Ideas for a December vacation

[caralyn817]

Okay, I'm in the process of planning a trip in December for DH and myself. This is our first christmas trip as a married couple. I want to make in special and am looking for new ideas for our trip. I have been to Disney many times, whereas my DH has recently turned into a Disney fan. (Thanks to my family and my doing!) So far we are planning on doing to Candlelight Processional and eating at Le Celliar. We are also eating at Whispering Canyon and doing a sleigh ride on the same night. We are thinking about going to ICE, but don't know if it is worth it. I am looking for other ideas besides the parks that we will be doing during our stay. I hope you can all help me.

 

[Dan Murphy]

How about the Yuletine VIP tour? I did that one several years ago, it was great, very enjoyable and interesting. That hit both the parks and some resorts.

http://www.allearsnet.com/btp/tours.htm#yul

 

[caralyn817]

Thank you for the idea. I have read about it and am considering it.

 

[caralyn817]

bump

 

[phantom728]

Enjoy your trip! We are celebrating 10 years together this year, so our trip will be special for us as well.

We've never been over the Holidays and one thing we decided to do was tour the hotels and see what holiday decorations they have, especially since Christmas is my favorite holiday. Some of the hotels make items out of gingerbread, so can't wait to see them.

 

[TinkOhio]

Why not make an evening of touring the resorts to see all the Christmas displays and lights? You could grab a quiet meal at one of the resorts to make it a great evening. Also, don't forget to do the Christmas lights display at MGM!

Have fun!

 

[MermaidMommy]

Personally, I would do Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party over ICE. ICE is beautiful, and it's amazing what they can make out of ice blocks, but it doesn't take that long to go through it -- it just doesn't seem like as much of an "event" to me. MVMCP has its fans and its critics on these boards, but if you're looking for something special to get you in a holiday mood, it definitely gets my vote!

 

[curlysue1968]

Hi caralyn817
My dh and i will be there on the 2nd of dec and i have planned a sleigh ride at WL. I would not worry about anything special it is already going to be special. You are with the person you love and you are going to be in the most magical place on earth. The magic will be all around you. I hope you have the greatest trip. Phantom728 congrats on your 10 years.This is going to be our 10 year anniversary too.

 

[caralyn817]

Thanks for all the advice so far. I'm however trying to stay away from MVMCP because we have done it so many times in the past. I trying things that we haven't done. Has anyone done the Private Dining at GF? If so, how was and roughly how must would it cost?

 

[dislovr]

Okay, I'm in the process of planning a trip in December for DH and myself. This is our first christmas trip as a married couple. I want to make in special and am looking for new ideas for our trip. I have been to Disney many times, whereas my DH has recently turned into a Disney fan. (Thanks to my family and my doing!) So far we are planning on doing to Candlelight Processional and eating at Le Celliar. We are also eating at Whispering Canyon and doing a sleigh ride on the same night. We are thinking about going to ICE, but don't know if it is worth it. I am looking for other ideas besides the parks that we will be doing during our stay. I hope you can all help me.

i can't believe i've never heard of it...but what is ICE??? where is it and how much does it cost. im going the week before christmas (17-22) i don't really hvae time to squeeze in something else but im curious anyway...

 

[caralyn817]

I know this may sound like a stupid question, but I was wondering if the Comtemporary has a Gingerbread House or not? I can't remember. My family and I have done the Gingerbread House hopping several years ago, but I just can't remember.

 

[MermaidMommy]

i can't believe i've never heard of it...but what is ICE??? where is it and how much does it cost. im going the week before christmas (17-22) i don't really hvae time to squeeze in something else but im curious anyway...

ICE is an exhibit at the Gaylord Hotel featuring. . .ice. Really, they're enormous, spectacular, unbelievable ice carvings and entire scenes, like a life-size ice Nativity, or a giant ice castle with an ice slide guests can ride. Oh, and it's around 10 degrees inside, so you have to bundle up in the coats they give you. I'm not sure of the current cost, but last year we paid $23/adult and $10/child --pricey, especially since it only takes maybe 30 min - 1 hour to go through, depending on how you tour. Orlando isn't the only place that has ICE: the Gaylord outside of Dallas gets it too, so perhaps the other one (Nashville, maybe, but I'm not sure) will have it also, if either of them are closer to you.

 

[kangaroodle]

Hi!

I don't know if you'll have a car or not, but you could drive to Blue Springs State Park. It is less than an hour away. The manatees come into the springs for the winter because the water is warmer. They are really close and so fun to see. Some of them usually have babies with them as well. We like to take a picnic lunch and make it a half day adventure. They are only there till about early March, then they go back out to the rivers and oceans. We've done it several times. It's a nice break from WDW.

 

[memymomonica]

I am taking my daughter to see The Lion King. It is in Orlando in December. She is all about Broadway. We are going on the 26th. Day after Christmas, Day before she turns 9. She is Annie in her school musical, so it will mean a lot to her and not something you can do everyday.

 

[lovesmurfs]

I know this may sound like a stupid question, but I was wondering if the Comtemporary has a Gingerbread House or not? I can't remember. My family and I have done the Gingerbread House hopping several years ago, but I just can't remember.

I've heard that the Grand Floridian has Gingerbread stuff...

 

[caralyn817]

I've been to the GF, Poly, Boardwalk, Yacht & Beach Club ones, but I can't remember if the Contemporary has a Gingerbread House.

 

[caralyn817]

bump!

 

[MICKEEP]

If you want to make it special, don't forget the Christmas decorations. Last year we brought a 2' tree, lights for the window and of course don't forget the stockings.

As far as places to go and see. Spend Christmas night in MGM (do not go to MK) and go see the OL. MGM was uncrowded last year, we went to the 10:30 Fantasmic show and 2/3 of the seats were empty.

 

[caralyn817]

Dec. 19th- Drive up after work & Check in at POP
Dec. 20th- Animal Kingdom in the morning, ICE around 2pm, and the Dixie Stampede Christmas Show at 6:30pm
Dec. 21st- Universal (DH's idea, not mine), Dinner at Whispering Canyon at 6:45pm, and Sleigh Ride at 8:30pm
Dec. 22nd- Epcot and Candlelight Processional w/ dinner at Le Celliar
Dec. 23rd- Magic Kingdom
Dec. 24th- Check out, Downtown Disney in morning, and Drive home for Christmas Eve with family

This is our First Christmas together as a married couple, so I hope I did a good job planning. Let me know if you have any other ideas for us.

 

[jockey]

Thanks for all the advice so far. I'm however trying to stay away from MVMCP because we have done it so many times in the past. I trying things that we haven't done. Has anyone done the Private Dining at GF? If so, how was and roughly how must would it cost?

We have done private dining at GF and it is not as expensive as you might think. It was on average $40 per head and approx $50 per hour for private butlers!