How many days do you need for Christmas?

[PoohNTuck]

Hubby and I are planning our first "together to WDW" trip next year. We're newlyweds. I'm anal and tend to pre-plan everyday and restaurant though I'm flexible enough to skip a reservation if we're not hungry or really enjoying life elsewhere. He's easygoing, laid-back and enjoys good food and rest.

We're looking at an mid-December 2008 trip. It will be our Christmas celebration. I'm looking forward to MVMCP and Epcot at that time of year most of all as well as 1-2 days to travel around all the resorts slowly holding hands, taking pictures and taking in the scenery. We want at least 1 day in Epcot for holiday visiting (do we need more to really enjoy the holiday stuff since it's my very fave place there?) and 1 afternoon/eve to "drink around the world" there (never done it but always wanted to). We want at least 1 day in Magic Kingdom, just cause, and 1 day in Animal Kingdom. MGM and Universal aren't my favorite places on earth so I'm ok skipping them.

I don't want to push us too hard. I believe we are choosing a child-free life permanently (though we haven't made a surgical commitment to guarantee it yet) and we will have many more vacations. I thought we should consider adding on a 3-4 night cruise ahead of time to help relax???

I know the answer to "How many days should we spend?" is "How many can you afford?" But, can someone help me figure this out. Should we plan on a 6 night, 7 day trip and just do Disney at the holidays? Should we add on a cruise too or maybe consider that for the year after? We really want to spend time visiting the resorts both to enjoy the decor and also to consider whether or not to make a dvc purchase somewhere... it's a definite consideration at this point.

Thanks for any insight here...

PoohNTuck

 

[ILoveDisney&Cruising]

I'd say 10-14 days. We've been for the Christmas celebration & decor many times (our trips start the week after Thanksgiving) .... I was just last night going over our schedule for this year. 10 days planned and it's still not enough time to see and do everything we want.

 

[spiceycat]

when are you going - gives us dates.

if before the 18th - you can do it 7 days - maybe even less. but if you are traveling closer to Christmas - at least 2 weeks.

Christmas to NY is that busy.

 

[PoohNTuck]

Hubby and I have decided on a Christmas 2008 trip. I'm so excited it brings me to tears just thinking about Christmastime at Disney! We will go early December as I'm a nurse and like for those with family to have Christmas Eve/Christmas off with their children. No qualms about "celebrating" early and getting my presents early too!!!

10 days wow... I was hoping for 7 but when I started mapping it out I felt like oh my goodness, this is going to be crammed! I don't want us exhausted and completely stressed out after a week of "vacation" but I do want to get prepared this year to make my ADRs in December and do all of that... will keep posting for ideas and try to "plot it out" better over the coming month.

 

[brightspark]

I've just been planning our trip (end of November) and am having trouble fitting everything in... we're there for 9 nights!

 

[MickeyMacks]

MGM isn't my favourite park either but I have to say, don't miss being there in the evening to see the Osbourne Lights come on and to walk around listening to the Christmas music - it was one of the most magical evenings from our December trip in 2005 - we got there maybe 20-30 minutes before they went on, walked around admiring the lights while they were on and probably were only in the park an hour, but it was so worth it!!!

Also, the Candlelight Processional at Epcot was special. We had the dinner and show package (ate in Japan, so we were near the front of the line to see the show and got great seats). This costs extra and takes some planning, but the Osbourne Lights at MGM are free and require no advance planning.