Has anyone stayed over Christmas?

[Cinderella]

Has anyone stayed at DVC over the holiday season? Would you do it again? Is the atmosphere nice and festive, or would you prefer to go at a time when parks are quieter?

For those who have stayed on Christmas Day - where did you eat that day, or did you make Christmas Dinner in your villa? Also did you visit the parks on Christmas Day - which ones?

 

[bres@westernMA]

We have stayed at both OKW and BWV for Christmas. Both resorts left a stocking full of candy on our doors. Our kids are older so there was no Santa Clause issue. We smuggled a few gifts for each and bought more at the parks or DTD. The WDW bag of the year was our wrapping paper.
All resorts and parks are very special during the Christmas season. BWV and WLV are drop dead gorgeous. OKW is less decorated but some folks bring garland or lights and do up their rooms. You can even order a fully decorated tree from the Disney florist (this was pricey but blew everyone away).
The parks are beautifully decorated. There is a candlelight processional at Epcot and the Orsborn lights at MGM and all the park parades are holiday oriented. We have eaten at a few of the better restaurants for dinner – some have special holiday buffets that are pretty nice.
Personally, I’d strongly recommend WDW at Chistmas. It is even more special.

 

[vacationman]

We have done three of the last four Christmases at WDW (the fourth we were on the Eastern Caribbean Disney cruise). It is always a festive, magical time. The decorations are well done and fun to see. The parks have some wonderful events that are even better right around Christmas. The Candlelight Processional is not to be missed and is our family favorite. We usually eat at the Liberty Tree tavern, but I am sure each of the restaurants there are special at that time. As for gifts, we each bring along one for each member of the family. The rest are usually opened before we go.

As for relatives - of course we always welcome anyone to join us but we also plan some time with them either right before or right after out trip.

 

[Dreamfinder2]

We're be at our "real" home, VWL, over Christmas this year. One special treat is that my 83-year-old mamma is going with us, and she'll cook Christmas dinner (she wouldn't have it any other way), and she'll feed us like we were cattle on a finishing lot.

As for crowds, we'll just suck it up. Plans are to head to the MK e-a-r-l-y as possible Christmas day for the parade, then back to the villa for lunch and presents and such. The rest of the time we'll just play it all by ear.

I'd love to hear what some of the rest of you have done over the holidays.

 

[mikek]

we/ve done bwv for christmass once.

Call me pragmatic but it was just ok for me. Dont miss read that- it wasnt bad but i didnt get into it all that much myself. Further clarification- no better than the usual awesome time we have any other time of the year.

First you need a TON of points, next is is a little crowded, finally it can get downright cold but not quite cold enough to give you real snow.

We did it and probably will do it again because its a great way to get family from all over the place together for the holiday. my family is spread out and no one has a house big enough to fit everyone- so if you've got to spring for a hotel room i figure might as well do DVC!

Anyhow- couple things we did. My kids and my Niece and nephew ranged from one to 5. I wanted to make them think that santa is way cool and would find them anywhere- so i just packed up all the gifts and ups'ed 'em to the resort for us to arrive chrismass eve. Also proflowers (and i bet all the online florests) had small christmass trees for about 1/10th the price of the disney florist. The disney florist can get you a FULL size predecorated one (or i;'m sure plenty of other choices too)- we got a 3 foot balled one with lights and little ornaments in a kit from pro-flowers. The kids had fun decorating it and someone could take it home to plant (via UPS again).