Holiday Trip Ideas

[Debs5angels]

My family and I will be arriving the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Being this will be the first time we ever went to Disney during the holidays I am not aware of the different things you can do. I never even thought of going to the Candlelight Processional, but after reading some posts it sounds like a nice thing to do. Now I just have to talk my husband into it.

Can you tell me about how much it costs, being that I would have to pay for my husband and I and our 5 daughters?

Also if anyone else can give me any other info that would make our holiday trip more memorable I would appreciate it. Thanks again!!

 

[Mackey Mouse]

I have never done the Candelight Processional.. but I know many have, they feel it is a great show....and having someone famous as the narrator is always a special treat.

Some of the fun things that we do during Christmas is to tour the resorts to see the Christmas decorations at each resort....Does not cost anything and you get some great ideas on decorating for your home.. I do believe there is a Disney program, one that you purchase, that shows you how Disney decorates for Christmas.. It is called the Yuletide tour, I believe you have to be 16 to participate.. It departs from Epcot daily and costs about $59. There you learn all the Disney secrets for decorating and how they transform WDW into the beautiful Christmas wonderland that it is for the holidays.

 

[TINK61]

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party should be starting up about that time. Those tickets are $35.00 per adult - not sure about children's prices. There's a parade (like the one you see on t.v. Christmas morning), snow falling on Main Street, all the cocoa and cookies you want - and the best part is the rides are opened and there are some great Christmas shows and activities taking place. It ususally begins on selected nights after Thanksgiving - so you could be in luck. Oh - and I think it includes a free Christmas photograph too.

 

[meeko_33785]

There are lots of fun things do do for the holidays. There are tree lightings at MK and EPCOT that are a lot of fun. At EPCOT, they also have holiday storytellers in all the countries telling how they celebrate Christmas in their homeland. The Osborne Family Light display should be up again at MGM this year, so definatly see that. It's really an incredable assortment of lights and decorations. I believe they're supose to be doing it on the New York/ Big City Street this year since they took out the Residential Street last year. The Characters also dress up for the occasion too. The Characters on Holiday Bus at EPCOT, the Sorcerer's Hat at MGM, and Camp Minnie-Mickey at AK are good places to look for them.

Don't forget to look at all the decorations too. Main Street and Toontown at MK, Hollywood Boulevard at MGM, Camp Minnie-Mickey at AK and DTD Marketplace usually have the most decorations. Also, the resorts are all decorated too. Some of my favorites are Wilderness Lodge, Boardwalk, and AK Lodge. Grand Floridian also is supose to have an amazing display, but I've never been there.

 

[angey77]

Originally posted by Debs5angels
I never even thought of going to the Candlelight Processional, but after reading some posts it sounds like a nice thing to do. Now I just have to talk my husband into it.

Can you tell me about how much it costs, being that I would have to pay for my husband and I and our 5 daughters?

The CP is free to all EPCOT guests, but there is limited seating. To make sure you get a seat, Disney sells a CP dinner package, in which you pay ahead of time and get a full meal at select World Showcase restaurants and a badge that gets you into the processional, guranteeing you a seat.

Here are the 2003 prices:

Tier 1
Adults - $28.99 / Child (3-11) - $10.99
Includes full buffet, beverage (no alcoholic; no specialty) and gratuity
The Garden Grill Restaurant - The Land
Biergarten - Germany
Restaurant Akershus - Norway

Tier 2
Adults - $34.99 / Child (3-11) - $10.99
Includes soup, salad or appetizer, entree, dessert and beverage (no
alcoholic; no specialty) and gratuity; children order from children's
menu
San Angel Inn - Mexico
Restaurant Marrakesh - Morocco
Nine Dragons - China
Rose & Crown Pub and Dining Room - United Kingdom

Tier 3
Adults - $41.99 / Child (3-11) - $10.99
Includes soup, salad or appetizer, entree, dessert and beverage (no
alcoholic; no specialty) and gratuity; children order from children's
menu
Chefs de France - France
Coral Reef - Living Seas
L’Orignale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante - Italy
Le Cellier Steakhouse - Canada
Mitsukoshi Teppanyaki Dining Room - Japan

Notes:
Gratuity is included.
Prices do not include 6.5% tax.
Dinner packages do not include park admission.

 

[aunt kelly]

We've been to Disney World twice during Thanksgiving week. The decorations are everywhere-you can't help but get in the Christmas spirit! One of my favorite pictures from our last trip is a picture of my son standing in front of the huge Christmas tree at the entrance to Animal Kingdom. You will see lovely decorations in every park and resort!

 

[js]

Deb, we are from NY too and arriving either the Friday or Saturday after Thanksgiving too
Where are you staying? We are staying at the Contemporary My mom is taking us
Anyway, I have a thread too asking about crowds after Thanksgiving which also has some great ideas and helpful hints given to me by others.
We have been to WDW too many times to count but never during the Christmas season and we are very excited!
Will you be driving or flying? We will probably be taking JetBlue, although if it were me I wish we could drive, I hate to fly but it will give me 2 extra days at Disney

 

[Debs5angels]

Hi js,

We are staying in the Holiday Inn Family Suite. If we stayed on site we would have to get 2 rooms. Which really is to much for us. I'll have to look for your thread and read up on more info, never could have to much. What is the title of your thread? I am so excited too this will be our first time going during the holidays. We have been there 2 other times both in August. We will be going again this August too. I can't believe I talked my husband into that!!! I hate to fly too. We are taking the Autotrain down. We leave on Thanksgiving, stay overnight and board the train on Friday and get to Disney on Saturday. Its a lot of time wasted but as long as I'm going to Disney!!

Are you going to do MVMCP or the Candlelight Processional dinner package?

 

[js]

Hi Deb! Have you ever stayed at the HIFS? We have about 3 years ago and LOVED it! I would do it in a second but my insists on the Contemporary (why argue LOL ) We had our own car too when we went so I didn't use the bus they provided but you won't need to either since you have your car. The drive to the WDW front gate is really just a straight ride down the rode I really loved that place and LOVED the pool area too.
We are definately going to do the MVMCP. I don't think we will do the CP. Although I do like to plan where I will be and when at WDW, I do not like to have too many scheduled activities. I think doing the MVMCP will be enough. I don't think my kids (10 & 6) would care if we did the CP, but we'll see.
I priced the sleeper compartment yesterday for my son (he doesn't like to fly either, he gets motion sickness from the plane and had a terrible problem with his eardrum bursting one trip) and me if we decided to take the train. I know the closer it gets to the trip, the higher the prices go up on Amtrak. My mom, daughter and husband will not even consider driving or taking the train, they plan on flying. I did the train a few years ago with my son and it was ok. Long but ok. My husband can drive to Orlando faster than the train gets there. Really. But, I don't mind LOL
What have you decided to do? Have you booked any part of your trip yet?
I'll be away for about 2 1/2 weeks in April and HOPE that the tickets don't go on sale for the MVMCP while I am away!
What kind of clothes are you going to pack? I was thinking sweat suits with layers and maybe a few pairs of shorts. I hope the weather will be ok Talk to you later js

 

[Simba's Mom]

I went to the CP 3 times in the week I was at WDW in December, once on the package, twice stand-by. Can you tell I loved it? Also, don't miss the Epcot tree lighting. When that tree lights up, and they shine the spotlight up top-well, if that doesn't put you in the holiday spirit, nothing will.

 

[TINK61]

What time should you grab a seat if you're not doing the dinner package for the CP? What time does it start? Thanks!

 

[angey77]

There are three times for CP: 5 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 8:15 p.m.
I had the dinner package and got there a half hour before the ceremony and the dinner package line was to Japan (from the American Gardens pavillion). The stand-by line was twice as long, winding the other way around the lagoon.
Really, if you don't mind standing, we walked past during a showing after it started and had a great view from the lagoon walkway.

 

[Debs5angels]

Hi js,

Last August we had stayed in the HIFS. We love it. I hope one of the times that we are going this year we can get a Disney themed room. Last time we had the train. With 5 girls that didn't go over to well. My oldest daughter would love to stay at the Contemporary. We are definitley going to do MVMCP I just have to figure out which night. Is April the time that they start selling tickets for that? I was also looking into the CP. Believe it or not that was my husbands idea after I was just telling him a little about it. We might do the package though. We never had dinner at Epcot so I am not sure which restaurant to go to. I read last year for the CP the restaurants for the buffet was The Garden Grill, one in Norway and the other one was in Germany. So far I booked the train and the hotel for both trips. Nothing like doing it early! I have no idea what to pack for the December trip. All I know is I will probably need more suitcases then ever before for the 7 of us if I pack a little bit of everything except tank tops. Do you think we would need to bring shorts? It is really nice talking to you.

 

[js]

Deb, funny, I was just thinking last night what to pack for next Nov/Dec LOL
We are going away in April, July and then our last trip this year will be at Disney I told my kids last night I am most excited about going to Disney (even though are other vacations are a cruise & Florida and 2 weeks in LBI ) Anyway, I think I will pack 2-3 shorts for each but mostly thinking sweat suit outfits??? Not sure??? My husband told me I didn't have to pack like I was going to Alaska LOL We live in SI and I work in Manhattan. Where to you live?
I am planning on doing the MVMCP during the week. It looks like the tickets go on sale in April so I'll be stressing on my cruise if they have gone on sale LOL My mom will be with us on the cruise too so she won't be able to look out for them either..Yikes! I've read though that many have said that they don't really sell out and that they have bought their tickets the day or day before the party, especially if it is on a weekday so they can be sure about the weather. I hope to hold out and do that although I am a bit obsessive when it comes to WDW that I may just have to buy them for the date I want and pray we don't have rain. I did that in Oct. when I got the tickets for MNSSHP and thank goodness it was a nice night I'll have to see.
It is fun planning to go this time of year though since we have never been before so all this holiday stuff is new to us.
In Epcot, I like the steak place but for the life of me can't remember what Country. Maybe Canada?
I always wanted to go to Rose and Crown but still haven't been maybe this trip. I like Garden Grill but never did the buffet there. I acually didn't know they had a buffet. We ate at Germany last year (the buffett) and enjoyed it. There was a german band playing on the stage and people were getting up and dancing. We sat at a long table with other people and it was very fun! Never ate in Norway but would love to do that too
I enjoy that we can talk together since we are going the same time! We'll be experts on the holidays by the time we go LOL

 

[Grumpy92]

This site might help you.
http://allearsnet.com/tp/h_christmas.htm

1. MK Tree lighting & Flag ceromony. EVeryday at 5pm in Town Sq. The Flag Ceromony is moving and they do a little show afterwards to light the tree.

2. GF in the evening. The decorations are beautiful including the full size gingerbread house that also serves as a store. The music is wonderful and they often roast chestnuts.

3. EC is the big holiday park, Great tree, Holidays around the world, xmas storytellers and CP. The CP dinner pkg is worth the $$ so definitely consider it. The lines for stand by usually run about an hour or more.

4. Osbourne lights- Hopefully this will return next year. It is an incredible display and due to construction was not up this xmas.

Have to tell you about one xmas eve at wdw. We boarded a boat from MGM and had the best captain. The boat was full and he narrated the Twas the night before xmas story, then led us in carols, it was truly wonderful. We always look for him when we ride the mgm boat.

It is a very magical time to visit and I am sure you will love it.

 

[PattiPB]

I lived in NJ for 30 years, and am going to WDW in Dec, too!!! Can I join in the excitement!?!?!?!?!?

I'm doing MVMCP FOR SURE, and expect to buy tickets for Thurs 12/2 (assuming the days of the week stay the same as this year) event. I'm avoiding the weekend one! If we really love it, we may buy last minute tickets for the following Tuesday or Thursday as well. Not as interested in the CP, but maybe as a standby. I do want to do an Illuminations cruise.

It's great to find people as excited as me going around the same time! Nobody around here shares my obsessive compulsive Disney enthusiasm!!! LOL!!!!

We'll be at POP 11/30-12/10. We were going to HIFS, but my parents are joining us, and at their age on-site makes the best sense. BTW---did you get the Entertainment rate at HIFS!?!?!?!? We were at the Contemporary last April---AWESOME!

Patti

 

[Debs5angels]

Hi PattiPB,

We are thinking about the same night for MVMCP. I can't wait for the tickets to go on sale. I'm glad I'm not the only one who gets this excited about DW. I think I'm worse then my kids, except for my oldest daughter she is just as bad. We got the Entertainment rate last August when we went to HIFS. That's why we are going back there again. Have you ever gone to DW during this time of the year before? I can't wait!!!!! Well let me know if you ever find out any good info that would be good to know for our trip. Hope to talk to you again!!

 

[PattiPB]

This is our first holiday trip, too! We have done DL during the holidays, and can't wait to see WDW. I've been to UO during Grinchmas (alone with my BF) and I can't want for the kids to see all of that, too! We are a teacher family, so we've always gone during peak times. Currently everyone (including DH) is on a year-round schedule, and are off from T-giving through New Years, which is how we are going off-season!

I booked POP already (great rate of $68.68 a night including tax using AAA), and I have a minivan reserved.

All I need now is money!!!!! LOL!!!! Anybody got any change for my jar!?!?!?

Patti

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

We went Dec. 5-13. I waited to purchase MVMCP tickets. I had planned to go on a Tues. but it turned out to be a cold night so we waited to go on Thurs. The weather was perfect. We wore long sleeved shirts and only put on our jackets later on that night.

They sent us four copies of our Christmas picture. One picture for every MVMCP ticket. A CM will put a "P" on your ticket in marker. Get your picture taken near IASW. The line is much shorter in the back of the park. There were huge lines for the photo op. in Tomorrowland. Be careful with the hot chocolate. It will take the skin off of your tongue. MVMCP is worth the extra expense.

 

[MPLsDad]

We went last year during the holidays. One thing you can do that has nothing to do with the parks is to send a package to your resort before your leave containing all sorts of holiday secorations and items that will make your room more festive too! My wife and son loved this! I included an 8 inch tree, some twinkle lights, small presents, and made sure to bring some holiday music to play on the portable CD player that we brought along. Have an excellent time!