Help! Going 12/20-12/27

[tamarag]

We have never been to WDW during Christmas time....every other holiday except this one. With our family of 5 it doesn't make sense to stay on property so we stay at WBC. I understand crowds are insane. What are the main things to try to do (if I can even get any reservations for anything).

My kids are 12, 8, 5....

 

[alliecat523]

Can you provide a little more info? Are you keen on character meets? Sit down meals? Thrill rides?

Yes it will be crowded but not totally unmanageable. Just keep your expectations in check and bring patience and you'll be fine.

 

[tamarag]

We aren't interested in any character meals. Just good food. I just got off the phone and this is temporarily what they booked me for for dining....not thrilled but they kept saying nothing was open.
12/21- Mexico sit down epcot then CP at 5, then 9:30 Illuminations dessert party
12/22 Kona 10:40
12/23 Artist pt at 9
12/24 yak and yeti 11 and then Portobella at Disney Springs at 4
12/25 Mickeys Backyard BBQ
12/26 Mama Melrose then we can watch Osbourne lights....

I really do not want to do Mickeys BBQ on Christmas.....

Thoughts?

 

[Gracie09]

The problem you are running into is you are going during the busiest time of the year and people booked their dining 4 months ago. I would keep trying to get other options, even the day before, but you may just be stuck with what you get. Unless you are wedded to a sit down every day, you may try just doing quick service

 

[kollerbear]

We aren't interested in any character meals. Just good food. I just got off the phone and this is temporarily what they booked me for for dining....not thrilled but they kept saying nothing was open.
12/21- Mexico sit down epcot then CP at 5, then 9:30 Illuminations dessert party
12/22 Kona 10:40
12/23 Artist pt at 9
12/24 yak and yeti 11 and then Portobella at Disney Springs at 4
12/25 Mickeys Backyard BBQ
12/26 Mama Melrose then we can watch Osbourne lights....

I really do not want to do Mickeys BBQ on Christmas.....

Thoughts?

Keep an eye on the website--especially later or at odd hours of the night. That is when I've found my best reservations. You might be able to get some reservations you are more excited about far more easily that way than by discussing over the phone with a CM. I will say that Mama Melrose, Yak & Yeti, Artist Point, and the Mexico reservations all look pretty good to me. Doing something festive outside the parks on Christmas (i.e. Mickey's Backyard BBQ) doesn't seem like a really bad idea, either--the parks will be so crazy. But I understand your hesitance.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

I'd look on the website and mess around to see what dining options you can find yourself. As far as surviving Christmas, just have reasonable expectations, a plan, and use your Fastpasses wisely.

 

[cuteduck223]

this is our favorite time of year to visit. We always go on a budget, and as we are able, add ADR's. This week I was able to add Akershus and Crystal palace...so don't give up! Just keep looking! I have been...i've got most of what I want now, but may move a few things around. Our motto is arrive early, and enjoy the atmosphere-you don't really get to do quite as much, but it really is so festive and fun. You can make it moreso by letting everyone pick 1 must do in each park, and making it a point to do those (either standby or fastpass) and then consider everything else bonus! My must do is to sit on main street and enjoy the parade.

 

[minnie mum]

I'm actually surprised you were able to get some of the ones that you did get. As previously stated, bookings have been going on for over 4 months for your dates.

Christmas day TS meals are still possible to find, but not at some of the more popular restaurants, and not at the most popular times. For any given day, instead of looking at individual restaurants, go to the dining reservation page and just select FIND a Table. Enter the date, party size and select lunch or dinner instead of a specific time. A list will pop up with all of the restaurants that currently have availability. I took a quick look for Christmas day dinner and while there are quite a few places listed, most of the ADRs are very late evening.

 

[MichelleB]

Don't give up and check the site often. I got Be Our Guest for lunch on Dec. 23 this week for 4 people. It can happen if you check often. We decided to go for Christmas literally the middle of October and I have reservations at BOG, Trail's End, Biergarten, The Plaza, Boma's, Yak and Yeti, and 50's Prime Time. We don't normally do so many sit-down restaurants but since I know it'll be crowded, we're going to enjoy the atmosphere and just take it easy.

 

[tamarag]

Thank you! I am hesitant to try to finagle the schedule anymore because I am going to have to try and squeeze in FP's if there is any left. I was able to add the Illuminations Dessert party in Epcot. I am excited about that. Still hoping for BOG. My husband and I ate there and loved it and would love for the kids to get to go.

 

[bc7ate9]

There will be plenty of FP left, but you should book them ASAP. If you're staying off site, maybe look for other places in Orlando to eat if you need TS every day.

 

[tamarag]

There will be plenty of FP left, but you should book them ASAP. If you're staying off site, maybe look for other places in Orlando to eat if you need TS every day.

What does TS mean?

 

[bc7ate9]

What does TS mean?

Table service - a sit down restaurant

 

[DisneyOma]

Another thing to consider - if you are staying offsite, you are the first guests not allowed in the park if the park is at capacity. I'd check to see what the historical info is about this time of year, especially for MK.

 

[5Hfan]

If you do end up "stuck" with the Mickeys BBQ for Christmas, at least I think the characters are in festive outfits...
I will second (third?) checking for things to open up all the way until the week of. Last year we were able to get a CA Grill for 5 during Wishes Christmas week a few days out.
Also your Yak and Yeti at 11then 4 pm at DS seem too close together when you factor in eating time and travel time. BtDt one time too many with back to back ADRs.

Have a good plan, arrive really early and/or stay late, and be prepared for crowds!

Hope you have a magical trip!

 

[cassie58]

Keep trying - things pop up all the time as people change plans or get the ADR they've been searching for and drop one you can grab. We had to move our trip and are going the week before Christmas as well, and just yesterday I got the Minnie Holiday Dine at H&V for 12/22! (This did pop up late at night) Also saw BOG lunch open but either the app or my IPad froze and I missed it, but they are around. Over the last few weeks I have gotten most of what I wanted, though not always at the best time, and keep refining as things pop up.

We are leaving 12/24, so don't know about the 25th, but maybe check meals at resorts where you can see decorations, like Cape May at the Beach Club where they have a life size Chocolate Carousel, and you could check out Yacht Club train display. Or a restaurant at monorail resorts, like 1900 PF and check out the giant gingerbread house in Grand Floridian - amazing and delicious! Animal Kingdom Lodge is also decorated, and you could eat at Boma and then check out the animals. This also frees you up to go to any park early in the day, then eat elsewhere later when parks are crowded. It is great that you will see CP and Osbourne Lights(we are going partially to see them again one more time) . Also check out Castle lighting and projection show at MK with holiday add-on if you haven't seen it before.

 

[Mainemama]

We will be there at the same time. Yesterday, playing with the website, I saw Hoop-do-Doo open on some of your dates for a party your size (including Christmas). That might be an alternative the whole family would love! There are still plenty of breakfast choices for 5, and even lunch and dinner ADRs, just limited to resorts, Disney Springs, and Epcot. Just checked Christmas Day.... More options for lunch than dinner. My family is doing a sit down breakfast at our resort, then a 3:25 "dinner". It's Christmas, we'll be in Disney, who cares when we eat!

 

[epcotty]

I say quick service is fine. Lots of people use quick service restaurants there and the food's good. You also usually get to sit down at available tables too. Apart from that use the FPs on more popular attractions (or go at rope drop/near closing time) and try to get in on the Christmas stuff at each park

 

[philharmagic fan]

We've been that week before, and parks don't get really crazy until about the 23rd, so do a MK day before then and try to hit the headliners. Also, definitely do rope drop every day you can haul yourselves out of bed. Avoid MK on Christmas Day - the one time we tried it we got there at rope drop, waited 40 minutes in the line at what was then Main Street Bake Shop, and when a cast member said we should expect that would be our shortest wait all day, we went to Studios and had a ball (crowded, but not ridiculously so).
At EPCOT, you could pretty much spend a whole day just listening to the storytellers, and because they're outdoors it's a good choice for afternoon when lines at other things are crazy. Norway is absolutely not to be missed; we also especially like Italy, Canada, and France.
Mini golf is also a good afternoon option - take the bus to Blizzard Beach and it's about a 3 minute walk to Winter Summerland, which has a Christmas theme. Fantasia Gardens is fairly close to EPCOT but will probably be quite crowded.

 

[cuteduck223]

to further add to christmas excitement--we just got a cinderella's royal table breakfast for new years day! This actually will come out cheaper than our scheduled Akershus lunch (and DD is picky, so its just as well to switch) which i will be dropping this afternoon. Just keep checking, and all your dreams can come true!