2012 Christmas Season Events

[iHEARTtheMOUSE]

Hi, we plan to go to WDW the first wk of December, and this will be our first time at Disney during the Christmas season! We will be staying at the Wilderness Lodge and will be traveling with a 5 and 2.5 year old and their Mimi (grandmother). I have a few questions, as this trip will be new to us.

Besides the obvious...candlelight processional and the Christmas party...what are things to do at Disney World during the holiday season? We want to see and do it all...big or small! Christmas cookies, special activities, story time, favorite resorts and restaurants during christmas time...??? We don't wanna miss any of it, if we can help it. We've been to Disney many times and plan to go back many times more. So, we want to experience everything that we can which is special to the Holiday season.

The WDW site says Candlelight Processional is nightly, then further down it says it's select dates. I'm going to go ahead and assume it's select dates, since that's the trend with Disney's special events. So, would you say having a dinner pkg is necessary in order to get a seat? Or does this depend on the date? When should we expect to see the dates for that and the Christmas party at MK?

Also, is Pop Warner typically the first or second wk of Dec? I've read it could be either. I'm not concerned about crowds during that wk; however, I've read that we will not likely get a room discount during that time? Is this true? I've been watching for special offers and will move our trip back a wk if we have to for a discount.

Thanks in advance for your help! This is new to me...I'm usually more prepared and know what to expect from a Disney vacation. We're looking so forward to seeing our favorite place in the world during Christmas!!!

[iHEARTtheMOUSE]

Sorry, I just realized I title this thread Candlelight Processional...Don't know how to change that.

[Drince88]

My favorite thing is the storytellers in Epcot. Each country has one, telling a story about Christmas traditions from their country, or a winter festival if they don't celebrate Christmas. It's been a while since I've been, but Norway was by far my favorite.

Osborne Festival of Lights in the Studios is also quite magical.

Candlelight is basically every night. There is generally one or two shows, maybe one full day, that aren't open to the public because they're reserved for special groups, but it's even more frequent than the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.

Regarding Dinner package for Candlelight - your chances are greater of not needing it in the middle of the week, but if you really want to see it without a long wait, and with seats (and with your age children, I'd think you'd not want to just hang out behind the seats to see the show), then I'd recommend the dining package.

Pop Warner has a website, but it looks like it hasn't been updated with the 2012 schedule. I think it's the 'first or second week' depending on what the calendar looks like that year. For the most part, they're a crowd issue just in the resorts where they are staying.

[Drince88]

Sorry, I just realized I title this thread Candlelight Processional...Don't know how to change that.

I fixed that for you.

[scoobydooby]

The Osborne Festival of Lights is breathtaking. I was a bit underwhelmed by the park decorations in general. I think the space is so huge they kind of get swallowed up in it. That said, the deluxe resorts look great. The gingerbread house at the GF is fabulous, definitely worth a visit. The party at MK is worth doing once in my view if only for the fireworks which were, incredible. V. Expensive, mobbed and I would not pay to donut again but as a once only constitutes one of our most memorable family evenings ever.

My gripe about WDW at Christmas? They don't sell Christmas wrapping paper on site. WHY?????!!!!!

[danyoung]

If you're in to great Christmas music, make sure you see a set from the wonderful Voices of Liberty. They do all holiday music during the Christmas season - just totally magical!

[Hannahbelle]

We took our very first trip to WDW in the Christmas season and although we got a lot of grief from family for leaving home, I don't regret it.
I was going to mention things that were already mentioned and reiterating that you should definitely make time to look at all the Deluxe resort decorations and take time for the Storytellers in Epcot.
Candle Light Processional is a FOR SURE DO NOT MISS too.
I loved the Osbourne lights!!
Happy planning!

[TulaBelle]

Erin,
I agree with everything everyone has written, and want to add one more thing. It's probably just me, but I like all the different Christmas trees. Each is specific to it's area. In front of American Adventure the tree is decorated in the way trees were decorated 200 years ago, with fruit and lanterns. In front of AK the tree is decorated with hand made animals and stars. At Downtown Disney there is a tree near the toy store decorated with the toys we grew up with - Operation, Big Wheel Bike, Monopoly, etc. It just makes it a little more fun to see that kind of creativity and attention to detail that Disney is so well known for. There are oportunities for Christmas card pictures around every corner! One year my hubby and I took an especially nice picture in front of some holiday decorations and had small calendars made (at the local CVS for a small fee) as additional gifts for the moms. Happy planning!

[iHEARTtheMOUSE]

Thanks for the tips! I really appreciate it. We're looking so forward to our trip!

[dawz1026]

I went 2011 during Pop Warner. I had a discount and the crowds were fine..there are random groups of kids here and there but none caused any major crown overkill at all. Because that week is a low crowd week to begin you will be fine. We are actually planning that week again this year.

[iHEARTtheMOUSE]

I went 2011 during Pop Warner. I had a discount and the crowds were fine..there are random groups of kids here and there but none caused any major crown overkill at all. Because that week is a low crowd week to begin you will be fine. We are actually planning that week again this year.

Good to know, thanks for the info! We're definitely keeping our eyes open for December special offers! I'm hoping for room discount, since we're staying deluxe. But we'll take free dining. Thanks again everybody

[mousecanuck]

Erin,
I agree with everything everyone has written, and want to add one more thing. It's probably just me, but I like all the different Christmas trees. Each is specific to it's area. In front of American Adventure the tree is decorated in the way trees were decorated 200 years ago, with fruit and lanterns. In front of AK the tree is decorated with hand made animals and stars. At Downtown Disney there is a tree near the toy store decorated with the toys we grew up with - Operation, Big Wheel Bike, Monopoly, etc. It just makes it a little more fun to see that kind of creativity and attention to detail that Disney is so well known for. There are oportunities for Christmas card pictures around every corner! One year my hubby and I took an especially nice picture in front of some holiday decorations and had small calendars made (at the local CVS for a small fee) as additional gifts for the moms. Happy planning!

That would really appeal to me - Disney does everything with so much attention to detail. I can picture my scrapbook now, with all the different themed trees...I often 'think in scrap' these days...

Have fun iHEART!

[SnyderD]

Reading through this thread I realize how much we missed last December when we were there. Guess that'll mean we need to plan another Christmas trip.

[TulaBelle]

Aren't we all planning another Disney trip somewhere in the back of our minds? I know I am!

[Disney1218freak]

The Osborne Family lights at HS is one of the must see things. Along with MVMCP (especially with a 5 and 2.5 year old). The gingerbread house at the GF is a must see. The holiday crowds start getting busy about a week before Christmas, so you should be fine. We go every year so we can see the holiday stuff and leave just as the crowds get busy (it seems that on the 18th is when it gets busy)

P.S. I called my grandmother Mimi also!

[Ohthatjeff]

Either get the dining package for Candlelight or prepare to stand in line for a very, very long time. I would say that at least 75% of the seats go to the dining reservations, if not more. If you choose to stand in line, have one person wait in line. The CMs will come by to find out how many people are in your group and will tell you what time they need to be there to get seated.

With small children, I would go ahead and make the dinner reservations.

Can't miss: Resort lobbies (especially Grand Floridian)
The holiday decorations around Epcot.
Osbourne lights.
Downtown Disney (Which begs question: is there such thing as too many pointsiettas?)

You can be anywhere in MK when they light up the castle. It doesn't matter. Within five minutes you'll find yourself standing in front of it. It's almost eerie the way everybody just stops what they're doing and proceeds like moths to a flame.

[bochnikm]

You can be anywhere in MK when they light up the castle. It doesn't matter. Within five minutes you'll find yourself standing in front of it. It's almost eerie the way everybody just stops what they're doing and proceeds like moths to a flame.

That was us last November totally mesmerized when we saw Cinderellas Castle in the ice lights.

[danyoung]

And kick that feeling up a notch during the castle projection show The Magic, The Memories & You. I watched it the first time right at the base of the castle, and just stood there with my jaw dropping. Really incredible show - don't miss it!