Me and my family are going to Walt Disney World in December, does anyone have any tips for me?

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Michelle M

The number one tip for car riding I can give you is Personalized disney "workbooks". 6 months before our Disney trips, I begin to search online for personalized Disney activity sheets according to my children's favorite characters. The very first and last pages in their workbooks are questionaires that I enjoy reading once we return from our trip. There are questions on the questionaire like "I can't wait to ride____________." The after questions are something like "My favorite taste at Disney was_____________". There are sites online where you can create search a word documents. I also include a scavenger hunt that I formulate myself. This is always the highlight of the trip since it can't be completed all at one time. I think of arbitrary stuff that they have to search for like a purple semi or a sign with a fish on it. The first person to point out something on the list gets a point. The person with the most points when we park at our resort gets a prize that I have brought along for this purpose.
As far as packing, We went to Disney in Dec 2004 and there was a freak cold snap. We had brought along only capris and shorts. We had to purchase jeans and sweatshirts. The temp never got above 30 degrees the whole time we were there. Pack for all weather. Don't forget sunscreen, Bandaids, bottled water (we bring our own water due to the fact that a bottle of water at Disney is $2.50), glow sticks can be purchased at the Dollar Tree and are a great addition while viewing any of the nighly fireworks shows. Don't forget to bring a dirty clothes bag in order to keep dirty and clean clothes apart. Comfortable-already broken in shoes. Never bring new shoes that you haven't broken in yet. I hope that this has helped a little.

PoohBearPenguin

Stay at a Disney resort. Staying at a resort gives you access to the parks' extended hours. Each day a different park will be open late. This was a great way to get onto some of the more popular rides. The value resorts are fine - after all, you're going for the parks...not the hotel room. We stayed at Pop Century, but the other ones (Movies, Sports) are all basically the same.

Get a park-hopper pass. This allows you to go to any park at any time. Otherwise you can only go to one park a day. With the park-hopper, you can go to 1 park during the day, eat dinner at a 2nd park and go to the 3rd park that's open late.

Get the meal plan. It's $40/day for adults (not sure what kids cost). This gives you 1 quickserve meal, 1 restaurant meal, and 1 snack per day. The plan is flexible, so if you buy 5 days of meal plans, you simply have a total of 5 quickserve and restaurant meals, and 5 snacks. Use them in any amount or order during your stay. Quick-serve refers to any cafeteria style eating place, including the one in the resorts. Restaurants are self explanatory, and also includes buffets. Snacks are small items and drinks. They'll have a special mark next to them on the menu if it qualifies as a snack. Quick serve and restaurant meals include 1 drink (non-alcoholic) 1 entree and 1 desert. There are sometimes daily specials that are only available to meal plan holders as well - so ask your server about those. It may sound like a lot of money, but considering that even something simple like burger, fries and a coke is upwards of $15 per person and the restaurants are easily twice that.

Packing for the parks - bring maps, your camera, rain gear for everyone, some sunscreen, and at least a few bottles of water. Don't buy the bottled water in the park - bring in your own bottles and fill them up in your room or at the water fountain. We also brought some small snack items, like nuts or granola as well.

Our daily schedule was basically getting up, grabbing a quick breakfast from the cafeteria (using the quick-serve meal on the meal plan) then heading into the parks via the bus. We made a list of everything we wanted to see and do in each park, and either spent the whole day in one park, or went to different parks as we finished up our list. We usually had dinner in the park that was open late. This way we could catch the nightly fireworks show at that park, then get some extra rides in before dragging ourselves back to the hotel for some sleep so we could do it all over again the next day.

Remember that there are other ways of going between the parks - like the monorail, and boats. While these only service specific parks, they're faster than taking the bus. I wouldn't bother with a car inside the park - unless you want to go to Downtown Disney for shopping. Then it's easier to dump your shopping in the trunk rather than lug it on the bus.

Wear comfortable shoes. You're going to be on your feet all day, and walking a lot.

Take breaks, drink plenty of water. No use in making yourself sick on vacation.

hilfyy

use a small backpack to carry around the park and throw a sweatshirt camera, phone, your wallet whatever your going to take it makes it easier to walk around

itchianna

We will be there the 1st till the 11th and it will be one of many returns. We carry small back packs or fanny packs with small snacks:cheese and beef sticks, gum, breakfast bars, we also carry our camera, IPods and other small items. I always pack extra socks as many rides get your feet wet, and with all the walking wet socks are a no-no. We plan our trip including meals well in advance and prearrange all table meals. We already have reservations for rooms and always stay on property. Being picked up at the airport and shuttled around from park to park is great.

Indiana Jones

well the average day time high in dec is 72. obviously some days will be warmer and some may be cooler.
and the average night time low is around 51 and sometimes chillier than that.
i'd bring:
-shorts
-capris
-jeans
-t-shirts
-hooded sweatshirt
-light jacket.
-and don't be afraid to toss in the bathing suit cuz you will definitely be able to swim.
-comfortable SNEAKERS
-flip flops or sandals are good for around the pool and hanging at the hotel but you don't want to walk around all day in the parks with them.

bring to the parks:
-choose a backpack instead of a purse or tote bag cuz bags that are just put on one shoulder may give you pain after carrying it all day. where as with a back pack the weight is distributed evenly on both shoulders making it much easier to carry. plus its not constantly falling off your shoulder and both your hands are free
-sunscreen
-sunglasses
-water bottle
-wallet
-phone
-camera!
-band aids and neosporin (for possible cuts or blisters)
-ibuprofen (for possible head aches and definite aching feet)
-imodium (incase your stomach does agree with somethng you ate)

tips:
-get to every park when it opens.
magic kingdom: head straight back to fantasyland cuz most people go either off to the left or right of the park fist and then later its rides have the longest lines.
epcot: head straight for soarin. it may seem like everyone is headed there as well but you will won't regret going there first thing. you will wait about 30 minutes if you go there first where as if you go later in the day the fastpasses are gone by 2pm and the line becomes rediculus. (wait time could be up to 200 minutes thats 3 hours and 20 minutes!)
hollywood studios: head straight for tower of terror. if you like it get right back on. then go on rock n roller coster and if you like that get a fastpass to go on it again in a little while.
animal kingdom: if you want any chance of seeing the animals you have to go early. once the sun rises high in the sky they head for shade and sometimes they aren't visable at all.
-get the fastpass for any ride that has a line longer than 45 minutes. if the line is longer than 45 minutes fastpass is great cuz when your time comes you will get on with in 15 minutes at the most.
if the lines are 45 mimutes or shorter then you will get on the ride just fine without the fast pass.

DON'T assume that as it gets later in the day the parks will thin out cuz they won't. you may think families with really small children will leave early but trust me they don't they stay until closing time.

as far as the car ride i highly recommend sleeping. it makes the ride go by faster.
also listen to music, read, bring one of those trip bingo cards, if you have a portable dvd player or laptop bring it and watch movies, and bring a notebook and plan out your days.
you could print out maps so you can decide how you want to approach each park.
this is where i like to look at and print disney world maps from:
magic kingdom
http://www.wdwinfo.com/maps/MK.htm

epcot
http://www.wdwinfo.com/maps/epcot.htm

hollywood studios
http://www.wdwinfo.com/maps/MGM.htm

animal kingdom
http://www.wdwinfo.com/maps/AK.htm

cigarsnbrew

Rather than copy and paste the answer, start here:

http://themeparkmom.com/2008/10/26/packing-tips-a-la-martha/

arrowheadadventure

December close to Christmas can be a busy time. If you are going in early December, then you are going at a great time. The parks won't be as full, and you'll benefit from the Disney Christmas activities.

The best advice I can give you is to buy "The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2009". It costs about $20 at bookstores. It will tell you everything you need to know about the area both on Disney property and off. There are hotel reviews, restaurant reviews, airline reviews, rental car reviews, etc. There are reviews of every attraction. It tells you some secrets that a non-reader would never find out. The best part of the book is the touring plan. My family and I went in July '08, a very busy time of the year. However, we never waited in line for rides for more than 15 minutes! The plans somehow take you to the areas of the park that people don't visit at that time of day. Forget everything you've heard about going to the furthest part of the park first, or touring the park clockwise. They don't work because everybody tries to do it that way. These touring plans are used by others, but not enough people to cause problems. Trust me, they work!

Hannah Mercer

Me and my family went in december of 07... When we were there , it was hot even though it was december, but at night it got rlly chilly.. so maybe pack jackets just in case.. I always carried water, or sumthing to drink... You get pretty tired the first day or two, so rest alot, like go to the parks in the morning then come back to your hotel and rest then go back out. I mean besides that just pack the normal stuff you know, clothes, stuff.. Its really fun we stayed for 7 days and it still wasnt enough to see and do everything..hope you have fun..

whatever

Bring poncho's from home much cheaper. Where comfortable clothes.
If you are trying to save money bring your own drinks and snacks.
STAY IN DISNEY RESORT the benefits are great and december is a good time to go. If you stay in the park your room key is your ticket.It can also be used for purchases in park. you can leave purse or wallet in safe. Also much easier to replace than credit cards if lost.
any shopping can be bought and disney will send it to your hotel so you don't have to carry.
use your fast passes.
Make dining reservations early

also soarin's fast passes go fast so get there early.

TioArturo

Some tips about travel and hotels..

I suggest you to book fligth and hotel separatley. You will take a better rate than booking together.

For the fligths, take your favorite airline web and check what offer.
For hotel, you can use this web:

http://www.prontohotel.com/usa/orlando

Here you can set your budget and where do you want your hotel to be placed so its great to organize your trip.

just me :)

Get this book:

Passporter: Walt Disney World.

http://www.passporter.com/wdw/

They sell it in most book stores with a travel section (barns and noble, waldenbooks, etc.) so no need to buy it on the internet.

It will tell you absolutely everything you need to know, (packings lists, reviews and descriptions of rides and restaurants, etc.).

The book is amazing when traveling to WDW. Buy and and you will not regret it.

:)

HAVE FUN! i know you will!

Aurelys S

My family and i just went on two road trips this summer and sleeping definitely made the time go by much faster. Other than that we brought coloring books (i'm 20 and my brothers are 16 and 22 haha, you're never too old) but now stores sell travel size board games. I personally get car sick from those but seems like it'd be good to pass the time with. Bring your own water to the parks in a backpack unless you want to shell out a few bucks per bottle. snacks (sliced fruit, 100 calorie packs, chips, trail mix) are good to have on hand if you don't want to spend much on food (you won't be the only ones trust me :))

danielle h

Here's a great tip for you!

Believe it or not, the least busiest day of the week to visit the parks is on SUNDAY...the locals tend to not go because they think the weekends will be too busy and the tourists tend to go during the week as the weekends they are commonly used for flying in or out!

Also, if you want some great info on how to beat those long lines, how to save HUGE on Disney costs... even where to find the parks' "hidden entrances" and shortcuts and bypass most of the crowds, you should go to

http://tinyurl.com/disneysavings

...this site's info comes direct from an ex Disney employee. She shows you how to save $200 on your park tickets alone and save $1,000's more on all your Disney holiday costs. And she's just put out a really useful Disney Savings & Tips Guide for 2009.

Here's another great tip for you! As of 2009, Disney is continuing it's free admission for family members whose birthday it is...Details are available by visiting
www.disneyparks.com,

where you can register for your free ticket.

Simply bring along your photo ID (passport or driver's license) for adults or birth certificate for children and pick up your free ticket at the will call booth.

Enjoy!

Lucy H

Go onto passporter.com they have lots of awesome tips. Also, carry a fanny pack around the park.; I know it is dorky but hey are really good. And when a park has extra magic hours, DO NOT GO TO THAT PARK!!! go to a different park because all the other parks are empty

es335tdc@sbcglobal.net

This all depends on when you are going in December. Early in the month, approximately the 1st thru 22cd, will not have the crowds. The period from the 24th thru New Years Eve is the most crowded. It's still a lot of fun in spite of the crowds. There are block out days and a holiday differential (higher prices) at select restaurants. You may wish to consider the Disney Dining Plan to cut some costs if your staying onsite. Onsite is strongly recommended.
As far as clothes you'll need to be prepared for both warm and chilly. Don't be surprised if you find yourself wearing shorts during the day and a sweater in the evening.
What you need to carry also depends on if your staying onsite or offsite. Onsite they will deliver purchases to your resort so you won't find yourself carrying your purchases around the park. A backpack with a sweater, water bottle, camera, camcorder and sunglasses is convenient. There are also lockers available if you don't want to carry a lot around but don't wish to return to your room to pick up that extra jacket, etc.
As far as the car it may depend on how far your traveling and the ages of the folks traveling with you. Between a laptop to play movies, the joy of the iPod, PSP, or a good book has kept everyone from getting agitated.

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