Spending Christmas at Magic Kingdom...

[Tigger19]

Hello, I don't know if this is in the correct thread or not but this Christmas my family and I are spending Christmas in Orlando and we will be going to Magic Kingdom on Christmas Day. This is our first time doing this but we have been to Disney World during all the other seasons.

Anyway, is there any thing we need to know/get before we go? We're planning on booking reservations for dinner but where would be the best place to go. I was thinking about Liberty Tree Tavern? Has anyone been there for Christmas dinner before?
Any other tips or hints and advice about Christmas at Magic Kingdom are welcome too! Thanks in advance

 

[Master Yoda]

Just to forewarn you, Christmas is one of the busiest days of the year. Park closings due to capacity are quite common. If you are only there for the day and have only a one day ticket, you will not be able to get in at a phase 1 closing, which is all but guaranteed to happen. If you go, you will want to get there before opening and plan on dealing with very, very large crowds. You will also need to make your dining reservations ASAP as you are already past 180 days out. It is quite possible that every TS restaurant in MK is already booked solid for Christmas. This dining reservation will grant you entry into the park all the way through a phase 3 closure.

EDIT: I did a quick check and CRT,BoG, LTT and Diamond Horseshoe have near zero availability. CP, the Plaza and Tony's have very limited availability showing for a party of 4. If you have 2 a few options might open up, if you have more than 4, the pickings will get even slimmer.

 

[sgtmgd]

Just to forewarn you, Christmas is one of the busiest days of the year. Park closings due to capacity are quite common. If you are only there for the day and have only a one day ticket, you will not be able to get in at a phase 1 closing, which is all but guaranteed to happen. If you go, you will want to get there before opening and plan on dealing with very, very large crowds. You will also need to make your dining reservations ASAP as you are already past 180 days out. It is quite possible that every TS restaurant in MK is already booked solid for Christmas. This dining reservation will grant you entry into the park all the way through a phase 3 closure.

EDIT: I did a quick check and CRT,BoG, LTT and Diamond Horseshoe have near zero availability. CP, the Plaza and Tony's have very limited availability showing for a party of 4. If you have 2 a few options might open up, if you have more than 4, the pickings will get even slimmer.

Well Said Master Yoda and kudos for taking the time to check on Ressies

 

[mbisenius]

My family of 7 spent Christmas Day at the Magic Kingdom last year. We were at the park by 7:30-8 AM and were able to walk on to almost all Fantasyland rides until about 10 which was fantastic with two little girls (7 and 5). We had dinner reservations at Liberty Tree and loved it - I think we went with a later dinner around 8. Since we were staying for over a week, we decided to avoid parades and fireworks for that day because the crowds were heavy.

 

[Tigger19]

Thanks so much for replying everyone and thanks master yoda for looking up extra details for me!
I'm currently booking Christmas dinner at The Crystal Palace, the only time they can give us is 3:35 but we don't really mind! We realise that we have to be at the park super early to get in so what about breakfast? What time does the park open at also because we want to be there when it does!?
Thanks everyone

 

[Master Yoda]

Thanks so much for replying everyone and thanks master yoda for looking up extra details for me!
I'm currently booking Christmas dinner at The Crystal Palace, the only time they can give us is 3:35 but we don't really mind! We realise that we have to be at the park super early to get in so what about breakfast? What time does the park open at also because we want to be there when it does!?
Thanks everyone

The current calendar has the opening at 9:00 AM for regular guests and 8:00 AM for Disney resort guests.

 

[Lexi]

My boyfriend and I spent Christmas Day (and New Years) at Disney two years ago (2011 leading into 2012) and we had a great time but that was only because we prepared ourselves for how insane the park was going to be. We went straight to Magic Kingdom after we landed and checked into the hotel, so around 11 am, and it was mobbed. We actually took a break from the parks and headed back to the hotel for a bit but went back since we made dinner reservations 180 days out at Tony's. As long as you know what you are in for you will be fine, I will never visit on those exact days again but it was seriously the best disney trip of my life! HAVE FUN!!

Here is my boyfriends trip reporter from 12/25/2011 - 1/3/2013 if you're interested in looking at some pictures to see how crowded the parks really were: http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/christmas-new-years-and-a-birthday-10-days-of-magic.831899/

 

[Lord_Vader]

The parks get busier as the dates approach Christmas day and stay very busy through New Years Eve. When I say busy, I mean they Phase 2 or 3 close by 10AM many days, especially Christmas and New Years Eve, restaurants are very busy, lines are crazy long, strollers are parked everywhere, basically madness. We do love it though, go every year and will be there this year too, Liberty Tree at 4:!5 for early dinner.

Having stated the above, we always go MK for Christmas Day and always have a great time, just need to know that patience and knowledge that EVERYTHING will be very busy with long lines going in make it much more enjoyable. I cannot understate how long many of the lines can be, even seating in QS restaurants is a challenge during peak dining times. I would recommend TS for lunch and dinner if there are any open reservations to simply give you a couple windows of peace and quiet in the middle of the madness.

I highly recommend picking something very special such as BBB or PL for your children if you can, even a hair styling at the barber shop is a lot of fun and make a special day doing things other than attractions if at all possible, use FP for any rides you do as many lines get well over 2hrs. Play the new games, enjoy the castle and Tomorrowland stage shows, fireworks, parades on all the other things Disney does so well.

We always try to be at MK by 7:00, getting up around 5:00 to make sure we are there for the rope drop, and ride a few rides before the crowds get too high.

 

[taz0162]

Been to Disney at Christmas 3 times now. Christmas Day the Magic Kingdom is really packed and closed due to campacity each time that we were there. We learned that the other parks have less people. Ironically we have found that Blizzard Beach's snow covered atmosphere is a great way to spend Christmas. Plus very few even think about a water park for Christmas Day so the place is virtually yours to run. Very relaxing. Then we would book a Dinner at a resort restaurant (Ohana this past trip).

If you are sure that you still want to brave the crowds on Christmas Day make sure you take advantage of Extra Magic hours and are there when they open. With it already being past 180 days until Chrismas Day (as Master Yoda has also stated) you are going to want to jump on any restaurant you can get a reservation at. Maybe Chef Mickeys or Ohana are just a monorail away except leaving MK might not be good if Capacity hits and you cannot get back into MK until it calms down. One thing that I did notice at MK during Christmas/New Years is that the extra magic Night hours are not as bad as the mid day hours because many people get there early and head back to their resort for dinner time. (The night before New Years Eve fireworks last year was the same as the New Years Eve Fireworks) Go with a thought out plan to hit the park knowing that the lines are going to be longer with lower expectations of hitting everything that day.

 

[75disney]

When I was in college, my family spent every Christmas week at Disney. We avoided MK on Christmas Day like the plague. Actually the whole week is horrible with crowds. I still have nightmares about getting stuck on the bridge between Liberty Square and the hub. It was jam packed with people, we couldn't move at all, and someone kept jamming their stroller into the back of my legs. I wasn't claustrophobic before that, but I am now. Did you ever consider resort hopping that day instead? Many of the resorts have fab decorations, you could eat at one of the resorts (Captain's Grill at YC does a great buffet for the holiday), and avoid the crowds. Good luck!

 

[BoarderPhreak]

Good luck making reservations; exercise your 180 day deadline with prejudice. As for WDW actually ON Christmas? One word; "packed." That said, it's an absolutely magical time to be there, regardless!

 

[taz0162]

we could give suggestions for Resort or alternative location restaurants if you wish...
Either way it really is a magical time of year to be down there.

 

[Tigger19]

Thanks for replying everyone! We got the last reservation at The Crystal Palace so we were very very lucky!! Our plan is to get up early and hit the park before it opens, just to be sure we get in. Thanks for posting the pictures Lexi! It really gave us an idea of how packed the park will be

 

[jaklgreen]

When I was in college, my family spent every Christmas week at Disney. We avoided MK on Christmas Day like the plague. Actually the whole week is horrible with crowds. I still have nightmares about getting stuck on the bridge between Liberty Square and the hub. It was jam packed with people, we couldn't move at all, and someone kept jamming their stroller into the back of my legs. I wasn't claustrophobic before that, but I am now. Did you ever consider resort hopping that day instead? Many of the resorts have fab decorations, you could eat at one of the resorts (Captain's Grill at YC does a great buffet for the holiday), and avoid the crowds. Good luck!

OMG that is what I imagined it would be like and why we will never go at that time. LOL Being stuck in a wall of smelly humanity is not my idea of a fun family vacation.