Magic Kingdom now at Phase 3 closing (25 Dec, 12:10pm EST)

[zulemara]

The really interesting bit of news is how the cold weather kept people away on the day after Christmas. Yesterday, the Magic Kingdom had relatively light to moderate crowds for this time of year. As temperatures dropped at nightfall, guests left in droves. Both showing of the Main Street Electrical Parade had areas with empty gaps along the parade route. Compare that to no room on Christmas Eve and Christmas night is very strange.

yeah I was walking back from break as the 10 minute announcement was being played for MSEP in the hub...not a sole on the sidewalks. Ferryboats were running completely empty and the gold had 3 people at most as the majority took the monorail.

I swear though, if one more person asks if the boat is heated, I'm gonna /smack them. Yes, clearly by my 4 layers and shivering body, the boat is heated. Wasn't funny the first time not funny the 399th time

 

[sflman33176]

For all you that posted that anyone who would be a part of the madness inside the Magic Kingdom on Christmas Day need to know this I was there and it was a fantastic and magical experience we did all (major rides) the rides before 11 am and had no lines longer than 20 minutes except for the fact that Splash Mt. was down for a short time Disney is the place to be on Christmas Day !!!

 

[sflman33176]

sorry to all who had to experience the mess of all that.

I rode Space Mt twice on Christmas Day during the extra Magic hours and waited less than 10 minutes each time !!!

 

[Jrn14]

For all you that posted that anyone who would be a part of the madness inside the Magic Kingdom on Christmas Day need to know this I was there and it was a fantastic and magical experience we did all (major rides) the rides before 11 am and had no lines longer than 20 minutes except for the fact that Splash Mt. was down for a short time Disney is the place to be on Christmas Day !!!

For some. not for all.. I'd much rather be at home sitting around the tree with the fam tinkering with newly received gifts and giving out ones bought for others, stuffing my face with ham and cookies and watch A Christmas Story on tv. That's Christmas....

I think going to WDW on Christmas you run double risk... not only because of the high intesity crowds do you have the risk of your disney vacation being less then stellar you also run the risk of your Christmas being unpleasant.

Different Strokes.

 

[PixyDust]

We used to wake up on Christmas morning at the Contemporary when I was younger. That was in the late 70s-early 80s. It was not a big deal back then, and really I don't remember crowds at all.

Me and the kiddos leave out of here at 4 am in the morning for WDW. It will be our second New Year's there. Yes, its unbelievably crowded. And no, you can't do everything in the 5 days we will be there. But its a magical time. And its the only time we can go this year. (That last statement is the main reason for picking this week.)

We make a list of the things we absolutely must do, what we'd really like to do, and the things we will do if we have time. ADRs made months ago, and even the dessert party tomorrow night.

When you go this time of year, its more about enjoying the decor, eating, shopping, and getting in those must-do rides. For us at least.
:xmas:

 

[elisatonks]

I swear though, if one more person asks if the boat is heated, I'm gonna /smack them. Yes, clearly by my 4 layers and shivering body, the boat is heated. Wasn't funny the first time not funny the 399th time

I know exactly how you feel, i kept getting asked this in the parking lot as well in regards to the trams.

 

[miles1]

The really interesting bit of news is how the cold weather kept people away on the day after Christmas. Yesterday, the Magic Kingdom had relatively light to moderate crowds for this time of year. As temperatures dropped at nightfall, guests left in droves. Both showing of the Main Street Electrical Parade had areas with empty gaps along the parade route. Compare that to no room on Christmas Eve and Christmas night is very strange.

I wonder if the east coast blizzard had something to do with this? Perhaps a lot of people that planned to fly into Orlando couldn't get there, leaving the resorts less full?

 

[jac07024]

We went to DHS at around 1030 christmas morning. TSMM has a posted wait time of 70 minutes, it was only about 20. We then made our way over to RRC and it was only about 30 minutes. This was our first time going at Christmas time after having gone in the summer around 30 times. We got there the 23rd and left today. The lines really weren't unmanageable at all. Today was the worst day for lines we had (we were at Epcot). Everything had a wait by 10, nemo was 30 minutes, sse was 30 minutes, tt was 90 minutes and soarin was 120 minutes. The cold weather was brutal though.

 

[SwooshOU]

April 7 2009 I think was the last.
You can view all the phase closing history for recent years at
http://www.wdwmagic.com/Attractions/Magic-Kingdom/News.htm

I was there that day. It was my birthday. Didn't realize it was a phase four closing till after the fact. I knew it was busy, but just didn't realize it was THAT busy.

Of course, as a school teacher at the time, I would always come to Disney on school breaks. Which is, of course, all the busiest times of year to go. So, I guess I was expecting it and, of course, still had a blast!