Talk to me about December

[GettingFuzzy]

Hello!

First time trip and whatnot that has been postponed from October to December due to Mr. GettingFuzzy breaking his leg at a very inopportune time (I personally think it was a *really* dramatic way to get out of home renovations, but he denies it. Sigh.). So, our Halloween trip has been moved to an early Christmas/Birthday trip from Dec 12th to the 17th. Which brings me to my point, because I swear I have one, are there any must-do's for the holiday season? I'm not against buying an annual pass because I'm fairly certain we'll go back within a year, and I know there are perks with the pass, but do people think the passes are worth it? We're staying at the Royal Pacific Resort if that's important (no idea why that would be but that's why I'm asking. Or demanding. Whichever.)

We have no plans to go anywhere but Universal currently but are willing to if something sounds interesting enough. I'm not particularly particular but any general or specific information you all are willing to share will be considered helpful. Unless we have to postpone it again because Mr. GettingFuzzy threw himself off the roof because I got ridiculous about the Christmas lights. Until then, however, lay it on me about December!

 

[tinydancer09]

HAHAHA! Lets hope he doesn't fall off the roof decorating for Christmas! I've gone two different weeks in December. I've been the week after Thanksgiving and the second week back when I was still in college. It will be very low crowd levels until the weekend of the 17th. Whatever that friday is is when most kids get out of school for the holidays. I also love the weather this time of year! Warm enough to wear short sleeves usually, but still cool enough to wear pants if you want. Obviously that changes...

We only spent one day at Universal during our trips and mostly at Disney. The parks are very pretty during this time of year. Since I spent so little time at the dark site I can't say anything specific over there. The grinchmas stage show was pretty good. And we didn't watch the macy's day parade but saw it in the distance.

If you are interested in the other side (disney) they do Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party which is at Magic Kingdom. The osborne family lights at MGM... Er Hollywood Studios(Disney) is on it's last year.

Have fun! I'm sure someone else will come along with more detailed universal related christmas stuff.

 

[damo]

The reason to buy an AP would be determined if you'll save money with the room discounts. Very often, the amount saved ends up being more than the cost of the pass itself.

Early December is a great time to go and usually has nice AP discounts. For your dates it is $166/night. SMSM is $178/night. You can determine if the savings are worth it considering the power pass is only a couple more bucks than the 4 day ticket.

 

[kohlby]

We're going at the start of December and staying at RPR. However, we were sent a PIN code and that was better than the annual passholder rate. (Get on the mailing lists!) To search for the annual passholder rate, put in your dates on the website and then use the code "APH." You don't need the passes in hand to book the room - but will need to show them when checking in.

We are getting AP's this time - but that's because we're doing more than 4 days and know that we'll be back within the year. If you aren't sure, an option is to upgrade your ticket to an AP if you decide it's worth it during your trip.

We haven't been to US/IOA for two years and I can't remember what Christmas things they had - so I'm no help there other than to say that the US/IOA website talks about Grinchmas and other holiday things.

 

[GettingFuzzy]

HAHAHA! Lets hope he doesn't fall off the roof decorating for Christmas! I've gone two different weeks in December. I've been the week after Thanksgiving and the second week back when I was still in college. It will be very low crowd levels until the weekend of the 17th. Whatever that friday is is when most kids get out of school for the holidays. I also love the weather this time of year! Warm enough to wear short sleeves usually, but still cool enough to wear pants if you want. Obviously that changes...

We only spent one day at Universal during our trips and mostly at Disney. The parks are very pretty during this time of year. Since I spent so little time at the dark site I can't say anything specific over there. The grinchmas stage show was pretty good. And we didn't watch the macy's day parade but saw it in the distance.

If you are interested in the other side (disney) they do Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party which is at Magic Kingdom. The osborne family lights at MGM... Er Hollywood Studios(Disney) is on it's last year.

Have fun! I'm sure someone else will come along with more detailed universal related christmas stuff.

Thanks for the info! I like the Grinch, but have an aversion to parades. No idea why really, just don't care for them. I don't think we'll be going to WDW at all but I didn't know it was the Osborne Family Lights last year so who knows?

The reason to buy an AP would be determined if you'll save money with the room discounts. Very often, the amount saved ends up being more than the cost of the pass itself.

Early December is a great time to go and usually has nice AP discounts. For your dates it is $166/night. SMSM is $178/night. You can determine if the savings are worth it considering the power pass is only a couple more bucks than the 4 day ticket.

The difference was about $10 per night which adds up quickly and who doesn't like saving money? I know I do.

We're going at the start of December and staying at RPR. However, we were sent a PIN code and that was better than the annual passholder rate. (Get on the mailing lists!) To search for the annual passholder rate, put in your dates on the website and then use the code "APH." You don't need the passes in hand to book the room - but will need to show them when checking in.

We are getting AP's this time - but that's because we're doing more than 4 days and know that we'll be back within the year. If you aren't sure, an option is to upgrade your ticket to an AP if you decide it's worth it during your trip.

We haven't been to US/IOA for two years and I can't remember what Christmas things they had - so I'm no help there other than to say that the US/IOA website talks about Grinchmas and other holiday things.

We're doing 4 days, maybe even 4.5 since we get there pretty early in the day on the day we arrive so I feel like an AP would be worth it since I'm pretty sure we'll be going back. Especially since I have a massive amount of miles to use up and why not make the most of them?

(Okay, okay, fine. I really just want to call people muggles and do some silly wand waving as much as possible. Also, I've heard tales of a giant pink donut and donuts are one of my own essential food groups.)

 

[HM]

We were there Dec 17-22 last year and are going back Dec 6-11. We bought APs (mine before the trip for the room discount, my DD's at the end as we were sure we'd be back. Should had done the same for my son and husband, because we all went back in March and then DD and I were back in July).

The Grinchmas show was a big hit with DD20. And it's fun seeing the old Macy's floats in various places around the park. We thought the parade was underwhelming though.

This trip we'll be staying offsite but all the others were onsite using an AP discount for the room.

 

[tinydancer09]

I dislike parades also! The only time I ever watch them is if I'm in the other park and it's the 11Oclock one and it's all to myself pretty much. Then its pretty fun. And I usually watch it while walking the opposite direction... TURBO SPEED!

 

[johde]

Nobody has mentioned it yet, but there are also special show for the Blues Brothers and Barney. I didn't watch the Barney show but the Blues Brothers show was pretty good.

For me, the best way to compare USF Christmas decorations to Disney's is their decorations felt more like what you'd find in a real city instead of the over the top nature that some of Disney's. I liked the Macy's Parade but even I'll admit it could use some improvement. I watched the parade from in front of Macy's where they also do a tree lighting ceremony with Santa and the Rockettes. As someone who frequently watched the parade on TV it felt like a small version of what I remember watching as a child.

 

[GettingFuzzy]

We were there Dec 17-22 last year and are going back Dec 6-11. We bought APs (mine before the trip for the room discount, my DD's at the end as we were sure we'd be back. Should had done the same for my son and husband, because we all went back in March and then DD and I were back in July).

The Grinchmas show was a big hit with DD20. And it's fun seeing the old Macy's floats in various places around the park. We thought the parade was underwhelming though.

This trip we'll be staying offsite but all the others were onsite using an AP discount for the room.

The Grinch has always been my favorite so I'll probably drag my ever-patient husband to it more than once.

I dislike parades also! The only time I ever watch them is if I'm in the other park and it's the 11Oclock one and it's all to myself pretty much. Then its pretty fun. And I usually watch it while walking the opposite direction... TURBO SPEED!

I grew up suffering (suffering, I tell you) through the Rose parade and have always managed to avoid all other parades, with the exception of charity pet parades (because I will put all parade animosity aside for puppies) and plan to continue that tradition.

Well, okay, I also worked at Six Flags as a teenager and had parade duty from time to time. It did not help my dislike of them.

Nobody has mentioned it yet, but there are also special show for the Blues Brothers and Barney. I didn't watch the Barney show but the Blues Brothers show was pretty good.

For me, the best way to compare USF Christmas decorations to Disney's is their decorations felt more like what you'd find in a real city instead of the over the top nature that some of Disney's. I liked the Macy's Parade but even I'll admit it could use some improvement. I watched the parade from in front of Macy's where they also do a tree lighting ceremony with Santa and the Rockettes. As someone who frequently watched the parade on TV it felt like a small version of what I remember watching as a child.

I was too old for Barney when Barney did his thing so I have no nostalgia for it. At all. No kids for any Barney love, but I can appreciate the Blues Brothers!

 

[tinydancer09]

I grew up suffering (suffering, I tell you) through the Rose parade and have always managed to avoid all other parades, with the exception of charity pet parades (because I will put all parade animosity aside for puppies) and plan to continue that tradition.

Well, okay, I also worked at Six Flags as a teenager and had parade duty from time to time. It did not help my dislike of them.

The grinchmas stage show is fantastic by the way!

And in my hometown our parade is called the Rose Parade. Though it's a much smaller scale thant he well known one. Ive been IN it for as long as I can remember. Being in and trying to navigate around one are two different things though.