Booking for Christmas

[sbkline]

We try to go to WDW every April, but in 2012, we're hoping to squeeze in a second, shorter trip in the Christmas season, just to experience some of the Christmas Festivities. Having never gone in the Christmas season before, I just wondered if anyone can tell me how fast rooms book up for that time. Normally, for an April trip, I will book the room in May or June, even though it never seems to be necessary to book quite that far out. But since official rates come out in August and everyone can book for the entire year at that point, under official rates, I wondered if most of the Christmas trips are booked in the first 5 or 6 months after rates are released. Or if there are plenty of rooms available to wait until a little later to book. I was just curious if I would be pretty safe in waiting until after our April 2012 trip to book, or if I should consider booking prior to that, or even sometime before the end of the year?

 

[Master Yoda]

If you are going the week before or after Christmas I would book as soon as you can. If you plan on going during the first 2 weeks of December you can wait a while. Since you are going to be there in April I would look for a bounceback offer and book then if one is available.

 

[durangojim]

I think you'd be ok waiting until August as long as you aren't planning on going the actual week between Christmas and New Years. Also, when you go in April, look and see if there's a bounceback in your room for December. We did this this past May, and last year in April and received 40% off our room which was great. Christmas season is a wonderful time at WDW, except that I don't care for the Mickey's Christmas party and the fact that it causes the MK to close at 7pm over 50% of the time in December. Still an great time to be in the world especially at EPCOT and MGM.

 

[sbkline]

If you are going the week before or after Christmas I would book as soon as you can. If you plan on going during the first 2 weeks of December you can wait a while. Since you are going to be there in April I would look for a bounceback offer and book then if one is available.

Thanks for the info. I'm not sure yet when we would be going. We both work at Walmart, so there may be an issue with getting vacation time smack dab in the busiest month of the year, so with that in mind, we may try to go sometime in November...before Black Friday and the kickoff of the Holiday season, but late enough that hopefully, most of the Christmas festivities would be up and running (paticularly the Candelight Processional and MVMCP).

On the other hand, our son starts kindergarten this month, so we will have his school to work around from now on. I'm not exactly sure when his Christmas break would be this far out, although I can get a general idea by looking at what week it falls on this year and, that would be Dec 19-30. So preferably, we would go that week next year, although we may get laughed out of the office if we request Christmas week off. My store manager told me two or three years ago that if we ever want to go to WDW at Christmas time, to let her know, but whether she would honor that if I actually took her up on it remains to be seen. :shrug:

 

[Master Yoda]

Thanks for the info. I'm not sure yet when we would be going. We both work at Walmart, so there may be an issue with getting vacation time smack dab in the busiest month of the year, so with that in mind, we may try to go sometime in November...before Black Friday and the kickoff of the Holiday season, but late enough that hopefully, most of the Christmas festivities would be up and running (paticularly the Candelight Processional and MVMCP).

On the other hand, our son starts kindergarten this month, so we will have his school to work around from now on. I'm not exactly sure when his Christmas break would be this far out, although I can get a general idea by looking at what week it falls on this year and, that would be Dec 19-30. So preferably, we would go that week next year, although we may get laughed out of the office if we request Christmas week off. My store manager told me two or three years ago that if we ever want to go to WDW at Christmas time, to let her know, but whether she would honor that if I actually took her up on it remains to be seen. :shrug:

If 12/19-12/30 ends up being your dates you will want to book as soon as you can. This is smack dab in the middle of the busiest week at WDW.

 

[Beyond Castles]

It's possible that your school district might have the school calendar set for next year. Our school seems to have the calendars set in advance. I would say book as soon as possible for November or December and go through an agent that can apply any new discounts to your vacation. That way you get what you want but you'll still get the best deal. Maybe talk to you manager now!

 

[sbkline]

Okay, here is another question. How long after Christmas do they continue to have the Candelight Processional and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party?

The thought occured to me to go the second half of my son's Christmas Break, rather than the first half. This year, Christmas Break is Dec 19-30 (well, returning to school Monday Jan 2). The corresponding dates for next year would be Dec 17-28. What if we decided to go from Monday Dec 24-Friday Dec 28? I know that may be easier to get the time off from at work since they are closed Christmas day, and we are off Sundays anyway. So Monday, Dec 24 (Christmas Eve) would be the only day leading up to Christmas that we would need to take off. Would we still get to see those two events? Those are the primary things we would be going for. Ya, we want to see all the decorations and the Osborn Lights, but those two events are two of the big attractions that we want to see. I understand that the exact dates of the events won't be announced until next year, but is it the norm to still have MVMCP and showings of the CP after December 25?

Just so I can have a general idea, does anyone have the dates for THIS year's showing of the CP and MVMCP?

 

[DisneyJoe]

Okay, here is another question. How long after Christmas do they continue to have the Candelight Processional and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party?

Candlelight Processional runs up to and including 12/30.

The last MVMCP is usually around 12/18 - however, I believe the MK runs the same parade as MVMCP during Christmas week.

 

[sbkline]

Candlelight Processional runs up to and including 12/30.

The last MVMCP is usually around 12/18 - however, I believe the MK runs the same parade as MVMCP during Christmas week.

So what is the earliest that we could go and expect to catch those two events? If we don't go during his Christmas Break, we'll just take a few days off in November before the Christmas rush sets in. How early in November do they usually start MVMCP and the Candelight Processional?

 

[DisneyJoe]

http://www.wdwmagic.com/Attractions/Candlelight-Processional.htm

http://www.wdwmagic.com/Events/Mickeys-Very-Merry-Christmas-Party.htm

 

[sbkline]

Okay, those links are very helpful. Thanks alot for the info! :wave:

 

[Lexi]

Candlelight Processional runs up to and including 12/30.

The last MVMCP is usually around 12/18 - however, I believe the MK runs the same parade as MVMCP during Christmas week.

Any chance they make it snow on Main Street in the parade during Christmas week??