How crazy is it really at the end of December?

[labattblue]

Originally Posted by Robo

I'd not say, generally, by "mid" afternoon.

More like "evening."

Fair enough. Like I said, I have never been there that week, but recall many posts discussing the park closing topic.

[kjm4]

We are veterans of 10+ spring break/ Easter trips. We thought we knew crazy. We decided to go last Christmas. We were WRONG! We looked at each other after the trip and vowed, "Never again!"

[saskdw]

We are fortunate enough to have spent 3 of the last 4 Christmas at WDW. However, we go from Dec 14th-28th. We hit the parks hard the first week when the crowds aren't too bad, after that we approach everything at a leisurely pace. On the 26th-28th we only hit the parks for 2 hours with specific things we want o do and a plan how to do them. After that we spend time at the resort, DTD, mini-golf, etc. it's an extremely fun time to be there, but the crowds are crazy starting on the 26th. I actually enjoy being at WDW at this time just not in the parks. We get the best of both with our dates, park time early in the trip and relax and enjoy the Christmas spirit at he end.

Having said all that, if your dates were the only time we could go I would consider it. You just have to approach the trip with different expectations and try to enjoy some time outside the parks.

[Princess Disney Mom]

We went New Year's Day 2009 and never again. We couldn't move. Couldn't find the ends of the line. We ended up sitting upstairs at the train station to watch the parade below. Even up there we were squashed. My son about 15 set out on his own to ride space mountain and said no way could he even make it there.

[kathy884]

It's totally insane. That said though I've been this particular week five different times, so I must not have thought it was that bad as I'm a repeat visitor. Being at the parks early is really important. Those first two hours are sooo nice. I would use touring plans for the parks to help minimize wating in lines (Well worth $10 or so to subscribe to touringplans.com). Even worse than the parks are crowds for dining and driving around, around dinner time. Don't drive anywhere you don't have to. If you don't have advanced dinner resrvations, the only places that aren't crowded are places like Perkins that cater mostly to a breakfast crowd. // One place that is not crowded are the resorts. Everyone is at the park, so minimal crowds for swimming, tennis, things like that. It's nice to have a condo / kitchen and be able to do some of your own meals or order in and not have to deal with the dinne rtime crowds at resturants. Unless I have tickets to Cirque du Soliel, I avoid Downtown Disney this time of year -- That place is worse than the parks.

Christmas is doable for a true Disney diehard. The crowds this particular week are just way to much for my husband though and I don't think we'll be down again then.

Weather is also very unpredictable. In general it's cooler than I like. I prefef the very dependable glorious weather around spring break. One Christmas we were really lucky and had weather with highs of 78-80 (pretty unusual). I also remember a very cold Christmas week when in the evening it was down to 35 degrees in the parks around 6 p.m. I was so glad I had brought my parka along.

[Bullseye]

How are the crowds the week after new years?

[koxler]

We did basically the same dates you are looking at last year. It was very busy and the crowds were large. The only gate turn away that I heard about was magic kingdom on NYE. The mornings were generally good and late evening better. Mid day and afternoon were crazy. We generally took a break during these times so it wasn't so bad. Wait times were longer due to the crowds but we used a touring plan and didn't wait longer than 40 minutes while doing all the big rides and things everyone wanted to do. Use the fastpass and if you are prepared it should be doable. We were planning for quite some time and had ADRs for most of the week. Someone else mentioned eating and the counter service areas were very crowded and we had to wait longer than what we were used to.

Not disagreeing with the other poster because it is very busy but the experience was fun. It it works out I'd suggest giving it a try.

[Shir Kahn]

Originally Posted by kathy884

Christmas is doable for a true Disney diehard.

Weather is also very unpredictable. In general it's cooler than I like.

We're definitely Disney diehards! As for the temperature, we live in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. There is absolutely no way it will be anywhere near as cold in Florida as it will be at home at the end of December!

[Robo]

Originally Posted by Bullseye

How are the crowds the week after new years?

On many (most) years, the crowd-level drops to very low.

But, in 2012 and 2013, many school systems have/will take an extra week of Christmas Vacation and classes won't resume until the second week of January.

That means that the crowds will remain pretty high during that first week of the year. Not nearly as high as the last week of December, but still relatively heavy.

The following week (second week in Jan.) will see a drop in guest levels.
(Even the WDW Marathon will not see a major increase of guests actually in the parks.)

[deebeck]

Originally Posted by saskdw

We are fortunate enough to have spent 3 of the last 4 Christmas at WDW. However, we go from Dec 14th-28th. We hit the parks hard the first week when the crowds aren't too bad, after that we approach everything at a leisurely pace. On the 26th-28th we only hit the parks for 2 hours with specific things we want o do and a plan how to do them. After that we spend time at the resort, DTD, mini-golf, etc. it's an extremely fun time to be there, but the crowds are crazy starting on the 26th. I actually enjoy being at WDW at this time just not in the parks. We get the best of both with our dates, park time early in the trip and relax and enjoy the Christmas spirit at he end.

Having said all that, if your dates were the only time we could go I would consider it. You just have to approach the trip with different expectations and try to enjoy some time outside the parks.

It was helpful reading your explanation for week of Xmas. I have tried to find all posts on week before. We will be there 20th checking out Dec. 24th. Are the crowd levels a little less than actual Xmas week?? We will be out of there right before Xmas. We were just there Halloween week so we don't need to see everything... just our fav's in the morning. We have always pulled the kids out of school. This will be the first time we are going during high crowd levels. I just subscribed to touringplans.

If it's not swimming weather, what do most people do in afternoon (when avoiding parks?) Tour resorts??

thanks
d

[Robo]

Originally Posted by deebeck

If it's not swimming weather, what do most people do in afternoon (when avoiding parks?) Tour resorts??

That's a good plan, yes!

DTD is also viable, but it will be very busy, too,

[rock_doctor]

Sure you should be able to get a room. We always go over this time each year have done so for decades and just love Disney over this time. You will be fine, be patient and make use of the early morning magic hours. Enjoy all of the Christmas decorations. The only downside...you will be hooked and will have to go back each year over Christmas break from this point on. Get on the phone asap, make the reservations for where ever you can and then wait list for your dream resort... Go and Enjoy Yourself!

[roost0524]

We went the same dates last year (12/29-1/3) and I read a lot of threads like this one when we were getting ready for the trip. I did not experience the horror that a lot of people talk about, but thats probably also becuase we knew what we were getting into. It is the absolute busiest time of the year and at some points you cannot see the ground anywhere around you. That said,becuase we used touring plans, fast pass, and got to the parks early we went on everything we wanted to and did not wait more than 30 minutes for anything. The atmosphere is priceless too... walking down the boardwalk on NYE was something my kids will never forget.

[ZehnJahren]

If I had to drive that distance, you couldn't pay me to go to WDW on Christmas break.

I know some say "any day at WDW is a better than not being at WDW" but that is simply NOT TRUE for me.

I don't mind it busy, but not Christmas / Spring Break busy. That is not fun at all, and to me (a big fan) it's a waste of money. I don't care if you've been 100 times, being jammed into a crowd all day, every day is not a good time.

But hey, you asked for opinions. I'd say put that bonus back and go at a better time of year.

[Friendly Frog]

How is it the week before Christmas? ( 16th till...) Is it worse than early March?