Need XMas Planning Help - BIGTIME!

[*NikkiBell*]

Is there anywhere I can refer to for 100% help on Christmastime activities? I just read on All Ears and in another post we will be missing MVMCP because we won't arrive until the 26th. Everything else looks like it runs until the 8th. Any other surprise disappointments?

 

[MICKEEP]

You will not be missing MVMCP. Since all the shows, parades, events that occur during the MVMCP happen during normal park hours begining the week before Christmas and continue thru New Years. You won't miss anything, except maybe the free (FREE!!! ) cookies, when you arrive on the 26th.

 

[KCMiller]

Actually, I think that the Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party nights end prior to the OP's arrival. But the decorations are still up, and everything is very festive and pretty and, oh, by the way, CROWDED. We'll be there too, and proper prior planning is key. You have 3 options at that time of the year, as I see it:

1. Go commando. Open the parks, work the Fastpass system for all it's worth, make ADR's for meals, decide on a plan of action.

2. Decide to completely go with the flow, not worrying about lines or wait times or eating on a schedule. Become one with the Mouse. Be totally Zen.

or 3. Get completely stressed and spend the entire time upset because nothing is easy, there are lines everywhere, you can't see any shows, you had to wait an hour online for a burger, you couldn't ride any rides, etc...

Me, I'm a #1 gal. I like to know what's on the schedule. And having a plan in place helps me relax and enjoy the day. Once I know that I HAVE a plan, and that it's a good plan, well, if something comes up, I'm OK.

KC

 

[ugadog99]

Have the dates for this year's MVMCP been posted? If so, does anyone have those dates handy and willing to post? Thanks.

Melanie

 

[winniedapooh]

I thought the holiday Illuminations ran until the 6th or the 8th and was sadly disappointed when I waited until 1/3 and saw that they were back to regular.

 

[Danauk]

Arriving on the 26th you will get to see all the Christmas decorations and will not be dissapointed. Like a previous poster said the Christmas parade from the MVMCP will be shown during Christmas week so you will not miss that. We went to WDW this past Christmas (from December 21st - January 2nd) and had a great time and it was nowhere near as bad as what people had made it out to be. Here are a few tips that I learned:
1) Make ADR's as soon as you can.
2) Make a day to day plan and a list of must do attractions for each day, but be aware you will not be able to do everything.
3) Do not go to the park with morning EMH, instead go to another park for opening. We did this and we walked on everything we wanted to for the first 2 hours.
4) Fast pass, Fast pass, Fast pass
5) Get out of the parks by lunch time, by then you will have done the rides you wanted to anyway and the crowds by then will be huge!! Take a break, have a swim, go shopping and then return later for fireworks, evening parade etc.
6) Take time to go and look at the decorations. We toured all the deluxe resorts to take photos.
7) View the Osborne lights during Fantasmic, it will be quieter then.
8) If there are 2 parades on in the evening, go to the later one, it will be quieter.

Thats all I can think of for now. I'll post more if I think of them!!