Xmas day in WDW, What would you do???

[eyoreaud]

Hi Guys

Was wondering what you lot would do/have done on Christmas day/eve in WDW?

I have heard that the Disney Parks can get quite packed at Xmas, are the parks actualy open on Xmas day? We were in Orlando November 29th 2 years ago and did MVMCP it was Brill! But we flew back around the 12th Dec so we missed out on the actual Xmas Holidays, we're hoping to be there 15th or 17th Dec and back 29th or 31st, staying at Sheraton Vistana Villages (we bought time share there) and second week at the Disney Swan/Dolphin.

Also I'm wondering what to do about Xmas morning, it's gonna be weird not having crimbo prezzies under the tree! Do you know if you can buy cheap and cheerful little Xmas trees in Wal Mart or anyplace else?

Thanx,
Luv Audrey,
xxxxxxxxxxx

 

[drennan]

Sorry Audrey

Can't answer any of the questions you have posted but i am waiting for all the replies you will be getting as they are exactly the sort of questions i needed to ask, so thought i would say cheers for that

ttfn
Sharon x

 

[allie5]

Yes, ALL the parks, resorts and restaurants at WDW are open throughout Xmas and New Year. They will be full to bursting most days, with Magic Kingdom reaching capacity early on, especially on Xmas Day.

Epcot is THE place to be on New Years Eve, so if you want to do that, get there early and be set for a long day!

We were there last Xmas (but came home before NYE) and the weather on Xmas day was as about as miserable as it could be...cold, wet, windy. The big parade was cancelled due to the weather (though it was rescheduled for later in the day) and Wishes was a washout as the cloud was so low, you couldnt see the fireworks . Even so, the park was still heaving, with people 10-15 rows thick waiting for the parade two hours beforehand (how gutted they must have been that it was cancelled).

We arrived at MK at 7.30am (we had an 8am PS in the Castle) and were the very first people to "rope drop"!! By 11am the place was so packed you could hardly move. I have heard that MGM, Epcot and AK were busy, but doable, so these would be a better choice on Xmas Day.

Make sure you book any sit down meals you wish to take well in advance (Xmas Day ones really need to be done at the 90 day window). We saw literally hundreds of people trying to get into restaurants, which were of course fuly booked.

Even at Epcot, which has tons of eateries, there were no PSs available for the sit down places from about the 23rd onwards.

Xmas morning we headed straight to the parks (which you need to do if you want to gaurantee getting in!) and had our "Christmas" later, with presents, nibbles etc.

We bought a fibre optic Xmas tree from Wal-mart for $30. They have tons of stuff really cheap and its easy to make your place look festive for very little $$$!!

Any more questions, please ask!

Allie

 

[DisneyBB]

We will be there from the 11th Dec to the 5th Jan. We were planning on going to Epcot on Christmas day, but after seeing how crowded they all get we may just have a lazy day in OKW. I thought of booking Christmas lunch in Olivia's and hiring bikes afterwards! We are planning on buying a small artifical tree early on and buying decorations for it in different places. There are some lovely shops selling these in the Premium outlets. We are staying at the dolphin for 4 nights over NYE, so if we can't get into Epcot we will enjoy the Boardwalk area.

 

[chuds]

We too were at WDW last Xmas and agree the weather was bad rain rain and more rain. From using these boards and some research we knew all the parks would be busy. So decided to use Xmas day as a rest day and planned to go to cinema at DTD. Because it was so wet I think half of Orlando had same idea arrived at 11 but full until 3. I dont think it really matters just enjoy the experience.

 

[MsPennieLane]

Hiya We spent Christmas Eve at Epcot and saw the Candlelight Processional, which was very christmassy and well worth doing. On Christmas Day, we went to the Magic Kingdom and had breakfast at the Crystal Palace with Pooh and the gang, then late lunch at Cinderella's Royal Table which was lovely. It was raining so hard that after our PS at Cinderella's, we went back to Pop Century but I still wouldn't have spent my Christmas Day any other way. There's nothing like spending Christmas at Disney. The parks got exceptionally busy after Christmas Day - before that, we never had any problems.

Anz

 

[MsPennieLane]

Forgot to add that Walmart have a wonderful selection of Christmas trees. We bought a nice $3 tree that sat on our table and spent about $2 on christmas lights. Then I bought some Disney decorations from the Disney Store because they'd been reduced half price.

Anz

 

[squitty]

Hi

We had a lovely Christmas Day 2003...first of all we had a character breakfast at Cape May...Then we tried to get into MK...big mistake it was soooo busy we didnt get past the toll boths So we headed over to MGM...that was lovely, so quiet which we were really suprised at.
We were so stuffed from breakfast that we didn't want any lunch.
In the evening we headed over to DTD and went to the pictures. Made a lovely change.

 

[Camac]

We were in WDW for Christmas 2003. Our Christmas present to each other was a day at Discovery Cove swimming with the dolphins which was a wonderful way to enjoy a really special Christmas (we were blessed by wonderful weather which, of course cannot be pre-arranged).

It proved to be a wonderful break from the parks and a marvellous experience. We did go to MK on Boxing Day but left by 11am as the crowds were horrendous.

On NYE we spent the day shopping and relaxing around the pool before visiting Wilderness Lodge for a drink before catching the boat accross to Pioneer Hall for the Hoop Dee Doo 9.30 show - corny but great fun. We were then bussed back to Wilderness Lodge and went down to the jetty again to watch the MK fireworks at midnight. Wonderful (and no crowds)!

Camac

 

[Danauk]

We will be at WDW this Christmas. Our plan for christmas day is just to stick around the resort. We are staying at the Beach Club so we plan to have a lazy day, wonder around the board walk, perhaps have a dip in Stormalong Bay if it is not too cold. If I get up early I might walk over to MGM in the morning to ride RnRC and ToT as I love those rides. For Christmas dinner we are planning on making a PS at Cape May and then in the evening we plan to sit on the beach and watch the Epcot fireworks.

 

[paulh]

we took with us a lot of small presents put then in a carry on and kids nerver noteced up earley xmas day went o MK think it was 8.00am or earlier. did rides we wanted to do got fastpasses to use in the evening sat down on mainstreet 1 1/2 hours befor prade eating cookies and cream ice cream went back to hotel after had a swim showered then went back for our meal at LTT as thats the only place that had turkey on menu.New years eve we got into epcot as gates opened got fastpasses again did much the same as xmas day we were at broardwalk so used disney transport and could walk to epcot when we went to MK on bus the carpark was full and it was shut at times so if you are ofsite plan on a long day

Paulh

PS the fastpass can be used anytime after the time on it not just the hour slot it indicates

 

[eyoreaud]

Thanx for all your replies!

Thee Xmas trees from Wal Mart look fab and are soooo cheap, pitty we can't get them so cheap over here as well.

The MK Park sounds a bit of a nightmare so would mebbe go for EPCOT or MGM, I think it's gonna be weird not havin a traditional Xmas lunch then slobbin out on the sofa with a box of choccies in front of the Wizard of oz! What am i thinking about? I know what i'd rather do! he he he!

AAAAhhhhh Xmas in the sun (or rain in Florida) Who cares as long as we're there! Can't wait!

Thanx again,
Luv Audrey,
xxxxxxxxxxx

 

[paulh]

dont forget to take coat and jumper and gloves as you can cet a cold snap one day it was freezing next we were swimming in pool
Paulh