Just how bad is it Christmas week?

[David]

I've had a wild idea this morning about taking a trip down, arriving either Christmas night or early the next morning. We've never been during that time of the year, and I know that it is the busiest time, but I would go at this trip accepting the crowds and enjoying the parks in all their holiday decorations. There is no way to "go everything" and I realize that, but what are the typical park hours that week? Already got quotes from our travel agent, and though we have not yet booked, there is a strong possibility that we will.

Am I crazy to even think about this since we will probably go back next May as well?

 

[DisneyJoe]

Are you comfortable in an extremely large, shoulder to shoulder, very hard to move, crowd of people?

The parks, especially MK, usually reach capacity during that week and will go thru phased closings where you may or may not be allowed into a park....

or are you content to hang around the resorts, tour and eat at the many resorts, and maybe only visit the parks very briefly?

 

[David]

Are you comfortable in an extremely large, shoulder to shoulder, very hard to move, crowd of people?

The parks, especially MK, usually reach capacity during that week and will go thru phased closings where you may or may not be allowed into a park....


or are you content to hang around the resorts, tour and eat at the many resorts, and maybe only visit the parks very briefly?

We are Early Entry guests, so I would hope to get to do a few attractions before the phased closings kick in.

Touring and eating at the other resorts does not interest us. We're parks people.

 

[MissM]

You just have to go into it with the mindset that you will not get to see or do terribly much, that everything will take an absurd and sometimes obscene amount of time to accomplish, and that you will be pushed, shoved, run over with strollers and generally inconvenienced the entire time. If you are patient and can tolerate, by all means, than go. If, however, you are the type of person to anger easily, it's best to avoid it.

We went on New Year's Eve a few years ago and it was a VERY LONG DAY. Bathrooms had lines, food had lines, trying to cross the street had lines. You just have to go in with low expectations of "getting things done" else you'll probably be miserable. Since you can't really leave and come back, it's an "in for the long haul" sort of mentality.

 

[mousefan1972]

Last year we left WDW the day after Christmas. Our trip was Dec. 17-26. The crowds had started noticeably increasing around the 22nd and by Christmas Day were insane. I was waiting in line at the WL concierge desk to ship a box of ornaments home at around 10 p.m. Christmas night, and I could not believe the amount of people checking in. Same with the next morning. As we waited for our ME bus pickup, the check in line was constantly 5-6 families deep. As Miss M stated, in the parks there are lines for the restrooms, vendors, counter service locations, etc. We are also early risers, and the week you are planning to go will be a 7 a.m. opening at MK for resort guests. That is just too early for us, but if your family can be there that early you will get alot done by 11 when the throngs arrive. Good luck and let us know if you decide to go! :xmas:

 

[David]

You just have to go into it with the mindset that you will not get to see or do terribly much, that everything will take an absurd and sometimes obscene amount of time to accomplish, and that you will be pushed, shoved, run over with strollers and generally inconvenienced the entire time. If you are patient and can tolerate, by all means, than go. If, however, you are the type of person to anger easily, it's best to avoid it.

QUOTE]

So I guess the season of "Peace on earth, good will towards men" is not the norm at Disney, huh?

I'm not easily annoyed, pretty easy going type of fella, and if I'm prepared mentally for it, I think we'll be OK. I've always wanted to see the parks at Christmas, but because of church obligations have not been able to do it. The schedule this year might work out for us, though. Only one way to find out.

 

[timeman]

I'm not sure about the crowds on Christmas Day, but i went down there the day after Christmas and stayed thru New Year's day and the crowds were no worse then what I saw in early August. The busiest day was of course New Year's Eve.

I went to Hollywood Studios the saturday after Christmas and got there around 10am. I was able to get a fastpass for Toy Story for early that evening which was better then when I went in August. At 10am that morning the wait time stated 30 minutes for Toy Story, but was more like 15. I was able to do everything I wanted with no problem that day. I went to the Magic Kingdom the day before New Year's Eve and the wait times were no worse then what I saw in August and there were no phased closings that day. I was able to get fastpasses for the rides I wanted and enjoyed seeing the New Year's Eve fireworks at the Magic Kingdom because they test them the night before. The Magic Kingdom was open until midnight that night for that reason.

The hours for the other parks that week were what you see in the summer with them closing around 10pm or later.

New Year's Eve was the busiest day and I went to Epcot and at 9am there were lines for fastpasses so Cast members were giving out the fastpasses. Because of this I was able to get fastpasses for Soarin', Test Track & Mission Space within the first hour. You definintely needed the fastpasses that day for those rides as by 3pm the standby time for Soarin' was 280 minutes. Lines for most of the smaller rides were listed at an hour, but actually were shorter then that. It was crowded, but a lot of fun. They did have phased closings at the Magic Kingdom that day, but none at Epcot as it can hold more people.

This year I'm going earlier in december, but next year am planning on going for New Year's Eve again, because I enjoyed it.

Epcot didn't close until 1am on New Year's Eve.

 

[David]

Now THAT'S an encouraging post. I've been watching video's all afternoon (hope my boss is not signed on) and getting pumped about going.

 

[protiius]

as has been said it's going to be ridiculously busy!! i was at wdw during xmas/new years of the millenium...it was insane!! the queues are outrageous, the pathways are unmanagable and it takes forever to eat (esp. if you want a table at a restaurant (you might even have to book days/weeks/months in advance))...

however, there's nowhere else i'd rather be at that time of year...if you're content to ride nothing more than a couple of attractions, you can eat on the move and (as has been previously mentioned) you're not someone who is easily riled up by getting rammed by prams all day then i would suggest it...the firework displays have that extra edge to them round that time of year...

i would suggest ensuring you stay on the resort, because the phased closing can occur VERY early i the day...

my final endorsement: i've booked for the coming new years...can't wait!!

 

[njDizFan]

my last trip was also 12/25 through 1/2 of last year. the short story is yes the parks are busy. maybe not that much worse than peak summer times. With the help of fastpass we were able to go on just about every ride. If you get there early you can still bang out most e-tickets without FP, but by noon be prepared to slow it down..lines for everything from bathrooms to restaurants get crazy. took us an hour to get from liberty square to tomorrowland(during parade).

NYE at MK is crazy and you will have a long wait to get out if you stay for the 12 midnight fireworks.

but the lights in DHS and the atmosphere in the resorts and parks...wow.. I think everyone should do it at least once..

 

[Disney Soldier]

We usually go every year for Christmas. I guess I have not seen it the way everyone else has. We stay 22-30 Dec and do a park a day. 2 days at AK, 2 Days at EPCOT, 1 at MK with a day or two at DTD for shopping. We don't do DHS either so it frees up more time for our other favs. Arrival at each park around 9 or so with no problems getting in. The only problems we had once was no ADRs were made so we had to wing it for TS, which is no small feet during this time. We actually got in on all but one of our TS choices. We did ride and saw everything we wanted (which was quite a bit). No shoulder to shoulder or overly long lines, we did experience the stroller problem but I racked that up to "just Disney."So overall, the Christmas time experience for us was more than awesome. :xmas: :sohappy::xmas::sohappy::xmas::sohappy:

 

[jeffk410]

arg went for the first time this year. I go every feb vaca. and then one or two other trips scattered in the year. We chose Xmas this year along with aug. If it is your only trip of the yr and you want to go on attractions I vote skip it. I did it once and never will again it was amazing, but way wayy too busy.

 

[abug'saunt]

Wow, our experience is way different from others. We went Dec 19th thru the 28th in 2005. We checked a couple of web sites, all saying really heavy crowds. The crowds were lighter than we were expecting. We did the MK Christmas day too. But we slept in, opened presents, got up and dressed for dinner at Wilderness Lodge (I believe), and went back to our resort to call family and wish them a Merry Christmas. We headed to the MK around 3 pm and stayed until 1 am. We got to ride everything we wanted. Around 11:30 pm it was like we had the park to ourselves. The only downside to it was that we really missed the rest of our family. While it was nice being with my mom, sister, her daughter, and my DH, my brother, his wife, their kids, my in-laws, and my dad were all home. I would absolutely do it again though. And I tell everyone I can - If you have a chance to go and do Christmas in WDW, do it! Book your trip and have a great time.

 

[MissM]

So I guess the season of "Peace on earth, good will towards men" is not the norm at Disney, huh?

I think it's just more the fact that there are so many people and lines for everything and kids losing their patience which makes the parents cranky that a lot of people just get frustrated and on edge. I don't think anyone plans on being in a foul mood but some people just don't deal with waiting and crowds as well as others, you know what I mean?

 

[PhotoDave219]

I've had a wild idea this morning about taking a trip down, arriving either Christmas night or early the next morning. We've never been during that time of the year, and I know that it is the busiest time, but I would go at this trip accepting the crowds and enjoying the parks in all their holiday decorations. There is no way to "go everything" and I realize that, but what are the typical park hours that week? Already got quotes from our travel agent, and though we have not yet booked, there is a strong possibility that we will.

Am I crazy to even think about this since we will probably go back next May as well?

So..... do you like Hall of Presidents and People watching? :ROFLOL:

Seriously if you plan the hell out of it, won't be that big a deal. I've been there 3 Christmases through rain, sun and relatives. Crowds are heavy but not like July 4th heavy. Its more of a sustained heavy.

Disney at Christmas is great, you just have to temper your expectations.

 

[kitten2299]

Is there anyway you could go the week before Christmas? That way you can see all the decorations but with out the huge crowds if not and you really want to go I say go for it. If you are easy going like you said and you dont have the mind set we have to do it all cause we will never be back you will have a great trip. I love going after Thanksgiving crowds are light and all the decorations are up Christmas as Disney is more magic than you can imagine!
Have a great trip!!!!! :xmas:

 

[glendroid]

word of advice!
go january 3-10 for half of your trip you'll still have all the christmas decorations AND the osborne family lights!

also the crowds are ridiuclously light. Last time i went most rides were walk on around noon minus the big e tickets which had waits no longer then 30-40 minutes But fastpass can easily fix that.

thats my advice

 

[SplashMtn.]

Hi

We went christmas of 2008 and we were told it would be HORRIBLE crowds and honestly, I found that it was no worse then going over an april vacation or something. It was bearable, and everyone should experiacne it.

 

[scottnj1966]

I've had a wild idea this morning about taking a trip down, arriving either Christmas night or early the next morning. We've never been during that time of the year, and I know that it is the busiest time, but I would go at this trip accepting the crowds and enjoying the parks in all their holiday decorations. There is no way to "go everything" and I realize that, but what are the typical park hours that week? Already got quotes from our travel agent, and though we have not yet booked, there is a strong possibility that we will.

Am I crazy to even think about this since we will probably go back next May as well?

Get there very ealry or you wont be able to get in. MK gates always shut down because its full to capacity.

It will be like the old days when Disney only had the MK and it was summer. I remember those days as a kid. Opened at 7 am and closed at 2 am.
over an hour or more wait on everything but we had so much fun because that was the way it was.

 

[David]

Is there anyway you could go the week before Christmas? That way you can see all the decorations but with out the huge crowds if not and you really want to go I say go for it. If you are easy going like you said and you dont have the mind set we have to do it all cause we will never be back you will have a great trip. I love going after Thanksgiving crowds are light and all the decorations are up Christmas as Disney is more magic than you can imagine!
Have a great trip!!!!! :xmas:

I wish we could go the week before but work and school schedules will not permit it. Looks like it will be either the week of/after or wait until next May.

When I told our son about the possibility tonight (he's 16) I was surprised that he was not as excited as I thought he would be. He thinks it will be strange being away from home the week after Christmas when all of his friends are out of school and he will be gone rather than spending time with them. Teenagers. Go figure. But I would never think of going without him. I think he'll come around to the idea.