Holiday visit questions - WDW or DLR

[specialks]

Hi everyone,

We just got back from our 2nd trip to DLR. Our next Disney plans were to take a trip to WDW in 2012 (when our girls were older); but now I have the 'itch' and can't imagine waiting that long. I am toying with taking a Dec 2010 trip to DLR. I want to experience one of the parks (DLR or WDW) during the holiday season and I don't know which is the best. What are your opinions of visiting the parks for the Christmas holiday season? Is one a lot better than the other? We will probably only take one trip to WDW so do you think WDW should be experienced on it's own (not during the Christmas season) or during the Christmas season?

Thanks!

 

[Judy from Boise]

funny you should ask about experiencing it not during Christmas. My parents will only go to WDW during the Christmas holidays because they are convinced that they would be let down to be there without all of the holiday "extras". I much prefer the parks in non holiday mode. I like it better when the music and the landscaping is themed to the land more than the holiday. The Christmas stuff is done incredibly well, if fact I have always said that seeing the holiday illuminations show is a life changing event, but I do enjoy the parks better without the more generic holiday overlays.

 

[rmom]

We've been to WDW when they had the Christmas decorations (end of nov thru beginning of dec) up and when they were not (feb). Both are wonderful. While the decorations are a wonderful addition, for us the crowds and weather are more important. Be sure to give yourselve enought time at WDW. You won't be able to see everything no matter how long you are there but be sure to plan so you can see and do the things that are important to your family. If you go to the trip board or the wdw board, there should be pictures of WDW for both and you can make the decision based on what is best for your family. have fun planning!

 

[specialks]

Thanks for sharing. Anyone else have any opinions. Which is better during Christmas season -- WDW or DLR?

 

[Judy from Boise]

they are both fabulous. For me at Christmas WDW wins out because of the weather and ability to handle crowds....if you have at least a week. But I like to save my winter vacation to early february when I am in much more need of some "sunshine" therapy.

 

[KCmike]

Good question. My wife and I have our 20th anniversary next year in November and I would love to visit one these resorts to experience Christmas time.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

I think it depends on what you're looking for. Both resorts offer a lot of neat holiday activities. I've been to Disneyland in December every year since 2003. Someday I'd like to visit WDW at Christmastime to see it as well. While I cannot directly compare the two, I have a feeling that both are equally magical at Christmas time for very different reasons. (That is how I feel about the two when I'm not talking Christmas atmosphere).

I will note that some of WDW's Christmas events are hard ticket, meaning that you will have to buy a ticket to the Christmas party held at the MK in order to see the parade, fireworks, and some of their shows. If you're not attending the party, you cannot see those things from inside the park, including Christmas Wishes. I think tickets run around $50 per guest and include a cookie and hot cocoa. Characters run around the park in holiday attire during the party.

Disneyland, on the other hand, does not have a hard ticket Christmas party at this time. It means that you get to see the Christmas parade and the Believe in Holiday Magic fireworks show (complete with snow falling on Main Street) as part of your paid park admission. You see characters running around the park in holiday attire throughout the day.

WDW does not have holiday layovers for attractions. Disneyland themes Haunted Mansion to the Nightmare Before Christmas and gives Small World a holiday layover complete with Christmas lights on the facade (you see it at the end of Soarin').

Disneyland does not have Epcot and all of those holiday offerings. The Candlelight Processional is held 2 nights (both very, very crowded) in Disneyland and far more frequently at Epcot. DHS has the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights and DAK has a Jingle Jungle Parade. DCA has Christmas decorations, but as of yet nothing really "special."

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

I've seen both decorations. If the decorations are your thing- go to WDW, as the resorts are beautifully decorated, as well as the parks. But it will be horribly crowded, unless you can go during the early weeks of December, before schools are out. I don't like the hard ticket at WDW, when I can see the same things "included" (almost) with my admission ticket/AP at DL. If you really just want to experience WDW, then go at a slower time and really enjoy it. We also really enjoy the water parks and the pools, so a slightly warmer time is better for us. YMMV.

Of course any time is great at DLR! We happen to love the holiday overlays.

 

[PattiPB]

We are fortunate to have done both DL and WDW every year for the past five years. WDW wins hands down in scope and size. DL is significantly more convenient, and cheaper.

IMO, the deciding factors for you would include two points: Time and frequency.

IF you can go for at least a week, and outside of Christmas week, WDW will be manageable crowd-wise, and you will be able to relax and enjoy the tremendous amount of holiday activities. The vast majority of the hard ticket Christmas Party activities are available during the regular day, but we do attend MVMCP every year. If you're flying cross-country, budget for the party!

The Candlelight Processional is done more frequently (twice nightly for a month) at WDW, and you can simply grab a hot chocolate and sit near the stage to hear the entire event. It is absolutely not to miss at both DL and WDW.

BUT...this past summer we took a DL Vet to WDW for his first trip. He is a huge Christmas nut---not fan, nut! Afterwards, he was grateful his first time at WDW wasn't during the holidays, so he could enjoy the parks on their own merit. Food for thought...

You really can't lose, can you? Have fun planning!

 

[abouley]

We have visited both WDW and DL during the holiday season. They are both fabulous but I felt like WDW had the same amount of decorations as DL but spread out over all the parks so it wasn't quite as themed as I expected. We did love the decorations at all the hotels but you could take a week just seeing all those!

With that said though, we did LOVE it! We were there the first 2 weeks of Dec this past year and the weather was great (did get in some swimming but also had some rain), the crowds were low, decorations were nice, loved the Christmas party, etc!

My kids were almost 5 and just over 2 and my 5 year old was a great age to go! The 2 year old was ok and talked about it for a long time after but would like to go back when she is 5 or 6. I think if you only think you'll go once (something you might think now but not actually follow through with), I'd check out DL for Christmas now and go to WDW in a few years! Although I do think seeing WDW during Christmas at least once is also a must!!! We went during Dec when we did because we knew it would probably be one of our only chances with my son starting kinder this year to be able to go early Dec (at least without pulling out of school).

Tough decision!

Alison

 

[Kittyskyfish]

They are both excellent choices. Since we're in TX and have opportunities to go either direction, we keep going back to DL because it's the park that's closest to our hearts. We're Disneyland people! So DL is much more special for us when it's all decked out for Christmas. It doesn't matter if WDW is bigger with better weather and has more of this or that. For us, DL is better just because it's "Disneyland" and we'll always go back because it's our home away from home.

Sing it Perry Como! "Oh there's no place like home for the holidays..."

If you don't feel strong ties to any one park and want to see "a" disney park during the holiday season, you can't go wrong with either. They are both freakin' awesome!

So, if you only plan on taking one trip to WDW, well then why not give it a shot during Dec 2010? Just make sure you plan weekend park time to get in some SpectroMagic! time. It's like the Electrical Parade but on steriods. LOVE it!

 

[specialks]

Thanks for everyone's advice. I think I might keep with the original plan and visit WDW in 2012 and sneek in a Dec 2010 trip to the DLR. It is much cheaper for us to go to the DLR, then we can experience WDW when the girls are older.

Again, thanks for the input!