It’s Holiday Prep Time!

It’s Holiday Prep Time!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…..we all know the tune!  Disney is truly amazing during the holiday seasons.  No one can top the job Disney does prepping the grounds and cast members for the holidays. When visiting Disney World during December there a few things to know. 

CROWDS: There is no other time during the year that gets as busy as WDW the week between Christmas and New Years. Insane crowds, claim your stake for the parade at 10 am kind of crowds. When we went several years ago, the park closed for periods throughout the day so the crowds could clear out some! That kind of crowded.

Now it’s manageable and if you are going to be crowded what better place than WDW? Fastpasses are a must! Take advantage of Extra Magic Hours and expect the experience not the quantity of rides!

DINING: Disney has done a fabulous job of marketing their table service restaurants. So much so that you need to think about where you want to eat long before you finalize your trip! If you don’t have a reservation you probably will be eating counter service food!  I say, reserve the meals then book the room!

RESORTS: The resorts are all decorated. Their theme will depend on the resorts overall theme, but there will be trees and there will be ornaments and there will be wreaths.  On extremely busy days we took to the monorail or buses and went resort hopping. This way you get to see as many as you want or can! Some of the best are Wilderness Lodge, The Grand Floridian, campsites at Fort Wilderness (at night) and Animal Kingdom Lodge.

PRICES: Disney never and I mean NEVER does a discount during the peak Holiday week! You will pay a premium for this week.  Prices for dining don’t increase except on the actual Holiday (Christmas Eve too) and usually only at certain restaurants that serve “Holiday Fare”.  I have tried to book a campsite one year in advance and the premium spots were all booked! It’s a VERY popular time of year!

ADVICE: My advice is this, go, know that it will cost you, know that you won’t see everything, but go! Your vacation will be as much about memories and warm fuzzy feelings then “doing” Disney. I love our pictures and memories of that week. Our favorite was New Year’s Eve. We had hats and horns. Went down to the beach at the Polynesian snagged some loungers, laid down (quickly went and bought some blankets LOL) and waiting for the New Year. While laying there, my 2 year old fell asleep and rang in the New Year snoozing on mama…..priceless!