Soooo excited!!!

[4fordisneyworld]

I was able to get a 1BR from Dec 21st-26th at OKW!!! This trip is a big deal for us and now I have to get up the nerve to tell all of our overpowering family who are not gonna be happy we are gone over Christmas. Something I have to do for my girls and myself though and I think it will be more healing for us

Now to decide where to stay our first two nights. We are thinking CBR? Any other suggestions? We only ever stayed at POP before DVC came into our lives and the girls do love it there but wanting to try something different maybe!!
Even thought about the POLY??

Okay....now to keep it a secret until I cannot any longer!!

 

[wbl2745]

Congratulations! We almost always debate going away for Christmas, but haven't actually done it. I'm so jealous. Frankly, I think Christmas is a VERY stressful time and getting away sounds wonderful.

Regarding places to stay, you've been to Pop Century so you know that. The Polynesian Resort is very nice and it's fun to be on the monorail line. It may actually spoil you. The pool is great and it is nice to have a beach to play at. We've also stayed at the Alligator Bayou, Riverside section of Port Orleans. This was really nice. The quiet pool was near our building (#14) and Ol' Man Island was a lot of fun with a very nice pool. I like being in hotels with a lot of landscaping and the Alligator Bayou section of Port Orleans is great.

Have fun!

 

[CKDKMK]

Have fun. We did this, this past Christmas. However my family waited till we got back to have the Christmas party. We were hoping to get out of it but did not work. Maybe not saying anything till last minute after they already planned. I told my family about a month prior to Christmas. Not sure on resorts. I enjoy them all and right now we are still in the process of trying them all out. So far we have only stayed at 7 different Disney resorts and trying BWV out for 1st time in 4 weeks.

 

[castleri]

I was able to get a 1BR from Dec 21st-26th at OKW!!! This trip is a big deal for us and now I have to get up the nerve to tell all of our overpowering family who are not gonna be happy we are gone over Christmas. Something I have to do for my girls and myself though and I think it will be more healing for us

Now to decide where to stay our first two nights. We are thinking CBR? Any other suggestions? We only ever stayed at POP before DVC came into our lives and the girls do love it there but wanting to try something different maybe!!
Even thought about the POLY??

Okay....now to keep it a secret until I cannot any longer!!

Have only stayed at DVC resorts and POR so can't offer much help there but did enjoy the stay at both of the PO resorts.

I would wait as long as possible to tell the family and then tell them that this is your Christmas present to yourself and the girls and it is really something you need to do. Just go with the idea that the first days you are there you will do the things that matter the most and then you can deal with the crowds from the 24th on in a relaxed manner. Hope you have a wonderful trip.

 

[iluveeyore]

Oh, so happy for you and the girls - we did Christmas last year, but we had the whole family there - it was a healing trip for us too - 15 years since my Mom passed, and we were getting tired of the same old Christmases at home, so Dad offered to pay for all of us to be together at his favourite place (OKW) over the holidays. It was wonderful, although too cold for pool time or deck time. Still, no snow, and we had a blast.
Just a fun suggestion - I picked up a small 2 foot prelit tree at Walmart, packed it in my suitcase with some unbreakable Disney decorations, and we had a lovely little Christmas area on the buffet of the dining room in our 2 bedroom. My dad even packed outdoor mini lights and we strung them across the balcony as many other members did.
Have a wonderful time, don't worry about what your family thinks, just enjoy yourselves. It was wonderful for us not running around buying last minute gifts or trying to decide whose house we were going to on what day during the holidays. I'm looking forward to our usual traditions this year, but only because I had a wonderful and magical break from them last year!

 

[GoofItUp]

So excited for you & your kids! I understand about the family thing...my family & in-laws would flip at the thought of us not being around at Christmas. Sometimes you just have to do what's best for you anyways!

We've stayed at CBR & POR (mansions) and I liked POR better. The grounds are fantastic and I really liked their quick service & sit-down dining options. CBR was nice, but it was TOO big (had to take a bus to get to the food area, etc.) If you're going to do MK stuff those first couple of days, the Poly would certainly be convenient. And it was THE deluxe I MOST wanted to stay at before I bought into DVC. But for some reason I'm really leaning towards POR for you.

Either way, have a great Christmas!!

 

[dizkrazkate]

Congrats on getting OKW! Christmas should be a joyous time, and if that means going to Disney without the rest of the family, they should wish you well.

I have to vote POR, it is such a lovely resort, and the one I usually recommend to people looking for a moderate.

 

[mrsswat]

Wilderness Lodge? They have amazing Christmas decorations AND they offer a "sleigh" ride! We did it one year and it was so neat!! The horse and "sleigh" (carriage) pick you up out front and take you thru Fort Wilderness a little. My whole family really enjoyed it! I also second the idea of o small tree! We shipped one down FedEx, along with some decorations and it was so much fun! OKW does have electrical outlet on the balcony, so lights would add to the festivities. I guarantee you and your girls will have a wonderful, magical time!

 

[wdwfan1]

I also think WL is the best resort at Christmastime. Enjoy your vacation.

 

[SB in KY]

Good for YOU....this will be a trip your girls always remember....and how nice to have a Christmas full of happy times and activities instead of sad memories for you all.

I agree with the plan to stay at any resort that appeals for the first couple of days....you will probably want to be hitting the parks a lot those first few days before the crowds get overwhelming so you probably won't be spending that much time in the room....then after you move into OKW you can spread out and make your own Christmas there...bake cookies with the girls, watch movies, put up a little tree or some decorations have fun at all of the events going on in the parks.....it will be SUCH a fun time for you all.

One of the greatest things we ever did at Christmas at WDW was rent a golf cart for 24 hours at Ft Wilderness, and drive all around over there looking at all the Christmas decorations in the campsites.....we were totally blown away....the sleigh ride would do pretty much the same thing...it was GREAT.

Have a wonderful trip.

 

[arthur06]

I was considering next year going over/around Christmas. The thing that I worry about is how the family will react. My kids are still pretty young (10, 4, 2) so I think that we will wait until they are all school age. Hope you have a wonderful time!

 

[katmittens]

We went for Christmas a few years back and loved it. Kids were about 13 and 16. We drive so we brought a three foot tree and Disney ornaments and put it ontop of the tv stand it was great. I brought a few small gifts so we had something to open. We opened presents a week early at home. We stayed at VWL. It was beautiful. Everyone should do it at least once. My kids are now 27 and 24 and we would love to do it again, but with work schedules it gets harder and harder. So enjoy it now. Have a great trip.

 

[XGrumpy1]

Wow, that's great. Have a great Christmas.

 

[4fordisneyworld]

Good for YOU....this will be a trip your girls always remember....and how nice to have a Christmas full of happy times and activities instead of sad memories for you all.

I agree with the plan to stay at any resort that appeals for the first couple of days....you will probably want to be hitting the parks a lot those first few days before the crowds get overwhelming so you probably won't be spending that much time in the room....then after you move into OKW you can spread out and make your own Christmas there...bake cookies with the girls, watch movies, put up a little tree or some decorations have fun at all of the events going on in the parks.....it will be SUCH a fun time for you all.

One of the greatest things we ever did at Christmas at WDW was rent a golf cart for 24 hours at Ft Wilderness, and drive all around over there looking at all the Christmas decorations in the campsites.....we were totally blown away....the sleigh ride would do pretty much the same thing...it was GREAT.

Have a wonderful trip.

Thank you! That is a good idea and I talked with my girls about it. They love the thought of baking cookies and also taking our Christmas movies from home to watch together. They are all about the putting up a little tree. I would love to go check out Ft. Wilderness and I think they would enjoy that as well. Great input

 

[4fordisneyworld]

Wilderness Lodge? They have amazing Christmas decorations AND they offer a "sleigh" ride! We did it one year and it was so neat!! The horse and "sleigh" (carriage) pick you up out front and take you thru Fort Wilderness a little. My whole family really enjoyed it! I also second the idea of o small tree! We shipped one down FedEx, along with some decorations and it was so much fun! OKW does have electrical outlet on the balcony, so lights would add to the festivities. I guarantee you and your girls will have a wonderful, magical time!

Oh good to know about the outlet on the balcony! I was wondering how I could put up lights Ty!

 

[4fordisneyworld]

Wow, that's great. Have a great Christmas.

Thank you!

 

[4fordisneyworld]

Oh, so happy for you and the girls - we did Christmas last year, but we had the whole family there - it was a healing trip for us too - 15 years since my Mom passed, and we were getting tired of the same old Christmases at home, so Dad offered to pay for all of us to be together at his favourite place (OKW) over the holidays. It was wonderful, although too cold for pool time or deck time. Still, no snow, and we had a blast.
Just a fun suggestion - I picked up a small 2 foot prelit tree at Walmart, packed it in my suitcase with some unbreakable Disney decorations, and we had a lovely little Christmas area on the buffet of the dining room in our 2 bedroom. My dad even packed outdoor mini lights and we strung them across the balcony as many other members did.
Have a wonderful time, don't worry about what your family thinks, just enjoy yourselves. It was wonderful for us not running around buying last minute gifts or trying to decide whose house we were going to on what day during the holidays. I'm looking forward to our usual traditions this year, but only because I had a wonderful and magical break from them last year!

It has been 39 months since we lost my husband and the best daddy ever. We did go back the for Christmas, earlier in December though, the year he died. I was still in shock to be honest and I just remember being very overwhelmed. I am anxious to get away from the input of others who think I should be handling the grief a certain way. I have learned this is my girls and my journey of grief and we need to do what is best for us. My goal is for my girls to have a mommy who is not waking up very depressed and cranky on Christmas morning. I think that is achievable at our favorite place. This will literally be the first time I have ever been away from family at Christmas so hence the reason they are not going to handle it well. But it is the 3 of us I am concerned about
Ty for the suggestion of packing the tree. I think I could make a small one fit!

 

[4fordisneyworld]

I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU to everyone for input. I knew I could trust the great people on DISboards to understand why Disney seems the place to be to heal and make memories