Spending the holidays at a Disney park is one of the greatest opportunities for a theme park tourist. And who would understand the best strategies for such a visit more than the Disney Vacation Club experts who participate in our roundtable discussions? Find out the best hacks for visiting the parks during the holidays. Then, read on to discover what’s in store for Disney theme parks in the coming year.
Our panel consists of Kristen Tutas from Resales DVC, Paul Little from DVC Rental Store, Nick Cotton from DVC Resale Market, Melissa Mullett from David’s Vacation Club Rentals, and Scott Ferraioli from DVC-Rental.com.
What are your favorite parts of the holidays at Disney theme parks?
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Paul Little, DVC Rental Store: We love being at Walt Disney World the night before many of the decorations are installed. A good amount of the decorations will be installed overnight while you are sleeping. This is true especially at the resort hotels. It is so magical to go to bed and awake to see the World in all of its holiday splendor. I also love the Magic Kingdom at night. The Christmas decor and lights make it even more magical than normal.
Kristen Tutas, ResalesDVC: I love the decorations and the entertainment offered at the parks, like Holidays Around the World at Epcot. There’s also something very special and comforting about walking down Main Street and seeing the castle lit up in sparkling lights.
Melissa Mullett, David’s Vacation Club Rentals: I have a few favorites when it comes to celebrating the holidays at Disney theme parks. My first and most favorite part is the amount of detail that goes into decorating for the holidays. I love the Tin Toy Soldiers on display when you first walk into the Magic Kingdom, Cinderella’s Castle decorated in a Winter Wonderland Theme and all of the perfectly decorated Christmas Trees found at each Disney Vacation Club Resort. Disney puts so much time and energy into decorating for the holidays that you feel as though you are at home no matter how far away you are.
My second favorite part of the holidays at Disney theme parks is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. The excitement and festive joy are palpable. This party is one of my absolute favorites; nothing kicks off the Christmas Season more for me than filling my face with an endless amount of sugar cookies and hot chocolate all the while seeing Santa atop his red sleigh at the end of the Christmas Parade.
Nick Cotton, DVC Resale Market: The experience of being at the “happiest place on Earth” during the most joyous time of year! It’s really hard to beat that combination. On top of that, the weather in Orlando is typically great during the holiday season, too. Also, it’s great to see the holiday festivities you cannot experience during other times of the year such as Candlelight, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and the new Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!
Scott Ferraioli, DVC-Rental.com: Disney goes all out for the holidays. Lights, trees, decorations, music, the amazing holiday performances at EPCOT, and new foods really make Disney shine (pun intended) during the holiday season. It’s an absolute must see and my favorite time to visit all of the parks. My personal favorite probably would be enjoying all of the lands around the World Showcase at EPCOT.
What’s your favorite DVC resort during the holiday season?
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Paul Little: The Grand Floridian has to be my favorite. The Victorian style of the resort seems to boost the Christmas atmosphere. And where else in the world can you purchase gingerbread treats at a gingerbread house? A close second would be the Wilderness Lodge. The giant Christmas tree is my favorite tree at Walt Disney World.
Kristen Tutas: While most would say Wilderness Lodge, my favorite DVC resort during the holidays is the Grand Floridian with its beautiful Victorian decor and life-sized gingerbread house.
Melissa Mullett: My absolute favorite DVC resort during the Holiday Season is Wilderness Lodge. As a Canadian, the holiday season typically reflects cold nights spent around a warm fireplace with friends and family sipping on a mug of hot chocolate. Wilderness Lodge’s ambiance during the holiday season is cozy, rustic, and warm, which encompasses all of the things that I think of when I think of my Canadian home during the holidays. Wilderness Lodge is the only DVC resort where I will find myself sitting by a fire in a rocking chair admiring the beauty of their Christmas Tree when it’s 80 degrees outside.
Scott Ferraioli : While all of the DVC resorts are decorated wonderfully, I have to give the nod to Wilderness Lodge/Boulder Ridge slightly over Grand Floridian. Wilderness Lodge already has the Pacific Northwest theme, and when you take into account the huge fireplace, stream running through the lobby, and the gigantic Christmas tree and garland, it’s really hard to beat.
Nick Cotton: Wilderness Lodge (Boulder Ridge and soon to be Copper Creek). The resort has a very warm, home-like feel to it that makes it a natural fit during the holiday season.
What tips and suggestions would you give guests heading to the parks this holiday season?
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Kristen Tutas: Have a plan! Prioritize your must-do rides and experiences and get them in as early in the day as possible. Use FastPass for the afternoon when standby lines are much longer. The “hub” in Magic Kingdom is a great place to lie down for an afternoon nap.
Melissa Mullett: Just keep calm and carry on. The parks can get a bit overwhelming during the holidays. I would recommend booking your FastPass + reservations prior to arrival and to have a schedule in place but to be flexible. There is a lot to see and do, so I find that having a basic outline of what we are hoping to do each day really helps navigate the trip and reduces the dreaded “what do you want to do today?” “I don’t know, what do you want to do?” conversation.
Scott Ferraioli: If you’re able to go earlier in the month, the crowds will be much lower. If you’re coming closer to Christmas, make sure you arrive early as many of the parks will reach capacity and not allow you into the park until people start leaving. Definitely make sure you select your three fast passes in advance (pick them in the morning so you can add them one at a time after you use them), expect it to be crowded and try to just go with the flow. You might not be able to get on a ton of rides but make sure you enjoy the music, decorations, and atmosphere of being in the parks.
Nick Cotton: The weather, decorations and overall atmosphere during the holiday season at Disney World are amazing, so take it all in and enjoy! A word of caution, though, to anyone traveling to Disney World the week between Christmas and New Years – that is the single busiest week of the year at Disney, so do set expectations appropriately. And if you are traveling during that week, be sure to get to the parks early in the day as the Industrial Engineers will be performing demand management, meaning that once a park’s attendance reaches a certain capacity they will stop letting new guests in. I’m speaking from experience as a former Industrial Engineer at Disney). Despite the heavier crowds that week, the experience of being at Disney during the holidays still makes it worth it, so don’t let the crowds deter you from enjoying the Happiest Place of Earth during such a festive time of year.
Paul Little: We like to visit early in the Christmas season. The crowds will be more manageable than they will be nearer to Christmas. Also, I’d suggest doing a split visit to the parks, especially the Magic Kingdom. Arrive at the park in time for Rope Drop with a mission to see and ride as much as possible before leaving the park around lunch. You would then return to the park in time for the parade and fireworks. This will allow for a more leisurely time (once you are clear of the exiting crowds) afterward, where your focus would be to absorb the atmosphere. If you stay until close, you can enjoy your favorite attractions again or catch those that you missed earlier in the day.
As we head into the New Year, what are your expectations for Disney Vacation Club participants, both renters and owners?
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Nick Cotton: There will be a lot of excitement for DVC owners in 2017 as the growth of DVC continues with Copper Creek and perhaps the announcement of another resort in the coming year. DVC owners will have additional reasons to return in 2017 as Disney World will be growing with the long awaited opening of “Pandora – The World of Avatar” coming in the summer of 2017.
Melissa Mullett: I honestly don’t have any expectations with regards to renters and owners this coming year. We at David’s Vacation Club Rentals just want to continue to deliver top-notch service to all of our renters and owners going into 2017.
Scott Ferraioli: Disney Vacation Club has just announced that they’re extending the DVC Lounge in EPCOT for at least another year, which is great news for current owners. They’ve also added a new behind the scenes tour of Soarin’, so I’m hoping DVC keeps adding some more great options for owners.
Paul Little: I see DVC rentals, both private and via broker, continuing to grow. At this time, guest demand is outpacing the amount of points that DVC members are able or willing to offer, so additional guest planning and flexibility may be required.
As the expansion of the Disney Springs winds down, I foresee Saratoga Springs Resort and to a lesser extent, Old Key West becoming more desirable resorts. Hopefully, this should open up more availability at the other DVC resorts.
Kristen Tutas: There was a lot of uncertainty this year with DVC implementing more resale policy changes, tragedies in Orlando, and of course the presidential election. Now that the dust has settled, I expect 2017 to be a strong year for DVC. With the opening of a new DVC property at Wilderness Lodge along with new experiences coming to the theme parks, families will get back to doing what they love…vacationing at Disney.
What do you expect from Disney theme parks in 2017?
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Scott Ferraioli: 2017 is going to be a year of building, it appears. Lots of work is still being done at Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. Disney also announced work in the plans for redesigning EPCOT. As you know, Walt always said his parks would be growing and changing, and it appears that the higher ups are trying to live up to those standards. I’m sure it will be another great year for Disney, and I hope they have some extra wonderful surprises up their sleeves as well.
Paul Little: Due to economic and security issues, I think that Disney is going to see a downturn in International visitor attendance in 2017. In order to compensate, I see Disney promoting even more special events in order to draw additional domestic visitors. These types of events might be more RunDisney events and Epcot festivals. I also feel that Disney will capitalize on the excitement that surrounds Disney Springs by adding attractions to the mix. The Starbright Holiday drone show is an example. The site lines around the lake provide a perfect venue for the show, and you can bet that Disney will capitalize on this new technology in 2017.
Kristen Tutas: I expect to see a continuation of upgrades and refurbishments in the parks and new experiences being announced in 2017. I also wouldn’t be surprised if we see more discounts being offered for tickets, dining, shopping etc. in order to boost attendance compared to this year.
Melissa Mullett: Free Mickey Head ice cream bars? Just kidding! In all seriousness, my expectations from Disney Theme Parks in 2017 is to keep delivering the Magic and Wonder to all families who visit, no matter how young or old, or how many times you have visited.
On a personal level, what’s your favorite part of DVC and Disney theme parks in general?
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Kristen Tutas: As someone who grew up visiting Disney World every year, continuing that tradition with my family is very important to me and one of the main reasons I enjoy the DVC program and sharing its benefits with others. I find that most owners who purchase DVC are doing so for similar reasons as well. We are all hoping to create the same magical memories for our children that we remember having when we were young.
Melissa Mullett: I love the atmosphere. I have been to Disney countless times and stayed on DVC property each time, and quite honestly it is the friendliness of the Cast Members that always makes my stay so enjoyable. Whether it’s a Cast Member welcoming me Home or a Cast Member calling me “Princess” as I get onto a ride, it’s the little things that these people do day in and day out that make my vacation so magical.
Scott Ferraioli: The best part of Disney is being able to escape into a world where everything is as close to perfect as possible. From the food, to the cast members, to the cleanliness of the bathrooms, Disney just gets everything right. With DVC, you’re able to stay in Disney rooms that many people (including myself) never thought they’d be able to afford. When you leave the theme parks and head back to your DVC resort, it’s an extension of the parks. Everything is top notch. Whether you’re watching Wishes from your balcony, drinking your morning coffee next to a giraffe, or relaxing in a sand bottom pool, the DVC resorts are your home. It’s a comfortable feeling of going on vacation but still being where you belong.
Nick Cotton: Right now, it’s all about seeing Disney through my two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Alex. For example, being able to stay at Boardwalk in October on our DVC points and go to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party with my family dressed as the Guardians of the Galaxy was awesome! Alex was so excited wearing her Rocket Raccoon costume and getting candy all around the Magic Kingdom. Although we had been to Disney many times before, that night started the almost daily question of “Are we going to Disney World today?”
Paul Little: The Magic Kingdom has always been and always will be my favorite park. I fell in love when I first visited in 1974. I love the nostalgia of the classic attractions. Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean and even Country Bear Jamboree are must visits. Also, as a former restaurant owner and chef, I am excited by the new dining venues at the parks and Disney Springs. An ongoing complaint about Disney dining is that the menus had been standardized to the point of boredom. The new additions have added excitement back into Disney dining. Venues such as the Boathouse, Art Smith’s Homecoming, Morimoto Asia and Deluxe Burger have given diners appealing options when planning their dining experiences.
