mshanson3121
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2015
I was so excited a few days ago when MIL announced our trip next fall, that we could go celebrate "Christmas at Disney" - doing the MVMCP and Candlelight Processional, then I figured we might as well splurge and get 2 day hoppers, so we can do JBJB, too.
But since then, reading various threads and reports on this board have me thinking it may not be such a good idea after all. So, I need the truth about Disney during Christmas time, especially wait times. My youngest has ASD and is just not capable of waiting in line for much more than 30 minutes. Even my oldest isn't going to want to spend time standing in line for anything more than an hour.
So....
Candlelight Processional - I'm seeing comments that to get in on standby (without a dining package), we could realistically need to be standing in line 1-2 hours? Is this true? We would be attending mid-week, early December. Are all shows equally busy, or are the later ones less busy etc? If we bought the dining package, what time do we need to get in line, then?
MVMCP - I'm not as concerned about ride waits, since we would use our 3 FP+ for our big "must dos", and then would be content with whatever we could do after that. Also, the main reason we're going isn't the rides anyways, but the shows. Which brings us to: how early would we need to be getting spot for a good viewing of the parade (probably the late parade), fireworks, the Tomorrowland and the main stage Christmas shows? How bad is the line for Jack Skellington? Is there any chance of meeting him with only a 30 minute wait?
JBJB - Again, same question, for this show, to have a good viewing area (we don't need perfect, but definitely decent), at what time would we need to be getting a spot? If we bought the dining package, how does that affect line up time?
For all of these - would we be allowed to have my son and I wait in line while my MIL takes my youngest on a ride or two, and then rejoins us in line? Or would the crowds hang us?
I was so happy, but I'm seeing I need to start realistically evaluating whether this is actually going to work for my youngest, especially since it looks like her DAS card will not do her any good for these events. We definitely can't afford dining packages/hard tickets for all of these, so, it may mean picking and choosing.
But since then, reading various threads and reports on this board have me thinking it may not be such a good idea after all. So, I need the truth about Disney during Christmas time, especially wait times. My youngest has ASD and is just not capable of waiting in line for much more than 30 minutes. Even my oldest isn't going to want to spend time standing in line for anything more than an hour.
So....
Candlelight Processional - I'm seeing comments that to get in on standby (without a dining package), we could realistically need to be standing in line 1-2 hours? Is this true? We would be attending mid-week, early December. Are all shows equally busy, or are the later ones less busy etc? If we bought the dining package, what time do we need to get in line, then?
MVMCP - I'm not as concerned about ride waits, since we would use our 3 FP+ for our big "must dos", and then would be content with whatever we could do after that. Also, the main reason we're going isn't the rides anyways, but the shows. Which brings us to: how early would we need to be getting spot for a good viewing of the parade (probably the late parade), fireworks, the Tomorrowland and the main stage Christmas shows? How bad is the line for Jack Skellington? Is there any chance of meeting him with only a 30 minute wait?
JBJB - Again, same question, for this show, to have a good viewing area (we don't need perfect, but definitely decent), at what time would we need to be getting a spot? If we bought the dining package, how does that affect line up time?
For all of these - would we be allowed to have my son and I wait in line while my MIL takes my youngest on a ride or two, and then rejoins us in line? Or would the crowds hang us?
I was so happy, but I'm seeing I need to start realistically evaluating whether this is actually going to work for my youngest, especially since it looks like her DAS card will not do her any good for these events. We definitely can't afford dining packages/hard tickets for all of these, so, it may mean picking and choosing.