[amyohara]

I won't be able to go in January, so I'm considering mid-December of this year or early February of next. Questions:

Since my potential December dates are only 9 wks away, will PS and character meals be filled? Will MVMCP tickets be available?

Do you think it's better for a kid to see the MK regular or holiday? I am sure it will look magnificent decorated, but do you still sense the magic underneath?

(If December) AKL or WL for holiday splendor?

Thanks, Amy

[ddoll]

Can't beat WDW in it's holiday finest. There seems to be an extra amount of Disney magic during that time. There are extras all around you.

I'm sure there are available MVMCP tix still. Depends on the date. Weekends are more full than weekdays, and the closer you get to Christmas, the more crowded it gets too. But mid-Dec shouldn't be a problem. And as always with PS's, if you dont get the time/date you want, wait until the 2 week mark and call back again...all kinds of things open up then.

As for the resort, it is pretty much accepted that WL has the most "Christmas-y" feel to it with it's fireplace and rustic charm, but all the resorts are nicely decorated.

[mickey]

The only possibly character meals already full will be Cinderella and possibly the Princess breakfast in EPCOT. The other ones, you would be fine right now.

None of the Very Merry Christmas nights are sold out right now. Remember, the last night is 12/17.

If I have the choice to go in December or January, I would go in December every time. Really, just a fun time to go.

There are some great deals right now for December, but they expire on Monday, so you better decide soon. You can always hold a room and then cancel if you decide to go later on. That way you will at least get the discount. Wilderness Lodge is hard to find at the discounted rate, but AKL isn't too bad.

[tmcquaid]

I would highly recommend December. We took our daughters for the first time two years ago during the 2nd week of December. The decorations were AMAZING! You definitely don't loose any of the Disney magic, it just seems so much better. It actually rained the entire week and even that didn't put a damper on things. (We were told that was very odd for that time of year). We actually enjoyed it so much that when we saw the recent specials we booked another trip for this coming December. My only complaint about the trip was the resort. We stayed at the Port Orleans Riverside and didn't care for it at all. Probably because of the rain. The room was extremely dark and we happend to be surrounded by the Pop Warner cheerleaders. This time we're going to stay at AKL and can't wait! I've stayed twice at the All-Star resorts and would even recommend that over POR. I'd recommend MVMCP during the week as well. We went on a Tuesday. I had expected it to be crowded from what I read but it wasn't bad at all. Main Street was what you would expect but the rest was fine. We had all kinds of wonderful small things that happened that made the trip extra special (The girls were watching them bake cookies in the little shop by the Hall of Presidents and the cast member opened the window and gave the girls both huge chocolate chip cookies. Small things like that were great!) At EPCOT, we were eating dinner at the Rose & Crown and a cast member came up and told the girls Mickey was still at the Parade at the MK and would they like to start the fireworks for him. The cast member gave them a wand and showed them how to wave it in time with the music and they seriously thought they made them start. They received a certificate afterwards that said they started Illuminations at EPCOT.

Hope that info helps!

[MrDisneyfan1]

I want to start Illuminations!!!
Is this done throughout EPCOT eateries?
Thanks!
Den

[tmcquaid]

I have no idea. It was definitely a surprise to us. It was later in our trip and the girls (3 & 5 years old) are very outgoing. Especially since they had figured out the whole pin trading thing. If we had a great day, without any tantrums, we would let them buy a pin. My girls are pretty well behaved but doing Disney from sun up to sun down can wear down the best of us so we tried the pins as a special treat. It didn't take long for my oldest to start talking with every cast member she could find and trade pins. She loved it. And as a result we had things like starting Illuminations happen to us quite a bit. Okay, well maybe not all of them were as nifty as starting Illuminations but they did get a lot of special treatment for talking to cast members without us obviously prompting them. If I recall, she was talking to our waitress for a while when they seated us down by the water at the pub. They just must have hit it off. Attached is the certificate they gave each one of my girls. It's safely tucked away in our Disney scrapbook!

[pkc123]

We have been to WDW at Christmas and I absolutly love the holiday decorations.The only thing missing is the SNOW!!!