Gotta Change From Halloween to Christmas!

[JoannaTN7]

Oh, no! Helllllp (and pardon the melodrama)!

So, while I can easily think of worse problems to have, I unfortunately had to rearrange my Disney trip. I had originally wanted to do this big old Halloween thing, but money things happened... circumstances being what they were... Okay, long story short, our savings ended up having to restart, so I thought it prudent to push the trip back another two months to recoup the lost savings. But... I was SO looking forward to that Halloween party! The trick-or-treating, the costumes, the cute dance parties and Halloween events! Ah, that's my thing! And so set on this party was I that I told myself I didn't care about no Christmas party and Halloween was where it was at! As we all know, you tempt Fate, she replies with, "Challenge accepted!"

Has anyone here been to both parties? Can anybody help save Christmas for this Grinch and tell me why I should actually be happy for this shift? I know it seems silly, but I totally need to rearrange my mindset and that is a hard thing for me to do! Is the Christmas party just as fun? We'll be going late November (trying to get that free dining promo) and hopefully (hopefully hopefully) be able to enjoy it just as much as I'd have enjoyed Halloween.

Thanks, everyone!

 

[Raya]

I'm not a fan of Christmas (and that's putting it very mildly) so if I couldn't make Halloween happen, I'd skip the trip until next year. Sorry that isn't helpful... would this discount help with the money issues? https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/special-offers/vacation-room/ it covers the Halloween time period.

 

[lcoult]

I think it's ok to be disappointed.. I totally get it. We invest so much into planning! It'll help when you start to get jazzed about your new trip!!

I have been to both. Christmas was a more magical. Halloween was SO fun... it's worth it. But Christmas is special. The attention to detail on the trees (that are everywhere) alone.. it's amazing. The cheer and extra magic is a lot more prevalent at Christmas time than at Halloween. The snow falling down main street. The gingerbread houses at the resorts. The lights on the castle. Gah!! You will love it. And hopefully it won't be pouring rain... the weather is better closer to Christmas. We went in Sept for Halloween and walked around in POURING rain. It was a soggy mess. You couldn't see their costumes under the ponchos and the Halloween party fireworks were cancelled. It such a waste of $.

(It's great.. and worth going. but. After that rainy week we said next time.. we'll go in Nov/Dec).

 

[JoannaTN7]

D'oh! Definitely not what I wanted to hear, ha ha ha! But I do totally appreciate your honesty, Raya.

To be honest, I think the Free Dining will be the better deal. We're staying in a moderate resort (Caribbean Beach) and we were all set for September, then life happened. I mean, this is a 2017 trip, and we're already pretty set on that year. This will be our first time there in nearly a decade, so you can imagine how hard it would be for us to push it all the way back to 2018.

It wont be all bad. I mean, we'll actually get to celebrate our anniversary in November, and I'm sure the temperatures are favorable to that September heat/humidity. I'm just hoping someone can tell me some good things about this Christmas party so I can be excited

 

[JoannaTN7]

Oooo, that's more like it, Icoult (though I will ALWAYS appreciate an honest report whether it's what I want to hear or not). Magic is definitely what we're investing in, so that's good to hear. And yes! I forgot that rain is less of a November hazard. I mean, rain is always a FL hazard, but November isn't quite so bad if I'm not mistaken..? But I'm glad to hear you loved your Christmas party. I also like that EPCOT has the different cultures versions of Santa, too. That will be cool, and maybe a little educational for the kids.

Thank you so much for some things to look forward to. I know it'll be a great trip no matter the time of year, but thanks for understanding my disappointment. My husband thinks I'm being silly.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I'm not a fan of Christmas (and that's putting it very mildly) so if I couldn't make Halloween happen, I'd skip the trip until next year. Sorry that isn't helpful... would this discount help with the money issues? https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/special-offers/vacation-room/ it covers the Halloween time period.

I agree with this....im not a Christmas fan either. I love halloween way more. Although I have to say, if you havent been at xmas time its at least worth a shot because you never know, you just might love it.

 

[margot31]

I live for Halloween...Have since I was a little girl. But I love the decorations of Christmas. The decorations are STUNNING! and not just at MK kind of like Halloween but each park, each hotel. Oh the deluxe resorts really know how to decorate. That alone is a trip to see the deluxe resorts.

Watch christmas clips on youtube of what is going on there at christmas. Me the big dork I am got teary eyed when it "snowed" in Florida. I am originally from Maryland and lived in FL for a few years and the thought of snow and the lights and music on main street usa was just very magical in my mind.

 

[pigletgirl]

The decorations alone are what sold me to go during the holiday period.

Do what's best for you and your clan!

 

[JoannaTN7]

Me the big dork I am got teary eyed when it "snowed" in Florida

Hee hee! Sometimes when watching Disney promos with little ones hugging characters and having fun with their mommies and daddies my husband will be like, "Oh, seriously!" because I'll be trying to discreetly wipe tears from my cheeks.

 

[ktlm]

I am a big Christmas fan, and not too much of a Halloween fan. We have been to both parties multiple times. I have to admit that while they are both fun, MNSSHP is definitely more fun than MVMCP. The atmosphere with most everyone in costume including adults, just can't be beat. BUT-- we are always torn between Christmas and fall, because as much as we love MNSSHP the parks are beautiful during Christmas! Christmas in general is a wonderful time of the year to go. In the fall, you will pretty much only find fall decorations at MK. Halloween fun is pretty much limited to the party. In the Christmas season ALL the parks and the resorts are decked out. You can go to GF and walk in and smell the Gingerbread, and see the Gingerbread house, and they usually have photopass set up in front of the Christmas tree- and if you do it in the evening there is the band on the landing playing Christmas songs alternating with the piano player playing Christmas songs. The characters at AK typically have some Holiday clothes on for meet and greets while in the fall if you don't pay for the party, there are usually no characters in Holiday mode. The castle lit up with Christmas lights can take your breath away! WDW is just wonderful during the Christmas season! While losing the Osborne lights is a big hit to the WDW Christmas season- I suspect that might help keep the crowds down somewhat this year. Even thought I love going in the fall, when we have fall trips, I do miss the Christmas season at WDW.

 

[JoannaTN7]

Thanks for that, ktlm! I am a huge Halloween girl (we're a Halloween family, in truth), so it's nice to hear someone say that the Halloween party is more fun, but here are the reasons we love Christmas. The last time we were there was for the Halloween party, and my girl was just 4 and it was a magical time in our family. Next year when we go she'll be 13 and our son will be 5. While I have a lot of reason to be biased toward the Halloween stuff, I can't imagine trying out something new and fresh could hurt. I'm definitely going to be looking forward to these Christmas decorations everyone is talking about! It's already starting to sound better!

 

[Lothlórien]

I love, love, love Christmas. I do not observe halloween in any form or fashion. However, from talking to so many people I know personally (neighbors, co-workers, family, etc), if you do the halloween party and you are into it, you will probably find the Christmas party disappointing. As I understand it, the halloween party is more interactive and offers more entertainment. The Christmas party is pretty much relegated to entertaining yourself other than dance parties. The dance parties in Disney Studios, in my opinion, are more entertaining. I see more adults joining in than I see in Magic Kingdom at the parties. They both offer characters, fireworks and parades. The halloween party offers trick-or-treating with candy (who doesn't love candy? ) while the Christmas party offers sand-like sugar cookies and watered down cocoa (while it is 80 degrees outside LOL).

I have been to 1 - 2 Christmas parties every year since 2001. I will not be attending this year because I do not think it is worth the price of the ticket.

 

[Nancyg56]

I LOVE Halloween! I LOVE Christmas! I have been to WDW during both holiday seasons and think that both are very different. For Halloween, the decorations are mainly located in the MK. This is not to say that seasonal decor is not present throughout the WDW resort, but you will not see it displayed the way you do within the MK.

For Christmas there is seasonal décor throughout the entire WDW resort complex. I honestly believe that if you like Christmas, this is the time to visit WDW. It is pretty darn nice. You can choose the extras, such as the Christmas Party or to include the Candlelight but you can still have a lovely experience if you choose not to spend additional money.

With the Halloween season, it is my opinion that to experience Halloween, you need to go to the party. You can enjoy Food and Wine, and you can see the Fall décor scattered throughout the MK, you really miss out a lot without the Party. Now if you like the season due to weather and F&W, that is a different story.

Christmas is my favorite time to visit. It is magical IMO.

 

[JoannaTN7]

Thanks for all the good experiences and encouragement. It's very helpful. It's starting to sound like we'll have a lovely experience with Christmas. I mean, we're lovers of the Halloween holidays, but it's not like we don't like Christmas! I think it will make our 2017 Christmas that much more memorable, especially for the kids (even if my daughter will be one of those moody 13-year-olds). We'll still get a special party, a special card for that Magic Kingdom game, and get plenty of holiday-oriented fun throughout all the parks.

Just curious, do they decorate up all the resorts? I'm staying at the Caribbean Beach resort, so while I wouldn't expect it to be quite as ostentatious as, oh say, the Grand Floridian, will we still get a little bit of that Caribbean holiday cheer?

 

[Nancyg56]

Thanks for all the good experiences and encouragement. It's very helpful. It's starting to sound like we'll have a lovely experience with Christmas. I mean, we're lovers of the Halloween holidays, but it's not like we don't like Christmas! I think it will make our 2017 Christmas that much more memorable, especially for the kids (even if my daughter will be one of those moody 13-year-olds). We'll still get a special party, a special card for that Magic Kingdom game, and get plenty of holiday-oriented fun throughout all the parks.

Just curious, do they decorate up all the resorts? I'm staying at the Caribbean Beach resort, so while I wouldn't expect it to be quite as ostentatious as, oh say, the Grand Floridian, will we still get a little bit of that Caribbean holiday cheer?

Oh my gosh! I always leave plenty of time to resort hop so I can enjoy the decorations in the resorts. The Epcot resorts are pretty awesome, as is the Grand Floridian and the Wilderness Lodge. Book a nice dinner at Narcoossees and time it for Wishes, and that is very nice. The Grand is amazing in it's Holiday Glad Rags, complete with a Lifesize gingerbread house, the Wilderness Lodge is very rustic in it's attire. All of the Epcot resort have amazing displays and are worth a trip.

All of the resorts are decorated to some degree, although I would not travel to all bit the main Deluxe resorts to see the décor.

 

[Raya]

In defense of a Christmas trip:
They decorate all the resorts. You could easily spend a day just touring resorts. There's the gingerbread carousel at Boardwalk and the walk-in sized gingerbread house at Grand Floridian. The Christmas tress in the Wilderness Lodge are amazing. If you have time, take a tour of Fort Wilderness camp ground where many campers decorate their RVs with lights.

There are also special Christmas time only tours. My favorite picks: Yuletide Fantasy, Disney's Family Magic Tour, & Holiday D-Lights http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/tours-and-experiences/holiday-d-lights-tour/

The Candlelight processional is said to be really awe inspiring. You also have holiday 'overlays' over some rides like the Jingle Cruise - Christmas version of the Jungle Cruise.

We always talk about wanting to do a Christmas trip, but each year we give in and go during Halloween, hence my long list of 'somedays'.