*~~Official December 2016 Thread~~*

[TH0MAS]

I just found this thread. We'll be going December 18th to January 2nd 2017 and staying at CBR. We;ll also be at the Christmas party on the 22nd! Now to start reading this thread.

 

[dnllmz]

Hi everyone! Joining in here...we have our first ever family trip to DW planned for Dec. 20th to the 28th. Flights are paid for and a 3br. treehouse at SSR is booked(not completely paid off yet!). We have 8 kids, ranging from 23 to 1 yr old and none of them have been to DW. I've been more times than I can count but haven't been in over 23 yrs(since I moved from FL). Anyway...Christmas is HUGE in our house(my 3rd child's birthday is Christmas day) and we want to carry over some traditions while we are at DW. I already bought our matching PJs for Christmas morning and we will take our traditional picture of the kids coming down the stairs on the outside staircase of the treehouse. I wanted to get a tree down there, but after seeing the ridiculous price, I think I will bring our own and decorate the space ourselves...will be more fun in the long run. We have the Chef Mickey Christmas Day buffet booked, and have one table side reservation booked for each day. Is there anything special we should do while we are there that is just there at Christmas? And anything special for my daughter for her birthday? So much has changed since I was last there. Years ago you just went and rode the rides, bought a stuffed Mickey and some mouse ears and that was that....so much planning now a days!! it's overwhelming.

I love that you're doing your traditional Christmas photo in Disney.

As far as Christmas stuff sone of the things I plan to look into are the storytellers located in each country in Epcot, eacj country's tree, the gingerbread houses at the Grand Floridian, decorations at the monorail resorts plus WL & AKL, the decorations at the campground in Wilderness Lodge (you can rent a golf cart), & that's all I can think of. We aren't doing all of that. We need to narrow it down. I have this post saved but haven't had time to read through it yet http://www.disboards.com/threads/guide-to-christmas-in-disney.3142648/

 

[Julie M.D.]

Just curious...

Is anyone else in Candlelight Processional "Narrator TBA" limbo like me? I already have my CP/ADR combo, so who I get, is who I get. I just wish I knew who. It's to the point that I am constantly refreshing Allears in the hopes that I can see who it will be.

Anyone else...?

I haven't been at Christmastime before. I have read a little about the Candlelight Processional. What can you tell me about it? Might be a stupid question but here goes - why does it matter who the narrator is? Can you give me some examples of who it "might" be? Is Candlelight Processional offered every night? Thanks in advance.

 

[dnllmz]

Neil Patrick Harrs, Whoopi Goldberg & Geena Davis are some examples of past narrators. I've never gone to CP & we aren't going this year because my kids are too young to fully appreciate it so I'm not sure if it makes a difference who the narrator is. Maybe it's just which celebrity you like more type of thing.

 

[Julie M.D.]

Neil Patrick Harrs, Whoopi Goldberg & Geena Davis are some examples of past narrators. I've never gone to CP & we aren't going this year because my kids are too young to fully appreciate it so I'm not sure if it makes a difference who the narrator is. Maybe it's just which celebrity you like more type of thing.

WOW! Thanks for that info. I may have to consider going to do that. Do tickets need to be purchased ahead of time?

 

[dnllmz]

I know you can book it as a dining package like fantasmic. Hmmm not sure if you can fast pass it or order tickets. If you do it as a dining package, I believe you also get a spot to view illuminations.

 

[dnllmz]

WOW! Thanks for that info. I may have to consider going to do that. Do tickets need to be purchased ahead of time?

You should check this blog out. They have a lot of info on it. http://www.disneytouristblog.com/candlelight-processional-review-tips/

 

[MonaMN]

WOW! Thanks for that info. I may have to consider going to do that. Do tickets need to be purchased ahead of time?

My understanding is that people wait - in some cases for a LONG time - to get in, especially when the narrator is someone like NPH, though there is no charge for standby spots... if you get in. He is there on our Epcot day, so we did a dining package to secure tickets, though I believe we may still need to wait a bit, even with those tickets! But NPH!!!

 

[xlsm]

Updated again to the new thread members!

 

[BDL]

I haven't been at Christmastime before. I have read a little about the Candlelight Processional. What can you tell me about it? Might be a stupid question but here goes - why does it matter who the narrator is? Can you give me some examples of who it "might" be? Is Candlelight Processional offered every night? Thanks in advance.

BDLsgal and I have been to the CP 3 times. It is 1 of our traditions when we go to WDW in Dec. What it is, is a celebrity will read the Biblical Christmas Story (not to be confused with the BB gun Christmas Story), with the accompaniment of an orchestra, professional singers and high school choirs, from around the country.

We have been really fortunate with the people that we have seen. In order, we saw Whoopi Goldberg, Blair Underwood and Edward James Olmos. Now, I am a Huge fan of E.J.O. (BSG, Stand & Deliver, Miami Vice) and a pretty big fan of Whoopi and Blair's too. But it wasn't so much their celebrity status that dictated how much we enjoyed their narrations. It was how much they BOUGHT IN to the words that they were reading and saying. Each of them had their own rhythm and flow to how they presented and they each provided a personal tale to cap off their presentation. It really is a moving event.

If you have the opportunity to see any of these 3, I highly recommend it.

PS: If you haven't done so yet, book yourself a CP/dining combo. The general admin line forms early and depending on who's presenting, there is no guarantee that you will get in to the next show that you are in line for.

 

[pammydw]

Just found this thread and am so excited to be a part of Disney inDecember. DD and I are coming in on 12-1 and leaving 12-4, and are staying at Pop Centuries. My DD is performing on Saturday the 3rd somewhere in WDW with her theater troupe (location TBA). We are super excited! We plan on MVMCP on Thursday, Dec.1. Thursday is our only "free" day. The other days have performance obligations. Does anyone know when the Chritsmas parade is being filmed?

 

[andregirl]

Hi everyone! I just found this page. I've been lurking on the boards for a couple of months now, ever since we decided to take a Christmas season trip. We'll be a party of 6, three generations, and two sides of the family! (Me, DH, our almost 3yo DS, my dad, my husband's mom, and her best friend) during the first half of December. We're staying in AoA, as my son is a HUGE Cars fan.

We missed our 180 ADR date by about a week when we booked (it was spur of the moment), but we have most of the dining reservations we were hoping to get, and I'm stalking Touring Plans and the Disney website to hopefully get better times for BOG and maybe a park opening breakfast somewhere. Other than that, we're just waiting for our 60 day FastPass reservation time and figuring out what to do with a toddler, parents, and grandparents.

I don't know why I didn't think to see if there was a Dec 16 thread until now. But, here I am now! Nice to meet everyone. Looking forward to following this thread while we finish up planning.

 

[gtpoohbear]

Apparently I posted on this thread back in March, but it somehow fell off my subscriptions and I forgot about it! I knew I was missing something in the planning process lately

Our camping plans for Ft. Wilderness are coming along nicely. With what I am spending on new gear... we probably could have stayed at a deluxe, lol! But this will be a new experience, anyway. (We have lots of backcountry camping gear, but I want to be a little more comfy on this trip - cots, air mattresses, electric blankets, etc. Southwest Airlines is going to hate us.)

We were originally debating between doing DHS or AK (plus Epcot which was the non-negotiable). We had decided on DHS, but now we've scrapped both of them and are doing MK instead. So, it will be a MK/Epcot trip, just like my childhood, I guess!

Of course we are now way behind on ADRs at MK. I asked the family what they wanted me to try for last night. DH wants to eat at Skipper Canteen, b/c it's new. Easy enough, tons of openings still. DS wanted Crystal Palace. Probably doable, I found a late-lunch already, if nothing better comes along. DD shrugged at first, then was like "Let's just do Be Our Guest again." So.... I guess I have something to keep me busy for the next few months, lol! (Yes, we really do eat 3 TS meals most days. DH is ALWAYS hungry!)

 

[Brisbanemum]

We are so happy to be joining you all!! We are a family of 4 travelling from Australia staying for a crazy amount of 26 nights at Pop Century (with 3 nights at Disneyland at the start of our vacation and 4 night at Universal Orlando mid-trip). Our first stay is Nov 30th - Dec 12th and then we are back at Pop Dec 16th till Dec 30th. We also have tickets for MVMCP on Dec 9th

So far I have been able to book all our ADR for both stays and managed to get a CP dinner package to see Neil Patrick Harris which will be a first for us. Now to impatiently wait for our 60 day out window to book our Fastpasses and hopefully a Star Wars Dessert Party one night. We are also contemplating attempting our very own 4 parks 1 day challenge..... trip of a lifetime here we come!

 

[xlsm]

Hooray! More new thread members! I've updated the first page again

 

[CynBeth]

I know you can book it as a dining package like fantasmic. Hmmm not sure if you can fast pass it or order tickets. If you do it as a dining package, I believe you also get a spot to view illuminations.

They stopped the special Illuminations spot a few years ago for the CP package.

 

[CynBeth]

I haven't been at Christmastime before. I have read a little about the Candlelight Processional. What can you tell me about it? Might be a stupid question but here goes - why does it matter who the narrator is? Can you give me some examples of who it "might" be? Is Candlelight Processional offered every night? Thanks in advance.

It is offered every night from the day after Thanksgiving through the end of Dec. There are 3 shows and we like the 8:15 pm because you get the full effect of the candles. Each celebrity does 3 days I believe. In the past we have had as narrator Mira Sorvino, Dennis Haysbert, and Gary Sinise. This year we get Whoopi. We usually do the dinner at Chefs. You can book it online specifically as the CP package or call and you get to pick your dining time and show time. It used to be depending on the show would determine your meal time but now you can pick the meal and show time depending on availability. You reserve with a card but pay however you like that night. It is a set fee depending on which restaurant and meal but you can order 1 app, 1 entree, and 1 dessert plus a non alcoholic drink. I am not on the DP so don't know about credits. When you pay you get your sticker with the show time on it. Even with the package most people line up about a half hour or longer to get a good seat.

 

[Rickat96]

Hey all- seen a couple requests for the Facebook page but they seemed to disappear when I try to add new requests to the group. If you want in on the Facebook page and have sent a request- please try to join in again.

edit- If you are in and see the group- dont need a new request. sorry if confusing.

 

[jaz0308]

Hey all- seen a couple requests for the Facebook page but they seemed to disappear when I try to add new requests to the group. If you want in on the Facebook page and have sent a request- please try to join in again.

edit- If you are in and see the group- dont need a new request. sorry if confusing.

What is the name of the FB group?

 

[Jaburka]

Today is our Dalmatian Day!!!

And hopefully less than 101 days until I find a CRT for 12/10 can't wait to get my ADRs settled and focus on FP day!