The best character meal I've ever had on property has been Cape May Cafe. You get to meet most of the Fab 5 characters and the food has always been excellent.
I went to Disney last year for Christmas. Dec 19-27. I found the crowds to be fine and I would go again. My advice would be to get an early start and utilize fastpasses to your advantage
15 mins are the latest I've heard they would take.
In regards to being seated early, I've been seated roughly an hour early at several WDW restaurants.
Candlelight processional for sure.
We've only gone to MVMCP once and didn't care for it - found it to be overpriced for what we got - but I know many people who love it!
Sorry for the late response! I'm not a thrill ride person so it was much too fast and winding/twisting for me. I didn't feel good for the rest of the day. Soarin, Pirates, and Frozen are pretty much the extent of my thrill rides for reference. :)
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. I went on it once, under duress, and hated it. I also don't get the obsession about the Star Wars ride. It's okay, but nothing spectacular.
I did it many years ago and it was through a wooded area with fake snow and Christmas lights. So it was very different than what I imagined and from what Disney advertises.
We went Dec 19-27. Loved it. As long as you steer clear of MK on Christmas Day you'll be fine. I recommend NOT doing the sleigh ride at Ft Wilderness. We did it last year and all they did was drive us through the trailer areas. It was a horrible disappointment.