Disney World Christmas Season

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

We are taking the kids, 12 & 16 to Disney World over the Christmas holidays. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gifHas anyone been to Disney during this time of year? How were the crowds, lines, etc? Any suggestions for good places for dinner? We are planning on spending Christmas eve at Emerit’s.

Thanks

 

[chim]

It's been a while - mid 1980's. We were there around the second week of December, and they told us that the first couple weeks of December was a slow time for them. Our last day there we saw them posting higher admission prices. This was in preparation for the crowds they expected over the holidays. There should be someplace to get attendance info to confirm if this is still the case. Maybe some of the Florida posters have a good handle on this..................chim

 

[Golfgar4]

Hi Tom!

It's been a few years since we had our kids down there, but I can tell you that the Christmas holiday is one of the biggest, if not THE biggest, time there. Lots and lots of people wanting to do the same things that you'll be wanting to do.

On the up side, Disney has become the master at dealing with long lines and big crowds. The wife and I were down there just about a year ago. No kids for the first time - that's a whole different place when you don't have to see it through kids eyes!! Anyway, they use a system (can't recall what they call it) down there at the major attractions where you can make a reservation to do the attraction. There's a machine at the entrance to the attraction that you get a ticket from. The ticket will have the time period, usually 20 minutes, stamped on it fo when you can come back and go right in through a special line. The reserved time period is usually a couple of hours after you get the ticket, so you just go on about doing other things until it's time to go back to that attraction. There are some down sides to this process, though. First, you have to keep a close eye on the time to make sure that you get back there during the allotted time period. If you miss it, you have to start all over again, or just stand in the regular line like everyone else. Second, when you go in through your special entrance, you're still walking in alongside the "regular" line of people. There were a number of times that I noticed the reserved people didn't get in all that much faster than the regular walk-ins. We ultimately decided that it was more of a hassle trying to keep straight which attraction we needed to be at at what time. Granted, when we were there was not one of the real busy times. I'd think when dealing with the kinds of crowds you'll be seeing, with a little planning, the system might be a real advantage.

If I remember correctly, during the holidays the park stays open longer in the evening. I think we learned that the time after the Main Street parade, which I think was at 6:00 or 6:30 p.m., until park closing at 10:00 p.m. was a lot less busy and you could get through attractions a lot faster. I guess more people were heading home and/or dinner so things thinned out.

Now I don't want to sound like a complainer. Going there is one of the best things a family can ever do. If you've never been there with the kids, you absolutely have to go. Just go in with your eyes open, expect long lines, and bring along a lot of patience.

Where are you staying? Are you staying at one of the Disney resorts, or are you staying off property? Even if you're off property, you can eat at any of the Disney restaurants. You'd need to make reservations in advance - like a couple days in advance. One that I would highly recommend is called the Hoop-Di-Do (sp?) Review. As I recall, it's located near the Wilderness Lodge area. It's a real good family style dinner with a fun show you and the kids would enjoy. Another fun meal is the Luau at the Polynesion Resort. As for eating places that are off property, there's a zillion places to chose from.

Hope this helps a little. If you have any more questions, let me know and I'll be happy to try to help out. You'll have a great time, and one that both you and the kids will always remember. Make sure your camera is working! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[dmccarty]

NY_Yankees_Fan,

December is a busy time for Disney.

I don't know how many times I have been there and I still have
not seen it all. My cousin and I would get turned loose by
our moms in Disney World when we where in our teens. We
would meet every few hours and then go about our ways. One
thing that I learned real quick was to simply go where the
ground is not....

My cuz and I manged to ride Space Mountain three times in
30 minutes or so since the crowd was else where. I have seen
the line out of the entrace of the ride. This is one of those
rides that has a REAL LONG line....

If you can manage it, when the paradae goes buy hit the rides.
Everyone wants to see the parade so the rides are empty.

If you stay at the Disney hotels there are certain times in the
parks that are open to the hotel guests. If you want to see
the fireworks up close get to the Contemporary Hotel. Its the
one that the monorail runs through. On the top floor is the
California Grill. Make reservations if you want to eat there.
Great food. The last time my wife and I went to DW it was
mainily to eat in this place. There is an observation platform
that faces the Magic Kingdom. You don't have to eat at the
the plade to get on the platform. When the fireworks go off
they are right at you level.....

Depending on how long you are staying and what the kids will
let you do, there are also behind the scene tours that you can
sign up for. If you are a hotel guest I think its easier to get
but I might be wrong. At The Land in Epcot there is a ride that
features hydroponics. We got on a tour that lasted for 90
minutes or so that was behind the scenes. The person leading
the tour was a coop and was very knowledgable about
hydoponics, organic growing and bug/weed control.

The last couple of times we went to DW we stayed for 4 days
and we still did not see all we wanted...

Have Fun...
Dan

 

[Gomez]

I think the name of that system is Fastpass. My wife and I used this when were there three years ago. Definitely makes things easier and more enjoyable. One advantage at Disney is they did not charge for this service (well, they don't charge extra, this IS Disney after all). I know the Six Flags in NJ (Great Adventure) charges for this type of system.

My wife and I are going back to Disney the first week of December. The last time I was there, I had the flu, and by time I got home, I had pneumonia /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

They owe me /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Golfgar4]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( They owe me )</font>

Think they'll pay you?? /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Yup, you're right. It is called FastPass and they don't charge for it. Anyone can use it. If you stay at the Universal Studios property, you get the same kind of deal for their park included with your room, but otherwise you I think you have to pay for it there.

Yeah, the couple of times we used it was O.K. But I got tired of always having to look at the watch to see how much time we had before we had to get back for our alotted time. But like I said, it was not a real busy time of year, so the wait's weren't all that long anyway. Except for that new GM exhibit that opened within the last year. I think it's called test Track, or something like that. I wanted to do it, but even with the FastPass, the wait was just too long.

Good luck on your next trip. Hope all goes well, and you stay well! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[rdam]

I'm a Deputy Sheriff and work in the Disney area. If you can be a little more specific about where your staying
(I-Drive, 192, Kissimmee, on-prpoerty), I can give you some good suggestions for restaurants, lodging, and easy access routes.

1. Don't take time-share tours to get discount Disney tickets unless you enjoy hours long torture.

2. Don't shop at the "tourist stores" for ANYTHING. Markup is ridiculous and there are NO RETURNS. Walmart is close and they have almost all the Disney stuff, batteries, towels, and cameras you might need.

3. DON'T leave anything in your hotel room you can't live without. Use a credit card for EVERYTHING if you can. Bring little or no cash. Leave your checkbook at home and bring travelers checks if you have to. In-room safes aren't.

4. DON'T leave anything in your car you can't live without. Burglars prowl the parking lots of area restaurants and other businesses (even Disney) waiting for tourists to secure their stuff while they eat/shop/park hop.

Have fun /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Rick

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Rick,

Thanks for the inside info. We are staying at the Embassy Suites, Lake Buena Vista. Any suggestions on good places to have dinner would be great, the best are the places where the locals go and not the tourists. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif We plan on getting our Disney tickets from AAA and yes we put everything on credit card. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Golfgar4]

Tom,

I thought of something else.

I don't know if you're a golfer, but if you are, you'll probably need to make tee times a week or two before you go down. It can be tough to get on courses during that time on the spur of the moment. If you are a golfer, I would highly recommend playing one of the disney courses, but be ready for the green fees! I'm a stockholder in Disney, and even with my owner reduction, it still cost me $100.00 for 18. And this was about 5 years ago.

Most of the course have on line tee time reservations now. If you don't want to go for the Disney courses, try the Orange Lake County Golf Resort. I think their fees are around $40.00 for one of their two "older" courses, or about $65.00 for the new course (which is REALLY nice!). That's the resort that we stayed at the last time we were there. I'm pretty sure it's open to the public, but you'd want to check.

Of course, if you don't play golf, well then, just ignore everything that you just read! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Docsknotinn]

As a professional Chef one of the very first real jobs I had was at Disney /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I'm still a cast member at heart. A lot of good advice here already. Heres mine. Always stay in a Disney resort when it is financially possible. Even the Embassy suite and the others around it are on Disney property (Leased) so they are often not a lot less $$$ than a official Disney room. Staying at a Disney resort saves a LOT of lost time driveing, in parking lots and lines. plus you get free on site transportation and in the resorts as a guest a hour earlier. Arrive as soon as possible. Yes thats AM /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif When you get in go straight to the back and work your way to the front. ie= the opposite of the masses. Get a Disney tour book and spend time with the kids picking attractions that are the most important to see. When you get their in the am do not doddle but scoot right to the main ones and shop after that. You will see twice as much in 1/2 the time that way. I did not see the dates you plan to attend. Historicly up to the day before christmas it is slooooow. The day after christmas. lol well zooo does not even come close to describeing it. Another HUGE draw back to staying off official Disney property is that at peak times the park can get overfilled VERY fast and shut down. That can turn a fun day to sour apples in a hurry. I'm sure our Deputy can attest to that. Hey are those motorcycle cops still playin tag team to speeders through Orlando ??? lol I used to commute from Ormond Beach. Disney was very very good to me. I would love to sing the Disney theme song that got sung every pay day for you guys but it would get edited in a flash /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Their is a LOT to see and do with all the attractions now. Planning your time is key. It is the same thing I have told my friends and family for many years. See as much as possible in the am, shop in the afternnoon, come back at dinner time. I'd be more than happy to answer any specific questions. Dave