Never been to Disney, going during a peak time

amanda11

amanda11

New Member
Okay, my family and I are going to Disney from December 27th-January 2nd. 4 adults, 2 teenagers. We couldn't decide on a better date that worked for all of us, unfortunately. We've mentally prepared ourselves for the crowds, but what would you say to a first-time family? I would love any advice!
 
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JasonDeyoung

JasonDeyoung

Well-Known Member
amanda11 said:
Okay, my family and I are going to Disney from December 27th-January 2nd. 4 adults, 2 teenagers. We couldn't decide on a better date that worked for all of us, unfortunately. We've mentally prepared ourselves for the crowds, but what would you say to a first-time family? I would love any advice!
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Best of luck to you lol

New Year's Eve is god awful at the parks. If you go to one nye be there at park open and don't plan on leaving, if you do don't plan on getting back in. Lines will be very long. Mentally prepare yourself for the worst crowd/line wise. Look at crowd calendars and park hours, avoid the parks that are the most "busy" and you might be ok. I'd avoid mk the days of the Xmas party. If you're using the bus system give your self a lot of time to get around. Weather wise it's pretty hit n miss here those months. This year that week time frame was freezing. Like high of 40's maybe 50's and the lows were in the 20-30's it was colddddd. Normally it's pretty nice during the day, when sun goes down it will be chilly. You'll be at Disney so just try to have a great time, don't expect to see everything, especially that time of year. Check out all the Xmas decorations at the parks AND resorts. Know the park hours for each day. Get your fast passes set up at the 60 day mark if you're staying on property. Make them for the 3 rides you want the most since lines will probably be very long, very long. Try your best to have fun and not get overwhelmed and have a freak out :)
 
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amanda11

amanda11

New Member
Original Poster
Haha. I appreciate the fair warning about crowds, but I'm from New York and I've been to cities all over the world on NYE. I imagine it's probably like Times Square, yeah? I'm not claustrophobic, so I think I'll be able to navigate quite well, even in a large crowd. We'll see! Hahaha.
 
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M

MissingDisney

Well-Known Member
Make sure you have dining reservations. Lines for counter service locations can be very long. It's nice to know you have at least somewhere set aside waiting for you. :)
 
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Disnee4Me

Disnee4Me

Well-Known Member
amanda11 said:
Haha. I appreciate the fair warning about crowds, but I'm from New York and I've been to cities all over the world on NYE. I imagine it's probably like Times Square, yeah? I'm not claustrophobic, so I think I'll be able to navigate quite well, even in a large crowd. We'll see! Hahaha.
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Yep EPCOT reminded me of Times Square on NYE. We got there late, around 11 a.m. and didn't get on one single ride all day, but the shows some of the countries is amazing!!
 
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HouCuseChickie

HouCuseChickie

Well-Known Member
Obviously, it's not the ideal time to go from a crowd perspective, but there are things you can do to make it a fun trip.

The #1 thing...Properly Manage Your Expectations- we all want a magical trip, and while there's no way to do it all in 1 trip...you're going to be doing a lot less just due to crowds.

#2...make sure you're booking your ADRs at 180 as soon as the website flips. Since crowds will be heavy, having table service meals should spare you some of the chaos you'll get with the throngs of people lining up at the quick service spots. It will also afford you some break time from the crowds. If you're staying onsite...make good use of 180+10 booking.

#3...make your FP reservations right at the 60 day mark if you're staying onsite and 30 days if offsite. If offsite, be prepared for popular FPs to be limited. Before you book...devise a touring plan and a backup plan all hinging on the FPs you're booking.

#4...plan to get to the parks (especially MK and EP) before they open. If you're offsite, make sure you get there super early because I've heard the traffic jams can be maddening + offsite guests run a far greater risk of being shut out of certain parks due to capacity crowds.

#5...have fun- SERIOUSLY! Plenty of people on here go to WDW at this time of year and have amazing trips. They've planned properly, managed expectations accordingly, and often "stop to smell the roses" when the lines are too long. Maybe that's shopping, checking out details, riding the monorail or boats, grabbing a fun snack and people watching, or meet and greets with less popular characters. Either way, it's your trip and it can be great if you're positive about it.

If it makes you feel any better, we're hitting Disneyland around the same time. I know we'll be fighting capacity crowds, but it was the only time we could make this trip work...so we're going to try and do as much as possible, enjoy the little things, and just enjoy it for what it is and what we make of it :)
 
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HouCuseChickie

HouCuseChickie

Well-Known Member
I think they might understand if you can give them visuals.

This video shows the massive pack of vehicles trying to get to MK on Christmas Day...


This is Christmas Day in MK 2014...doesn't look bad in the beginning, but as you get to minute 7 around 10am...you can really see it getting crazy...


This is NYE a Epcot in 2014...
 
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amanda11

amanda11

New Member
Original Poster
As a city person, that doesn't look too bad to me. Haha. Just another day in New York City. I was expecting a lot worse. Also the Epcot video - most notably during the music portion of it - reminds me of a hot, sweaty dance club that I'd probably be at on NYE anyways, since I'm only 25. I can see my family dancing wildly in our spots (don't worry, we're not troublemakers), listening to the live music. It's all about perspective right? Looks sort of fun to me! Haha. I'm also staying on property, so I do have the benefit of extra park hours too. Plus my family is full of early risers, so hopefully we can get on one of the first buses from where we're staying (POFQ for the record). Who knows though? I'm not too stressed, I just feel like I have to take control and plan properly, and things will go how they go. We're a pretty laid-back group.
 
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ShareBDwithMickey

ShareBDwithMickey

Active Member
We were in Disney for the Christmas of 99/00 when the millenium celebrations were on & it was crazy busy, (done another two since) but I still remember this trip above all others as magical. We did Christmas day at MK & saw the new year in at Epcot.

For Christmas day & New Years eve, after booking your meals, go table service you'll be glad of the chance to get a seat some where comfortable for a while, & your fast passes accept that you won't do much else in the way of rides decide where you want to watch the parades &/or fireworks & get there early, plan your meal times accordingly, pick a spot fairly near some restrooms, you'll really appreciate it!

A further few suggestions take some warm clothes, hire a locker & retrieve them later no need to lug them around all day, when it cools in the evening, even a rug to sit on or put round your shoulders as you watch the fireworks is an idea. Before you go, find out where there is likely to be a quiet spot & take a time out at some point during the day, you'll find it sets you up for the rest of the day. Wear comfy shoes & expect your feet to swell over the course of what will be long days.

The grass area behind planet cool or at the back of the living seas work for Epcot, Tom Sawyers island is good in MK. We took at least an hour to just chill at around 3pm & felt so much better.

If you can stay on site it will make transport so much easier, but even then it will be nuts when you leave the park.

Pack a sense of humour & remember you will encounter both the best & worst of people so try not to bite! Put a few snacks in your pack & make sure to drink plenty & you will be better prepared than most.

Finally enjoys the sights & sounds on offer as both days are a visual & audiatory feast. Oh & a final note things calm down considerably after New Years eve.
 
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DisneyDreamer08

DisneyDreamer08

Well-Known Member
My cousin was in Disney on Christmas 2 years ago- herself, husband and 3 year old. They got to the parks pre opening, stayed til one or two, then went back to the hotel to swim and relax. They had a wonderful time and said the morning crowds were manageable. They never attempted to go back at night, mainly because they had a little one but also because they knew the crowds would be worse.
Have fun!
 
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Kit83

Kit83

Active Member
amanda11 said:
Ahh thanks for the tips @HouCuseChickie!! Much appreciated. My family thinks I'm nuts for micromanaging everything this far ahead, but I think they'll thank me in the long run.
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They may think your nuts now but in the parks they will thank you. ADR,s and fastpass when and where to eat. Knowing when the fireworks/shows are etc all this done well will make you their heroine . On our recent visit we have never done so much yet the parks were very busy ...not new year busy of course
 
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JIMINYCR

JIMINYCR

Well-Known Member
Planning well will get you farther than most of the others who arent doing that. Everything will take longer than you expect. Bring something that will occupy your time while you wait in the various lines. Dont expect to do everything you want in a day. Have a lot of patience and be happy with what you accomplish. Expect longer waits to catch buses and other modes of transportation so plan your escapes as you near the end of the day.. It will take longer to make your way out of the parks.
 
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BigRedDad

BigRedDad

Well-Known Member
If you have been down Bourbon Street during the weekend leading up to Fat Tuesday, that will give you an idea. WDW would be about 10x as packed than Bourbon Street.
 
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jaklgreen

jaklgreen

Well-Known Member
Those crowds put my hackles up! Can you imagine if there was some kind of panic and the stampede that would happen. To think that people take little kids to such and over crowded place kind of makes me mad. I wish that Disney would have a lower maximum capacity for everyone's safety.
 
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