The OFFICIAL December 2014 - Christmas Magic

[DisneyDorkette]

Hello all! I'm later to the thread, but my DBF and myself will be in WDW from Dec 22nd - Dec 28th this year!

As of right now we've booked the following dining plans:

Dec 22nd - TREX Dinner
Dec 23rd - Coral Reef lunch, Le Cellier Dinner

and the other bookings for the week will be done by day, but HOPEFULLY -fingers crossed- the other plans will be:

Dec 24th - Fantasmic Dinner Package (I'm not sure where the DBF wanted to go, but this was his meal plan day)
Dec 25th - Be Our Guest Lunch, Cinderella's Royal Table Dinner
Dec 26th - Yak & Yeti Late Lunch/Early Dinner


All and all over the moon excited for my first Disney Christmas!

 

[happy tink]

Is anyone here going to Universal Orlando while in the area at Christmas time? I have two teens, who will be 14, would like to check out the Harry Potter area. My husband and I, not so much.

So is anyone else considering checking out Harry Potter?

 

[TISHLOVESDISNEY]

Is anyone here going to Universal Orlando while in the area at Christmas time? I have two teens, who will be 14, would like to check out the Harry Potter area. My husband and I, not so much.

So is anyone else considering checking out Harry Potter?

We are doing Universal/IOA in 1 day, getting express passes to help us thru both parks in 1 day. DH has been wanting to go to IOA for years, our 1st trip there.

 

[dutchdisneyfamily]

Hello! This will be our first family Disney Christmas. We will be there Dec. 20-27. The funny part is, we booked the trip with free dining, then realized my son was going to be going down to Disney with his choir next summer. So, we were waiting for 2015 packages to come out so we could just transfer our dates. I let our ADR day go by with a pit in my stomach. Two days later we got to discussing that summer Disney trip and the pros and con's of it. When I pointed out that our December trip was going to be half the cost of it, boom! The trip was back on. But I missed my ADR day! So I immediately got on, checked out the crowd calendars with warp speed and planned our trip. Within a half hour all our ADRs were made, including getting the Dessert party. No BOG, but that is okay. We have done it once already. So, December Disney Christmas, here we come. Now I am reading everything I can on how to tour with the crowds, constantly reassure my husband that we will plan the best we can to be crowd smart, and plan on soaking up the Christmas spirit. Now, if only the Candlelight Processional packages would open up.

 

[happy tink]

We are doing Universal/IOA in 1 day, getting express passes to help us thru both parks in 1 day. DH has been wanting to go to IOA for years, our 1st trip there.

We spent one day at each park, beginning of December, 2012. It was too much, one day park hopper is plenty.

My husband and I just kept saying to each other, it's just not Disney! You have older kids too, they will enjoy it and as long as you are going when it's not too crowded, one day park hopper will be perfect.

 

[andyman8]

Right now, we're tentatively planning a trip in December with some friends for New Year's. I know it'll be packed but it seems like fun! We've done it once before. Haven't nailed down dates but thinking some amount of time between Dec. 26 and Jan. 2 but still not sure. Room prices are monstrous and they never release discounts for that time of year. Nonetheless, we're still planning and hoping to book something soon!

 

[marianthefox]

My daughter & son-in-law surprised me with a WDW trip for December 14-17 2014. I've always wanted to see WDW while it was decorated for Christmas and can't wait to go! It will be my first solo trip to WDW (been there 7 or 8 times before but always with others) as well as my first time to stay at POP.

 

[SFailla]

I finally finished all my ADR's yesterday & I got everything I wanted except the Fantasmic dinner pkg on the 22nd & CRT on XMas day but overall, super happy. Now just have to wait for the CP pkg's to come out.
Also, we may extend the trip another 3 nights!!! We are Cdn & the leafs are playing in Tampa so it's cheaper for my family of 5 to watch a game there & it means 2 extra days in Disney before the game! FX my DH can get the extra days off work!

 

[danceintherain]

Is anyone here going to Universal Orlando while in the area at Christmas time? I have two teens, who will be 14, would like to check out the Harry Potter area. My husband and I, not so much.

So is anyone else considering checking out Harry Potter?

we did it last year when dh got a free ticket. i'd like to see the new diagon alley stuff, but we'll probably wait a few years. if we do anything outside of disney this time, it will probably be seaworld, because we can get free tickets there (military)

 

[happy tink]

we did it last year when dh got a free ticket. i'd like to see the new diagon alley stuff, but we'll probably wait a few years. if we do anything outside of disney this time, it will probably be seaworld, because we can get free tickets there (military)

I bet Sea World is beautiful at Christmas as well. I've always wanted to go on Manta.

I grew up in San Diego so I have been to Sea World there many times, have not been in 13 years. Manta

 

[Demetious]

My wife and I and our 4 children will be coming Dec 13th - 18th. We are going on the Pirates Cruise the first night we check in, then Fantasmic Dinner, Micky's Very Merry Christmas, Tuscar and Cinderellas Royal Table Character Meals, Candlelight Processional Dinner (Hopefully when it opens reservations) and top it off with a long awaited date night at Epcots World Showcase Reflections show and Illuminations. Then I plan on sleeping for a long long time. I hope I haven't gotten too excited and over planned but our whole family is REALLY excited. None of us have ever been so any pointers would be highly appreciated!

 

[happy tink]

My wife and I and our 4 children will be coming Dec 13th - 18th. We are going on the Pirates Cruise the first night we check in, then Fantasmic Dinner, Micky's Very Merry Christmas, Tuscar and Cinderellas Royal Table Character Meals, Candlelight Processional Dinner (Hopefully when it opens reservations) and top it off with a long awaited date night at Epcots World Showcase Reflections show and Illuminations. Then I plan on sleeping for a long long time. I hope I haven't gotten too excited and over planned but our whole family is REALLY excited. None of us have ever been so any pointers would be highly appreciated!

Well congratulations on your first WDW vacation! It looks like you already have the must do's down!

Where are you all traveling from? What are your kids ages?

I'm sure everyone here would be happy to give you any needed tips. Most here are pretty Disney crazy!

 

[BDL]

My wife and I and our 4 children will be coming Dec 13th - 18th. We are going on the Pirates Cruise the first night we check in, then Fantasmic Dinner, Micky's Very Merry Christmas, Tuscar and Cinderellas Royal Table Character Meals, Candlelight Processional Dinner (Hopefully when it opens reservations) and top it off with a long awaited date night at Epcots World Showcase Reflections show and Illuminations. Then I plan on sleeping for a long long time. I hope I haven't gotten too excited and over planned but our whole family is REALLY excited. None of us have ever been so any pointers would be highly appreciated!

Welcome aboard.

What resort are you staying at?

Depending on whether you are separating your date night and your Illuminations night, if you get the Candlelight Processional/dining combo, you have access to a VIP area for Illuminations the same night.

 

[Demetious]

Well congratulations on your first WDW vacation! It looks like you already have the must do's down!

Where are you all traveling from? What are your kids ages?

I'm sure everyone here would be happy to give you any needed tips. Most here are pretty Disney crazy!

We are driving down from Hilton Head, SC and staying at the Fort Wilderness Cabins. We were originally staying at the Grand Floridian until I realized that my daughter who is 2 will be turning 3 before we check in. My vacation went from 5k to 8K in a flash due to separate rooms needed. I decided to save money on resort and spend it on events and such. My children are 3 boys, ages 11, 9, and 5, and my baby girl is 3. One question I had, is it worth it to rent golf carts or are the buses adequate to move through the Wilderness Resort? Thanks all for any advice.

 

[letthewookiewin]

My wife and I and our 4 children will be coming Dec 13th - 18th. We are going on the Pirates Cruise the first night we check in, then Fantasmic Dinner, Micky's Very Merry Christmas, Tuscar and Cinderellas Royal Table Character Meals, Candlelight Processional Dinner (Hopefully when it opens reservations) and top it off with a long awaited date night at Epcots World Showcase Reflections show and Illuminations. Then I plan on sleeping for a long long time. I hope I haven't gotten too excited and over planned but our whole family is REALLY excited. None of us have ever been so any pointers would be highly appreciated!

Congrats on your first trip!! My biggest piece of advice is for you to realize you won't see/do everything on your first trip. Before each trip, we have each person in our family pick 2 things in each park that are must do's for that person. Then we make sure to not miss those things.

 

[happy tink]

We are driving down from Hilton Head, SC and staying at the Fort Wilderness Cabins. We were originally staying at the Grand Floridian until I realized that my daughter who is 2 will be turning 3 before we check in. My vacation went from 5k to 8K in a flash due to separate rooms needed. I decided to save money on resort and spend it on events and such. My children are 3 boys, ages 11, 9, and 5, and my baby girl is 3. One question I had, is it worth it to rent golf carts or are the buses adequate to move through the Wilderness Resort? Thanks all for any advice.

Three boy's and one little Princess, you two really hit the jackpot. I have three boys and always wanted a girl, I figured I would get another boy!

I've never stayed at The Wilderness Cabins or The Grand wow Floridian. We stayed at Animal Kingdom my youngest was 10, off site when he was 12 and this upcoming trip he will be 14, we will be at the Beach Club. There may be some members here that have WC experience and if not here, I would think you can find a Dis thread about the Wilderness, just use the search box.

You already have a lot of fun things planned, with the resort pool, rides and park shows you will be busy. You may want to skip the Candlelight Precessional, I think your kids may be a bit board. It's beautiful and moving, but I think the kids would get board. My son watched it with us when he was 12 and he was fine, but he has said he will skip it this time. So my husband and I will go it alone.

You all are going to love everything, there is nothing like Disney at Christmas!

 

[Demetious]

Three boy's and one little Princess, you two really hit the jackpot. I have three boys and always wanted a girl, I figured I would get another boy!

I've never stayed at The Wilderness Cabins or The Grand wow Floridian. We stayed at Animal Kingdom my youngest was 10, off site when he was 12 and this upcoming trip he will be 14, we will be at the Beach Club. There may be some members here that have WC experience and if not here, I would think you can find a Dis thread about the Wilderness, just use the search box.

You already have a lot of fun things planned, with the resort pool, rides and park shows you will be busy. You may want to skip the Candlelight Precessional, I think your kids may be a bit board. It's beautiful and moving, but I think the kids would get board. My son watched it with us when he was 12 and he was fine, but he has said he will skip it this time. So my husband and I will go it alone.

You all are going to love everything, there is nothing like Disney at Christmas!

That is really good advice. I was actually a bit worried about them being bored. Thanks

 

[BDL]

A partial list of the narrators for the Candlelight Processional has been released. HERE

 

[happy tink]

A partial list of the narrators for the Candlelight Processional has been released. HERE

Thank you!

 

[Austriankrystl]

Add me and my DF to the Christmas Group: Dec. 13-20th.

So far a few glitches in reservations (for some reason tickets and hotels not wanting to link up and making reserving VERY difficult). Hoping this will all be resolved soon.

Wanted BOG on the 17th but cannot get it. But got everything else, so who knows, it could all work out in the end. Going with the flow!

DF is a first-timer and I haven't been in... mmmmm years. Totally underestimated the work of planning, though.