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

[jennabenna1908]

does anyone know what the 90+10 rule thing is for advanced dining reservations?? I know you cannot book until 90days before....but what does the +10 mean?? haha

 

[lurkyloo]

has anyone ever used Tour Guide Mike?? Is it really worth the money, and do his tips work??

We use it for every trip, and his tips really work! At this point, we don't need as much of his in-depth info about various attractions, restaurants, etc. We mostly just use his Least Crowded Parks charts and the basic strategies he teaches for avoiding crowds. I am hooked - I can't make my ADRs without him!

As the previous poster said, it's only $20 - what's that, about four lattes at Starbucks? Plus you get renewal discounts.

We did this tour in 2006 and thought it was interesting. The tour had 4 parts-- first Epcot, then the visit to the holiday warehouse, then the Grand Floridian, and then Magic Kingdom. We learned all about what WDW does for the holidays, all about the decorations--how they are put together, designed, stored, how far in advance its planned. I would say they definitely include what it was you wanted to see and learn!

Thanks for the info! Maybe the reviewers whose posts I read got so-so tour guides. I'm glad to hear it's closer to what we were hoping for!

 

[bibbidibobbidibecky]

does anyone know what the 90+10 rule thing is for advanced dining reservations?? I know you cannot book until 90days before....but what does the +10 mean?? haha

If you are staying on site you can make your ADR up to 10 days from your check in date. More even if you have party tickets I just learned.

 

[Sarilas]

We booked a spontaneous trip for Nov. 15 - 21st to celebrate our anniversary, and then found out we'll be there in time for the first MVMCP's and decor to start going up! This puts a new spin on things, as we hadn't planned on having a Christmas theme for our trip but our girls will be completely stoked. The information in this thread has been fantastic!

I saw in the September Disney Destinations email that the Christmas decor sill start going up on Nov. 10th; does anyone habe any inside information as to which areas start getting decor first? It sounds like MK and DD, as well as the Deluxe resorts, and maybe Epcot last?

 

[jennabenna1908]

If you are staying on site you can make your ADR up to 10 days from your check in date. More even if you have party tickets I just learned.

Do you mean the 90+10 meaning I can book hundred days out...or i can book up to 10 days after the start of my reservation.

Also, how many more days can you book early if you have party tickets?

Im sorry for all the questions I am soo confused

 

[cat83]

1-or i can book up to 10 days after the start of my reservation.

2 Also, how many more days can you book early if you have party tickets?

1- yes
2- that's the first I've ever heard this? Unless they are letting people make adr's during the party for the day they have tickets.

 

[zdesiree]

Just subscribing!

 

[siskaren]

Do you mean the 90+10 meaning I can book hundred days out...or i can book up to 10 days after the start of my reservation.

Also, how many more days can you book early if you have party tickets?

Im sorry for all the questions I am soo confused

Once you're 90 days out from your arrival date, you can book up to 10 days after your arrival date.

I haven't heard anything about being able to book early if you have party tickets.

 

[mizliz]

Answering questions here:
1) Christmas decor- Decor is up in the Mk as early as Nov 10 for the 1st MVMCP. It is then put up in phases around WDW till completion for Thanksgiving weekend.The candlelight processional , Osborne lights, Holiday storytellers begin the Friday after Thanksgiving.XMAS decor starts to come down around Jan 4th, and comes down pretty quickly
2) crowds- I go in December OFTEN and can tell you it is no longer DEAD in the parks.More like moderate /low crowds.You will still have waits of 60mins or more for headliner attractions.So still use fastpass
3) The Parade Taping- Is usually the 1st weekend in Dec. Friday is usually the live performance taping, and Sat is the actual floats/parade. They have a selecton process for who gets to stand on main st.I know that AP holders are also considered.They don't just allow people to line up like a regular parade.

Oh, geez. I've finally got our plans pinned down and all of our ADR's made, and now I'm finding out that the "live performance" is taped on Friday? I knew the parade taping was Saturday so I avoided the MK that day in my plans (even though it's my birthday, and Walt's birthday, and I wanted to be at the MK that day!). If the dang Jonas Bros are at the MK on Friday, it will be a zoo, right? A tween dream, but an adult nightmare?

Little background: I'm traveling with my husband, and we're taking my (80 y.o.) parents with us, for our first Holiday Season trip to Disneyworld. We only have 2 days with my folks, (the 4th and 5th) and the MK is a must-do, in my book. Will it be manageable on Friday? Has anyone got advice about the "live taping" for me?

 

[zdesiree]

Oh, geez. I've finally got our plans pinned down and all of our ADR's made, and now I'm finding out that the "live performance" is taped on Friday? I knew the parade taping was Saturday so I avoided the MK that day in my plans (even though it's my birthday, and Walt's birthday, and I wanted to be at the MK that day!). If the dang Jonas Bros are at the MK on Friday, it will be a zoo, right? A tween dream, but an adult nightmare?

Little background: I'm traveling with my husband, and we're taking my (80 y.o.) parents with us, for our first Holiday Season trip to Disneyworld. We only have 2 days with my folks, (the 4th and 5th) and the MK is a must-do, in my book. Will it be manageable on Friday? Has anyone got advice about the "live taping" for me?

We went to MK once when the 2005 "live taping" was running, we didn't know. The heavy crowds was concentrated in Main Street, making the rest of the park easy to deal. Since you have to walk through Main Street to get to the rest of the park, cut through the stores.

 

[eeyoremommy]

How do you get selected to watch the parade and taping? We will be there that Friday and Saturday (goal was MVMCP). We didn't realize the taping was then (even more excited now). We have AP and are DVC.

 

[DisneyChristian]

has anyone ever used Tour Guide Mike?? Is it really worth the money, and do his tips work??

Tourguide Mike is not worth the money in my opinion. TouringPlans.com is cheaper and has the croud calender and best parks also. Tourguide Mike is just too expensive. The information on there can all be found on the disboards or in a guide book you can check out at your local library for free. He really should just write a guide book.

 

[TBGOES2DISNEY]

So is the taping for sure on Fri/Sat, Dec 4 and 5? We will be in the MK on Sun, Dec 6. Will all the chaos be finished by then?

 

[aprilp]

I havent read thru the whole thread so someone else may have posted this already, but in December if you go to downtown disney on friday and saturday nights they have carolers singing and a group called Nova Era playing just off to the side of Raglan Road. They are very good...they dress in period costume (think Mozart's time) and play classical music with a modern beat. Some of their music is christmas and some is classical but they are very good. Its a man playing a cello and two women, one playing a violin and one playing a clarinet or oboe or something. Sometimes their drummer is there but when we were there last year they used taped background music. At any rate, they are great!!!!

 

[Sarilas]

That's a great tip, aprilp! I wonder if they'll be there in November when the decorations start going up... we have a ressie at Raglan Road and that would be the icing on the cake.

 

[aprilp]

That's a great tip, aprilp! I wonder if they'll be there in November when the decorations start going up... we have a ressie at Raglan Road and that would be the icing on the cake.

I'm not sure when they start, probably whenever downtown disney starts putting their decorations up. Not sure how you could find that out. Raglan Road has a display at their register of Nova Era's cds, though, so they might know. Also, Nova Era is based out of Orlando so they may be there more than just in December, I dont know. Oh wait, they have a website, novaeramusic .com. If you go there they have a video playing of clips of their songs and a monthly calendar as to when they are going to be there. I hope you get to see them...they were much better in person than on cd as they were very into their music and the guy cello player was really working his white wig! He was funny!

 

[StrawberryMin]

Does anyone know how I can time my walk around World Showcase so that I can be there when each Santa tells his Christmas story?

 

[Sarilas]

I'm not sure when they start, probably whenever downtown disney starts putting their decorations up. Not sure how you could find that out. Raglan Road has a display at their register of Nova Era's cds, though, so they might know. Also, Nova Era is based out of Orlando so they may be there more than just in December, I dont know. Oh wait, they have a website, novaeramusic .com. If you go there they have a video playing of clips of their songs and a monthly calendar as to when they are going to be there. I hope you get to see them...they were much better in person than on cd as they were very into their music and the guy cello player was really working his white wig! He was funny!

Ah, you're the bomb diggity! lol

 

[TiggerAllie]

How do you get selected to watch the parade and taping? We will be there that Friday and Saturday (goal was MVMCP). We didn't realize the taping was then (even more excited now). We have AP and are DVC.

In '06 they had an announcement on the AP site where you could sign up for (free) tickets to be in the taping areas. I can't remember if it was a lottery or first come-first serve. We arrived on the Saturday of parade taping, and the ticket time was for 7:30am-12:30pm that day. I don't know if they ended up going longer or not, as we didn't arrive until noon and avoided MK that day.

 

[annakate27]

Has it been posted anywhere who will be at the Christmas taping on December 5? Just wondering. Thanks