Solo "Christmas" trip in November planning advice?

[MusicalAstronaut]

I wanted to pick everyone's brains on my annual solo Christmas trip. Normally I go about halfway through December. I love to tour the resorts, see the Candlelight Processional, ride the Jingle Cruise, etc. This year I'll be running the Space Coast Marathon in Cocoa Beach the Sunday after Thanksgiving. I was looking at hotels/things to do in the area because initially I was thinking of taking a long weekend for it....but now I'm thinking I should take some days off the week after, and do my Disney Christmas trip early. It seems like a lot less work than driving to Florida twice in 2 weeks! My pseudo-conundrum is that I won't be in Disney through the next weekend if I do this. I don't think I'd want to be out of town solo for 8 days - I have pets and I'd probably get lonely TBH. But it feels weird to take 5 days off work to come home that Friday instead of on a Sunday. On the other hand, if I only take off Monday-Wednesday, I feel like that would significantly shorten my Disney trip (because the marathon is Sunday, so at the earliest I won't get to Disney until that evening). What would you do?? I'm right in remembering that all of the Christmas decorations will be up and things like the Candlelight Processional begin immediately after Thanksgiving, right?

 

[pigletgirl]

Yes, I believe the CP starts either Thanksgiving evening or the day after. All the holiday festivities will begin the weekend following Thanksgiving.

 

[spiceycat]

MVMCP starts earlier. think it is a couple of days after MNSSHP.

 

[Bete]

Go for the longer trip. You're there anyway.

You can relax maybe that first day after the marathon and go to MVMCP at night if the schedule works. Or visit the monorail resorts for the Christmas decor and have a meal at the Grand Floridian and enjoy fireworks from the dock there, if they are scheduled that night.

Take Epcot in with all the Christmas storytellers that week. This can be time consuming but so interesting. Do the gospel singers there, too.

Maybe, do a backstage tour.

 

[MusicalAstronaut]

Go for the longer trip. You're there anyway.

You can relax maybe that first day after the marathon and go to MVMCP at night if the schedule works. Or visit the monorail resorts for the Christmas decor and have a meal at the Grand Floridian and enjoy fireworks from the dock there, if they are scheduled that night.

Take Epcot in with all the Christmas storytellers that week. This can be time consuming but so interesting. Do the gospel singers there, too.

Maybe, do a backstage tour.

You know, I have never done the Christmas party! Is it fun solo? I definitely love the resort decorations so I'm happy that they'll be up even in November. I've done a couple backstage tours - Behind The Seeds, Backstage Magic, and the Segway tour in epcot (or was that the start of backstage magic? I can't remember). Any others you'd suggest? I've heard Keys to the Kingdom but are they any smaller ones you might suggest? I wonder if there's a Christmas-specific tour...

 

[richmo]

You're right, the decorations should be up. We were staying in Wilderness Lodge a couple years ago and I want to say around November 10 one morning we woke up and the tree was up and decorated. I recall Epcot's tree was up and I think Animal Kingdom also. Not sure if MK's was up yet.

Of course, I'd always encourage a longer stay, but you're right you have to balance that with pet care, work, etc.

Whatever you do, it'll be fun and good luck with the marathon!

 

[MusicalAstronaut]

You're right, the decorations should be up. We were staying in Wilderness Lodge a couple years ago and I want to say around November 10 one morning we woke up and the tree was up and decorated. I recall Epcot's tree was up and I think Animal Kingdom also. Not sure if MK's was up yet.

Of course, I'd always encourage a longer stay, but you're right you have to balance that with pet care, work, etc.

Whatever you do, it'll be fun and good luck with the marathon!

I've been wanting to do a longer stay, I think I just need to bite the bullet and do it! And thanks! Hopefully I can walk the next day or my solo trip is going to be very difficult.

 

[Bete]

Yes, there is a Christmas tour called Disney's Yuletide Fantasy. I don't want to do any spoilers, but this was one my favorite tours.

MVMCP is fun either way, solo or not. What I like most is you get extra hours in the park. The fireworks and parade are very special.

 

[MusicalAstronaut]

Yes, there is a Christmas tour called Disney's Yuletide Fantasy. I don't want to do any spoilers, but this was one my favorite tours.

MVMCP is fun either way, solo or not. What I like most is you get extra hours in the park. The fireworks and parade are very special.

I'm going to look up that tour, thank you!!