I need help with Christmas plans!

[melissa6631]

I am the head coorindator for a multi family trip! All together there will be 5 adults and 9 children!

We will be there Dec 24th-Dec 30th. What do I need to reserve? I really want to do Holiday things---especially for Christmas.

Do I need to reserve dinners NOW? We usually like to go to the Polynesian. I've never been to disney in a non-summer month. We've done July 4th and the 3rd week of August. So what differences should i expect?

 

[disneydiz]

Expect HUGE crowds, especially after 12/25. One Xmas activity going on is Candlelight Processional (which runs until 12/30 but might already be sold out for most of the dates), another is Osborne Lights at MGM (free), and each resort will have its own activities on Dec 24. The parks will be very, very, very crowded -- 3-hour waits will not be uncommon. Go to the parks very early, if you want to ride/see anything. Make sure you have dining reservations for any meals -- especially Xmas day. You might have trouble getting specific times/places since people have been making reservations for quite a few weeks already. The week before Xmas and NY is the most crowded time period. I suggest you might want to join TourGuideMike to help you with activities.

 

[ainmama2001]

You need to reserve IMMEDIATELY. It's SWAMPED down there at Christmas. I was there the day after Christmas one year and they closed MK because it has reached capacity. The parades are the best at Christmas too, especially for the kids. Lots of characters all dressed up. It's also decorated so nicely. Good luck with your planning! I'm the head planner for my family too when we all go!

 

[UrsulasShadow]

You should be able to get dinner reservations, but maybe not at the best times, or the most popular restaurants, but keep trying. Many people overbook, then cancel what they decide they can't use. Same with special events, like the Candlelight Processional dinner package. I advise getting that, if you can. The line for the CP w/out the package is long and boring.
It may be difficult to get ADRs for such a large group, too. I had all my ADRs made on 9/26 for a Christmas day arrival, so you're running a little late. Get on it ASAP, is my suggestion.

 

[2belles'mom]

MAKE YOUR ADVANCED DINING RESERVATIONS NOW!!!

Also, I highly recommend signing up for TourGuideMike at TourGuideMike.com--you will get very valuable information regarding strategies to avoid the gridlock that will plague you during that time frame! You CAN have fun and a great time, but you must be very, very strategic--the week you are going is the BUSIEST WEEK OF THE ENTIRE YEAR and the crowds are suffocating.

That said, don't miss the Candlelight Processional!

 

[TinkOhio]

Don't worry! We were down there from Dec. 25th-Jan 1st last year and had a GREAT time! Every one is right... do some research and and make lots of dining ressies. There will be long lines at counter service places, and sitting will feal great after running around.

As far as holiday things to see, know that all of the parades that we saw then were Christmas themed. They were wonderful! Make sure to plan on down-time touring some resorts to see their holiday displays. It's a great way to get away from crowds and relax!

Also, make sure to visit the Osborne lights display. Even after seeing pictures of it on the web, we were AMAZED when we saw it in person. You kind of wander through it and experience it, not just watch it. We LOVED the old-time Christmas carols and music in the background, too! It was chilly the night we saw it, and they sell hot cocoa and roasted nuts there that really helped us to get in the Christmas mood!

Lastly, make sure to slow down sometimes and just take in all the decorations/atmosphere. The trees in each park and resort are beautiful, and the holiday shows in the parks are so fun to watch!

Hava a GREAT trip!!
...

 

[melissa6631]

Can someone link for me the URL of where I can get the numbers etc to make reservations?

Also, the parade that is on Christmas morning.---- Can people go to that?

Where is the cheapest place to get 3 day tickets?

And also-- Does Sea World have a big Christmas "thing?"

 

[spot28]

The parade they show on TV I believe was taped earlier in December....

 

[2belles'mom]

Call 407-WDW-DINE to make your dining ressies.

The Christmas parade is Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Parade. It will be at Magic Kingdom everyday Christmas week. DON'T GO TO THE PARADE CHRISTMAS DAY!!!! Pick another day to go!!!! AVOID Christmas day at Magic Kingdom--instead, go to Animal Kingdom or Epcot (although Epcot may not be a good choice this year). They usually close Magic Kingdom within the first few hours on Christmas day because it fills to capacity. We usually skip a park on Christmas day, and do a nice meal/downtown disney, etc.

I don't know about exact activities at US or IA on Christmas day, but we have gone over the holidays and they have wonderful Christmas decorations. Also, we got to meet the Grinch at Suess Landing. Lots of Christmas theming--fun, fun!!!

Again, I encourage you to subsribe to Tourguidemike!!! ESPECIALLY with a big group such as you will have. I have been going to WDW over Christmas since 1999!!!, and consider myself very experienced in negotiating the Christmas crowds. HOWEVER, Tourguidemike has provided me with a lot of additional information I am extremely happy to have especially since, like you, I am planning for my own family, my brother and his wife and their three kids, and my parents!

Good luck!

 

[disneydiz]

We have been on over 10-trips during busy times, but I would never go at Xmas without guidance from TourGuideMike. You are going to have to do a lot of reserach for this trip, because it is such a busy, busy time. Good luck!

Also, if you subscribe to mousesavers.com newsletter, they send links for various discounted park tickets. You will have time to sign-up and get the November 15 newsletter -- since today is the 15th you probably won't get today's letter. If that doesn't work, try ticketmania.com -- they have excellent prices! A few others are discountorlandvacations.com; mapleleaftickets.com.

 

[melissa6631]

See, now I was there on the 4th of July and heard THAT was the busiest time of the year. I wonder which it is?

Are the crowds comparable?

The ages of kids we're taking are 11, 10, 7, 6, 4 and our friends kids are 12 and 9. ..

I think it's going to be a BLAST!

I'm going to go to tourguidemikes website. Do you have to pay the $21? And is it really worth it?

 

[2belles'mom]

I think the $21 is definitely worth it! You do need to spend a lot of time on the site though, reading through all of the info--bear that in mind. It has TONS of info, that is kept up to date (the up to date part is wonderful--I love the Unofficial Guide, too, but TGM takes it to the next level!)

4th of July is one of the most crowded, but Christmas is worse, and is crowded over a longer period of time than the short 4th of July weekend. It starts to get INSANELY croweded around the 24th, and does not let up until after New Year's. BUT REMEMBER, not every park is as crowded everday! Hence, with strategic planning, you can avoid the parks that will be gridlocked (and I mean GRIDLOCKED--I have actually been fearful for my children when we were stuck in throngs of humanity trying to exit MK one year--you couldn't walk, people pressed in around you, you could only shuffle, shuffle ).

HOWEVER, that does not need to happen! You need to know the right parks to go to on the right days, along with more specific touring strategies. That way you can have tons of fun without suffocating crowds, few lines, etc. EVEN DURING THIS CRAZY WEEK. TGM really can help with that. I have learned a thing or two about avoiding the craziness over the last few years, but am still really excited about TGM. Gee, I wish I had known about it earlier!

 

[melissa6631]

Ok I bought it. BUT I screwed up! I accidently put in that we were going in 2006 instead of 2005.

I emailed him asking if it could be changed. I'm hoping it can be!

 

[2belles'mom]

You can change it--no problem. I think you can go into your user profile and change the answers to any of the questions from your set up...

 

[melissa6631]

Ah HA!

I figured out how to do it! Woooo Hooo!

Now.... WHERE TO START! LOL

 

[Eeyore2003]

Get your ROOM AND dinner reservations ASAP or before!!! If the more popular restaurants are booked at times you want, for sit down I might suggest Grand Floridian Cafe, it's lovely, not buffet though (I recommend this one SO often, it's going to be over crowded soon!!!) For that large of group you might want to consider buffets. I think dinner at 1900 Park Fair at the Grand Floridian, is a wonderful alternative for a Cinderella meal and it's an excellent buffet. Breakfast buffet at 1900 Park Fair is Alice in Wonderland with the Mad Hatter, Pooh, Eeyore and Mary Poppins, I think. Have not tried breakfast there, but it's buffet and if it's anything like dinner will be very good. Trying this in November.

The Biergarten at Epcot is also nice for a large group, buffet, with a polka band and a little dance floor. I agree on getting something for the CP package, even the reserve line gets long.

My favorite "holiday" sit down off the menu meal is Artist Point at WL, mainly because the decorations are so beautiful and the food is delicious.

Plaza Restaurant at MK, sit down, also not busy, but excellent food.

Here's a site with various meals and their menus for quick reference. As everyone said, you don't want to "take chances" on meals during the busiest times.

http://www.allearsnet.com/din/dining.htm