Disney and the Holidays

[DisneyDelirious]

I am taking the family back to WDW from Nov. 22-Dec. 2. This will be the first time we have visited around the holidays. We are hitting the Candlelight Processional, MVMCP, the Osborne lights,and the Jingle Jungle Parade. I also have heard that WL and GF are decked out for the season. My quesion is being that is is so early, will we miss out on some of the holiday decor? What are the less known must see holiday speciic sights and experiences?

 

[Ariel484]

I am taking the family back to WDW from Nov. 22-Dec. 2. This will be the first time we have visited around the holidays. We are hitting the Candlelight Processional, MVMCP, the Osborne lights,and the Jingle Jungle Parade. I also have heard that WL and GF are decked out for the season. My quesion is being that is is so early, will we miss out on some of the holiday decor? What are the less known must see holiday speciic sights and experiences?

Nope! We were in WDW over Thanksgiving in 2009 and everything was up, except for the Christmas Tree in Magic Kingdom.

Off the top of my head, make sure you check out the decorations in the Epcot Resorts and Animal Kingdom Lodge. They are amazing! You'll have a wonderful time!

 

[wdwmagic]

Holidays at WDW begin in the most part of Nov 4. Epcot is the last to start, around November 25. So you will certainly be well within the timeframe to see everything.

 

[coachwnh]

you will love it!!! All of the resorts get decked out as well as downtown Disney. After Thanksgiving, we love to see the sorytellers around the worlds in epcot. This might be my favorite thing to do in WDW between thanksgiving and christmas. I really believe that this is the best time to be in WDW!!!! It really is magical!

 

[pixiesteno]

Not only are the parks and allthe resorts decked out, the people staying at FW campground have also been known to decorate their campsites for the holidays.

 

[Joshua&CalebDad]

I am taking the family back to WDW from Nov. 22-Dec. 2. This will be the first time we have visited around the holidays. We are hitting the Candlelight Processional, MVMCP, the Osborne lights,and the Jingle Jungle Parade. I also have heard that WL and GF are decked out for the season. My quesion is being that is is so early, will we miss out on some of the holiday decor? What are the less known must see holiday speciic sights and experiences?

My family will be there about the same time, Nov. 25th - Dec. 1st. We decided to go during this time because we knew all the holiday decorations would be up and hopefully we would encounter less crowds. To me there would be know better time than this to get geared up for the Holiday Season. Have a great time, I know we will.

 

[tracyandalex]

We are checking in on Dec 2nd!! We have been several times before. Here are some of our favorites: WL lobby, GF lobby (the giant gingerbread house), the gingerbreads at the Epcot resorts, the story tellers around the world at Epcot, the candlelight processional, MVMCP, meeting Santa at MK, and the character Christmas trees at Camp Minnie-Mickey in AK.

 

[DisneyDelirious]

Thank you to all for the great ideas and information. Keep them coming!

 

[pcarathers]

You will LOVE this time of year....we have gone a little later around the 8th of Dec. the weather was great and the crowds much more manageable than other times! Also, in Epcot World Showcase..watch for each country's version of Santa Claus. We caught several of them and loved it. Of course, in American Adventure, it is the traditional Santa and Mrs. Claus that we know and love...they have an area right outside of the gift shop I believe, if I remember correctly. MOST definitely hit the GF to see the life sized gingerbread house.....but beware, it can get CRAZY crowded there because of that! This year, we will be there the week of the 9th-16th and cant wait!!!!

 

[HouCuseChickie]

The only thing I can think of that you might not see is the MK tree. Not sure when the parade is being taped, but I recall that the MK tree doesn't go up until the parade is filmed.

One of the best times to see the GF tree, the AKL tree, and the WL tree is super early in the morning. i.e. if you have a breakfast adr in any of these hotels...you'll have next to nobody around. We arrived at the GF around 7:30 one morning and had the tree and gingerbread house all to ourselves.

Also look into the holiday treats and souvenirs. i.e. things you wouldn't be able to get in the middle of the summer. No one particular place or thing stands out...it's just fun to have all kinds of holiday options.

Everyone has pretty much suggested everything I would...although if you want to kick up the Osborne Lights experience...grab some cups of cocoa before heading in. It really made it even more "Christmasy."

 

[wdwfan4ver]

The Christmas Parade gets taped the first weekend of December starting Friday. The MK Christmas tree should be up on Monday since all the parade gets taped on Friday, and Saturday unless there is weather problems for the parade. Sunday is used as as a backup tape date for the Christmas parade.

 

[GoalieGirl16]

The Grand Floridian decorations are amazing. While I was still working there my roommate was part of the culinary team that baked the gingerbread for the life sized house and we found out which night they were putting up the tree and decorations. Another friend and I went to the Grand and stayed up all night watching the process. It was a great pixie dust refill for us to see all the guests reactions when they left their rooms in the morning.

The only downside to that experience is that the smell of gingerbread has been totally ruined for me. They start baking house parts in July or August and that is what Adam did 5 days a week for months. EVERYTHING in our apartment smelled of gingerbread for a year!

 

[ParentsOf4]

WDW looks awesome with the decorations up! We were blown away the first time we visited during the holidays.

All decorations will be up by the time you arrive. I suggest you try resort hopping to check out the decorations at the Deluxe Resorts. (Best to do this if you have a car but you can still do the 3 Monorail resorts easily enough and
exit Epcot via the International Gateway to check out the Boardwalk and Y&BC.)

The Ozborne Festival of Dancing Lights in DHS is an absolute must!

I believe the only think that won't be in full swing are the Santas and Candlelight Processional in the World Showcase in Epcot. These start the day after Thanksgiving.

 

[DizneyPryncess]

I really can't think of anything to see that hasn't been mentioned, I just wanted to say that this time of year is one of my favorites to visit! I found crowds to be minimal, and the decorations to be amazing! Our favorite things were MVMCP, and the Osbourne lights! I didn't think to visit the resorts, but we'll be back in November this year so I'm planning on checking out the gingerbread house for sure. Also, the castle lights weren't done back when I went, so I'm excited to see those too. Enjoy your trip!

 

[DisneyDelirious]

I made a Candlelight Processional Dinner Package reservation at the Garden Grill. It ensures a seat for the 8:15 showing on the 30th. It is 2 meal credits on the DDP. Do the crowds that early in the holiday season warrant needing the package for a guaranteed seat for the processional? I'm a holiday season rookie and don't want to miss the processional for sure but I get stingy with those table credits. Thougths?

 

[Zummi Gummi]

I made a Candlelight Processional Dinner Package reservation at the Garden Grill. It ensures a seat for the 8:15 showing on the 30th. It is 2 meal credits on the DDP. Do the crowds that early in the holiday season warrant needing the package for a guaranteed seat for the processional? I'm a holiday season rookie and don't want to miss the processional for sure but I get stingy with those table credits. Thougths?

Yes. Candlelight is always full, and Disney is using more and more of the seats in the theater for dinner packages, which means fewer general admission seats.

 

[GoalieGirl16]

Get the package! It is more than worth it to be guaranteed seats!

 

[Lisalyn]

I got a late lunch rezzie at Biergarten for the CLP with Neil Patrick Harris - my actual show time is 5p.m. My sister does it every year and said the lines start about 2 hours prior so eat fast and run over there LOL Just kidding but you get my point. If you want to see the show - do the package so at least the fact that you can sit and view it is guaranteed I know the dinner show packages are much more expensive than the lunch ones...you could probably save 1/2 if you did the late lunch and a 5 p.m. CLP show. Just a thought!

PS and like Parents0f4 above mentioned....Osborne Lights IS a must! My absolute favorite thing at WDW over the holidays. Make sure you get there before they flip the switch!