you!!!

 

[J. Galt]

You could always make cookies before your trip and bring some with you. I also make a lot of cookies for the holidays and I may also bring some myself and freeze the rest until I get back.

Ha! The LAST thing I need to do is bring sweets along with me to Disney. I eat more than enough yummy stuff while I am there, lol!

 

[FelisLachesis]

Go look all over the property for how they do Christmas. Every park has a tree by the front entrance. Every hotel lobby has something up: a tree, garland, possibly a gingerbread house. You're aware of the processional, which is an absolute must do during Christmas!

The one thing, you need to pack, nay, the one thing everyone needs to pack, is patience. The crowds will be crazy busy. If you must eat at a restaurant, get a dining reservation. You'll need one for The Candlelight Processional. If there are rides you must get on at least one, make sure you got the fast passes set up. Other than that, patience. Remember, it's vacation, and a lot of people want to go the same time you are.

 

[deedubb]

We're doing our first Christmas trip as well. I was sad to hear they won't be doing Happily Ever After, but I guess that just means we'll have to go again soon! Looking forward to the holiday version of Illuminations and I'm sure the fireworks at MK will be special as well. Planning on doing the dessert party at MK so we can watch the fireworks without having to battle for a decent spot.

 

[disneydreamer781]

Ha! The LAST thing I need to do is bring sweets along with me to Disney. I eat more than enough yummy stuff while I am there, lol!

Very true! Same here!