How bad is the week between Christmas and New Year's

[erwinc64]

My son's high school marching band is planning on playing in a couple of WDW parades the week between Christmas and New Year's. I have read that this week is the absolute worst week to go. I'm trying to decide whether it would be worth the money to make a family vacation of it or just send my son with the school band.

Is it relaxing at all or will be waking up early in the morning to get to the parks,rushing from ride to ride, and waiting in lines for hours?


Thanks

 

[Bob P]

Hi,

It is far and away the busiest week of the year.

Have a look at this thread for more details:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1490464

 

[Snow Shoe]

WE were there this past Christmas 12/25/07 - 1/2/08. I've been to many July 4th's and thought I would be perpared for the crowdes. However this past Christmas was something else!! In MK it got to the point where you couldn't move outside because it was so crowded, the people couldn't move. Epcot as big as it is, had folks everywhere. The crowds thinned some what by Saturday, but really came bach with a vengince by NYE day and on.

I would recommend using EMH days/nights and getting to Fastpasses really early. We picked up one at around 11:30am for Soring and the return time was for 7:30pm! Leave the parks by 1-2:00 and head back to the resort hotel. DTD we found out was the least busy on Mondays and Tuesdays for shopping.

I can say we did Disney at Christmas, saw all of the great decorations, had a great time, but will I go back at Christmas time again, not unless I'm carried back kicking and screaming.

 

[ascardino]

...I can say we did Disney at Christmas, saw all of the great decorations, had a great time, but will I go back at Christmas time again, not unless I'm carried back kicking and screaming.

We have been to WDW many times. We have been there early in December, spring, halloween, labor day etc. We have never been there during Christmas or Easter. This year my FIL decided to book a family trip for his children and grandchildren for the holidays. We are to arrive 12/27 through 1/3. My husband and I have been put in charge of an itinerary because of our "knowledge".

First planning a trip for 17 is daunting, but reading the posts on the busiest week of the year makes me want to stay home. And I LOVE WDW.

Anyone want to give me hope?

 

[tlens]

Very very very busy. I've been twice that week (Not my choice either time) and have vowed never again.

That being said, if you are there at park opening leave at noon and go back in the evening, the crowds are manageable. Park opeing though is by far the best time to be there that week.

 

[carmie3377]

While I have never been the last week of December, I was there this year Jan 2-7. Jan. 2-5 was absolutely crazy, so bad there were places in MK & AK you couldn't move at all. There were gridlocks all over the place. CMs were stating that they were closing the parks and records were being broken. I have heard it is even busier the last week of December. Even if it was as busy there is no way I would go during that time after experiencing the first week of Jan.

 

[Happy_Mom]

How bad is the week between Christmas and New Year's

Bad.

 

[paper1225]

We went that week in 2002,but attendance was WAY down and it was amazing! Then we went that same week in 2006-and will NEVER do it again. We have been there many different times throughout the year, which includes 4th of July-but nothing compares to the crowding during the Christmas week. We were literally smooshed person to person at Magic Kingdom one day and decided to call it quits......the surprising part was we spent the rest of the day touring different resorts and they were very open. We had lunch at the Grand Floridian and it was amazing! So if you want to go, I would not go to the parks much, I would spend more $$ on your resort choice and enjoy!

 

[TDISFAMILY]

My experience was in 2003 WE went Dec 27 and checked out Dec 31. It seems from reading these boards attendance must have been low that year b/c we never ran into any problems. We got there when the park opened and did all the rides we wanted with hardly no wait. The longest wait was for TOT (35) and we got a fast pass for RNRC. every thing else was only a 10-20 min wait. It seemed like the crowds came later in the evening around 1-2 pm it got crowded but we were on our way out by then for a break until night. Also the closer it got to the 31st we did notice more crowds and heard some people talking about MK being closed due to crowds the day after we did MK It sounds like we may have just got lucky, good luck

 

[DOOM1001]

You say it's the worst time to go,I have to disagree with that because #1 you're at Disney,#2 it's the holidays and #3 the weather is usually excellent that time of year.For me the worst time is summer with daily rain, 95 degree temps and heat indexes of 110 with big crowds although nowhere as bad as Christmas-NYE week.However don't go during Christmas-NYE week expecting to have short lines and do everything,it's impossible.Take it easy ride what you can with FP's,stay onsite and do EMH,I've always wanted to do MK during this week until like 4 in the morning,I guarantee you at 3am no way you'll have long lines.There's so many cool things during this week that it's far from the worst time of year,if you want low crowds wait till January.

 

[trcckdarby]

the only thing wonderful was the decorations and the weather, except that you had to pack and dress in layers because it is very chilly in the morning and after the sun starts to set, and very hot in the afternoon, so you end up carring everything you took off. it is very crowded and over half of the people there are foreign so the traffic flow does not go very well. we were also told by several emplyees that it is the most crowded time of the year, and apparently new years day is the busiest day of the year where the parks reach capacity and you sometimes have to wait till people leave to go in. usually no more than 15-20 min. we were told.

 

[trcckdarby]

oops forgot to say we went in 2005.

 

[carmie3377]

But sometimes the weather is not great. In Jan, for the first 4 days of our 6 day vacation, it was COLD! A couple of days, it didn't get out of the 30s or low 40s. Horrible wind gusts, so COOOOLD! We were absolutely miserable. I used to say when I was dripping with sweat in the summer that I would much rather it be cold. Well, now I'll have to disagree. I'll take the heat. You can always drink lots of water and cool off on a water ride. In the cold, the only thing you can do when you're already bundled up is to go back to the room, which we did on a couple of occasions. Once when I left MK, I was actually in tears, so frustrated by the extreme crowds and so cold. It was my worst day ever at WDW. I didn't think I could have such a bad day.

Anyway, yes I know that the extreme cold that Florida experienced that week was very strange. That it almost never gets that cold. And I also have to admit that the weather the last 2 days were the extreme opposite, from absolutely miserable to absolutely beautiful. My expectations were for the beautiful weather and I was totally let down. All I had heard and read and is how nice the weather. Just be prepared that the weather is not always great in late Dec/early January.