Thoughts on moving Christmas up a few days?

[Jenny-momof3]

Really need some thoughts on this...

Our plan in to leave Christmas Day for Disney. Still up in the air as to if we're flying or driving yet ( will depend on cost of airfare).

I REALLY hate the thought of my kids getting up, opening all their presents and then jumping in the car to leave. My girls are 14 and 10 so they no longer believe in Santa. But my little guy is only 4 ( will be almost 5) by then and he still believes. I love having a nice lazy morning with the kids and letting them play with all their new stuff. Plus... I plan to get them alot of new things for the trip... new ipods, movies, clothes, etc.

So here was a possible solution I came up with. The Sunday before Christmas ( Dec. 20) we could have Santa come that day. My ds doesn't really have any concept of dates so to him it would be just like a normal Christmas. My girls say they're fine with this... they just want the loot.

My thought was we would get to enjoy a "normal" Christmas like we're used to. And this would give me plenty of time to get everything cleaned up and packed before we leave a few days later.

Has anyone done anything like this? Do you think I'll regret it?

My dh also tossed around the idea of arriving at Disney Christmas Eve and shipping all the gifts ahead of time and then doing Christmas morning there. To me this sounds like a nightmare esp. if we fly... because then I have to get everything back!

 

[laceemouse]

Well, the week between Christmas and New Years is the most crowded week of the year at WDW so you probably aren't going to get many answers here because most people are going to avoid that time at all costs!

I do agree that opening gifts and then jumping in the car would be bad, plus Ipods have to be loaded, clothes may not fit and need to be washed, etc.

I also agree that shipping the stuff down would be a nightmare, particularly with flying it all back like you said, unless everything was very small like gift cards. Plus, would you want all of that stuff in your hotel room, sounds crowded and maybe dangerous

I would either do Christmas early like you said or delay leaving until the 26th or 27th. Are you trying to avoid missing school? When do they have to go back?

 

[disneybridetobe]

I don't see why you couldn't do it on the 20th. I think that's a fine idea, probably something we'd do ourselves. Then leave in the days afterward.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

If your son won't know the difference, why not? I briefly considered this last year so we could have a nice quiet Christmas at home before heading to grandma and grandpa's, but I couldn't pull it off with my DD9 and DD7 (who both still believe) and can very much tell the days on the calander. But with a 4 year old, why not? Or, just go visit Santa and tell him you will be leaving and could he come visit your family early because you will be out of town. Again, at 4 I think you could pull this off, mcuh older probably not. Have fun, busy there, yes, but I''d still love to go someday...

 

[HeatherC]

You could also have someone put your gifts out for you so Santa comes on Christmas Eve. But...you will all have to wait to see what he brought until you get home. Could make the trip home a little happier!

 

[Magic2000]

My sister's husband used to work offshore and would sometimes be out for Christmas. When their children were little, they would just have Christmas when he was home, as close to Christmas as possible. When the kids got a little older, but still believed and knew when Christmas Day was, they wrote a letter to Santa asking him to please come a little early so their Daddy could get gifts too! This worked well for her, for a few years!

Have a great trip at Disney!!!!

 

[Jenny-momof3]

We have AP's and have never been at Christmas... we know it will be crazy busy but just want to go to enjoy the decorations, etc.

My dh has to work up until Christmas Eve so we can't go the week before. We will stay from Christmas until Jan. 2.

My oldest is in marching band and they're going to Tampa for the outback bowl Dec. 28- Jan. 2 Our plan is to drive her down there so she can be a part of it for a few days.

Glad to see I'm not the only one who has moved Christmas before.

 

[Halbleib1]

I would do it before hand as well. To make it easier on yourself and this way you get to spend a traditional Chirstmas together as well. But I would not have them open gifts from Santa. I would make them wait until we got back to open those. If you do not have someone that can put the gifts from Santa out for you try to find a way to distract the kids either before you leave or once you get back that leaves you time to sneak them under the tree without them realizing. As another poster said this gives them something to look forward to on the trip home.

When we went this past Christmas although we did not stay through Christmas we came home on Christmas Eve I had everything done before we left to avoid the stress of rushing around when we got home and were tired. Normally we go to my parents on Christmas day which is a 4 hour drive but this year we went the day after to give us time to rest up and repack. Made Christmas a lot less hectic this way.


Have a great time. There is no better time at Disney World than Christmas. The parks are decorated beautifully and the weather is pretty good as well.

 

[phins_jazy]

We'll be there the same time! We're going the 23rd-30th. Since we'll be there over christmas I was planning on bringing a small tabletop tree with in our luggage. The kids will know that the trip is their christmas present but will still get a present from Santa on christmas morning. I have no idea what santa is bringing them yet, but I do know it will have to be something small since we have to bring it back in our suitcase.

 

[lori123]

I would also vote to do it ahead of time! DH is out of town most holidays and we just work around his schedule. Just a thought - could you open all of the gifts from each other and then just put the Santa gift and stockings out Christmas morning? Would still look like Santa came as scheduled - but most of the gift opening would already be done.

 

[ilandrazdsw]

We were at Disney Dec 23-Jan 2nd. We had Christmas on the 20th. I told the kids that I emaild Santa that we would be gone and he could stop by the night of the 20th. DBIL has a "close personal" realtionship with Santa so the kids were able to see the big guy like every other year.
DD3 was so scared of Santa we told her Uncle T's secret. When Santa came she got all upset and stated, "That's not Santa, that's Uncle T." Then Santa left and Uncle T came in the house the through the other door a minute later (after changing)...she didn't know what to think!!!