What Is It Like Christmas Day????

[webmomom]

I have been wondering this for a long time. My Dh mentioned about goong some year at Xmas. As I am as big as fan of Disney as you can get, I cannot image being there Xmas Day.

I love getting up in the morning with the tree all lit up and presents under the tree. n Going to one of the relatives house for dinner with everyone and all of the noice of the kids playing with their toys and the adults talking and having fun.

I know Disney is a magical place, but a I cannot for the life of me image walking the parks and eating in a restuarant Xmas day. It is a day for families to be together. I am a great believer that all business should be closed on all holidays. It is unfair to make people work on a holiday, just because I am to lazy to cook, or whatever. Yes there are certain very important jobs that people need to keep a float by working those days, but I am talking about restaurant, walmart's , Home depot, non necessary stores.
Sorry I got off the subject.

So what is like if you have been on xmas day., I know my DH would love to have you convince me.

 

[StaceyA]

Hi there!
I went for the week of Christmas back in 96.
We stayed at the All Stars Music resort, I have to say the best part was waking up and hanging on each guests door was a Disney Christmas Stocking (the plastic type) filled with candy and small toys...I don't know if they even do this anymore.

We went to the bus stop and there were a TON of people in line for MK...of course so were we!

I think they stopped letting people in around noon or 2:00 because the park was at capacity!

I really had no knowledge of PS's or anything like that so im sure we didn't eat in a sit down restaurant, but I really couldn't tell you where we did eat.

We got to watch the Christmas parade...it was really fun altho ohh so crowded!

If I were to go at Christmas again, I would pick a different park! LOL

I think it is something that Im glad I experienced, but I don't think I would go at that time of the year again....sorry to your DH, I know my post isn't convincing you of anything!

 

[CamColt]

We went over Christmas for the first time last year. Ill admit a part of me did miss my usual Christmas traditions with my family,but on the other hand, being in the most magical place over the holidays was wonderful too.
Heres links to my trip report from Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for an idea of what it was like for us.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=486846

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=487422

 

[NMAmy]

We're going this year for Christmas for the first time. It just worked out that way to be the only time we could go. We're able to go for 2 weeks instead of just one so we plan on just taking it easy and enjoying the Christmas sights and sounds and we're going to a movie on Christmas day (which is one of our family traditions!)

The trip is our gift to each other although I've already bought some little gifts for dd to open.

We're always pretty unconventional with Christmas--my ex and I have joint custody. Sometimes we have her for Christmas and sometimes he does. She gets 2 Christmases so she likes it. For the last few years, we've had Christmas on the Saturday before the holiday (the whole shooting match--the family comes, we have Christmas dinner and open presents--it's just like Christmas but a week early). Then DH and I just relax and take it easy on the actual holiday. This year, we have dd so we thought we'd do it up big with a trip to Disney.

Oh, and I used to work at a convenience store that was open on all major holidays. We'd just work around my work schedule and the double time I earned was fine by me.

 

[Muushka]

We are also huge Disney fans. One year we decided to stay at WL during Christmas (and leave the 26th). Well, I may get flammed for this, but it was just strange to be there on CMas eve and CMas day. The parks were so very crowded. Not fun in the least. We actually don't do a big CMas at home. We have no kiddos and our families are a distance away. And it was even strange for us! I guess I just like waking up in my own house with my own tree.

So we always go the 1st or 2nd week of Dec and get our CMas fix then!

 

[webmomom]

Originally posted by Muushka
We are also huge Disney fans. One year we decided to stay at WL during Christmas (and leave the 26th). Well, I may get flammed for this, but it was just strange to be there on CMas eve and CMas day. The parks were so very crowded. Not fun in the least. We actually don't do a big CMas at home. We have no kiddos and our families are a distance away. And it was even strange for us! I guess I just like waking up in my own house with my own tree.

So we always go the 1st or 2nd week of Dec and get our CMas fix then!

That is what we do. we go the first week in Dec and get our fix for the rest of the season

 

[Eileen226]

We have gone as AP preview people. We have gone beginning of December. We have been there for Christmas Day! We are true Disney fans! We stayed last time at Yacht club with our then 16 yr old and 12 yr old in one room. We decorated our balcony with lights. We brought a wooden stand up tree. They gave me a tinkerbell spinning ornament.

This year. my almost 19yr old is a freshman in college. My almost 15 yr old is a freshman in High School. We arrive 12/21 at POR Two rooms mansion and stay til the 26th. We see Mr. Gary Sinese (2nd time at CP) on Christmas Eve. WE LOVE DISNEY AT CHRISTMAS> You know why? Because we are at the happiest place on earth celebrating a great holiday with people who want to be where they are(how many of you can say you really want to be at the overstuffed Christmas Dinner (or two for you newly married or happily engaged). I only have a brother (who has two kids, and we always celebrate a few days before or after because of "Santa" or the grandparents. and a sister who is older with no kids. They think I'm crazy, but love me enough to understand that THERE IS NOTHING like the feeling of walking down Main Street on Christmas morning! Merry Christmas to all that will be joining me in that walk this year!

 

[rx8anna]

Oooh, Eileen, your description of Xmas day sounds wonderful. I'm going for the first time on Christmas to Disney World and can't wait! My BF thinks it'll be a little strange to be there on Christmas, but for me, the last 6 years of Xmas has been pretty darn miserable for various reasons and this year I promised myself that I would make Christmas wonderful again. I guess over time the traditional Christmas for me has actually taken on more of a negative aspect, so I can't wait to feel that wonderful feeling of Christmas again being in a place that I know I will be happy at......WDW! I have a PS for the Rose & Crown for Christmas dinner and I just think that it'll feel pretty darn traditional sitting in an English restaurant. And where else could you see the most amazing Christmas lights display then at one of the WDW parks. I'm sure Illuminations will provide a fabulous display of Christmas lights for me.

 

[crow11ad]

Originally posted by webmomom
That is what we do. we go the first week in Dec and get our fix for the rest of the season

That is what we are doing.

 

[sarahsmom73]

We are headed to WDW next Christmas and although it might seem strange to us who usually have a white Christmas, there is part of me that is really excited! I am excited to have the memories with DH, DD, my parents and my brother... I think those memories will be the best gift of all!

 

[webmomom]

I guess part of me not understanding is, we have 5 married chilrren and 14 grandchildren as long as my MIL and several Aunts and Uncle and cousin at Xmas. Not being with them, I just cannot fathom. I have mention going the day after xmas, but he still wants to go for xmas day. I mentioned it to the family and oh well do not want to tell you the comments as well as the looks. The other thing is my MIL she is in good health but is 85 and really never know from one day to the next if she will be with us each xmas. Also don't know how I could tell my GK that their grandmother and grandfather were going to WDW for xmas without them. I am so use to such a big family getogether I just can seem to think anything else but that.

 

[emmabelle]

We're leaving for Disney at 12:00 noon on x-mas day, so we still will be getting up in our own home and opening the presents from Santa, (kids are 12 and 14). I can't wait to go! After all the shopping and craziness of getting ready for x-mas, I think x-mas night can be a little of a let down, so now we have a vacation to look forward to and it has to be warmer in FL than in MA.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

webmomon,
Sorry no help here, because I agree with you. That being said, my family will be waking up at WDW Christmas morning. Why, because our family tradition is no longer possible. Our tradition was always to go to North Carolina, to spend Christmas with family. My DS(12) has never had Santa come to our house. Unfortunately, I lost my father 2 years ago, and my mother last year. While I will miss Christmas with my sisters, right now I can't stand the thoughts of going up there for another Christmas without my parents being there. Maybe next year. I planned this trip, so I would be at the happiest place on earth, and hopefully be able to forget, even for awhile, how Christmas used to be.

My solution to you would be, to try to talk your kids into all go with you to WDW for Christmas. I'm really looking forward to it, but I think it would be much better if my sisters and their families would join us.

 

[Pats Dragon]

I LOVE christmas at home and have lots of traditions but this year we have a young man with us from Australia who will be away from his mom for the first time. We decided he won't have time to be homesick if we are at DW. we'll go to epcot and eat at rose and crown and see the processional and plan on having a wonderful Christmas. We'll open presents Christmas Eve night after dinner at Ohana's and have a small surprise Christmas morning before we go to the park. Disney at Christmas is beautiful. We will have a lighted nativity set and a mickey band that plays christmas music and a small tree. I think it will be perfect.

 

[DorotheaJN]

Originally posted by Eileen226

This year. my almost 19yr old is a freshman in college. My almost 15 yr old is a freshman in High School. We arrive 12/21 at POR Two rooms mansion and stay til the 26th. We see Mr. Gary Sinese (2nd time at CP) on Christmas Eve. WE LOVE DISNEY AT CHRISTMAS> You know why? Because we are at the happiest place on earth celebrating a great holiday with people who want to be where they are(how many of you can say you really want to be at the overstuffed Christmas Dinner (or two for you newly married or happily engaged). I only have a brother (who has two kids, and we always celebrate a few days before or after because of "Santa" or the grandparents. and a sister who is older with no kids. They think I'm crazy, but love me enough to understand that THERE IS NOTHING like the feeling of walking down Main Street on Christmas morning! Merry Christmas to all that will be joining me in that walk this year!

We'll be at Disney at Christmas this year too. It'll be our 8th visit to WDW - this time staying at POR from the 19th to the 27 of december.

It'll be our first time for Christmas and in a way be the honeymoon my husband and I was never able to take when we got married 17 years ago - We were poor students then and wanted to spend the money at more important things

It'll also be our first trip alone. Usually our foster daughter travels with us, but she just turned 18 and has chosen to spend christmas with her boyfriend and his family this year, so instead of just spending Christmas alone, we have decided to have a romantic couples Christmas at the world.

We're really looking forward to the trip, but know that Christmas eve (Thats when we usually celebrated Christmas here) is going to feel strange. Yet we know that we'll be at the most entchanted magical place we know for Christmas and we can't wait to go...


Helle

 

[Julanne]

We are also going to be at WDW for Christmas this year - at Beach Club Villas from 12/21 - 12/26 and then on the 4 day Wonder cruise. It is my MIL and FIL 50th anniversary, and we are going with the WHOLE family - the 2 grandparents, 8 grown children, and 9 grandkids ranging from age 22 to age 2 (plus a tenth on the way - I'm due in June!). I'm the only DISer in the bunch, and the only one that realizes that we can't just "wait and see" what we want to do. But as the youngest DIL I don't have a lot of say so I just haven't pushed anything. But now I'm getting worried. Does anyone have any great suggestions for the clan, especially for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? We've all been to WDW before, but not nearly as often as most of you and never for a major holiday. Help!

BTW, we are all from Southern California and visit Disneyland A LOT, so I think we wouldn't mind skipping MK, which always seems way too crowded - especially at Christmas.

 

[Muushka]

Originally posted by Julanne
Snip Does anyone have any great suggestions for the clan, especially for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? We've all been to WDW before, but not nearly as often as most of you and never for a major holiday. Help!

BTW, we are all from Southern California and visit Disneyland A LOT, so I think we wouldn't mind skipping MK, which always seems way too crowded - especially at Christmas.

I was one of the posters that did not like Christmas at WDW. If we had to do it over again, I would probably try to book the CP for Christmas Eve. I would definately stay away from MK Christmas day. If I had an AP, I might visit Epcot, but otherwise, I wouldn't even bother with the parks. Maybe visit the hotels and see their trees and decorations.

We had Christmas dinner at the Yacht Club Galley. which was a buffet. Probably wouldn't do that again. I felt like we were cattle eating there. I think if we ever stayed there again for the holiday, we would probably get one of those pre-prepared dinners from Publix, just to avoid the crowds at the restaurants.

Good luck with your planning! (sorry to be such a downer, but now that I think about it, there were things that could have been done differently and would have been better).