Oh, oh, it’s December and time to join two of my favorite things in the world together ~ Disney and Christmas! Yes, Virginia, it is possible to experience the magic of Christmas and Disney on a budget!
Big secret #1 for Christmas magic at Disney is to schedule your Disney Vacation time during the first two weeks of December. We’ve found the week after Thanksgiving to be a great time with little or no waiting lines since all the kids are back in school. So if you are emptynesters and love Disney and Christmas, visit now!
Christmas secret #2 is to map out your must-see/do list. Schedule your favorite rides in advance with FastPass+! FastPass + enables us to now schedule our FastPasses in advance 30 – 60 days before our Disney trip. Once you have purchased your vacation package or park tickets and registered online you can reserve up to 3 FastPass + experiences per day in one theme park. You initially can schedule three (3) Fastpasses per day but once the initial FP+ are used, you can schedule more at the kiosks in the parks.
Christmas secret #3 is Disney Resort Christmas Decorations! All Disney Resorts decorate for Christmas in the most magical way for your budget-minded enjoyment – think of this day as Disney’s gift to you ‘cause it’s free! Hop the 
monorail or the bus and take a tour of the Disney resort hotels for free! We use a vacation day during our Christmas trip to just hop around to the resorts to relax and take in the Christmas magic. One of my favorites is Grand Floridian, which features live musical talent during the Christmas season along with a life-size gingerbread house.
Christmas secret #4 is to make your dining reservations as early as you possibly can. Don’t wait till the last minute or you will be hopping over to one of the fast food chains for dinner! You can make dining reservations 180 days in advance so plan ahead for your Christmas Disney vacation dining. Psssttt… your new Magic Bands hold your reservations too!
Christmas secret #5 is the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights! Disney Hollywood Studios hosts this spectacular event annually and it is free with your park admission ticket! Be sure to plan your Hollywood Studios park visit to include after dark so you can see the swirling and soaring of Christmas lights synced with holiday music from around the world. You have never seen so many lights on buildings, trees, and even bicycles… “Snow” flurries are predicted nightly!
Till Next Time,
Leigh Anne
Find out how the FREE services of a Disney World travel agent can make planning your Disney vacation simple and STRESS FREE! PLUS from December 1-31, book a Disney World, Disneyland or Disney Cruise vacation package with me and I will make a donation in your name to charity. Learn more about the charities that The Affordable Mouse is supporting this year and please help us “pay it forward”!
Leigh Anne, originally from Mississippi, lives in North Alabama with her husband and a menagerie of furry kids (FIDS), including dogs, cats, exotic birds, fish and a lionhead rabbit. Figment, her African Grey parrot, is named after Disney’s small purple dragon, Figment. She works as a motivational speaker and pastoral counselor. In 1974, Leigh Anne marched with the Enka High Marching Band in the Magic Kingdom daytime parade. Leigh Anne fell in love with Disney while on her Disney honeymoon with her husband in 2002. They have made an annual trip back to Disney to celebrate their anniversary every year since. Since they own a piece of the mouse with their Disney Vacation Club (DVC), some years they go twice! She also plans to be the grandmother that introduces all her grandchildren to Disney World first. She has a great start ~ 2 out of 3 so far! As a DVC member married to the best Disney shopper in the world, Leigh Anne has lots of experience in finding the most frugal way to have the most fun in the parks and resorts! Leigh Anne admits to being spoiled as a DVC member but is always on the lookout to keep their WDW vacations fun and frugal! She blogs at Queen of Hysteria and tweets @la_haygood
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