Help wanted

[dancin Disney style]

Hi all

Since the Osborne lights are coming to an end I've booked a very fast weekend trip to see them. DH and I will be there from Saturday to Tuesday. We are going to go to MVMCP on the Sunday night and I think Osborne on the Monday night. Those are the only plans so far.

I've never been able to take the time near Christmas to go to the world (work is just too busy). With this being possibly the only time that I make it, what are the must do's? We arrive at MCO on the Saturday afternoon, at the moment it's at 2:30, but I'm hoping to change onto the morning flight. We depart early Tuesday morning.

So far....
Saturday night...open
Sunday day...open
Sunday night...MVMCP
Monday day...open
Monday night...Osborne lights.

Help me fill in the open spots please. I would like to fit in seeing some of the special resort decorations and maybe 1 nice dinner as DH's birthday is in Nov and mine is in Dec.

Gosh, so much to do and so little time.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Monorail tour of deluxe resorts' gingerbread/Christmas decor.

Tour the Epcot resorts for the same reason as above.

You didn't list your dates so if you are there after Thanksgiving, the Candlelight Processional in Epcot is great!

 

[chris springer]

agreed!! Candlelight Processional!

 

[dancin Disney style]

We are there first weekend in Dec.

I did look at the CP but opted not to do that. Partially, because the trip is already really expensive but partially because I've watched a youtube video and while it looked nice I wasn't in love.

 

[hiroMYhero]

You can always walk-up and enjoy the music. I watched from the perimeter and had a full view of the narrator and stage. It is very impressive!

 

[dancin Disney style]

Normally, I'm all over the planning but for some reason I'm finding this really hard. I just can't seem to figure it out. Maybe because it's very specific and time is sooooo limited.

 

[SueDonym3]

Suggestion for a special dinner- Cali Grill at 7 pm to see the fireworks- if you can get it and on your way over or after, do a tour of the resorts on the monorail line to see the Christmas decor at each. Another suggestion- it is time consuming but try to catch the Christmas story tellers in Epcot. You could do that during one of your days that are open.

 

[sharonabe]

You need to see the holiday tag on Illuminations, so I would hit EP on Sat night. Perhaps do your special dinner on this night at either Monsieur Paul, one of the Swan/Dolphin restaurants, or something else on the Boardwalk.

What are some other things you want to do? Are you wanting to hit up some of the attractions at the parks? Are you skipping any parks?

MK on that Sunday will be less crowded than a day without a party, so you could do MK for the morning, tour some of the MK resorts during the afternoon, then back to MK for the party.

On Monday, I would either do AK in the morning or just spend the entire day at HS.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Suggestion for a special dinner- Cali Grill at 7 pm to see the fireworks- if you can get it and on your way over or after, do a tour of the resorts on the monorail line to see the Christmas decor at each. Another suggestion- it is time consuming but try to catch the Christmas story tellers in Epcot. You could do that during one of your days that are open.

I would love to go to Cali for dinner...never have. I think DH would be fine with that although, pretty much every place we eat he says it's just ok. This is actually funny because I wouldn't say he's picky. I def don't want to spend a lot of money on a meal that is 'just ok'.

 

[dancin Disney style]

You need to see the holiday tag on Illuminations, so I would hit EP on Sat night. Perhaps do your special dinner on this night at either Monsieur Paul, one of the Swan/Dolphin restaurants, or something else on the Boardwalk.

What are some other things you want to do? Are you wanting to hit up some of the attractions at the parks? Are you skipping any parks?

MK on that Sunday will be less crowded than a day without a party, so you could do MK for the morning, tour some of the MK resorts during the afternoon, then back to MK for the party.

On Monday, I would either do AK in the morning or just spend the entire day at HS.

Not doing Epcot as we just don't have the time and this trip is not about the parks/attractions. It's about seeing the Christmas decor/displays. The only time we will be in MK is for the party. We have visited at least a dozen times(and will be back in March) so being inside MK from 4pm-12 is plenty of time for us. In general, we don't so much love AK...so not doing that. As to spending the whole day in DHS...there just isn't enough to do there. We will go there at some point in the afternoon before the lights come on but at what time, I don't know. That night is EMH evening so we have until 10pm. We will do as much as we possibly can while inside MK and DHS.

Gosh it kind of sounds like I'm being difficult and don't want to do much.

 

[luvallprincesses]

Monorail tour of deluxe resorts' gingerbread/Christmas decor.

Tour the Epcot resorts for the same reason as above.

You didn't list your dates so if you are there after Thanksgiving, the Candlelight Processional in Epcot is great!

Suggestion for a special dinner- Cali Grill at 7 pm to see the fireworks- if you can get it and on your way over or after, do a tour of the resorts on the monorail line to see the Christmas decor at each. Another suggestion- it is time consuming but try to catch the Christmas story tellers in Epcot. You could do that during one of your days that are open.

Epcot World Showcase is great at Christmas. The storytelling in each country is very enjoyable. Voices of Liberty in America will be singing holiday music. Biergarten's dinner show is Christmas themed. Even if you decide not to do the Candlelight Processional, World Showcase is all decked out. And then you can walk/boat to BC/YC/Boardwalk for their lobby displays. I wouldn't look at Epcot as just the normal attractions, it's very unique at Christmas.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Epcot World Showcase is great at Christmas. The storytelling in each country is very enjoyable. Voices of Liberty in America will be singing holiday music. Biergarten's dinner show is Christmas themed. Even if you decide not to do the Candlelight Processional, World Showcase is all decked out. And then you can walk/boat to BC/YC/Boardwalk for their lobby displays. I wouldn't look at Epcot as just the normal attractions, it's very unique at Christmas.

Hmmm...doesn't that just throw a monkey wrench at my head. I'm still a little(or a lot) up in the air about what I'm using for a park ticket. I could either buy a single ticket along with my party ticket OR I could use a day off my non expire ticket which is a hopper. So I could see Epcot in the morning and DHS at night. What's holding me back from using the non expire ticket is that I'm not keen to link it either mine or DH's MDE acct. I'm not totally sure how it will play out in future being linked up in someone else's acct....we don't always travel together.

 

[luvallprincesses]

Hmmm...doesn't that just throw a monkey wrench at my head. I'm still a little(or a lot) up in the air about what I'm using for a park ticket. I could either buy a single ticket along with my party ticket OR I could use a day off my non expire ticket which is a hopper. So I could see Epcot in the morning and DHS at night. What's holding me back from using the non expire ticket is that I'm not keen to link it either mine or DH's MDE acct. I'm not totally sure how it will play out in future being linked up in someone else's acct....we don't always travel together.

You won't see any of the story telling in Epcot until the afternoon. WS doesn't open until 11 anyway. If you decide to do Epcot on a half day, choose the afternoon/evening.

 

[dancin Disney style]

You won't see any of the story telling in Epcot until the afternoon. WS doesn't open until 11 anyway. If you decide to do Epcot on a half day, choose the afternoon/evening.

Right...I got excited there for a minute and forgot about WS not opening until 11. That's not going to work. The first night we don't arrive at the resort until at least 4:30pm and the other two nights are planned.

 

[luvallprincesses]

You could definitely do Monday afternoon at Epcot, head out the International Gateway to stop in the lobbies of the Epcot resorts, and grab the boat over to Studios for Osborne for the evening whenever you want to.

 

[dancin Disney style]

So I think I've decided that on arrival night we will have a nice dinner someplace (I'm going to try to get an ADR for Ohana) and then spend some time checking out a few resorts. If I manage to score Ohana then we can do the monorail loop.

I still have not made a ticket decision which could change everything. DH is no help at all...he's just along for the ride.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I agree Epcot and HS are a nice combo if your mission is to see the holiday themed décor. We tend to opt for the quick tour. if we happen to walk by during a story, we'll listen.Otherwise, we thought seeing the beautiful décor was plenty. It was nice to quickly peek at the CP, but sticking around wasn't for us. I'd much rather spend time getting fun treats at the caramel shop in the German pavilion!

Keep in mind the resorts don't close, except sales at the gingerbread house. (According to the WDW food blog last year it was open 10am to 10pm.) You could always swing through one or more BWK area resorts AFTER HS/Epcot closes.

You'd actually have a less crowded experience.

Likewise you could swing through any of the resorts late at night.

While we thought changes at Cali Grill improved the view dramatically just after the remodel, I just couldn't stomach the crazy prices there this summer.

We always like spending Sundays in MK, and it also has plenty of holiday stuff. That is also often EMH night. Maybe if it is EMH, visit the resorts mid-afternoon when MK crowds are at their peak.)

Still one more option is DTD. Last I went, they had Santa.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Gosh....I really think I need one more day on this trip.