Long Time Mickey lover First time at WDW HELP!

[AgigglesA]

I am a longtime Mickey fan. I'm 25 years old and I finally have the chance to go see the mouse personally. I need some advise and I figured this would be the best place to get my needed answers.

1. I am going Dec 7th to Dec. 12th of this year. What is the weather like that time of year? Is it pool weather or should I not hold my breath??

2. I am staying at the Caribbean Beach Resort and I have been hearing mixed reviews. Has any of you guys stayed there and what do you think??

3. When are the discount codes coming out for that time?

4. ANy other advise you could give will be appriecated too.!!

 

[Rcoaster809]

I can kind of help with #1.

The weather varies. One day it can be in the 80s, the next it can be in the lower 70s. Take a balence of shorts and pants. As for swimming, the pools are heated, so it feels good getting in, but if it is cold, it won't feel good gettin out.

4. Take advantage of the small crowds and the Holiday stuff goin on. You will have a great time.

 

[stitch131313]

I have stayed at the Caribbean Beach and it is very nice, but it is also very big, so you have to walk a long way to get to the food court and stuff.

 

[Erika]

Caribbean Beach is nice. If you stay on the Aruba/Jamaica border, you're guaranteed a nice, pleasant (and not long) walk across the bridge to the food court. Somewhere on these forums I posted a map of the resort. I would take a look at that if you don't want to be stuck too far out in the boonies.

We stayed there in 2000 and loved it. :wave:

Edit: Here's a map: http://allearsnet.com/acc/cbrmap1.jpg

 

[ILOVEDISNEY]

I am a longtime Mickey fan. I'm 25 years old and I finally have the chance to go see the mouse personally. I need some advise and I figured this would be the best place to get my needed answers.

1. I am going Dec 7th to Dec. 12th of this year. What is the weather like that time of year? Is it pool weather or should I not hold my breath??

2. I am staying at the Caribbean Beach Resort and I have been hearing mixed reviews. Has any of you guys stayed there and what do you think??

3. When are the discount codes coming out for that time?

4. ANy other advise you could give will be appriecated too.!!

Welcome to the board. :wave: You will love WDW. I would suggest www.disneyworld.com if you are looking for discounts and a planning video. You need to register, but it is free and easy to do. It is the official WDW site. It is cool if you have a DSL or cable modem, but just OK with dial-up.

There are many, many WDW sites. I guess my other favorite is www.mousesavers.com besides this one of course. Mary Waring is great. She is a travel agent. I would also get a Birnbaums if you want the official WDW bible so to speak, but there are other books that are good too like the Unofficial Guide to WDW and others you can find at B. Daltons, Borders, Walden, etc. Have a great trip.

 

[Kadee]

The Carribbean Beach has both good and bad sides.

Good:
1. The rooms are nice (for a moderate resort), but how much are you there anyway?
2. The landscaping and views are very nice. We had a nice lake and benches right by our room. Great place to just unwind and relax.
3. Lots of hammocks and beach chairs around the "beaches"

Bad:
1. It's too big!! We ALWAYS have our packages sent back to the hotel. When we stayed at POR, they brought it to the room. The next year, we stayed at CB and we had to walk up to the main building (VERY LONG WALK) and then wait for at least 30 min (sometimes an hour) for our package.
2. It's too big!! If you take advantage of the bus service (we always do and really like it...some people hate it, however) the lines at the end of the day are VERY..... I do mean VERY long. One night, we went through many (8 or so) buses before we got on. It was by far the longest line leaving the park.
3. It's too big!! We like to take advantage of the food court (LOVED the one at POR) at value/moderate resorts, but the one at CB was WAY too far from our room to use it regularly. Actually, I don't think we ate there at all because of our location.

That being said, reserve a preferred room AS CLOSE TO THE MAIN BUILDING AS YOU CAN GET and I'm sure you will enjoy it.

 

[Vernonpush]

Regarding weather, it can be warm or cool. I've been there three times during the first part of December, you never know what to expect. One thing that is for sure, is to bring sweaters or jackets if you are going to be out after dark. It can get VERY cold after the sun goes down (lockers are good for storing layers of clothing during the day until you need them at night).

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I can answer the question about Carribean Beach. I love that hotel! It's got a wonderful atmosphere, the scenery is beautiful and the rooms are wonderful! I love the sink area by the bathrooms (and I hate hotel rooms so that says a lot!) The ceiling fan is great! The food court offers a wonderful selection of food and I love having the 'straw market' right there. I can't wait to arrive in 6 days! This will be our third year staying there and I can see many happy returns in the future!

TheDisneyGirl02

 

[FatBoy976]

I think "pool" weather is relative for that time of year depending on where you are from. Anyone can swim in June, but coming for a warm weather climate, I won't go near a pool in December even in Orlando. That being said, I see tons of people in the pools in the winter. They're usually from up north.

I haven't stayed at the Caribbean Beach in a long time, but I liked it when I did stay there. They have a great pool, if you're going to swim...

The last piece of advice is to take breaks during the day if you're tired. You can always go back into the parks in the evening, depending on how late they're open. Have fun!

 

[diverdown2000]

I am a longtime Mickey fan. I'm 25 years old and I finally have the chance to go see the mouse personally. I need some advise and I figured this would be the best place to get my needed answers.

1. I am going Dec 7th to Dec. 12th of this year. What is the weather like that time of year? Is it pool weather or should I not hold my breath??

2. I am staying at the Caribbean Beach Resort and I have been hearing mixed reviews. Has any of you guys stayed there and what do you think??

3. When are the discount codes coming out for that time?

4. ANy other advise you could give will be appriecated too.!!

1) Remember it is Florida and the weather can even reach the 90's and humid, or you could be freezing your butt off. Just bring clothes that can vary becasue it can change on a day to day basis...Even living 2 Hours from Orlando, I check the weather reports on yahoo and plan that way.
2) I personally am not a big fan of CB...WE have stayed at the Contemporary, the Poly CB, Port Orleans and Ft. Wilderness.....All have their advantages and disavantages, my experience with CB was being to far from the Food Court...We tried to get closer to the main pool and food area, but could not...Like what was posted earlier try to get close as you can...
3)No idea....
4) HAVE FUN!!!!!!

 

[krafty]

We were there at that time last year, and it was COLD. Central Florida was in the middle of a cold snap, with frost warnings going out to the orange crops and we could very well have had real snow during MVMCP. :dazzle:
I stayed at CB back in 1996 during the WDW 25th anniversary. We really liked it, although it was a decent walk to the food court. If I remember correctly, we stayed in Jamaica and had the basic view (parking lot) on the 2nd floor. Truthfully, we had longer waits for busses last year at OKW than we ever had at CB, but that was several years ago. (We even had a minibar in our room back then, but I don't think they still do that).

 

[wannabeBelle]

I am a longtime Mickey fan. I'm 25 years old and I finally have the chance to go see the mouse personally. I need some advise and I figured this would be the best place to get my needed answers.

1. I am going Dec 7th to Dec. 12th of this year. What is the weather like that time of year? Is it pool weather or should I not hold my breath??

2. I am staying at the Caribbean Beach Resort and I have been hearing mixed reviews. Has any of you guys stayed there and what do you think??

3. When are the discount codes coming out for that time?

4. ANy other advise you could give will be appriecated too.!!

Answers:
1. As previously stated this really does depend. There have been years that I have gone around this time and froze and years I was able to go in the pool because it was 90 degrees or above out. it really does depend.
2. The only thing I am not wild about for the Carribean is the lack of a sit down breakfast restaurant, such at Boatwright's at the PO Riverside. I found the food court to be certainly adequate and I liked the resort overall.
3. Keep an eye on these boards and specifically KingdomKonsultant's posts. If she gets any of that information she usually posts it. Also if you book your trip thru her, she will rebook with any doscounts that come out to get you the best prices possible.
4. Any other advice?? This could take a while but I will try to condense it
a) Definitely make time to do one Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and do this as early in your vacation as possible. One year I had done that and mine was literally rained out. I went to Guest relations and they gave me a ticket for another night which was fine. Obviously this is not guaranteed and I think I just lucked out
b) Make time to see the Candlelight Processional at EPCOT. I suggest the dinner package (you have to eat anyhow right??) and this will put you in an area where seating is closer to the stage and it is almost guaranteed to get you a seat. This is an incredible item and tends to fill up very fast. I have always done the dinner package and havent had any problems finding a seat. Allow at least 2 hours between your dinner reservation and the show you want to see or see the show first and eat dinner afterwards!
c) Get all the park hours and times of events prior to leaving home. Figure out what park you will be in on what day and make a Priority seating( Disney speak for a reservation) for the restaurants you want to eat in. Depending on how busy the parks are and especially World Showcase you will not get into a good sit down restaurant without a Priority Seating.
d) Dont miss any of the nighttime fireworks shows. Each one is unique and has its own story and theming. They are all amazing and are a treat to watch.
e) Dont skip a park. Any of them. Each also has its own charm and place. You may just surprise yourself and end up liking a park or an attraction more than you thought you would. Most people figure they will like EPCOT best. I like EPCOT but I also appreciate the charm of the other parks as well. The last newbie I brought to Disney thought he would love EPCOT. MGM Studios ended up being his favorite. Go figure. keep an open heart and an open mind.
f) Take the time to see all of World Showcase. I have dscovered some great things there for people of every age and interest. Of course my personal favorite is the band Off Kilter but let's not get me onto that tangent!!!! Check them out though. They are a not to be missed act especially if you like great music!!!
g) Bring at least 2 pairs of VERY comfortable walking shoes.
Im sure Ill think of more but this should at least get you started!!! Have a great time!!! Belle

 

[rosebud's mom]

Where you are from will also affect how you perceive the weather in December. I am originally from Ohio, lived in Florida for 8 years, and am now back in Ohio. when I lived in Florida, I often took my kids to the beach on Christmas day, and didn't understand why everyone else was bundled up and shivering !! The most difficult thing about Forida winter weather is the extreme range it can go through in the course of a few hours, and its sheer unpredictability. Once the sun goes down it can get pretty chilly. But if you are coming from an area where you have already gotten used to 20 degree weather and snow, than even the low of 50 degrees will seem warm to you ! A sweater, sweatshirt, or light jacket for the early morning and late evening should be enough.

I'll be there in December this year too !!! We'll be a family of 5 who will be in the pool ! LOL

 

[rosebud's mom]

I forgot your other question about the Carribean. I've stayed several times at the Contemporary, and have stayed at the Polynesian, Fort Wilderness cabins, and the Carribean. This time around we'll be at Port Orleans. Its a little hard to answer your question completely because there are so many variables. In my humble opinion, the Carribean is best suited to families with children. The food is basically fast food counter service, and there are plenty of pools to keep them happy, ( provided you feel it is warm enough ). That said, as everyone else has mentioned, there can be a substantial amount of walking required depending on where your room is located. Therefore, I personally wouldn't reccommend the CBR to senior citizens. Although, the Fort Wilderness cabins can entail a hearty walk as well. As long as you know its a possibility ahead of time, I'm sure you'll have a fabulous time !! I first visited Disney World in 1972, and have been going back ever since !

 

[MissM]

A good place to start for general ideas on the weather is weather.com They list averages, records and such by day and month. Generally, for December, you're looking at low-to-mid 70's in the day and 50's at night.

This will show you the daily temperature average for December for Orlando:
http://www.weather.com/weather/climatology/daily/USFL0372?climoMonth=12

I find it helpful to check for weather reports, averages, and various things like that, despite being a FL resident for the last 19 years. Sometimes it's just good to see it by the numbers.

Have fun!
-m

 

[Pecos Bill 1201]

You DESERVE It!!

My girlfriend and I go every year at this time...except this year. Ever since 2000 we have chosen the exact week you are going, except for 2002 when we went for both Christmas & New Years. First thing you should splurg for the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party or MVMCP. This event is about $50 extra, but it is so worth every penny. My girlfriend and I go as many times as poss. It's not every night but you go in around 7pm and it's open till midnight. Parades, fireworks, shopping & NO LINES!!! You will get more out of the MK in one night of MVMCP then in three normal days. Second thing make a dinner reservation at The California Grill (Top of the Contemporary Hotel) and have it coencide with a fireworks show in MK, usually around 7:30
go out on the balcony (little chilly) and enjoy the view. Third sit back on some rocking chairs near city hall on Main St. and just think about how great this place is, if your lucky Timekeeper & Carousel of Progress will be open in Tomorrowland. Please let us all know how it went. Oh yeah if you have some extra money Circque Du Solie @ Downtown Disney is great or Fantasia Gardens Minature Golf Course by the Swan & Dolphin resort. MGM, Epcot & Animal Kingdom you will have so much fun....I can't beleive I forgot you must find yourself sitting in Epcot for Illuminations Reflections of Earth it starts every night around 9pm and visit Mouse Gear on your way out of Epcot, it's our favorite place to shop @ all of WDW. Good Luck and remember "There's a great big beautiful tomorrow shining at the end of every day!" :sohappy:

 

[Erika]

Bad:
1. It's too big!! We ALWAYS have our packages sent back to the hotel. When we stayed at POR, they brought it to the room. The next year, we stayed at CB and we had to walk up to the main building (VERY LONG WALK) and then wait for at least 30 min (sometimes an hour) for our package.

Just to be clear- It's not only at CBR that the packages are no longer sent to the room. That's a post-9/11 thing, to save money.

 

[AgigglesA]

Thank you so much! Everyone has been so helpful.
I can't wait you guys are making me even more excited each posting I read.

125 Mickey days and counting

 

[Kadee]

Just to be clear- It's not only at CBR that the packages are no longer sent to the room. That's a post-9/11 thing, to save money.

My experience was PRE 9/11. Just a few months, but still before.

 

[Erika]

My experience was PRE 9/11. Just a few months, but still before.

Really! I'm wrong, then. I thought it wasn't until afterwards that they started cutting costs.

In Sept 2000, they were still delivering directly to the rooms at Caribbean Beach. So the change must have occurred somewhere in between.