2025 Holiday Season

[mjmarshall1510]

When is the best time to go to experience everything "Christmas." Assume no scheduling limitations on our end, but would prefer to avoid overcrowding. I know it will be crowded no matter when we would go, so this is just speaking relatively.

Any advice for where to look at the 7-month mark? We'll book our home resort soon , but if the opportunity presents itself to move, where would be some better options that might have 7-month openings?

Thanks!

 

[davidhr]

First two weeks of December. At 7 months you’ll have to take whatever is available. Can’t be picky.

 

[Judique]

When is the best time to go to experience everything "Christmas." Assume no scheduling limitations on our end, but would prefer to avoid overcrowding. I know it will be crowded no matter when we would go, so this is just speaking relatively.

Any advice for where to look at the 7-month mark? We'll book our home resort soon , but if the opportunity presents itself to move, where would be some better options that might have 7-month openings?

Thanks!

What is your home resort?

 

[Sandisw]

I always go week 2 in December and we like that one.

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

In 2022 when Christmas fell the last week of December we went the week before and it was surprisingly lovely. Definitely a little crowded but nowhere near what we face when we travel after Christmas. So I guess it’s somewhat dependent on when the holidays fall/whether or not your beholden to kids’ vaca etc.

 

[mjmarshall1510]

What is your home resort?

Animal Kindgom. It’s a tough sell for our family of 5, though. Lot of points.

Is Mickey’s Christmas Party only on certain days? If so, when will they release that schedule?

 

[maui22]

Is Mickey’s Christmas Party only on certain days? If so, when will they release that schedule?

Yes, it will only be on certain days. As the events draw near, all days typically sell out so don’t wait until you travel to decide which day/date to go. I believe there were specific dates with DVC discounts.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Week after Thanksgiving

 

[Pens Fan]

We love the week after Thanksgiving or the following week. We usually have great weather and while the crowds are building it’s not Christmas week crazy yet.

As others have mentioned the Christmas party is only on certain nights. One tip - the best time to go to MK (for a normal park day) is on a party day. The park will close at 6 PM so lots of folks avoid those days. We’ve had great success using this strategy as the park won’t get crowded until 4 PM when the party guests can enter without a normal park ticket. Wait times will be noticeably shorter. This strategy also holds true for Halloween season.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Animal Kindgom. It’s a tough sell for our family of 5, though. Lot of points.

Is Mickey’s Christmas Party only on certain days? If so, when will they release that schedule?

Depending on the room type, Animal Kingdom Lodge is going to be one of your better values with points. At 7 months, the resorts that sometimes tend to have availability are Old Key West, Saratoga, and AKL....... I totally agree that the first full week of December is your best bet to go when it's not crazy crowded, and offers the holiday decorations and shows.

 

[mjmarshall1510]

Depending on the room type, Animal Kingdom Lodge is going to be one of your better values with points. At 7 months, the resorts that sometimes tend to have availability are Old Key West, Saratoga, and AKL....... I totally agree that the first full week of December is your best bet to go when it's not crazy crowded, and offers the holiday decorations and shows.

We would have to get a 1BR at Animal Kingdom because of room capacity. We could and would get a studio at many other resorts. So that's why I say Animal Kingdom is "expensive" for us. We don't need the 1BR. Maybe I'll look into renting points if its that hard to book the 5-person studio resorts on the 7-month date. We would just be going a few days for the Christmas stuff. We have been to WDW enough to where we wouldn't go to Magic Kingdom on a non-party day. I'll look into that first week in December, thank you!

 

[Willow Ufgood]

We would have to get a 1BR at Animal Kingdom because of room capacity. We could and would get a studio at many other resorts. So that's why I say Animal Kingdom is "expensive" for us. We don't need the 1BR. Maybe I'll look into renting points if its that hard to book the 5-person studio resorts on the 7-month date. We would just be going a few days for the Christmas stuff. We have been to WDW enough to where we wouldn't go to Magic Kingdom on a non-party day. I'll look into that first week in December, thank you!

That's where you're going to run into problems. There are only a handful of resorts with 5 person studios. BCV, BWV, VBR and the original buildings at VGF and Poly. But you could also add the cabins at FW to your list of potential resorts.

The first couple of weeks in December are very popular with owners because of the Christmas decorations and the low amount of points needed to book. It was really competitive this year when it came to booking at 11 months. I know this because we own at BWV but have a December UY and couldn't even walk a reservation into the first week of December. I strongly recommend booking your home resort at 11 months when the time comes and then stalk at 7 months for anything available at the other resorts.

 

[The Jackal]

That's where you're going to run into problems. There are only a handful of resorts with 5 person studios. BCV, BWV, VBR and the original buildings at VGF and Poly. But you could also add the cabins at FW to your list of potential resorts.

The first couple of weeks in December are very popular with owners because of the Christmas decorations and the low amount of points needed to book. It was really competitive this year when it came to booking at 11 months. I know this because we own at BWV but have a December UY and couldn't even walk a reservation into the first week of December. I strongly recommend booking your home resort at 11 months when the time comes and then stalk at 7 months for anything available at the other resorts.

The studios that sleep 5 at WDW are BWV, BCV, BRV, RIV, PVB original studios not the tower and both buildings at VGF. Studios at RIV, PVB and VGF approach 1 bedroom point though. BWV, BCV and BRV at that time of year are near impossible st get at 7 months for studios. I’ve seen even OKW gone before 7 months sometimes the first 2 weeks in December.