We're going in mid-December and I'd love any tips or advice. We're not staying at any of the Disney properties. Our kids are 7 and 3. We're staying 7 days and plan to go to Disney every day. Thanks!!
If it were me, I'd have a down day in there so you don't overload Check out disboards.com, great advice and they pretty much know everything!
go to the disney website and check the park hours. Try to avoid the parks with extra magic hours and avoid the MK on the days with Mickey's Christmas party. Are you getting park hoppers? Where are you staying off site?
For food I think we're going to do a big breakfast and bring a cooler with snacks and drinks for lunch, and then try to eat most dinners either back at the condo or somewhere off-site. Hopefully that will keep costs down on food. I was thinking we don't need to spend the extra money on the park hoppers, since we should be there long enough to do each park and revisit anywhere we really want to see again. Has anyone been there in December? Is it worth paying the extra money for Mickey's parade?
we went Jan 5th to the 9th park was empty still decorated for Christmas and we wore shorts and t shirts durning day and jackets in the evening we LOVED it..... food in park is expensive we ate at the food court in the all star hotel not to badly priced and had something for everyone, my kids dont like funky fancy foods so it worked for us! Have a great time!
We're going in Dec too! Can't wait, but yes it is a very busy time then. I'm hoping with the economy the way it is, maybe it won't be so bad. My advice would be to get as much info on everything before you go, so you know who wants to do what, and what day. You do have an advantage since you'll be there so long, but honestly you won't want to do the parks every day for a week, it's very exhausting! Have you done the free map of things on the Disney website, that's pretty cool. You pick a park, then pick what you want to do at the park, and they mail you a map of it with your choices on it. Pretty cool! I'd also recommend doing a character meal, they are very cool! And definitely use the kitchen in the condo if you can to cut down on costs.
NAPS these are very very important for everyone especially mid week everyone will be exhausted... I felt so bad for some kids by 9pm they where sleeping any place they could....
is this your first trip, I made a book using a 1" binder, printed out the maps for each park, the hours for each and any confirmation numbers that I had to have for that day...
just a tip Just a tip. We go to the Walmart on highway 192 right near Disney, for souveniers. They have a huge selection of disney, including tee's, hats,mugs even autograph books. Most of the items are the same as you would get in the parks, just alot less $$$. Plus you can pick up drinks and snacks. Also I take lollipops and gum with us. Great for holding the kids hunger off for a little extra time.
Can anyone else confirm that the decorations will still be up in January? We're flexible on timing, so we could do the first week in January. I just really want to go for all the Christmas stuff. Thanks!!
They start removing the decorations on Jan. 3. For 2009, the last Christmas parade and Wishes was Jan. 3 and the last Osbourne Lights was Jan. 4.
If you go before Christmas, it won't be as busy. When people say it's busy in Dec, they mean the couple of days leading up to and the whole time between Christmas and New Year's. I'd say anytine between 12/6 and 12/19 would be fine to go. The Very Merry Christmas Party is a lot of fun, and if you can swing it without feeling a money crunch, I'd do it if I was there earlier in the month. The last three parties usually either sell out or are right close to it, so I personally wouldn't do those. Plus the Sunday ones get a lot of locals. The Tuesday ones are the best. However, there's pleny of holiday stuff goign on taht you won't feel left out if you don't go. You've got the Osborne Lights (a must-do!), Candlelight Processional (if you can't get a seat, just hang out in the courtyard outside the theater), Epcot World Showcase holiday storytellers, and all the decorations in the parks and resorts.
Thanks! Our original plan was to go December 13-20, in hopes of beating the crowds. Thanks for all the tips on what to see!!!
The first week in Dec is busy because it is the low point season for Disney Vacation Club and towards the end of the 1st week is the Pop Warner championship. Also, the Christmas parade is taped the 1st Sat in Dec (I think). The big tree in the MK doesn't go up until after the taping of the parade.
