Very merry christmas confusion!!!

[billyvmom]

This will be our first trip to disney and we are going to the Christmas Party and seeing Disney when its all holidayed up. We want to make the most of this trip any suggestions my kids are 4 and 6 Liberty is 4 and Billy is six. Thanks 4 any help
Brandy

 

[Metro West]

 

[pepe of ohio]

Be sure to check out the lobby at Wilderness Lodge, it's fantastic. It's become our go to resort. We've been to WDW afew times over the holidays and the decorations will blow you away. We're from Ohio and it's hard being in Florida, seeing all the Christmas trees, lights and poinsettias and it's 80 degrees out. Make us wonder why we're still in Ohio. Go, enjoy and get absorbed in the magic, it's contagoust.

 

[OogieDaddy]

The best thing I can say is that your family will love that time of year. There is so much to see at the parks and the resorts that I wouldn't be able to say what is the best. My family loves the lights, music and snow at HS and the Christmas party is great. See I can just keep going with what we like.

 

[anne930]

Christmas time is our most favorite time of the year at WDW! Be sure to see the Christmas parade at MVMCP and the castle lit up at night (it's fabulous). Also, you must take your kids to see the characters at Camp Minnie Mickey at Animal Kingdom. Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald & Daisy are dressed up in their Christmas outfits - Mickey & Minnie's Christmas trees are decorated with cheese - it's too cute - and the pictures will be priceless.

Have fun!

 

[KGH]

Some things to check out with the little ones:

* Gingerbread house in The Grand Floridian
* Osbourne Family Lights ( In DHS at Streets of America.)
* Castle Lighting Ceremony.


HAVE FUN!

 

[PrincessBetsy]

Welcome! Christmas time at WDW is wonderful! There is so much to see and do. Make sure you watch the Castle lighting ceremony at the Magic Kingdom, the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Hollywood Studios, and the Candlelight Processional at Epcot. I would also recommend going to different resorts to see their decorations for the holidays - the Grand Floridian is my favorite!

 

[DisCopper]

I generally don't advise first-timers to go during the holidays. You didn't say exactly when you were going, but the crowds during the holidays can be large. As a first-timer, you need to expect that and not let it ruin your trip. You will see all kinds of things that are holiday themed (see other posts) that don't require waiting in line and that can make your trip wonderful. Just make sure you plan for, and don't get frustrated by big crowds.

 

[billyvmom]

we are going nov13-20 we have been told its slower then lets cross our fingers

 

[pepe of ohio]

we are going nov13-20 we have been told its slower then lets cross our fingers

We were in WDW at the end of January and it was fairly crowded, more so than last January and we're headed back the end of September, again usually a slow time but this year of promotions, I'd expect larger than normal crowds. We've noticed on alot of our recent trips, that the weekend tend to fill up alot. Weekdays are generally nice, especially early mornings, we'll walk thru the MK and feel we're all alone until around 11am, then the late sleeper file in and all leans towards moderately crowded with lines starting to form, we usually duck out everyday around then and head back to the resort.

 

[golden1023]

On our first trip we went to the Christmas parade and was actually disappointed. Only because I saw the same thing on TV on Christmas morning! And didn't have to battle the crowds and tired kids. BUT I will have to say if you miss those shots of Cinderella's Castle in all of it's icey glory you will regret it. The Osborne Lights at HS are a perfect Christmas Card photo op and will leave you breathless. Needless to say we are returning again this December, just to escape the cold of Indiana!

 

[anne930]

On our first trip we went to the Christmas parade and was actually disappointed. Only because I saw the same thing on TV on Christmas morning! And didn't have to battle the crowds and tired kids. BUT I will have to say if you miss those shots of Cinderella's Castle in all of it's icey glory you will regret it. The Osborne Lights at HS are a perfect Christmas Card photo op and will leave you breathless. Needless to say we are returning again this December, just to escape the cold of Indiana!

Everything is personal preference, of course. Even though the Christmas parade is the same as on tv on Christmas morning, to me it is so much better at night and being able to see it straight through - without the singing performances, commentaries, & commercials makes it very special. Christmas day is usually too hectic to watch it anyway.

 

[dazednconfused]

We did MVMCP last year and collected out tickets via the Will Call counter at MK on the day we were scheduled to attend the party. Needless to say, we received paper tickets. Now, I did recall seeing some guests with plastic tickets. Similar to the resort room keycard. Do these have to be mailed out by Disney? Do they cost more? More importantly, is Disney still doing this for this year? Thanks in advance!!

 

[epd0407]

Keep and eye on the travel channel, they do specials throughout the year for "free" things to see at Disney for the holidays. The WL had a huge getup the last time it was on, and it really looks impressive making all that food for a display. I know last time we were there (2007) the American Pavilion had a life size gingerbread house.

Also, go to the MVMCP dressed for the holidays. Santa is there and the pictures you can get with the kids are priceless.

 

[cjlvsccm]

This will be our first trip to disney and we are going to the Christmas Party and seeing Disney when its all holidayed up. We want to make the most of this trip any suggestions my kids are 4 and 6 Liberty is 4 and Billy is six. Thanks 4 any help
Brandy

WDW really is a sight to see at Christmastime! The Osborne Lights at DHS are just spectacular.

Your kids might not get into resort-hopping to check out the decorations... but if they're up for it, you should visit all the deluxes.

All the PP have had great suggestions, but no one has yet mentioned the Santas at Epcot WS. Almost all the countries have a Santa/ Father Christmas/ Kris Kringle type character to tell stories about that country's Christmas legends and traditions.

Happy planning!!

 

[billyvmom]

We did MVMCP last year and collected out tickets via the Will Call counter at MK on the day we were scheduled to attend the party. Needless to say, we received paper tickets. Now, I did recall seeing some guests with plastic tickets. Similar to the resort room keycard. Do these have to be mailed out by Disney? Do they cost more? More importantly, is Disney still doing this for this year? Thanks in advance!!

We got our plastic card style tickets in the mail this week but, they did'nt include a program or map kind of sad maybe they only gives those out at the parks. The plastic ones did'nt cost more that I know of.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

WDW really is a sight to see at Christmastime! The Osborne Lights at DHS are just spectacular.

Your kids might not get into resort-hopping to check out the decorations... but if they're up for it, you should visit all the deluxes.

All the PP have had great suggestions, but no one has yet mentioned the Santas at Epcot WS. Almost all the countries have a Santa/ Father Christmas/ Kris Kringle type character to tell stories about that country's Christmas legends and traditions.

Happy planning!!

The Osbourne Lights and the World Showcase Sants do not start until after Thanksgiving. The OP is going November 13 - 20, so they will miss those events.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Everything is personal preference, of course. Even though the Christmas parade is the same as on tv on Christmas morning, to me it is so much better at night and being able to see it straight through - without the singing performances, commentaries, & commercials makes it very special. Christmas day is usually too hectic to watch it anyway.

The Christmas parade that they show at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and the televised Christmas Parade that ABC shows on Christmas morning are two totally different events and parades. The ABC Christmas Parade is usually pre-taped the first weekend in December and is televised on Christmas morning. The MVMCP parade is not a televised event. When the MVMCP parties conclude around the 19th, then the MVMCP parade will take the place of the daily 3:00 Dreams Come True Pararde and it will run at 12:00 and 3:00 each day a MK through Christmas.

 

[thelionqueen]

We got our tickets for 12/18/09 MVMCP in the mail; they are the plastic tickets.

 

[crazybones27]

Last year when we went we ordered ours in advance and they were plastic. While we were there we decided to do the MVMCP again and bought new tickets. Those were paper. So my guess is yes they only send out plastic ones in the mail.

We did MVMCP last year and collected out tickets via the Will Call counter at MK on the day we were scheduled to attend the party. Needless to say, we received paper tickets. Now, I did recall seeing some guests with plastic tickets. Similar to the resort room keycard. Do these have to be mailed out by Disney? Do they cost more? More importantly, is Disney still doing this for this year? Thanks in advance!!