Thinking of Christmas 09, are we crazy?

[cakesnkids]

We are seriously considering booking a week including Christmas Day for this year, as our children's present. I've been told it's glorious, I've been told it's horrid. We went during the president's day hoopla when we went last year for Mardi Gras, and it was INSANE busy, and we were all sick and still had fun, so I'm not worried about it too much.
But I'd like to hear from others that have been there for Christmas time, is it worth it?
I can't take my children out of school, and if I went another time of year, I'd not be able to go, b/c it will BE their present (and they are cool with that).
So..anyone got any ideas and help for a girl?
By the way, it'll be me, dh, ds9, ds10, dd5, we've all been twice in the last 3 years.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Christmas will be a beautiful and magical time of year...as long as you prepare for the crowds. If you know that the crowds will be INSANE....as in can't walk down the streets without knocking into someone insane...then you will be fine!

 

[cakesnkids]

That's kinda what I'm thinking. We'll fastpass what we can, ride what we can, and just enjoy being together.

 

[RMulieri]

The Crowds at Christmas do not compare to the crowds at Presidents day or Mardi Gras. Christmas week is the busiest disney ever gets .It also is very pricey.The decor is beautiful as is the festivities.Lots of people love it, It is not for me. I personally would stick a fork into my eye before I ever go back at XMAS.The lines were over 2 hrs for rides at midday.Fastpasses gone early too.Mk closed to all guests by as early as 10 am-1130 am on Dec 24,25,and 26 as well as Dec 31.Epcot disbursed the crowds a little better but come evening for fireworks it was a sea of badly tempered humanity.it was before I had my DD, and I was terrified about losing my niece ( she was 3) while walking and in the stroller somebody tried to cut in front and fell on her.I got shoved and fell forward onto the pavement(and was pregnant) the man kept going.So I had quite a negative experience. If you are set on going, make your adrs, get to parks about an hour BEFORE rope drop.If you plan in being in the MK on Xmas or New years, and have late day adrs in the park get there for rope drop and plan on staying the day.If you leave and the park closes you will not be allowed back in, even for adrs. Use Fastpasses and maybe subscribe to TGM.

 

[cakesnkids]

Yes, we're planning on doing Dining just for that reason, so at least I got that part right.
I know I'm going to do it, b/c I WANT to go, and this past Christmas, my daddy AND my biological dad died, so I just CANNOT be home for Christmas this year, I need to have a Christmas away.
So I just need to plan it all right and take valium huh?

 

[RMulieri]

Yes, we're planning on doing Dining just for that reason, so at least I got that part right.
I know I'm going to do it, b/c I WANT to go, and this past Christmas, my daddy AND my biological dad died, so I just CANNOT be home for Christmas this year, I need to have a Christmas away.
So I just need to plan it all right and take valium huh?

Make dining adrs out of the parks ( moreso at the Mk) on the holidays.I saw a woman throw a total fit because the park was closed for capacity to all guests( inc onsite resort guests) and the Gate cms woouldn't let her in for Xmas dinner at LTT.Take deep breaths and plan the heck out of your trip, get fastpasses asap.Try the Candlelight Processional at Epcot Christmas night if you can get a dining pkg, it is a nice way to spend that special night.Don't forget to pack a strong helping of Patience for you and Dh, and maybe some valium

 

[cakesnkids]

Tell me, b/c I am confused. With the dining plan, how does Candlelight fit into that. Can we go Tier 1 and it uses one dinner credit per person, or do we pay seperate for it or what?

 

[disneybridetobe]

Yes, we're planning on doing Dining just for that reason, so at least I got that part right.
I know I'm going to do it, b/c I WANT to go, and this past Christmas, my daddy AND my biological dad died, so I just CANNOT be home for Christmas this year, I need to have a Christmas away.
So I just need to plan it all right and take valium huh?

That sounds like a plan, my friend! Sounds like this is what you need to do. I had a horrid Christmas last year and honestly if we could afford it, we'd go over Christmas too.

 

[liznboys]

We were there this past Christmas, 12/19-12/28...and it was WONDERFUL!!!

It was our first time there for the actual holiday (had been in early December before). We knew it was going to be very busy and we felt we were ready to give it a go. We are so glad we did, it was truly fantastic!

We went into it knowing we would not do everything, but that's how we are on all our trips. We had plenty of down time, again we always do that.

We went to MK on the morning of Christmas Eve, and left and hung out at our resort the rest of the day. We didn't go to any parks on Christmas Day. Then we went to MK the morning after Christmas and it was shocking how low the crowds were that morning!! We didn't even get there at open and we started our day by walking onto Peter Pan, Pooh and riding the Teacups 4 times in a row because there was simply no one in line! And the morning continued like that. It only started picking up around Noon.

Anyway, those are just some examples of our week there. We want to go at Christmas again for sure. And we would want to do it during a week when Christmas falls towards the end of the week like it did last year. I think that helps because you are there at Christmas but as far away as possible from the New Year's crowds.

 

[ilandrazdsw]

We were there 12/23-1/2. So much fun and totally doable!
Stay on property
Use EMH AM (this was the only way we got to do *everything* we wanted to do)...you would think it's only an hour, but you get SO much done.
Use FPs
We used TGM for ride order and it worked wonders.
Use packages for any special or holiday events.
Make sure to have your ARD plans ready at 90 days out. Being a little flexible on ADR times may help you get to go where you want.
Transportation was better than expected. No *long* waits (ok, no extreme waits). WDW had plenty of busses to go around.
PM me if you want any details that may help with your trip. We were there 10 days with PH and Delux DDP. DD was 3 and DS was 5.

 

[cakesnkids]

Is TGM Tour Guide Mickey? I hadn't considered that, perhaps i should go do some research on that.
Thanks everyone for all the information.

 

[LadyShea]

The week before Christmas is usually better than the week after Christmas crowd wise (many people want to be home for Christmas Eve and Day, then head out the next day), but that may not hold true this year with Christmas on a Friday. What dates are your kids out of school?

We went 1/1-1/4 and though Friday 1/2 at MK was crazy, we managed to have a great time and the other parks were almost easy.

 

[Jenny-momof3]

We're doing Christmas this year as well. Arriving on Christmas Day and staying through Jan. 2.

Crowds don't bother us much. We were there July 4th last year and had a great time. going back over the 4th again this year too.

We have no choice but to travel during crowded seasons.

 

[hoosiergirl7]

For me Disney during the holidays is a DON'T. You couldn't pay me enough to go during that time. When I was younger I didn't mind crowds so much but now I hate them. I don't go anywhere near Disney during any holiday.

A friend of mine was down in Orlando for Christmas this past year visiting her sister and said that on Christmas day by 10 am, Disney had shut down MK and it remained that way the better part of the day. She didn't go anywhere near the parks at all but saw the Orlando news talking about it all day long.

If you really want to go to see the decorations, go the 1st or 2nd week of December before it gets crazy. We're going the 1st week of December this year and I've heard this is a great time to go.

 

[james'mommy]

I hate the holidays. I hate being away from all of my family. But I don't hate it enough to go to Disney xmas week. We prefer to go first week of Dec. much lower crowds.

 

[tink645]

We went this past Christmas and used TGM. Worth every penny!

We enjoyed our trip and avoided all the crowds. It is alot of reading, but it definitely pays off. My husband was very skepticle at first but by the end of the first day he was pleasantly suprised, by the end of the second day he thought TGM was the best thing around.

 

[scrapquitler]

We've been at Christmas (we traveled on Christmas Day and came home on New Years Eve), and YES it is VERY busy. But we still were able to do everything we wanted to do without standing in insane lines...we used our fast passes wisely, we ate counterservice and we just went at our own pace. We didn't feel we missed out on anything at all, and the crowds didn't really bother us, except for the one time where we got separated a bit in the pinchy area in the middle of Fantasyland.

 

[cakesnkids]

My kids get out on the 19th...but we want to be there for Christmas Day. I think the dates we have settled on are the 22nd till the 28th.

 

[mmccan]

We are also going for Christmas 09. We are suprising our kids on Christmas Day and if we drive, we will leave that day. If we fly we will leave the 26th and either stay offsite the first night or pay cash to stay somewhere on site. (since we are using our DVC points for the rest of the vacation) Our ressies are from the 27th to Jan 9th at THV. We are planning on not getting much done the first week (only must dos are seeing the christmas decorations at the different resorts, seeing the Osborne Lights, seeing the NYE fireworks, and visiting Epcot to see all the Santa's from around the world). We also plan on doing alot of relaxing at the villa and shopping in DTD.
Then hopefully by the Tuesday after NY most of the masses will have gone home and we can hit the parks extra hard. Our kids have been so many times though that everyone has their "must dos" and once those are done everything else is gravy. We also know we will be back so we don't stress on seeing it all every trip.

 

[cakesnkids]

wish we could stay that long..but with the kids and school we have to be back by the 5th, and with my husband's job, we have to be in town for New years eve b/c it's typically a busy day for his department (he's Dist Cheif of a fire department) and he can't take New Years and leave his guys in the lurch.
I'm joining TGM RIGHT now, to try and get some help.
I appreciate everyone's help SO much!! I have decided to do the candelight proc Christmas night, b/c it seems right, and now on to others. I've never done ADRs before, we've always just payed for counter service, but seems right to do sit downs this time.