Tips for a Dec 6th-13th 2008 trip

[cmysprkles911]

Hi BKMETV:

The Osborne Lights are not to be missed at Hollywood Studios (MGM)!!! Approx. 5 million lights that are sync to Christmas music. We went a second time last year just to see them... A great time to view them is during Fantasmic.

We are headed back there from 11/28 till 12/06 and plan on seeing it twice.

Also, don't miss the Candlelight Processional and MVMCP.

Have a Great Trip,

Mark

How were the crowds last year when you went? We tried to plan when its going to be less crowed?

 

[ms*mountaineer]

We're going Dec 3-9 too! Staying at POP!

 

[bigmoonmullen]

How were the crowds last year when you went? We tried to plan when its going to be less crowed?

Hi:

We were there from 11/30/07 thru 12/08/07.

The crowds were not bad at all except for the MVMCP during the first parade (that was pretty crowded).

The Candlelight Processional had long lines that you can partially avoid by purchasing the candlelight processional dinner package which gets you in before people who did not purchase it. There are two separate lines... make sure you get in the correct one. This shows is also awesome, well worth going to.

The crowds for the Osborne Lights were not too bad... I won't say that it was not crowed but you could move around. We suspect it would be lighter during the Fantasmic show and that's when we are planning to go this year for at least one of our two nights viewing it. Plan for at least one hour to take it all in.

The crowds at the parks were not bad at all during the daytime. If you get to the Parks at opening most rides are less than a 5 minute wait. Exceptions EE and Soarin... need to Fast Pass those. Our group age range was from 10 to 50 so that will also help you understand that some rides we did not need to ride (i.e. Dumbo which does have long waits). The wait times do increase as you get closer to lunchtime and in the early afternoon... but it still was not bad since we had already completed the big rides.

Have a Great Trip and enjoy making those plans... we do... but realize that they do quickly change once you are there.

Mark

 

[cmysprkles911]

Hey thanks for the great tips... I am sooo excited! Its feels like its soo far away!

 

[bigmoonmullen]

Hey thanks for the great tips... I am sooo excited! Its feels like its soo far away!

Hi cmysprkles911:

Have a Great Trip... we will also be there from 11/28 thru 12/06 this year.

We are currently booked at OKW but hope to move to either Boardwalk or Beach Club. We stayed at AKL & WL last year... WOW!!! Both are nicely decked out for Christmas... I really enjoyed getting up early (5AM) to head down to the lobby to read my newspaper next to the huge Christmas tree while it's still peaceful... I then headed to the Gym/Spa at 6:00AM to put the work in... Too much food!!!

It may seem a long time from now but it will sneak up on you

Have a Great Memorable Trip,

Mark

 

[cmysprkles911]

Hi cmysprkles911:

Have a Great Trip... we will also be there from 11/28 thru 12/06 this year.

We are currently booked at OKW but hope to move to either Boardwalk or Beach Club. We stayed at AKL & WL last year... WOW!!! Both are nicely decked out for Christmas... I really enjoyed getting up early (5AM) to head down to the lobby to read my newspaper next to the huge Christmas tree while it's still peaceful... I then headed to the Gym/Spa at 6:00AM to put the work in... Too much food!!!

It may seem a long time from now but it will sneak up on you

Have a Great Memorable Trip,

Mark

Hi:

Thanks so much I hope that you have a great trip too.

I stayed at WL in 2006 for my honeymoon and we fell in love with that resort. Last year I stayed at POFQ I was going to stay at the ALK but my travel agent told me about the free dining if I stayed at a mod. resort cant pass up something free.

This year I wanted to stay at the WL lodge again but my sister and I are planing a trip for her 30th birthday to Disney and of course she wants to stay at the WL..So I chose AKL for my trip this year. I have herd nothing but awesome things about this resort.

 

[Silverbelle990]

Hey all!!!

we are going the 7th-14th in Dec. First time ever at this time and we are very excited. 250 day till we arrive. we are staying at the GF. First time there ever too. I hope this summer flys by......plus i have to make ADR's and plan our days. But i can't do that till JUne 1 i think. then make the ADR's on the 10th. that will be an early morning.

See you there.

By they way if you were going to the MVMCP would you go on a weekday? I think the thursday is the party. Is that better then the friday?

 

[cmysprkles911]

Hey all!!!

we are going the 7th-14th in Dec. First time ever at this time and we are very excited. 250 day till we arrive. we are staying at the GF. First time there ever too. I hope this summer flys by......plus i have to make ADR's and plan our days. But i can't do that till JUne 1 i think. then make the ADR's on the 10th. that will be an early morning.

See you there.

By they way if you were going to the MVMCP would you go on a weekday? I think the thursday is the party. Is that better then the friday?

Wuhooooo.... Silverbelle990
I have some of the places that I would like to eat but not 100% sure yet I keep changing my mind!

I am not sure what days we will be going to MVMCP yet. I usually like to go MK the last 2 days of our trip. So I might go Thursday or Friday right now I am thinking Thursday.. But in another day that might change!!

 

[bigmoonmullen]

Hey all!!!

we are going the 7th-14th in Dec. First time ever at this time and we are very excited. 250 day till we arrive. we are staying at the GF. First time there ever too. I hope this summer flys by......plus i have to make ADR's and plan our days. But i can't do that till JUne 1 i think. then make the ADR's on the 10th. that will be an early morning.

See you there.

By they way if you were going to the MVMCP would you go on a weekday? I think the thursday is the party. Is that better then the friday?

Hi Silverbelle990:

We are going on Thursday night again this year. I think most MVMCP are probably going to be crowded... The first parade is more crowded than the second one is... Park seems to thin out some after the Fireworks... which is shortly after the first parade.... kids getting tired. I've read that some people think the best approach is to take in the rides during the first parade then see the fireworks and the second parade... Personally I'm not really there for the rides... I'm there for the atmosphere and excitement... but that's just me...

I don’t know if they sell different quantities of tickets for the various nights… I would think weekend nights would likely be more crowded since locals would be more likely to also attend… This is only me guessing.

Have a Great Time,

Mark

 

[bigmoonmullen]

Hi:

Thanks so much I hope that you have a great trip too.

I stayed at WL in 2006 for my honeymoon and we fell in love with that resort. Last year I stayed at POFQ I was going to stay at the ALK but my travel agent told me about the free dining if I stayed at a mod. resort cant pass up something free.

This year I wanted to stay at the WL lodge again but my sister and I are planing a trip for her 30th birthday to Disney and of course she wants to stay at the WL..So I chose AKL for my trip this year. I have herd nothing but awesome things about this resort.

Hi cmysprkles911:

One last thing... Since you are staying at the AKL and if time and money permits... it's expensive... consider doing the Wanyama Safari (Sunset Safari). It's limited to around 10 per day... and they only do it three or four times a week. Need to get a ADR 180 days out by calling the AKL concerige desk. It’s cheaper if you are staying in a concierge room. You go on a 1-1/2 hr plus ride (slowly and stopping often) in an open vehicle through the three savannahs around the AKL and you get CLOSE to the animals… sometimes only a few feet away. Following the tour you feast at Jiko’s… and I do me feast… the chef comes out and explains each course – 4 appetizers… 3 entrees and sides… 4 deserts… and multiple glasses of wine… You just don’t get one appetizer, entrée and desert each… the table is brought out multiple platters for everyone to share… two hours later you waddle out of there… It was one of our highlights last year…

Mark

 

[cmysprkles911]

Hi cmysprkles911:
Following the tour you feast at Jiko’s… and I do me feast… the chef comes out and explains each course – 4 appetizers… 3 entrees and sides… 4 deserts… and multiple glasses of wine… You just don’t get one appetizer, entrée and desert each… the table is brought out multiple platters for everyone to share… two hours later you waddle out of there… It was one of our highlights last year…

Mark

Wow thats awesome.. I will have to call and find out all about it. Thats a lot of food to eat.. I would have never known about it thats why I am in love with this fourm!

 

[darlene9947]

We'll be staying at Bonnet Creek this year!! I've requested an EPCOT view. Hope we get it. We'll be there the 6th - 14th. I can't wait for June 1, to see the December calendar so I'll know what parks I'll be in on what days and make my ADRs!! We'll be doing MVMCP on the 9th.m I hope it's not one of the days CM get special pricing. We attended last year and it was sooo packed. I'm happy the CMs(and their families) get a break on the tickets, but I don't wanna party with them. I'm just sayin'!!!

 

[cmysprkles911]

We'll be staying at Bonnet Creek this year!! I've requested an EPCOT view. Hope we get it. We'll be there the 6th - 14th. I can't wait for June 1, to see the December calendar so I'll know what parks I'll be in on what days and make my ADRs!! We'll be doing MVMCP on the 9th.m I hope it's not one of the days CM get special pricing. We attended last year and it was sooo packed. I'm happy the CMs(and their families) get a break on the tickets, but I don't wanna party with them. I'm just sayin'!!!

Wuhooo!! So excitin! I cant cant wait till I can make my ADR's! I would not want to party with them either! I am hoping the crowds are not that bad..

 

[dizzneebabe]

WOO-HOO! We'll be there Dec.6th-13th too!!!! We'll be celebrating our friend's 40th and our son's 16th birthdays that week!

We can't wait! Both DH and I have been to WDW many times, but never during Dec! Hoping it will be a very special trip!

Also like many OP's here, trying to narrow down our restaurants for those ADR's! So many choices!!!

 

[suzimar57]

sounds like we're going to have lots of company that 2nd week in december!

 

[EverythingDisney]

sounds like we're going to have lots of company that 2nd week in december!

I was thinking the same exact thing !!

 

[cmysprkles911]

I was thinking the same exact thing !!

Is school out this time of year?

 

[darlene9947]

I don't think so. It's still pretty early for schools. They usually leave out right before XMas. Although, you will see lots of kids there!! Hey, it's educational. They get to learn about holiday traditions of other countries in Epcot!!!

 

[gabbyrosebud]

Hi everyone! We're going Dec. 6 - 14th too and staying at the WL. We've never been at Christmas time and are so excited! The planning is really hard to do. I'm not sure when to go to MVMCP, Candlelight Processional, Osborne lights, Fantasmic, and etc. It's so hard because there is so much to see and do. Is anyone else a little crazy?

 

[cmysprkles911]

I don't think so. It's still pretty early for schools. They usually leave out right before XMas. Although, you will see lots of kids there!! Hey, it's educational. They get to learn about holiday traditions of other countries in Epcot!!!

I wish my parents took me out of school!!! I dont have kids yet but I am sure I will to the same thing!