I need your guy's help, has anyone ever visited disney world during Christmas time? What was it like? I would like to know everything about it! I would love to get a lot of advice on this! Thanks guys, I hope to get responses!
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Disney World during the Holidays
- Thread starter Andrea Garcia
- Start date
HouCuseChickie
Well-Known Member
We've been in later Nov and early Dec. I've also helped several friends with Christmas week trips.
GF, AKL, and WL have my favorite decorations...although I also like the big ears on the Contemporary and the gingerbread carousel at BC as well. If you go before Christmas week, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is an option. Osborne Lights in DHS runs from early Nov and is AMAZING!!! The lighting of the dreamlights on the castle each night is spectacular. The story tellers in Epcot are fun and I've heard Candlelight Processional can be very moving. You can also check out the decorations at the various campsites over at Ft Wilderness and I believe sleigh rides go on. DTD had a nice lit tree last year and a wonderful string quartet playing holiday music.
OK- that's the basics off the top of my head
GF, AKL, and WL have my favorite decorations...although I also like the big ears on the Contemporary and the gingerbread carousel at BC as well. If you go before Christmas week, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is an option. Osborne Lights in DHS runs from early Nov and is AMAZING!!! The lighting of the dreamlights on the castle each night is spectacular. The story tellers in Epcot are fun and I've heard Candlelight Processional can be very moving. You can also check out the decorations at the various campsites over at Ft Wilderness and I believe sleigh rides go on. DTD had a nice lit tree last year and a wonderful string quartet playing holiday music.
OK- that's the basics off the top of my head
Disvillain63
Well-Known Member
We've been Christmas week, beginning December 23rd and leaving December 27th. It was the coldest December on record, at the time. Our children were 5 and 8. We had a blast and are glad we went for Christmas. It was truly 'magical' for our kids. We did have to split for some of the rides, as the kids were different heights and interest at the time. The lines were long and the parks crowded.
Best Decors:
Value - POP
Moderate - POFQ
Deluxe - WL & Poly
MVMCP is a must-do IMHO. It has something for all ages.
Best Decors:
Value - POP
Moderate - POFQ
Deluxe - WL & Poly
MVMCP is a must-do IMHO. It has something for all ages.
lilclerk
Well-Known Member
I'm the opposite of most people on this topic. I LOVE Christmas decorations (I start decorating on Nov 1) and thought I would adore WDW during the holidays... but I came away from it pretty meh. Don't get me wrong, we had a ton of fun and I don't regret the trip, but the holiday portion wasn't as awesome as I was expecting. I enjoyed the Halloween party more than the Christmas party, too.
I was mostly sad that they played what seemed like the same Christmas loops everywhere. The background loops in WDW are magical to me, and I really missed them. Especially the Innoventions loop. This was also the first year without the Lights of Winter, which I was really looking forward to.
I absolutely loved the Osborne lights, and the icicle lighting on Cinderella Castle. I also liked wandering through Fort Wilderness to see the decorated campsites (someone had even decorated their golf cart so it looked like a reindeer.) Other than those things, I wasn't that impressed. But again, I'm in the minority. Most people seem to love it.
I was mostly sad that they played what seemed like the same Christmas loops everywhere. The background loops in WDW are magical to me, and I really missed them. Especially the Innoventions loop. This was also the first year without the Lights of Winter, which I was really looking forward to.
I absolutely loved the Osborne lights, and the icicle lighting on Cinderella Castle. I also liked wandering through Fort Wilderness to see the decorated campsites (someone had even decorated their golf cart so it looked like a reindeer.) Other than those things, I wasn't that impressed. But again, I'm in the minority. Most people seem to love it.
75disney
Well-Known Member
Christmas at DIsney is awesome! I have been there in the weeks before Christmas as well as over Christmas week itself. If you can, go earlier in the month (b/w the end of Thanksgiving week and Christmas Eve); the crowds are more manageable and you can actually enjoy the atmosphere. The week of Christmas to New Year's is a nightmare. Unless you have been to Disney many times, it is best to avoid it. The wait times are horrible and the parks typically close due to maximum capacity.
If you do go over the holiday season, here are a few must-dos:
MK: Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (special holiday shows, snow, cookies and cookies, parade, special fire works) and the icicle lights on Cinderella's castle.
Epcot: Holiday Storytellers in World Showcase (different holiday traditions of each country) and Candlelight Processional (telling of the Nativity using celebrity narrators and orchestra and choir).
HS: Osborne Lights (millions of lights decorating the Streets of America which dance to special holiday music). Best part of the holidays at Disney
AK: Jammin' Jungle Parade and characters in holiday costumes
Santa is at Downtown Disney and Epcot in the American Adventure.
Decorations are everywhere, but several of the resorts are particularly well-decorated: Grand Floridian (huge tree and gingerbread house), Wilderness Lodge (huge tree), Animal Kingdom Lodge (huge tree), Beach Club (gingerbread carousel). It is worth a visit to stop in and see these resorts if you have time.
I cannot gush enough about the World at Christmas. It really puts you in the holiday spirit!
If you do go over the holiday season, here are a few must-dos:
MK: Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (special holiday shows, snow, cookies and cookies, parade, special fire works) and the icicle lights on Cinderella's castle.
Epcot: Holiday Storytellers in World Showcase (different holiday traditions of each country) and Candlelight Processional (telling of the Nativity using celebrity narrators and orchestra and choir).
HS: Osborne Lights (millions of lights decorating the Streets of America which dance to special holiday music). Best part of the holidays at Disney
AK: Jammin' Jungle Parade and characters in holiday costumes
Santa is at Downtown Disney and Epcot in the American Adventure.
Decorations are everywhere, but several of the resorts are particularly well-decorated: Grand Floridian (huge tree and gingerbread house), Wilderness Lodge (huge tree), Animal Kingdom Lodge (huge tree), Beach Club (gingerbread carousel). It is worth a visit to stop in and see these resorts if you have time.
I cannot gush enough about the World at Christmas. It really puts you in the holiday spirit!
danpam1024
Well-Known Member
We "do" Christmas every other year (alt with fall for F&W). This year I blew my budget over the summer- it is the first summer I haven't worked in 8 years, and well DS was home all summer, DH is semi-retired, and I wanted to play- A LOT! I spent ALL my Christmastime trip budget 
. Let me just say, it's not Christmas without Disney- no one does it better. You must make several trips during the holidays just to experience everything they have to offer.
. Let me just say, it's not Christmas without Disney- no one does it better. You must make several trips during the holidays just to experience everything they have to offer.
IWantMyMagicBand
Well-Known Member
I love Disney and have done both Paris and WDW at Christmas. I was totally unprepared for how COLD it is in Florida at Christmas. We couldn't take the kids out one night.
I didn't like the main street decorations as they prevented getting a clear shot of the castle from the bandstand.
The water parks were closed more than open.
I didn't like the music throughout the park, and that goes the same for Paris. It's a Small World is my favourite ride and I really wanted to hear the original tune.
It was insanely busy.
BUT it's Disney, and they do TRY to make things magical at Christmas. And waiting for the Electrical Parade with a hot chocolate from Casey's is one of the best memories I'll take with me. Along with the snowsuits, hats, gloves and scarves we had to purchase LOL
I didn't like the main street decorations as they prevented getting a clear shot of the castle from the bandstand.
The water parks were closed more than open.
I didn't like the music throughout the park, and that goes the same for Paris. It's a Small World is my favourite ride and I really wanted to hear the original tune.
It was insanely busy.
BUT it's Disney, and they do TRY to make things magical at Christmas. And waiting for the Electrical Parade with a hot chocolate from Casey's is one of the best memories I'll take with me. Along with the snowsuits, hats, gloves and scarves we had to purchase LOL
I guess we have just been fortunate during the first or second week of December then. Coming from Texas I'm used to mild winters. Some evenings or on a rare day I'll wear jeans. More often than not I'm more comfortable in cargo shorts.
75disney
Well-Known Member
I forgot about the hot chocolate! Nothing like sipping one as you stroll through Osborne Lights!
HouCuseChickie
Well-Known Member
Man...I've gotten used to these mild Texas winters. We went to WDW from Dec 7-13 in 2010 and we had a number of days in the 30s-40s. I believe it was actually down in the upper 20s on the day we flew back to TX. Brrrrrr!!!
I think we had some evenings in the low 50s or high 40s, but walking around the parks I've been comfortable. I can remember landing at DFW when it's upper 30s and I'm still in shorts and that gets my attention in a hurry.
Goofnut1980
Well-Known Member
I love the decorating they do at Disney.... I find Hollywood Studios is decorated more than MK is... The MK doesn't extend all of their decorations through the park like HS does... That make me a sad clown!
We have gone the week after Thanksgiving. Weather was great, crowds were very manageable, and all the decorations are up. As mentioned before, the resorts are all decorated and the deluxes in particular look wonderful. I highly recommend a gingerbread shingle from the Grand Floridian. Snow on MSUSA, cookies, and hot chocolate at MVMCP are the icing on the cake. I would highly recommend it.