Tell me about Christmas

[Fargoman2]

After 5 scorching summer visits to the World, we're a bit burned out by the routine--so we need a change. We still love Disney, of course, but a buddy of mine at work has me jazzed thinking about the prospects of taking my family there during Christmas.

So I have some questions for you:
1. When is the best time for a Christmas visit? First week of December? I'm trying to figure out how I would schedule around school programs, concerts, etc. as well as my seasonal work issues.

2. (related to #1). What are the crowds like?

3. What are the temps like?

4. How does touring differ in December as compared to July?

41/2. Can you get good deals at the Dolphin (our usual) or others?

5. Tell me about Very Merry Christmas event at MK

6. What do you know about the Candlelight processional?

7. What else would convince me to go in December? (Or right after Thanksgiving?)

We would be looking at Christmas 2006. Thanks for your insight and advice!

 

[disneyfamilyof5]

Bump.....I wanna know too!!

 

[disboy21086]

Can't Speak for December, but I was there last year hte first week in January, and it was absolutely gorgeous, 80's during the day high 60's at night. January, May, and october/November are my favorite months to go to FLA

 

[slapwhitey]

I've gone numerous times in early December. It is by far my favorite time to visit. This year however I'm trying the week of Christmas (wish me luck). The crowds in early December are very light. As relaxing as it can get at WDW. I thought that MVMCP was the best investment I've ever made at Disney. Others haven't been thrilled but there was actually a point in Adventureland that we were the only people around. Absolutely loved it. The temps were warm enough for me to wear shorts and a tshirt but I'm from Manitoba so anything above 0 in December is great. There is a time during the first 2 weeks of Dec. when it's full of pop warner football kids. As long as you stay away from the value resorts it shouldn't bother you too much. The Candlelight Processional wasn't my cup of tea but for most it's a must see.
Probably the best thing I can say is that if you love Disney and love Christmas. The sights, sounds and overall feeling in the parks is beyond comparison. If you have any other questions please feel free to pm me.

 

[StitchIsOurHero]

We went last year in December (16th-20th). It was not crowded AT ALL on the first 4 days--in fact we took pictures of the street in MGM that leads to ToT & RNR to show how few people were there. The last day, it was jammed. We had to skip Epcot because the lines for just the security check part were backed up forever. We stayed at All-Star Movies, and we didn't have a problem with any crowds there, either.

The temperatures were really nice. I took a sweatshirt and wore it in the mornings when it was a little chilly. DH wore shorts & t-shirts the whole time. We left 17 degree weather in TN and arrived at WDW, where it was 45 degrees (at 6 in the morning). We thought it was a warm front, but the people working at the airport were bundled up!

MVMCP was one of the best things we've ever done at WDW. We were able to ride BTMRR two times in a row, without ever getting off the ride. Most of the other rides were walk-ons, and there were characters everywhere with no lines. We loved it!

We didn't do Candlelight Processional, but we did do Osborne Lights, and it was terrific! I would go to WDW every year in December if I could--it really sets that Christmas mood!

 

[homer424]

I went twice in December: once during the second week in 1996, once during the first week in 2000. In 1996 it was dead-we were able to walk on any and every ride and there were very few crowds. As a matter of fact, we had the whole are around Spaceship Earth and Inoventions to ourselves. There is a picture of me somewhere just standing in front of the fountain and my friend stood all the way back by the entrance to WS and took a picture. It was weird how there was no one around.

Now in 2000, it was a different story. Much more crowded, lots of lines and long waits. It was as if we went towards the end of the summer. We had to skip a lot of what we wanted to see because the wait was too much.

Both times, though, were beautiful. The Christmas decorations and the spirit is just..I don't know how to put it! They really amp up the Disney Spirit and it is a wonderful time of year to visit.

Temps were prety nice both times-in '96 it was in the upper 70s-low 80s every day. In 2000, we had 3 days of mid-upper 80s then the last 2 days dipped down to the mid-60s. In the mornings, it is pretty much in the 60s on any day and at night it can dip in the 60's, too. But otherwise, it is pretty nice!

We didn't do the party or the Candlelight processional (my daughter had just turned 1 and I don't think she would have enjoyed either). But a friend of mine did the party and she had a great time.

I would love to go again in December-but with my daughter in school, it is much harder to get away (her district is very strict about time off and only allows 7 days "unexcused"- meaning without a dr's note. Take 5 days out for a trip that only allows her 2 day to be absent without having to run her to the dr. Anything over the 7 days you have to report to court but anyway... )

 

[pic22]

December IMHO is the best time of year, if you looking to go swimming, it can be a crap shoot, some years it is hot enough and some years it is just slightly too cold. I was there in Dec 2003 and am going back this Dec. We almost left our jackets in NJ when we came down last time, but thank God we did not as the temperature when we arrived was 45 Degrees. Which is quite an extreme cold wave in the Orlando Area, but it was much better than the 20's and 15 inches of snow we missed in NJ. Back to your questions:

1) We going during the first week, but many feel the second or third weeks are better, the christmas decorations go up right after Thanksgiving, so anytime after that and before the week of Christmas - (Crowds grow considerably as you get closer to Christmas.

2) Crowds are heavy during Thanksgiving week, and then light till about a week or two before Christmas.

3) Temps can range from 40s (but this is considered abnormal) and range into the mid 80s


4) - Not sure what you mean by touring.
4b) - There are usually some pretty good resort deals, there is MouseFest during the first week of Dec, and they have deals with Swan and Dolphin.
Rates are in Value Season, and with AP, the discounts are usually pretty good, last time I got one night at Poly for $199. and AKL Savanah View for $159 a night.

5-6) Not enough can be said about MMVCP - to make my life easier for this question and the next please see this website as they will do a better job than I can: http://www.allearsnet.com/tp/holiday.htm Just to add, these two I will not miss each year I am in the world in Dec. Dumbo with Santa Hats on, snow(bubbles - but looks like snow) down Main Street, Hot Cocoa and Cookie stands, story telling, shows. CLP is the story of Jesus narrorated by Famous Actors and Actresses, with many returning favorites, I have seen Rita Moreno. Gary Sanise, Rita and Edward James Olmos have been doing each year, Gary and Edward seem to do it closer to Christmas. A schedule will come out about 3 months out.

7) Decorations around the resorts a attraction in themselves. The countries in Epcot each have thier own Santa's and tell stories. The decorations are everywhere, and even down Mainstreet and on the castle is just awesome. I almost forgot the Osbourne Light Spectacular, which I will be seeing for the first time this Dec, as it was not there in 2003. I get scared to tell people about this time of year, because I don't want to go and have it be crowded, not that it would stop me, but it almost more intimitate when you are not fighting huge crowds. The parks feel like they are yours. P.S. I am leaving the day after Thanksgiving and am little worried about my first weekend being a little hectic. Enjoy.

 

[Pats Dragon]

We are hooked on the week before Christmas after trying every other time. The decorations are beautiful and worth seeing by themselves. There are sleigh rides at WL, Santa brings every room bags of treats on Christmas eve, there are carolers and shows and santas from every land at epcot. The characters dress in festive costumes, there is Christmas music everywhere, GF has an English looking gentlemen giving out roasted chestnuts at the door, there are many gingerbread fabulous things. MVMCP has snow on main street and free chocolate and cookies and usually very few people. The two times it was crowded, the shows made it worthwhile. The processionals have celebrity narrators and an orchestra and snow and the Christmas story. The Osbourne Lights are wonderful and there are eggnog carts!! What more can I say. The weather ranges from warm enough for shorts and swimming to freezing but it is Christmas after all and any weather is fun. Go. You'll be hooked too.

 

[freediverdude]

Christmas week itself is just crazy with insane crowds, but the week before is great. The MVMCP separately ticketed events run up through the week before Christmas, but do not occur during Christmas week itself (during Christmas week there is snow on Main Street in the evenings and the Christmas parade is during the day though). During Christmas week you would have to concentrate on seeing certain things and let the rest go, because the crowds are just too much. When I go during that week, I go with the expectation of just walking around and enjoying the sights and occasional shows, and maybe a ride here and there if the line is short, just enjoying the ambience. This is not the week to do commando "see-everything-in-the-park-in-one-day" touring, hehe. I would recommend the week before Christmas, although I know it's special feeling to be in Disney World during the actual holidays (although I don't know if I would recommend Magic Kingdom on Christmas day- the year before last was an hour wait at a counter service place to get a small breakfast at 10am ). Last year it rained and was chilly Christmas day, so it wasn't bad crowdwise for the people who went, but pretty miserable weatherwise- a lot of people bailed out midday. We do tend to get a cold snap right around that week, where it tends to be in the 60s during the day and 40s at night. Hope this helps.

 

[WaltD4Me]

We went the first week of December 2004...after the trip, my brother asked why anyone would go at any other time!

The crowds are very light...we did wait in some lines, but not many. I think our longest wait was for probably Test Track and that was only about 10 minutes. We walked right on many rides, including ToT and RnR!

The week we went happened to be HOT, 85-90...I couldn't believe it! It was even warm at night! The day after we left though it was only 65 and went down to 45 at night! December weather is very iffy!

I was not impressed with MVMCP, but others I know love it! I think our night was just very crowded and it just wasn't what I expected, but I might have built it up too much before going.

Don't want to start a debate, but I would check to see when Pop Warner is going to be there and at resorts before booking. We had to share buses with them and I'll just say it wasn't fun, I can't imagine staying at the same resort too. (They don't impact daytime park crowds though.)

The decorations are gorgeous and definitely worth seeing!

We got an excellent deal for the Port Orleans French Quarter, it was through an email I received with a pin code. Not sure if Disney is still sending those out, but if you get one, call IMMEDIATELY. I called as soon as I got mine and already 3 of the 4 moderates available were booked at those rates. I did see other deals too. Although with Pop Warner getting bigger, you might not see the really good rates the week that they are there.

All in all I loved going in December, even with the shorter park hours. The first week of May is my 1st choice to do WDW, but early December is a very close 2nd.

 

[Fargoman2]

You've all done a very good job of enticing me to plan for Christmas.

Just one point of clarification: When you refer to the week before Christmas as perhaps ideal--are you talking the 17-24 or 10-17?

Thanks again everyone! You've all put me in the Christmas spirit.

P.S. Much like the poster from Winnipeg, I'm not overly concerned about the weather. Minnesota also tends to cool down just a bit in December.

 

[dvcgirl]

You've all done a very good job of enticing me to plan for Christmas.

Just one point of clarification: When you refer to the week before Christmas as perhaps ideal--are you talking the 17-24 or 10-17?

Thanks again everyone! You've all put me in the Christmas spirit.

P.S. Much like the poster from Winnipeg, I'm not overly concerned about the weather. Minnesota also tends to cool down just a bit in December.

Not the 17th-24th....crowds will pick up bigtime that week. The 10-17th....best week in December this year. The week before that will also be quite nice. Like others have said, swimming can be iffy. We can get temps in the 50s..but we can also be in the 70s. The parks close earlier, but of course it doesn't matter too much because you don't need the parks to be open for 20 hours because there are no lines to speak of.