Everything you need to know about WDW Christmas- Tips & Secrets

[Meredisney]

My tips would be:
Watch Illuminations whilst standing on the bridge between England and France. When the extra fireworks go off for the holiday ending you can really feel them stood on the bridge!

Try to see the Osbourne Lights when Fantasmic is also on, the streets will be a little less crowded.

If you are there on New Years Eve to watch the fireworks remember that in MK and DHS you can walk through the shops to exit the park. We did this at DHS when the street towards the exit was jam packed, we walked through the shops and go out of the park very quickly.

Make a day to tour all the deluxe resorts to look at all their decorations, it is well worth it. My favourites are the life size gingerbread house in the Grand Californian and the life sized gingerbread carousel with chocolate horses in the Beach Club.

Watch the candle light processional, it is very moving.

And my final tip would be, if you are there on Christmas day avoid the parks!! MK and Epcot all closed the year we were there due to capacity crowds!

We love WDW at Christmas, due to DH and I being teachers we have to go for 2 weeks around Christmas and New Year. We did this a few years ago and will be there again for Christmas 2010. With some good planning you will hardly notice the crowds and will have an amazing trip.

Wow, you can get from the Grand Californian to the Beach club and back in one day! I want to see that!! I'm sure you meant the Grand Floridian!!

 

[ksromack]

Where is the sleigh ride? did you have a choice of locations or times? how many people can fit? Oh, I guess I should just call but was wondering how prepared I need to be for this phone call. YEAH!!

It's at Wilderness Campgrounds.....we meet at the Blacksmith shop (wherever THAT is). I believe it fits 2 adults and 3 littles.......warning. I only had one opening available to me during our stay. I hadn't realized they would book up so fast!

 

[siskaren]

Where is the sleigh ride? did you have a choice of locations or times? how many people can fit? Oh, I guess I should just call but was wondering how prepared I need to be for this phone call. YEAH!!

You can read about it at the bottom of the page here:

http://allears.net/btp/carriage.htm

 

[Meredisney]

Thanks for all of the great advice. We will be there 12/23-12/25 after our 4 night cruise on The Dream

I've been busy trying to somewhat plan our days. Due to financial reasons right now we only have 2 day base tickets....we are hoping to upgrade to park hoppers but may not be able to. I was wondering if anyone as any suggestions on what would be best to do or opinions on which parks are a must see during the holidays??

I don't know if this has been mentioned already (way too many posts on the thread to read) but something that our family loves to do is head over to Fort Wilderness and walk around the campground. The campers put on huge (HUGE!!!!!!) christmas displays. It is truely amazing what these people do. We really enjoy it and usually end the evening with dinner at Trails End Restaurant.

 

[lugnut33]

Last night I was thinking of things to do outside and inside the parks that does not include rides. Since it's so busy during this time of the year (especially Christmas week) we do not make riding rides a priority, so here are some other things to do that I came up with:

1. Disney mini-putt tourney. Set up a tournament where we play all 4 of the Disney mini-putt courses and have a winner for each course and an overall champion.

2. Attend all of the "Around the World Holiday Stories" at Epcot. Each one lasts about 15 minutes, but each country around World Showcase has one, the US has two of them.

3. When we go to Hollywood Studios we are always looking to ride Rock-n-roller coaster and Tower of Terror. Instead of the rides, focus on seeing every one of the shows that DHS offers like the Comedy Warehouse Xmas Special, Idol, Jedi, Mulch Sweat and Sheers, Indy, B&B, Fantamic, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Lights, motors, action, etc.

4. Resort tours to check out the Christmas Decorations

5. If it's warm enough, rent a pontoon boat on Seven Seas Lagoon

6. Shopping, off-site.

7. Disney Quest (mainly because we have some old water park and more tickets we need to use up)

8. Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom game at the MK

9. Check out a movie at the AMC in Downtown Disney

10. Head over to Bongos at DTD for some latin music and dancing. Held most nights.

11. Check out the musical acts at DTD. There are some really good musical acts for free in various locations around DTD. One that comes to mind is Nova Era, what plays reworked classical.

12. Yehaa Bob at Port Orleans Riverside. If you have not seen him you are missing out. He's one of the best piano players ever.

 

[luvthemouse71]

I'm usually a park Desperado, not a Commando. But, I am going to be open to going over to the dark side and trying to get up early every day for this trip. It's also shorter than my usual- 5 days as opposed to 10-11 days.

I'll let you know how that works for me..two weeks from today!!

 

[Wolfie68]

My sister and niece and I did the carraige ride last year, it was awesome! we had a really good driver who talked throughout the tour telling us about the different christmas light set ups on the RVs etc.
The blacksmith shop is all the way at the top of the campground, you park down below and catch a bus. there is a map or something while you wait for the buses. there are different color buses so make sure you get on the right one, some go all the way up and some only go to the midway part where chip and dale's campfire is. (which is also neat by the way!)
depending on what time your sleigh ride is, you can walk over to the beach part and see the christmas boat pagaent!

 

[dduckyoda]

Hi Everyone,

My mom and I are really looking forward to our first WDW trip this Christmas! I was looking into possibly booking CP/Fantasmic restaurant packages, but I wasn't quite sure what the prices were... I couldn't find the prices on the WDW website or anywhere else. Something tells me that I must not be looking in the right place, so if anyone could please give me pointers, that would be highly appreciated!! Thanks!

 

[ksromack]

My sister and niece and I did the carraige ride last year, it was awesome! we had a really good driver who talked throughout the tour telling us about the different christmas light set ups on the RVs etc.
The blacksmith shop is all the way at the top of the campground, you park down below and catch a bus. there is a map or something while you wait for the buses. there are different color buses so make sure you get on the right one, some go all the way up and some only go to the midway part where chip and dale's campfire is. (which is also neat by the way!)
depending on what time your sleigh ride is, you can walk over to the beach part and see the christmas boat pagaent!

If we are spending the day at Epcot we would need to take a bus to Ft. Wilderness, right? I've never been there before so I'm a bit out of sorts. Is that the best way to get to the Sleigh Ride? I assume it's easy to find the Blacksmith shop?

 

[siskaren]

Hi Everyone,

My mom and I are really looking forward to our first WDW trip this Christmas! I was looking into possibly booking CP/Fantasmic restaurant packages, but I wasn't quite sure what the prices were... I couldn't find the prices on the WDW website or anywhere else. Something tells me that I must not be looking in the right place, so if anyone could please give me pointers, that would be highly appreciated!! Thanks!

I found the prices for the Candlelight Processional here:

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2012/06/26/news-2012-candlelight-processional-lunch-and-dinner-packages-on-sale-now/

The narrator list isn't up to date, though.

Here's a lot of information about Fantasmic, including costs for the dining packages:

http://www.easywdw.com/worth-2/fantasmic-dining-package-review-at-hollywood-studios-worth-the-cost/

 

[WDWFigment]

Is it okay to share Christmas photos in here? Here are a few I've photographed:















Click any of the images to view full size, or to access my photo galleries filled with 1,000+ other Disney photos (mostly Walt Disney World and Disneyland).

 

[molitva]

WDWFigment: Are you going to be in WDW this December? Love your photos!

 

[WDWFigment]

WDWFigment: Are you going to be in WDW this December? Love your photos!

Yeah, we're heading down for a couple days!

 

[PoohsFan1]

WDWFigment those are amazing pictures....were you the only one at MK that night?

 

[DisneyDudet]

Is it okay to share Christmas photos in here? Here are a few I've photographed:















Click any of the images to view full size, or to access my photo galleries filled with 1,000+ other Disney photos (mostly Walt Disney World and Disneyland).

Beautiful! I'll be there a week from today!

 

[smileymomof3]

Beautiful! I'll be there a week from today!

wow!!!! Your photos are just beautiful! I can't wait to see it in person in 5 days!

 

[ksromack]

Us too, Smiley! I've been once during December but that was 15 years ago! I do remember Osbourne Lights and that was magical! We have a lot going on during our trip....I think I've squeezed just about everything possible in those 9 days!!!

 

[dduckyoda]

Thanks siskaren for the quick response! Also, has anyone used touringplans.com? Is it a good service and do the touring plans save time in line during Christmas time (the busiest days)?

 

[mesaboy2]

Thanks siskaren for the quick response! Also, has anyone used touringplans.com? Is it a good service and do the touring plans save time in line during Christmas time (the busiest days)?

Lots of posters here swear by them. They are probably most valuable during this time of year.

 

[Alexsandra]

Is it okay to share Christmas photos in here? Here are a few I've photographed:

http://tombricker.smugmug.com/Disney/Magic-Kingdom/17695778_fXPPKF#!i=2205234971&k=4BTh2MR&lb=1&s=A

http://tombricker.smugmug.com/Disney/Magic-Kingdom/17695778_fXPPKF#!i=1350000476&k=tvWfs96&lb=1&s=A

http://tombricker.smugmug.com/Disney/Magic-Kingdom/17695778_fXPPKF#!i=2218665172&k=hTkwb5P&lb=1&s=A

http://tombricker.smugmug.com/Disney/Magic-Kingdom/17695778_fXPPKF#!i=1350028054&k=KSwFmxn&lb=1&s=A

http://tombricker.smugmug.com/Disney/Magic-Kingdom/17695778_fXPPKF#!i=1350020692&k=DFjXrt7&lb=1&s=A

http://tombricker.smugmug.com/Disney/Magic-Kingdom/17695778_fXPPKF#!i=2249715959&k=vvWJjnc&lb=1&s=A

http://tombricker.smugmug.com/Disney/Magic-Kingdom/17695778_fXPPKF#!i=2205231705&k=jm6SPGx&lb=1&s=A

Click any of the images to view full size, or to access my photo galleries filled with 1,000+ other Disney photos (mostly Walt Disney World and Disneyland).

Amazing pics and I love your blog too!