Who has been to Disney at Christmas?

[pauldolling]

Myself, my wife and the kids are going to Orlando on the 21st December 2005 and coming home on the 6th January 2006.
We have been to Orlando 6 times before but never at Christmas, always in the summer months.
What weather can we expect? Also any tips for the Holiday period, anything special to do or avoid?
We will be staying in a rented house rather than a hotel.

Thanks,

Paul

 

[Miss Mickey Mania]

Hi Paul,
You are in for a treat! Christmas at Disney is extra special. I was there in 2003 and it was the best holiday ever.

Points to note......
It will be VERY busy. My experience was that on Dec 25/26 Magic Kingdom closed at around 10am as it was filled to capacity. We spent the day at Animal Kingdom instead which was something a little different. I would avoid MK on the 25th as it can be quite miserable being crammed in like sardines. You have plenty of other days to go there anyway. As you will be driving, for the big days like 24th-26th, New Year etc, you MUST get to the parks early. Leave very early as the queues to get parked will hold you up. I was amazed by the amount of traffic.

In all the parks, have a basic plan of attack. Use fastpass whenever possible and don't really plan on doing EVERYTHING. There are many seasonal activities and we spent a lot of time seeing those instead. World Showcase Stories around the world is excellent. Each country has a storyteller doing a floor show based on traditions and customs, ie UK - Father Christmas, France - Pere Noel etc.

Here is a link to some stuff happening. http://allearsnet.com/tp/holiday.htm

I would highly recommend the EPCOT Candlelight Processional. It was the highlight of my whole trip. We went on Christmas Eve and it was amazing. We did the dinner package as it's so much easier to get seating in the theatre then, and you don't have to queue up for as long.

Oh, we also went on a sleigh/carriage ride at the Wilderness Lodge resort. It's not actually a sleigh but it is done up to look and sound like one.

Weather - can be variable in December. We had temps of 80 during the day but I have heard others say that it has been cold enough for coats and gloves! I would check the forecast nearer the time and take a variety of clothing.

You'll see all our activities were in the parks as we stayed onsite. As you're offsite, there will be other options open to you and maybe someone else will be able to help with that.

I'm sure I'll think of more things as they come to me. Any questions, fire away!

Louise

 

[gilld]

It will be BUSY BUSY BUSY. Get to the parks at opening, particularly over the holidays, they can close to on-site guests by 9,30 so off site you might struggle if you arrive later.

It can also be extremely COLD and I do mean COLD not cool. We needed scarves, gloves, hats, warm coats etc - but it can also be warm so be prepared for all weathers and wear layers - lots of them. One day we were at US and had no less than 6 layers on and were still shivering in the temp just above freezing.

Go and visit the resorts which are beautifully decorated and don't miss the Osbourne Lights at DS.

 

[Claire4dpins]

I have been to Disney early in December 3 years ago and hopefully we are going for three weeks in early December this year too.

There is lots of great stuff to do, like Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party at MK and The Candlelight Processional at Epcot. The Orsbourne lights at MGM are fantastic - not to be missed in my opinion!! All the parks have a tree lighting & characters in special costumes!!

The weather can be warm - but it can also be very cold (freezing!!) so you need to pack for all weathers. The mornings and evenings will probably be coolish - wear layers of clothes!

They are loads of useful threads on Christmas stuff - here are two I have found useful -
Hoilday Must-dos
Candlelight Processional

Hope this helps,
Claire

 

[Hilary]

As you've been to Orlando before, it may not be as important to you to see and do everything that's also there in the summer months, so I'd suggest concentrating purely on the seasonal events/decorations, etc. and treating any of the 'normal' things as a bonus if you can do them as well.

If you're planning to spend any of the 'big' days (Christmas, Christmas Eve, NYE) in the parks, it will be a loooong day if you arrive early and stay to the closing fireworks, so plan lots of time-out and some sit-down meals (get those reservations made early!).

We stayed on-site when we were there for NYE 2000/01, so only visited the Disney parks, but I've heard that USF and IOA don't get quite as busy as WDW.

Sorry to repeat what others have said, but do pack for all weathers! Weather-wise, when we were there, we needed gloves, fleeces, hats, scarves, etc. (I remember the shop in 'Mexico' sold out of blankets on NYE ) and there was frost on the grass in the mornings! By the end of the week, however - just as we were leaving - it was back to shorts and t-shirts.

 

[**Laura**]

Ive been out for christmas before and we are going from the 22nd of December until the 5th of Jan this year! I cant wait.

It is amazing over there at that time of year, think its just your luck with crowds I dont remember it being too bad in 2003, im planning for it being mobbed just in case though!

It can be very cold but it can also be quite warm as well so i'd pack for both!

Theres loads to do during christmas but to be honest, the atmosphere is fantastic that time of year and you will have fun no matter what you choose to do!

 

[susieh]

We went Christmas 1998 and had a real mix of weather. We managed to do BB and TL on 2 days yet ended up buying hats and scarves when the weather changed suddenly.

As others have said Osbourne Lights in MGM are magical, snow on Main Street in MK was so pretty (especially at night) and all the decorations in all the resorts as well as the parks were beautiful. They had an ice rink at DTD when we were there too.

We stayed on site and had a tree in our apartment (paid for in advance and already there, set up and decorated by the Disney staff, when we arrived). It was a stupid price ($150 if I remember) and was only 3-4ft tall. But we brought it home and it comes out every year (we've replaced the US lights with UK ones) and is a lovely reminder of the trip so has been worth the cost in the end.

One thing I would say is "dont expect to get a proper Christmas dinner anywhere". We tried and failed and felt that we had missed out on something which is a special part of our Christmas Day as a result.

 

[Muppet]

Just to add, we have been 3 times at christmas and this year is our forth. Its a fab time of yoear to go,

You'll love it!

 

[emily1982]

we went dec 03 and also going on the 21st this year, which flight are you on?


In 2003, we found the parks not to crowded the first few days before xmas but it did get busier the week between xmas and new year, as it was mainly american families (but to tell you the truth it was busy, but seen it just as busy in the summer months), we did mk before xmas day, and tried to do all the main rides then, so we didn't have to queue xmas week, we went to epcot on xmas day, which was really nice as it wasn't packed (i think everyone was at MK) and we did cirque du soleil on new years eve, but not sure what we are doing this year.

Also, we did a shopping trip before xmas, and then one after (day afer xmas infact) and we found the shops to be busy, but their were some great sales, especially in the disney shops in the malls!

Hope you have a good trip!

 

[Danauk]

We are also flying out on the 21st (we are on the same flight as Emily and her family I believe.) You have been given lots of good advice on what to do but here are our Christmas must do's.
Watch the candlelight processional, tour the resorts to look at the decorations (especially the deluxes), see the Osbourne lights, see the tree lighting ceremony in Epcot.
As for clothes we plan to layer!!

 

[pauldolling]

I made a mistake, we are flying on the 20th not the 21st, we are flying with Virhin, from Gatwick. I will have to look up the flight number. Well at least it is one day nearer than I first thought

 

[emily1982]

Yeh... dana you and i are on the same flight, and someone else, but can't remember who...mmm

 

[tink too]

We've been in WDW twice at Christmas time - 1999/2000 and 2004/05. On both occassions we found the weather to be very changeable - from shorts and t's to jeans, fleeces and anoraks!

Please remember that the Christmas parades run from a few weeks before and a week or two after Christmas so there is plenty of time to see them. Christmas Day at MK is absolutely packed with little room to move - this past year we just went out for a family meal and relaxed as it poured rain all day anyway!

For Candlelight Processional in Epcot, I highly recommend the dinner package as the queues were extremely long this past year - I don't think we would have got in without it!

As everyone else has mentioned Osbourne Lights is a must see also.

 

[Sezza]

This will be our second Christmas at WDW.

I'm sure you'll love it as much as we do.

If you do want to see the Candlelight Processional then do book the dinner package to ensure you don't miss it.

As others have said everything else I'd just like to add that we loved wearing our Mickey and Minnie Christmas hats (bought there) - so warm and snuggly when it gets cold and fun too lol.

Have a fantastic time.

 

[lenny l]

deleted

 

[Goofyish]

What is the Candlelight Processional? And how do we book a dinner package for it?

The CP is show that takes place at the theatre infront of the American pavilion in Epcot World Showcase. There are 3 performances per night and it consists of the reading of the nativity story by a guest celebrity with carols and songs performed during the reading by a large choir.

It's free, but there are long lines to go into the theatre. To be sure to get a seat you can book a 'dining package' at various Epcot restaurants that gives you seating in a special reserved area.

Check out this thread for more details:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=873844