December, both on the cruise and at WDW

[AliciaG]

Well my well laid plans of taking a Disney cruise during the kids fall break in October 2005 got totally ruined by the scheduled drydock of the Magic. :( I've been looking at some other options, and wonder what you guys think.

April on the Magic just looks too expensive, though probably a nice time to go since Easter is in March next year. I played with Wonder dates for a 4 day in April and October, but I'm just not sure that'll be long enough for us. The best plan I came up with in that scenario was to do 4 day cruise, then 5 nights at Vero Beach. Not bad, but I don't want to regret the fact that we only had a 4 day cruise. :?

Another option is to do the RCCL Mariner of the Seas for a seven day in October 2005. It's definitely cheaper, and not in dry dock, but is it as much fun for the kids (ages at that time 11, 9, and almost 4)?

And finally the main point of this post :lol: ...how is the Magic cruise in December? I hate cold weather! I'm not sure I'd be comfortable doing beaches and sunning unless it was at least mid-upper 70's, hopefully warmer. We're thinking about the the cruise that departs on Dec. 17, 2005. We'd come off the ship and check into BWV on Dec. 24th. :santaSmile: It stinks to spend points on the absolute highest time of the year, :shock: but I can hardly think of anywhere better to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas day. We'd probably stay 3-4 nights there. Normally we'd never even think of going to WDW at that time, or being away from our family. The last couple of years though, it's been so hectic that we haven't even been able to relax and enjoy our immediate family of 5. We seriously looked at spending this Christmas at a ski resort somewhere, lol.

Opinions on any of these options? Anybody done a December cruise, and how was the weather? Aside from the fact that I know WDW is wall to wall guests, how have you enjoyed Christmas in the World? I think I need to go read that part of Tagrel's trip report again. :mrgreen: Thanks!

[AliciaG]

Tagrel, I went back and read your TR from when y'all were at the GF over Christmas. I was really shocked at the low crowds y'all were able to enjoy by getting to the parks before opening. That seems like the way to do it. Get there early, and leave by lunch. I thought it would be a madhouse the entire time. How does your family feel now about having spent that Christmas at WDW? Glad you did it once, but won't do it again, or can't wait to get back there for Christmas again? :lol:

Nobody cruised during December? Dennis, you're booked for this year, did you read any December reports before booking? I looked on the DIS for old TRs, but I couldn't find any earlier than the last few months. Anybody know if they archive those?

Anybody done a four day cruise, and wished they'd have booked the seven day instead?

Can you tell I'm having fun even thinking about this? :mrgreen:

[Tagrel]

We loved our Christmas trip. While we could never make it a yearly event because we love spending Christmas with Kristen's family, it was wonderful both being at WDW and seeing my brother over the holidays. I think we might do it again, but it may be a few years.

I didn't find the crowds to be much worse than July, and the lack of HEAT made it MUCH more enjoyable to deal with the crowds. And as you noticed, the early mornings were great - There were longer lines to get into the parks at 11 am than there were at opening. Gotta LOVE those people that insist on sleeping in on vacation! :winking: Fast Pass, and arriving at park opening really let us do everything we wanted to do. That and the fact that we know we'll be back, so we could focus on the special Christmas features. Decorations are wonderful EVERYWHERE you go. And staying OUT of the parks on Christmas really kept us out of the crush, and let us focus on our family that day.

We have never cruised the Caribbean in the winter, but hear its pretty warm year around... How warm I'm not sure.

[Sheryl]

Hi ALicia,

We've never cruised before, but I booked the 4 day cruise for our first. That way, when we all LOVE it, we can then book the 7 day cruise for the next year. :wink:

:mickeyWalk: Sheryl :minnie:

[AliciaG]

Thanks for the insight, Tagrel.

Sheryl, you just need to get Terry snookered up on those drinks of the day, and tell him about what a great discount you'll get by re-booking for a seven day while you're still on the ship. :wink: I know you've got the skills, girl. 8)

[Ursulinda]

Hi Alicia,
If you are really considering a ski resort for Christmas, I can recommend a good family place to be, at Killington Vermont. We have spent about 7 of the last 10 Thanksgivings there, and it is really special.

We're cruising on the 7 day western beginning December 4th, so I'll for sure have some comments for you on cruising in December after that!

[BetsyAnn]

I don't know anything about cruising yet - :wink: but I hear that in Colorado they have some Mountains that you can do the Ski thing on! :lol: Not that I know much about that stuff -

[AliciaG]

I'll definitely check with you guys before we ever plan any ski vacations. :D

Ursulinda, I didn't realize you were cruising this December. How awesome! You do know Dennis is on that ship, don't you? :lol: :letsgo:

I'll certainly be looking to you guys for TONS of information on your cruise. If I'm not mistaken, I believe the 12-17-05 cruise is the western too. We did the eastern one time on Carnival, so this would be a nice change of pace. 8)

[AmyA]

Alicia, we are going to miss you at WDW by less than a week in 2005!

I have no cruise advice for you but growing up we went to Mexico a few times in December (Cancun and Puerto Vallarta) and it was ALWAYS plenty warm...80s or above, just the way you like it ;).

[Mary]

Alicia you KNOW that I cruised in December...sailed on 12/27. The weather was beautiful! Definitely in at least the mid-70's, some days warmer. As luck would have it, the chilliest day was for Castaway Cay but even that wasn't bad. If you go back and read our trip reports I think Alan gave weather info, but I'm not sure.

[AliciaG]

Thanks for the reminder, Mary! :D Actually, I'd forgotten that your trip was in December. New Years Eve! Duh! :oops: I'll go back and re-read the TR with fresh eyes. At the time I was too busy drooling over that groovy stateroom and veranda, and slobbering all over myself with the food descriptions. :lol: I'll be looking at it this time for more info on the decorations and weather. I'll make sure I'm not hungry before I read though. :wink:

[WDWDen]

Alicia, you are right, we are doing the Dec 4th cruise this year. ( :lol: I didnt know Ursulinda was on the same one :lol: COOL! )
I am a bit nervous about it being cold. At least in Florida, Key West and Castaway Cay. I am sure anything south of Key West will be at least in the upper 70's. I have been to the Nassua in Jan and it was cold and dreary :cry: It is definitley risky going that late in the season.

We did a nighter and it was WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY too short!! Jenine and I both agree that anything less than a 7 night is waay too short! We took it when Jenine was pregnant(actually had the 7night booked, then found out that jenine would be past the 26 week limit to cruise, so we bumped it up to JUST before that time) By the time you get settled on the ship, it is over. I would definitley do a 7 night!

Jenine and I just did a 10 night RCCL on the Serenade of the Seas in October. I was awesome. The Mariner is a Voyager class ship, so that is even better. IMHO, the new RC ships are much better layed out than the Disney ships. The kids will like the Rock climbing, mini golf, skating and all that stuff, but I am sure there is much more for them on the Disney ship. For a family cruise, there is no better cruise line than Disney. Even though there are some things on Disney I don't care for, they are definitley my favorite cruise line. I would take the Dec trip if I were you :lol:

Good luck planning Alica!!

[AliciaG]

I think the Mariner of the Seas looks like a great ship! I really wanna cruise in October sometime. Maybe we'll consider RCCL. I'm thinking with the ages of the kids in 2005 (4, 9, 11) that they'll really love the Magic. Maybe another year or two after that they'd really get into all that RCCL has to offer. They are already excited just from what I've told them. I need to go order one of those DCL dvds for us to watch! :D

[FLSharon]

Hey, you go girl!!!! Book those trips! The more the better.. that's what we all live for .. so go, go go!!! :wink: That is sooo exciting!!!!! :captain:


:mickeyWalk: :mickeyWalk:

[Moley]

The DCL DVD is so much fun! I ordered mine from the website and it took about 3 weeks to get to me.