Xmas in Disney??

[gkjones]

Can anybody tell me which park we should visit on Xmas Eve, we have a 12 year old son who loves Universal etc, but I would like to go to the Magic Kingdom, do all the parks have a Xmas theme going on with fireworks etc on Xmas Eve. Also our first week from 23rd December will be on our own, but from the second week 30th our family will be joining us. If we went to Magic Kingdom on our own the first week, would we be able to go again on the 5 day hopper ticket with our family the next week, or can we only visit a particular park once, we would not be bothered about the beach parks days and probably wouldn't use them. I can't seem to work out if it would work out cheaper if we just paid the daily admission to disney and buy the orlando park hopper for the first week instead

Karen, UK

 

[CamColt]

A 5 day hopper will get you 5 days in whatever of the 4 parks you wish. For example you could use day 1 at MK & Epcot, then day 2 at MK and MGM, day 3 at AK, MGM and Epcot, etc...

As for which parks for the holidays, thats up to your personal preference. Last year we did Epcot on Christmas Eve finishing our day with the Candlelight Processional. I thought seeing that on Christmas Eve was very magical. We started Christmas Morning at MK for a few rides, then had breakfast at the castle, and then avoided the parks and the crowds for the rest of the day. However if you are using a day on your hopper pass I would spend the whole day in the parks as not to waste a day.

 

[zurgswife]

We did the same as Camcolt on Christmas eve.. Epcot then Candlelight Processional....

On Christmas Day we avoided MK like the Plague.....way to many people to enjoy have been the reports that I've heard.....Christmas day we opened presents had a leisurely morning...went to DTD and did the fireworks at Epcot in the evening.....very low stress day....

If you want to do MK make sure you are there at open...as this year the park closed at 11am so if you weren't already in you probably had to wait a while until the crowds started to thin again...

 

[Grumpy92]

We love xmas eve at MGM. We have dinner and then meander over to the Osbourne Lights. It truly puts you in the xmas spirit. We have also done the CP dinner pkg on xmas eve and enjoyed that too. Really isnt much going on in the MK, but your will find the parks VERY crowded that week. On Xmas Eve, Xmas Day and NYE the parks often fill to capacity by 10am and then usually only guest staying at Disney resorts get in. MK is a mob scene and it is hard to move, Main St is often a bottleneck situation.
So go early and leave early is the best suggestion.
Dont forget to make PS at the 90 day mark for the holiday days as you will find your choices very limited if you wait until you get there, think fast food.

You might consider going to the GF lobby. You can sip on hot cocoa, enjoy the live xmas music and view the incredible gingerbread displays.

As for the park hopper, it is any five days in your lifetime.

It is a truly magical time to be there though.

 

[gkjones]

Thanks for the suggestions everybody! It has really helped and I can start planning!

I am so excited about the holiday in Disney this year, last year we went to Canary Islands for Xmas, and stayed in a really nice hotel. But, I was so homesick and couldn't wait to get home on Boxing Day, there really wasn't a christmassy atmosphere in Spain and they don't celebrate it in the same traditional way as we do in the UK and the USA. Even my son said it was a nice break but not the same as at home. I said that I would never be away from home at Xmas again!!

But, after discussing the possibility of going to Orlando for another vacation with my family, my husband suggested Xmas time and New year! This is the time of year that my husband can take time off from his business and his employees are all off too, so he can go away for a good break without worrying if his business is running smoothly. After thinking about it for a little while, I decided that if there was anyplace to be away from home at xmas it had to be Disney! It can't get any more Xmassy than that. We are going to be staying in a gorgeous villa with pool at Cumbrian Lakes, and I really can't wait, and I am so excited!

Oh, can somebody tell me how to get my countdown to disney on my message posts?

 

[zurgswife]

Go to the this link...it is about the 8 thread down from the top....

http://disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=43

 

[cworld]

We were in the MK on Christmas Eve 2003. It was pretty crowded until about 5pm. Then all of the sudden there were no lines anywhere. We walked on all of the mountians without lines. Even Buzz only had a 3 minute line. It was just unbelieveable how few people were there that evening.