What MUST I know when planning a Christmas trip to WDW?

[mom2boys]

I know that LL Bean has mail order Christmas trees. 1800Flowers.com also has trees. I got each of my boys a potted pine from Target, complete with decorations for $8.99. They put them in their bedrooms. My husband may have me committed if I hang lights in our hotel room. A small tree, he will probably just roll his eyes.

 

[ksoehrlein]

Just bumping for those who have recently returned. I hope everyone had a magical time. Please give us your feedback!

 

[patsal]

Here is what I did and it was very last minute and very short (5 nights). As soon as I knew My dates I looked at the scheduled events. I talked to my family about how they wanted to center this trip--for us it was around the Christmas things and other rides and attractions were secondary. I decided which MVMCP I wanted and preordered my tickets and set up dining. I next chose the CP I was interested in and chose two others as well since the dining for this had opened long before I booked my trip. WIth a little work and a very helpful CM I was able to get the second choice here so I planned my Epcot day around this and made all other ADR's. Since the Osbourne lights were every night it didn't matter which day that was set for. I also knew AK would only be available until evening and they had a holiday parade also, this would leave me free from 5pm on.
arrival day--MK for as much time as possible--it worked out this was an EMH night with very low crowds so we did get several things done, light parade and fireworks as well.
next day was our MVMCP day and we spent the entire day at MK, dinner at CP and on to the party--lovely but the rain did put a damper on things.
next was our CP day at Epcot--it was a priority to see the diffeent Christmas stories and Santas, as well as the tree lighting. We saw all but one Santa and the tree lighting occured during the time we had to line up for CP.
next we did MGM and stayed from opening to Osbourne lights. I made the dinner reservation so we could then walk out and see all the lights. This worked out very well.
Next we went to AK had Breakfast there and saw all we wanted and left after the parade. From there we went to Epcot and saw the last Santa we missed and the tree lighting, from there we went to DTD and were not really impressed--either I was tired and didn't notice tihings or it just wasn't all that! The decorations I saw were old and faded,etc.
finally went to MK in the AM rode afew rides before heading out.
We did not get to see the decorations at the other resorts and I would do this differently if I were to be able to go again at this time of the year--I may have axed the DTD night or skiped the MK on day one.

 

[JulieWent]

Be willing to travel early at least a few days! We just got back, and the mornings were perfect. We're morning people anyway, and the days we went into parks at opening were the best. We rode any ride we wanted -- sometimes twice -- without the benefit of FastPass. We had ridden every ride in MK before 11:00 a.m. Being early risers was definitely worth it!

Julie

 

[DeborahA]

Wow this is a great thread! I am planning a Dec 06 trip for two adults. We always enjoyed a visit in early Nov. but decided we would like to get a little more Christmas in our visit. The decorating is usually beginning as we are leaving. I have heard about the Osbourne Lights display, when does it begin in Dec? We are planning on being there Dec. 1-6, 06. Will we get to see the "snow". Also, can someone tell me about the crowd levels at that time?

TIA Deb

 

[sjpwhelan]

Just returned from trip 12/17-12/26. We had a wonderful time. We visited a different park each day including Uni/IOA/SW. We attended MVMCP which we all thought was fantastic. We had dinner and lunch ressies for our must-do restaurants and enjoyed seeing resort decorations. Attended a surprise character breakfast on Christmas morning after mass at the Contemporary. We did not go to a park on Christmas day. We toured a lot in the beginning of the trip and began to increase relaxing activities as the crowds grew. We had a blast! Have fun!

 

[Disney Mama 2 Two]

Okay..we just found out that Christmas at Disney is going to be do-able for us this year!!! But after reading some threads on MVMCP...I'm confused. Trip will probably be December 23rd (arrival) through January 3rd (depart that day) - based on previous dates we will not have an opportunity to see MVMCP? Is that correct? What is different for the party nights? Is it the same parade shown during the day...is Santa in the day parade also?

I'd love some advice from those who went this past year or other years on my dates...will I still get to experience the Christmas stuff these dates?

Thanks!
Dawn

 

[KCMiller]

Okay..we just found out that Christmas at Disney is going to be do-able for us this year!!! But after reading some threads on MVMCP...I'm confused. Trip will probably be December 23rd (arrival) through January 3rd (depart that day) - based on previous dates we will not have an opportunity to see MVMCP? Is that correct? What is different for the party nights? Is it the same parade shown during the day...is Santa in the day parade also?

I'd love some advice from those who went this past year or other years on my dates...will I still get to experience the Christmas stuff these dates?

Thanks!
Dawn

OK, so you're not really talking about a Christmas trip as much as a Chrismas WEEK trip - and that's a whole 'nother thing!

The first time we went to WDW, we went Christmas week, and this week really hammers home the adage 'failing to plan is planning to fail'. My strong advice to you (and what we did) is to search the forums for New Years Eve (or NYE), and start reading and taking notes. Short version of my advice is:

1. Get to the parks at opening. Or before. Definately before. Sunrise good !

2. Ride the rides you want to right away. Get Fastpasses, but hold them until the afternoon, when the lines for rides will be hours long and all the Fastpasses will have been given out. You can ride later than the time on the pass, but not earlier. And you can hold more than one at a time (the passes will have a time on them when you can get another pass).

3. Make ADR's for lunch AND dinner. Even if you'd usually eat at CS. Trust me. You'll thank me when you see other people waiting in line for an hour and a half for a burger.

4. Realize that the parks will get more crowded as the day wears on. So go commando on rides in the morning, then spend the afternoon and evening enjoying the parks, seeing shows and parades, and people watching.


The parks are VERY crowded, but you'll have fun!


KC

 

[experiment626mom]

Do not go to MK or Epcot on Christmas day, we spent Christmas day at AK and we were able to walk on to everything. We heard that MGM was the same way. We spent Christmas eve at Epcot and while crowded, it was quite managable.

 

[Disney Mama 2 Two]

OK, so you're not really talking about a Christmas trip as much as a Chrismas WEEK trip - and that's a whole 'nother thing!

The first time we went to WDW, we went Christmas week, and this week really hammers home the adage 'failing to plan is planning to fail'. My strong advice to you (and what we did) is to search the forums for New Years Eve (or NYE), and start reading and taking notes. Short version of my advice is:

1. Get to the parks at opening. Or before. Definately before. Sunrise good !

2. Ride the rides you want to right away. Get Fastpasses, but hold them until the afternoon, when the lines for rides will be hours long and all the Fastpasses will have been given out. You can ride later than the time on the pass, but not earlier. And you can hold more than one at a time (the passes will have a time on them when you can get another pass).

3. Make ADR's for lunch AND dinner. Even if you'd usually eat at CS. Trust me. You'll thank me when you see other people waiting in line for an hour and a half for a burger.

4. Realize that the parks will get more crowded as the day wears on. So go commando on rides in the morning, then spend the afternoon and evening enjoying the parks, seeing shows and parades, and people watching.


The parks are VERY crowded, but you'll have fun!


KC

Thanks...we went our first trip this past June...WOW! It was so darn hot and busy that I think I could take the busy in December without the heat! So what about the "shows" and special stuff - will we be able to experience that on those dates?

I am a major planner so I will definantly have those ADR made!

thanks again...keep the advice coming!

Dawn

 

[dvc guy]

Christmas at WDW is magical. A lot depends on when you go. MVMCP runs untill 3 or 4 days before Christmas. The earlier you go, this year before 12/23 the better chance you have of doing things. We just got back from our 7th Christmas visit, 12/22- 12/27. If possible stay away from MK on the 25th, as everybody goes that day.
As posted, if you want any chance of doing lots of rides, you need to be at the park at opening. This year we hit MK on the 24th at 8 AM, regular opening, and were able to do all the mountains and buzz in the 1st hour. As I started to walk back to the lockers to get some breakfast items, I felt like a fish going up stream
as the crowds poured in.
ADR are a MUST it you want to have sit down food. Every day from the 23 till the 1st will get more crowded, with NYE being grid lock. We are planning our trip for next year, so even though it is packed we love it. Understand that you will not be able to see everything, but with proper planning and a bo with the flow attitude you can have a blast. See everybody in December

 

[Kris Puyear]

We are going from Dec. 22nd thru Jan. 2nd and are totally physched.

What are the suggestions for what park to be at for New Year's Eve?

Thanks,
Kris

 

[TinkTatoo]

We are going from 14th Dec to 3rd Jan and I have got some great tips from this thread

 

[Disney Mama 2 Two]

We are going from 14th Dec to 3rd Jan and I have got some great tips from this thread

WOW!!! Now that's what I call a vacation! This is a great thread...we'll have to start the christmas/december 2006 thread!

Dawn

 

[TinkTatoo]

WOW!!! Now that's what I call a vacation! This is a great thread...we'll have to start the christmas/december 2006 thread!

Dawn

LOL - we come all the way from Ireland so it makes sense to stay as long as possible

 

[snowiit]

Just subscribing to this thread.. we'll be there from Dec 17th (or possibly 16th) and checking out on the 22nd. Can't wait! Great tips!
Nancy

 

[GillieRose]

Will be there the 14-22. Keep the advice coming. Was actually going the 16-23 but the airline tickets where crazy for us to come home on the 23.

 

[Disney Mama 2 Two]

Will be there the 14-22. Keep the advice coming. Was actually going the 16-23 but the airline tickets where crazy for us to come home on the 23.

You have your plane tickets already? Some place I checked didn't even have prices yet for that time. I know this past December I was rate watching and it seems that prices have gone up since the 1st of the year compared to what they were at.

Dawn

 

[emmabelle]

We went Dec. 27, 2004 - Jan 1, 2005, we had a great time. It is very crowded, but as long as you get to the parks early you'll see what you want to see. We went to Epcot on New Years Eve and it was very cool and very crowded. The only thing I wouldn't do again with kids was the Candlelight Processional, we spent the extra money and booked the dinner at the Garden Grill and ended up leaving the show before the end because my kids, 12 and 14 the time, were falling asleep, I guess they didn't get how inspirational it was. I really didn't love the food at the Garden Grill either.

 

[GillieRose]

You have your plane tickets already? Some place I checked didn't even have prices yet for that time. I know this past December I was rate watching and it seems that prices have gone up since the 1st of the year compared to what they were at.

Dawn

They just started listing them. To go from 16-23 they are 400 a piece to go from 14-22 they are at 244 a piece.