First time in Early December

[nicole3874]

Hi everyone,

We are veteran disney goers. We have been there at least 40 times alone and together, since childhood. Anyway, this is our first visit in early december, I wanted to see it decorated at least once in my lifetime and before my son starts KDG. in 2010. Is there anything special I should see or do while I am there at this time of the year. I don't want to miss any of the holiday magic at Disney World and both of my boys love the Christmas holidays and decorations.

 

[pacochran]

It's our favorite time of year we usually go the week after Thanksgiving, except this year.

The kids should love it. The first year we went we took a day and just resort hopping to check out some of the displays. Some of the places I would hit is the Grand Floridian as they have a life size Ginger Bread House. The Beach Club as a Ginger Bread and Candy Carousel. Others have various displays but these two are the best.

You might also consider paying the extra and going to the Christmas Party at MK. Seeing it snow along Main Street is really neat.

Also hit DHS for the Osborne Lights, that is really neat walking around the streets of America with the Music, Snow and all the lights.

Those are the top things, though there are a ton of others also.

 

[krankenstein]

I would make sure to go to MVMCP. You have to pay more, but since you have never been you will enjoy it. Make sure you visit DHS and see the Osborne Lights.

By far the best place to celebrate Christmas is EPCOT. You might want to check into the Candlelight Processional Dinner package. Make sure you catch the lights of winter and some of the story tellers around World Showcase.

Visit some of the resorts around property. The decorations they put up are awe inspiring.

It truly is an amazing time to go. I never miss going in December if I get a chance.

 

[coltow]

We just did our first ever Chirstmastime trip. We loved the Christmas Party. My boys were 5 and 21 months at the time. We loved the parade and 5yo had so much fun at the dance parties.

Take some time to explore some of the resorts. GF, WL, and AKL were all amazing. The park decorations are also fantastic and don't miss the Osborne Lights.

 

[charatijennings]

We also did our first December trip in 2008. I have to say that it was one of our best. Loved all the decorations both at the parks and the resorts. Don't miss the giant gingerbread house at the GF. Lots of people like the Candlelight Processional at Epcot, but you'll need to decide if that's suitable for your young ones (sitting still at Disney World is difficult). We stayed a few nights at WL and did the sleigh ride and the resort is also beautifully decorated. That was a lot of fun. The MVMCP was the best. We had such a great time that we did it twice. Don't miss Storytime with Belle or the other Christmas shows. And try to go during a week night for less crowds. You'll have a wonderful trip.

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

That's a great time to go! The weather is usually great and the Christmas decorations begin to pop up.

We went from Nov 29-Dec 2, 2008 and we watched the taping of the Christmas Parade. We saw the cast of DWTS, Jessica Simpson, and a few more. Great fun!

 

[tikiman]

All I can say is BRING WARM CLOTHES!!

The decorations and special events are nice to see. Glad I saw them....won't be back in December....:xmas:

 

[timeman]

I went this past December after Christmas which was my first time going some other time then August. I enjoyed it and seeing all the decorations was nice. I wanted to bring in the New Year in a park for the first time and it was great even though it was crowded that week.

Like previous posters stated do not miss the Osbourne Dancing Lights. The best time to see them is during a Fantasmic show as a lot of people will be at that show. I know I spent at least a half hour just looking at the lights and watching the lights when they animate them. Even though I was there on the saturday night after Christmas it didn't seem as crowded as when I was down in August.

If you ever get the chance you have to bring in the New Year at one of the parks. The night before New Years Eve they test the New Years Eve fireworks at the Magic Kingdom and the best viewing spot for them is in the lounge of the California Grill on the top floor of the Contemporary Resort. The New Years Eve fireworks show at Epcot is cool and people were still coming into the park a couple of hours before midnight.

This year like you I will be going earlier in December and am planning on hitting the MVMCP for the first time.

Like other posters said check out the decorations at the different resorts. The Contemporary Resort had a Christmas tree that was a Monorail track which was cool looking. Here are some pictures of it I took in December.

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u187/timeman1/Magic Kingdom/CRIM0125.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u187/timeman1/Magic Kingdom/CRIM0126.jpg

If you want to see other Christmas pictures you can check out the rest of my WDW albums.

If you get the chance you should even make the trip to Universal Studios for their Macy's Holiday parade and Grinchmas at Islands of Adventure as your kids would love them. You can even volunteer earlier in the day to be a ballon handler in the parade.

 

[bgraham34]

I love that time of year. Christmas is my favorite time of year and I love seeing the parks decked out in Christmas Lights and hearing Christmas music down Main Street. I would love to see the Castle Decked out in the Lights too. My second favorite time of year is during the Halloween parade. Main Street looks nice as well but not as nice as Christmas. You will have a blast.

 

[nicole3874]

Thank you everyone for all of your wonderful suggestions. I made a list of things that are must see when we are there. I would have never known there was so much to see.

 

[AGentlRose]

My favorite time of the year to visit WDW. We were there from Dec. 14 to 19, last year, weather was fine, actually warm, some days temps went into the 80ºs (while I missed the snow we had in Las Vegas), but the crowds were light and manageable and the parks and resorts were decked out in their Christmas finery. Not to mention, The Epcot Candlelight Processional, the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.

 

[NadieMasK2]

What everyone else said, but i just want to emphasize the Candlelight Processional in Epcot. If you don't book a dinner package, you very well may not get in. We have been twice in December - the first time we didn't know about this event and when we saw it we were majorly bummed that we didn't plan to go. The second trip we knew to plan for it, and it was an amazing experience. We had dinner at Biergarten, which was very fun - it was decorated for Christmas and the band performed Christmas songs, and then on to CP. I love Disney for still allowing this show to go on in this PC world. With Steven Curtis Chapman as our narrator, it was fantastic.

 

[nicole3874]

What is the candelight processional? And are my children ages 3 & 5 at the time going to be too young? We don't have a babysitter to watch them and I don't trust people I don't know to look after my kids meaning the babysitting services through disney.