Well, Its Busy Alright.....

[WDW1974]

We were there 12/17-12/24 (returned Christmas Eve) and were amazed how dead it was!! Noticed crowds 10:00 A.M. thru about 8:00 P.M. Sunday the 23rd, but that was about it!! Most days crowds were light! It was as cold as I can remember Thursday and Friday of last week!!

I think you mean Friday and Saturday as far as the cold. Front came thru during RoE Thursday night and rained quite a bit around midnight as well.

It was very quiet all week, but I could see it getting a bit busier every day all around O-Town ... Friday night at the WL, people were just pouring in.

 

[Dad 2 M & M]

I think you mean Friday and Saturday as far as the cold. Front came thru during RoE Thursday night and rained quite a bit around midnight as well.

It was very quiet all week, but I could see it getting a bit busier every day all around O-Town ... Friday night at the WL, people were just pouring in.

Might have been Friday and Saturday...kinda blends together after a few days...

**Edit** It was Friday/Saturday with Friday being the coldest! **End**

 

[WildcatDen]

You just have to be realistic. ... If you take the visit slow and see the entertainment and the attractions that never have waits like HoP or the amazing animal exhibits at DAK, then you can have a great time.

Believe me, that would be the plan. We are probably part of the problem many of the posters speak of. We will continue to go to Disney as long as there is a Disney. A trip over Christmas week would be one with the realistic approach of which you speak. One of my best memories from Thanksgiving Day at the MK back in 2007 was eating Ice Cream on Main Street USA while calling my mom to wish her a Happy Thanksgiving.

 

[bethymouse]

2007 was our Christmas trip to WDW. Downtown Disney was so busy, you just couldn't shop or stop to look at anything. The lines weren't too bad. You had to get a spot for the parades more than an hour before, but we used fast passes and enjoyed ourselves. I just LOVE Christmas at WDW!

 

[WDWVito]

I think you mean Friday and Saturday as far as the cold. Front came thru during RoE Thursday night and rained quite a bit around midnight as well.

It was very quiet all week, but I could see it getting a bit busier every day all around O-Town ... Friday night at the WL, people were just pouring in.

Yep, it was fri and sat. We were at MK for MVMCP and the rain started about 9:00 pm (give or take) second parade was canceled. After that, fri and sat a bit colder....

We were at wdw from dec 13 to the 23rd and while it seeming crowded, it was not that bad in the parks getting on attractions. Then again, we also would wait till night to get on the rides that had the longest wait times during the day.

 

[Matt7187]

I'm in Epcot right now, and the line for test track and soarin earlier today was 170 minutes! Nemo and living with the land had 40 minutes, and you won't believe this…
Figment had a 30 minute wait!! Insane!

 

[WDWFigment]

We were just talking about this yesterday. As odd as it sounds, we, as a family, would love to be at the "World" just once from 12/24 to 1/2 with the understanding that we are there for the experience as much or more than the attractions. Kind of like witnesses, sorta.

We did that last year for a few days around New Year's Eve and had a blast. We'd stay in the parks until 3 or 4 am, then get back up at 6 am to be in again by 7 am. Stay in the park until around 10 am when the crowds got really bad, and then went back to the room to sleep during the middle of the day when crowds were at their worst.

 

[WDWFigment]

I've actually been toying with the idea of going back up next week just to do NYE at TPFKaTD-MGMS as while I've done EPCOT and MK many times, I've never done the Studios for NYE and they're open until 3 a.m. with EMHs! I am pretty sure I won't, since I'm not fond of the crowds, but who knows?

We skipped the Studios' fireworks last year to see Fantasy in the Sky for a second time from the Top of the World Lounge (great location and no crowds!). We ended up going to the Studios after for the 3 am EMH, and it was DEAD.

If we ever do it again, I'd definitely go for the Studios fireworks. If/when the Hat comes down, I'll be there for that first NYE to photograph the fireworks down Hollywood Blvd. with Grauman's under the bursts!

 

[Rasvar]

I have gone many times for NYE. I go for that experience. I just would never recommend it for someone who has never been to WDW before. If you have been a number of times, it is a good time to see the other things WDW has to offer but still see all of the special events.

 

[Clyde Birdbrain]

I'm in Epcot right now, and the line for test track and soarin earlier today was 170 minutes!

Last year on New Year's Eve I saw the stand-by time for Test Track was 260 minutes! And people were just getting in line as if it was normal. "4 hours? Sure, no problem!" Even in the hours before midnight the lines were still very long, and I was thinking that these people must be ringing in the new year while standing in line and missing the special Illuminations show.

 

[Dad 2 M & M]

Last time we were at the World for New Years was 2006. It was so busy!! Don't think we will attempt that again. To hear that it was that busy last year ensures we will not make that our week to attend.

 

[TubaGeek]

Hold onto your pants, folks, but...
The line for Stitch's Great Escape filled the full queue, looped back to the Tomorrowland bridge, and went halfway across. You could watch Dream Along with Mickey while standing in line for Stitch.

 

[celluloid]

Pity them. Slow capacity plus mediocre show experience. Feel bad for them.

 

[monkeysammich]

My family and I are on property this week... We got to DHS early to get fast passes for TSMM, have some hot chocolate and muffins... Walked right on to Great movie ride, star tours, muppets... Ride you story and had lunch at pizza planet... Then the wave of people hit. It was insane, shoulder to shoulder everywhere. We went back to the hotel for naptime for the toddler... And then just went to downtown Disney for the night to take it easy...

I'm terrified of tomorrow in Magic Kingdom.

 

[bkgrim]

We come every Christmas break and love it. You have to understand go early and enjoy. Also thanks AJH219 for working for us over Christmas. We are at akl and spend every Christmas here. We love it. Not sure what you do here but thanks!

 

[cslafferty]

I told my DH that I would just once like to be at WDW for NYE. We were there this year from Dec.13-18, and the only time it got really crowded was Sat. night when the MK had EMH until 2AM. We got caught in a bottle-neck in the middle of Main St. just before the hub right after Wishes. Most of the people were trying to make their way out of the park, but a good number were trying to go back into the park to ride rides, and right at that spot no one could move anywhere. I could hear people telling their spouse who was pushing a stroller in front of them "Just push your way through" even tho it was clear that no one could go anywhere. At one point, I could feel myself getting squished tighter from both sides, and I felt a little wave of panic rise up inside me (and I'm not claustrophobic at all). Then all of a sudden people started moving in both directions and the traffic jam cleared. But I now have no desire to ever be there during Christmas week!

 

[bgraham34]

I know a couple that go to Disney World every year for Xmas and New Years but mostly spend their time at OKW. They just like to relax in their Villa.

 

[pmaljr]

Who's done it? This guy. If you are about the rides, you won't enjoy it. It took us 5 days to do everything in Future World at Epcot. I will never visit the week after Christmas again unless I win the lotto ...

 

[Master Yoda]

Who's done it? This guy. If you are about the rides, you won't enjoy it. It took us 5 days to do everything in Future World at Epcot. I will never visit the week after Christmas again unless I win the lotto ...

This is pretty much it in a nut shell. If you are going for the special events, the restaurants and the atmosphere you can enjoy holiday season. If you want to ride all the mountains in MK 3 times each you need to come in early February.

 

[WildcatDen]

going for the special events, the restaurants and the atmosphere you can enjoy holiday season.

That hits the nail squarely on the head. Our main goal would be to soak in all of the atmosphere and enjoy the time spent with the ones we love in a place we love. There would be no 'rush-to-ride', filling everywaking moment on the run. Just enjoying the moment.