Planning a trip for December. I have some questions!

[mom2connorandcaleb]

I am so excited to be going back to WDW (haven't been since 2 years ago in Sept - we stayed at CSR). We decided that we wanted to go in December to see the Christmas decorations and lights. I have some questions, but if it is important it will be me and DH, and our 3 kids (6, 5, and 1). My parents will be going and DH's Mom, sis, and neice (we will be in 3 separate rooms I guess):

1. What week in December is the best to go (least crowded)? Anytime will work for us. I don't mind keeping my 1st grader out of school for a week.

2. We will be staying at a disney resort. I know a lot of you prefer certain resorts, but is there any you would stay at especially in December for whatever reason (IDK, maybe the fact that you can't swim might have something to do with it or something)?

3. I have a 35/40% discount on the resort, should I book now with that or wait and hope for free dining?

4. Do I NEED to go ahead and book now?

5. What other tips or advice would you give for a trip in Dec?

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer any questions!

 

[Nadjalu]

1. What week in December is the best to go (least crowded)? Anytime will work for us. I don't mind keeping my 1st grader out of school for a week.
The earlier in December the better for crowds. But be aware that POP Warner Cheerleading people are there starting the 2nd weekend. They can affect your resort (usually ASSports and ASMusic and 1 mod)

2. We will be staying at a disney resort. I know a lot of you prefer certain resorts, but is there any you would stay at especially in December for whatever reason (IDK, maybe the fact that you can't swim might have something to do with it or something)?
Actually we swam in Decemeber when we were there. The pools are heated so depending on the weather it is possible. So I would say, go with your budget and stay where you would like.

3. I have a 35/40% discount on the resort, should I book now with that or wait and hope for free dining?
I would book now with the discount and if FD comes out switch if it holds a better deal for you.

4. Do I NEED to go ahead and book now?

5. What other tips or advice would you give for a trip in Dec?
Enjoy! WDW at Christmas is wonderful. Plan to see the Osbourne Lights at DHS if they are still there (don't know when that contract ends).
Buy a Mickey/Minnie Santa hat and where it. So puts you in the Christmas Spirit.

 

[mom2connorandcaleb]

Thanks! Anybody else have advice?

 

[pad406]

We're just back from our first trip. Stayed from dec 23rd to Jan 7th, it was busy but, very doable, we did every major ride in the Christmas rush. Best advice I can give is with the age if the kids they will probably need a nap and prefer MK so I would do a monorail resort if your budget stretches that far. Very handy for the afternoon naps! We did a split between Poly and AK and loved both but AK is a bit out of the way, so if you can only do one I'd go with the Poly. Wished and the water pagent are great from the beach and the resort is lovely

 

[mom2connorandcaleb]

Thanks! I would love to stay at the poly but I don't know if DH will agree to it !

We're just back from our first trip. Stayed from dec 23rd to Jan 7th, it was busy but, very doable, we did every major ride in the Christmas rush. Best advice I can give is with the age if the kids they will probably need a nap and prefer MK so I would do a monorail resort if your budget stretches that far. Very handy for the afternoon naps! We did a split between Poly and AK and loved both but AK is a bit out of the way, so if you can only do one I'd go with the Poly. Wished and the water pagent are great from the beach and the resort is lovely

 

[levisfam]

Just my opinion

Definitely book now!! We tried booking in April 2010 for December 2010 and were not able to get our first choices of reservations. I thought that was plenty of time, but it wasn't

And make sure you check out the Candlelight Processional. Absolutely beautiful!!!

 

[DisMullins]

I am so excited to be going back to WDW (haven't been since 2 years ago in Sept - we stayed at CSR). We decided that we wanted to go in December to see the Christmas decorations and lights. I have some questions, but if it is important it will be me and DH, and our 3 kids (6, 5, and 1). My parents will be going and DH's Mom, sis, and neice (we will be in 3 separate rooms I guess):

1. What week in December is the best to go (least crowded)? Anytime will work for us. I don't mind keeping my 1st grader out of school for a week.

2. We will be staying at a disney resort. I know a lot of you prefer certain resorts, but is there any you would stay at especially in December for whatever reason (IDK, maybe the fact that you can't swim might have something to do with it or something)?

3. I have a 35/40% discount on the resort, should I book now with that or wait and hope for free dining?

4. Do I NEED to go ahead and book now?

5. What other tips or advice would you give for a trip in Dec?

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer any questions!

I have many of the same questions, although it will only be me and the DH, so I'm campin' out on this here thread, if ya don't mind...

 

[MissChris]

We just had our December trip and it was lovely. But I have to tell you, it was COLD. Wow, it was really cold. I'm from the NE and I figured I could easily handle anything Florida could throw at me but we were there for 4 straight nights of record low temperatures and highs on the first day in the low 40's. Yikes! Probably it didn't help that we were camping... So bring your coats, you never know what you'll get.

Anyway, if you can stay at a monorail resort, that makes everything easier on the kids. We took the monorail around to see all the holiday decorations and I found the Polynesian very welcoming and attractive. I've never stayed there but if I ever get the chance that's the place I'd go. The Grand Floridian seemed more geared to adults and the Contemporary was a bit severe.

If you have a 35-40% off code that makes for a greater overall monetary savings at the more expensive resorts, probably enough of a savings to make it a better deal than free dining. I find, with the kids, that we don't want to do a bunch of sit down restaurant meals anyway. They prefer something simpler and it's faster and less expensive to get all counter service, or even to cook for ourselves (see: camping...)

We avoided the Pop Warner week (which was blacked out for use with the discounts anyway) and the crowds were totally manageable. I would say it was busier than November, which was when we usually go, but still not overwhelming. Actually, Disney starts "Christmas" in the middle of November and that has been a fantastic time to go. If you avoid Jersey week the crowds are very light and the weather is warmer and you can still enjoy the lovely decorations and some of the special holiday events, although not all of them begin that early.

Whatever you decide, have a great time!

 

[sapereaude]

We just had our December trip and it was lovely. But I have to tell you, it was COLD. Wow, it was really cold. I'm from the NE and I figured I could easily handle anything Florida could throw at me but we were there for 4 straight nights of record low temperatures and highs on the first day in the low 40's. Yikes! Probably it didn't help that we were camping... So bring your coats, you never know what you'll get.

Also a new englander here. we went in December last time and January this time - it was much warmer in Dec, so it just varies, our Jan trip has been like your trip was, very cold, some days in the 40s, we weren't expecting that cold so didn't pack warm enough. On our Dec '08 trip it was 70s the whole time. I would just say its important to pack for cold, and don't expect it to be warm enough to swim every day - we didn't go swimming much during our trip, though the kids went in some days, since Disney does heat the pools.

We went Mid-Dec last time and it was great, very low crowds, decorations were beautiful. The downfall of the offseason is the park hours are short, so don't follow the conventional wisdom of 'take a break in the middle of the day' - if we did that we would waste half our park time. You also don't need as much of a break since it isn't boiling hot, you aren't hauling around in the heat. Since our kids were little then, we found it worked to start at opening and go until the afternoon parade, then head back for a nap or swimming for the rest of the day. We would alternate this with days we took it easy in the morning and stayed later for things like fireworks.

I say whenever you can book a reservation you can cancel you should just do it and then keep looking for a better deal. Yes, you will probably have to put a deposit down, but you'll get that back anyway, if you can't afford to outlay the deposit, maybe a disney trip shouldn't be in your plans. I do this for everything, car rentals, etc - and wait on things I can't cancel until I think I have the best deal.

 

[BDL]

I just had my Dec trip last month and had a blast. We checked in the 10th, which was the next to last day of the tournament. But from what I gathered from the people who were checking out when I was checking, the cheerleaders definitely made their mark and not in a good way.

My advice for you, and having the grandparents there definitely makes it easier.

1) Have the whole family together for the Osbourne lights. It is a moving, breath taking and will make you want to hold your family a little closer while you all take it in.

2) If you have the chance, get the the MVMCP. It is an extra charge, but there are benefits as well. The park is open to you til 11, and only people with tix are there. It's better than EMH. All you'd need is 1 grand parent to volunteer to stay with the kids to watch the 1st parade, get them back to the resort and babysit them while you are free to walk onto rides that usually have 45-90min waits.

3) Once again, having baby-sitters come in handy again. Book a meal/admission combo for Candlelight Processional. It's really nice and can really get you in the spirit with professional and high school choirs singing with and orchestra and a celebrity reading the Christmas story. You can rotate. Parents take the kids and grandparent attend the CP and then vice/versa.

4) My last tip, book an early morning breakfast at the Kona Cafe (get the Tonga toast). After breakfast, get on the monorail and take in all the decorations at the lobbies of the monorail resorts. From there, you will have access to all of the parks.

Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip.

 

[ktlm]

1. What week in December is the best to go (least crowded)? Anytime will work for us. I don't mind keeping my 1st grader out of school for a week.

We have been the past 3 Decembers. If it works with your schedule, I would say go the week of the 11th (such as the 11th to 18th). We have been that week, and we have been the first week of December (we avoid pop warner week), and I think the 3rd week of December is less crowded than the first week. The first week of December is okay if you have school programs or parties that make you not want to miss the later week. They tape the Christmas parade that first weekend in December, and between that and the Pop Warner kids arriving, it can get pretty crazy.


2. We will be staying at a disney resort. I know a lot of you prefer certain resorts, but is there any you would stay at especially in December for whatever reason (IDK, maybe the fact that you can't swim might have something to do with it or something)?

WL is beautiful at Christmas. The monorail resorts are always great with little ones, but if you don't want to go to the extra expense for those, WL is a short boat ride to the MK, and it just feels like Christmas. Also, don't assume you can't swim. A few years ago, it was in the 80s the entire week we were there in December, except for the first day which was in the 70s. You just never know.

3. I have a 35/40% discount on the resort, should I book now with that or wait and hope for free dining?

YES!!! Book now, if a better discount comes along then you can change your booking. Do the math to figure out if free dining would be better for you (you can't use both). For us, there are only 3 of us and we don't eat enough
for free dining to be much of a benefit to us. (We are not ones to have an appetizer and dessert with every meal). The room discount saves us much more money.

4. Do I NEED to go ahead and book now?

YES!!! Do not wait. Not all rooms are available at the discounted rate. There are only a certain amount of rooms set aside for the discount and once those are gone, you are back to the regular high rate. Those rooms go fast too. In December 2008, we tried to use a bounceback rate for December 2009, and could not get a room at the WL as they were already gone. We booked the Poly instead. We were told that once we had booked something at the discount we could switch resorts still using the discount if a room became available. We were told if we called back and checked regularly it was likely there would be a cancellation at the WL, and we could move over. We didn't test that as we decided to stick with the Poly and give it a try. Book now if you want to be sure to be able to use that discount!!!

5. What other tips or advice would you give for a trip in Dec?

Disney at Christmas is wonderful! The biggest advice is to be sure and pack for any kind of weather, and don't trust the forecast even the day before you leave. The weather can change very quickly down there. One year, we should (had we packed right), have been in shorts and short sleeved shirts day and night. The last two years, we started off in shorts day and night, and ended up in sweaters and jackets. You can have any kind of weather in December.

Also, be sure and get over to Camp Minnie Mickey at AK for pictures with the characters as they dress in christmas clothes there. Getting a picture with Santa Goofy is a must for us!

 

[ccgirl]

I am so excited to be going back to WDW (haven't been since 2 years ago in Sept - we stayed at CSR). We decided that we wanted to go in December to see the Christmas decorations and lights. I have some questions, but if it is important it will be me and DH, and our 3 kids (6, 5, and 1). My parents will be going and DH's Mom, sis, and neice (we will be in 3 separate rooms I guess):

1. What week in December is the best to go (least crowded)? Anytime will work for us. I don't mind keeping my 1st grader out of school for a week.
Just got back from Dec 2 - 12th. Thought it was VERY crowded. Pop Warner/taping Christmas parade. I would either go the week after or The week after Thanksgiving (not Thanksgiving week).
2. We will be staying at a disney resort. I know a lot of you prefer certain resorts, but is there any you would stay at especially in December for whatever reason (IDK, maybe the fact that you can't swim might have something to do with it or something)?
I really thought we would be able to swim. Come on...my kids will swim in any weather. Ummm...we could only swim on one day. I really wish we got larger accommodations like a DVC resort of the family suite. If your pin works for those I would go for it!
3. I have a 35/40% discount on the resort, should I book now with that or wait and hope for free dining?
I would book now as the longer you wait, the resorts will fill up. You can always switch "if" free dining is offered again. It was already offered thru Sept.
4. Do I NEED to go ahead and book now?
I would.
5. What other tips or advice would you give for a trip in Dec?
Bring hats/gloves/warm clothes. Being from New England we thought we could handle it. 30 degrees in Florida (which it was just about every night after sundown) is still darn cold!

Have fun! Definitely look at the Osbourne lights. The Candlelight Processional at Epcot was beautiful! It was very fun!
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer any questions!

.

 

[Rantybaby]

Have fun! Definitely look at the Osbourne lights. The Candlelight Processional at Epcot was beautiful! It was very fun!

What's so special about these events?

 

[ccgirl]

What's so special about these events?

The Osborne Lights are at Hollywood Studios and are amazing. I really can't describle them but if you google you will probably find pictures and/or videos.

The Candlelight Processional is held in Epcot at the theatre across from America. It is the retelling of the Christmas Story with a very large choir accompanied by it. The "storyteller" when we were there was the voice of the Little Mermaid (I forget her name). We just found it to be very moving.

The MVMCP was great too. Snow on Main St and hot cider and cookies...mmmmm....