First timer to Disney I need advice for everything

[hunterlover]

We are going Christmas. Where is the best place to stay? We like to eat in more than eat out so we need a kitchen. What do I pack? What time of day is best? What activities are good for children 9,6 and 2? Are there certain Christmas activities we need to sign up for? Please help? I am almost 40 and haven't been there since 2nd grade!
~ccp

 

[eliza61]

We are going Christmas. Where is the best place to stay? We like to eat in more than eat out so we need a kitchen. What do I pack? What time of day is best? What activities are good for children 9,6 and 2? Are there certain Christmas activities we need to sign up for? Please help? I am almost 40 and haven't been there since 2nd grade!
~ccp

Welcome to the Dis. You'll find tons of information here. Ask tons of questions, the great thing about these boards is that there is a wide variety of folks who post so you'll get all types of different opinions.

Ok, I'm assuming you mean Christmas of '08. First, be aware that Christmas time is absolutely packed. Your family must be able to deal with crowds. It is literally the busiest time of the year. Places to stay vary greatly also. folks here run the gamut. some of us love the deluxes, some of us feel they are way overpriced and not real deluxes. Some people love the values, they are great values and hey your really not there to hang out in the room.

If you need a kitchen than I would suggest rent points from a DVC member. These resorts are attached to the deluxe hotels and come in studio, 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom varieties. The 1&2 bedrooms have full kitchens, balconies and jacuzzi tubs.

 

[mjy]

We are going Christmas. Where is the best place to stay? We like to eat in more than eat out so we need a kitchen. What do I pack? What time of day is best? What activities are good for children 9,6 and 2? Are there certain Christmas activities we need to sign up for? Please help? I am almost 40 and haven't been there since 2nd grade!
~ccp

If you're talking Christmas this year rather than 2008, I think your question is moot. It will not be so much about the best place to stay as "what place might still have room."

At Christmas and through New Year, the hotels at Disney are pretty much filled to capacity as well as most hotels in the neighboring area. The ones that might still be open are, well, let's say probably still open for a reason.

Good luck on finding a place! There might still be a little pixie dust left...

 

[magicaldisney]

Welcome to the Dis!! Also, another question. Are you going right on Christmas or sometime in December? This makes a difference on your whole touring plan. Christmas is VERY busy. A few weeks before is much less crowded. How and what attractions you want to see could depend on the time of year you will be there.

Please provide us with a little more info so we can provide you with the very best advice.

 

[hunterlover]

We are staying at Silver Lake. We are going this year 2007....next week! 3 kids 9, 6 and 2! We are in for excitement. We have a kitchen. Advice needed, any!

 

[disneyfanforlife]

The best thing I can say is take your time. Your will get it all done. Be willing to just let the kids have a say in the trip, like what they want to do and go. If you don't let them pick some of the things they may not have fun. I was 7 when i went and my dad let me and my brother have a say in what to do. It made the trip better.

 

[HannaBelle]

1st, welcome to the disboards!!! You are going to have a great time!

Christmas is a very busy time and if you provide the exact dates you are traveling, I am sure everyone would be happy to offer their opinoins!

It sounds like you have decided where to stay and will have a kitchen. That is great, particulary since you like prefer to eat "at home". You can take drinks and snacks into the parks, just not a big ice chest. Plan on having breakfast at the condo, pack snacks (possibly lunch?) and drinks. Are you going to stay at the parks all day or do plan on leaving before dinner?

What you should pack will depend on where you are from. The average high will be in the 70's and the average low will be in the 40's/50's. For us, that means long pants/capris with SS t-shirts and jackets. (It is 40 with wind and rain here in north Texas today and I am freezing!!!)

Plan to arrive at the parks atleast 30 minutes before they are scheduled to open. Mornings are going to be the least busy time of day.

How many days will your family be spending in the parks? Each park has activities for kids of all ages! The Magic Kingdom is a must do!

There might be a "Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party" happening while you are there. People on the boards refer to it as "MVMCP" for short. At Disney Studios, make sure you see the "Osbourne Lights". There are several things happening at Epcot, depending on the day. I cannot think of anything special at the Animal Kingdom, but I could be wrong.

I would strongly encourage you to purchase a 2007 guide book. I like the Unoffical Guide, but it may be too much information. A guide book will explain the fastpass system and lhave ots of other great information!

 

[HannaBelle]

Here is a great link to what is happening around Christmas...

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/parks/specialEvents?id=HolidaysSpecialEventPage

 

[Girldreamer02]

We are going Christmas. Where is the best place to stay? We like to eat in more than eat out so we need a kitchen. What do I pack? What time of day is best? What activities are good for children 9,6 and 2? Are there certain Christmas activities we need to sign up for? Please help? I am almost 40 and haven't been there since 2nd grade!
~ccp

Welcome to the dis...what dates are you going? We're going the 22nd-30th and we're staying at animal kingdom lodge with a savanah view. I would recommend doing the osbune family lights at mgm (now called disney studios) and you can always check out the lobby's of the on property resorts....the grand floridian has a ginger bread house in their lobby that is pretty neat...I'm sure other people have suggestions. These are just a few things we like to do. hth have a good time!

 

[Disney Crazy Debbie]

Since you didn't say what part of the country you are traveling from please be advised that Orlando can be cool, even cold, in December. Make sure that you check out the weather before your trip. You can use this web-site www.wunderground.com/tripplanner/index.asp. Did you happen to catch Sandra Brown on the Travel Channel last night, she was reviewing the MVMCP.

 

[DLBDS]

Next week?! ......

 

[kathie859]

We are going Christmas. Where is the best place to stay? We like to eat in more than eat out so we need a kitchen. What do I pack? What time of day is best? What activities are good for children 9,6 and 2? Are there certain Christmas activities we need to sign up for? Please help? I am almost 40 and haven't been there since 2nd grade!
~ccp

If you haven't been for over 30 years, I hope you've done your research. The parks can be overwhelming (especially with kiddos in tow) if you don't have at least some sort of game plan (i.e., which park on which day, a list of "must do's" and a strategy on how to attack your day). Lest I sound like a park commando, I assure you that I am not--I just get addlepated when presented with so many options that it helps me tremendously to have some idea of what it is I NEED to do

This is a great time to visit--be sure to take some time to tour the resorts--the holiday decorations are stellar.

Have fun

 

[MeetingMickeyin2006]

Have a fun trip!

 

[danielle782001]

If you are going the week of Christmas you MUST make dining reservations or you will be very unhappy. You can make dining reservations 180 days prior to your arrival date.

I suggest you figure out where you want to go each day. Then choose the places you would like to dine. Then call the morning of the 180 days prior.

You should consider which parks have special events or Extra Magic Hours before deciding where to go each day. This website is great for that. You can get the times of parks open and close, parades, fireworks, EMH. This site is also great for finding places to eat.

Where to stay? We love the Wilderness Lodge at Christmas. They have villas with kitchens. You can rent points from a member or call Disney. They sometimes have rooms in the villas to rent as well.

Where to eat? You should try eating at the Liberty Tree Tavern in the MK. The place is all decorated for the holidays and the characters come dressed in holiday outfits.

What to do? Christmas party, MGM Osbore lights, Epcot Christmas tree lighting, Epcot Candle Light, Animal Kingdom parade, Sleigh Ride at Wilderness Lodge.

 

[JenAusty]

Well it depends on how much you want to spend or can spend for the hotel stay. For Value- I choose All Star Movies just because I love the Disney Movies and I think its the cutest of all the value resorts but Pop Century is the newest one.

For restaurants- sitdown- I LOVED Coral Reef at Epcot. It's a restaurant aquarium. We were seated right next to the glass and there were soo many pretty fish and sharks in the tank. Kids would find that exciting and it keeps them busy while waiting for the food. The only downfall is it expensive but the food is great. They also have glowing straws for the drinks for kids.
Counter Service- I don't know why but I love the pinnochio village haus in the Magic Kingdom- across from the Winnie the Pooh right I think. It's nothing special but I like it!

 

[danielle782001]

We are staying at Silver Lake. We are going this year 2007....next week! 3 kids 9, 6 and 2! We are in for excitement. We have a kitchen. Advice needed, any!

Get on the phone right now to make some dining reservations (if there are any to be had).