A couple questions about going around Christmas.

[Cj2017]

A bunch of family about 15 of us are flying to Florida to visit my brother for Christmas this year. The plan was to be at his house from Christmas eve till new years. Last night the idea was brought up to get to Florida early so that we can take the kids to Disney from the 19th - 24th and than drive over to my brothers. With the exception of me and my two kids everyone else would be first timers so naturally I took charge of planning everything.

Hotel: 2 - 2 bedroom villas at Animal Kingdom lodge
Dec 19 - Saturday - Park 1
Dec 20 - Sunday - Park 2
Dec 21 - Monday - Rest
Dec 22 - Tuesday - Park 3
Dec 23 - Wednesday- Park 4
Dec 24 - check out head to brothers (vero beach)

I know its crazy busy at Disney around Christmas, but is that more for Christmas eve on? How is Disney usually the week before?

If I stick to getting fast passes/dinner reservations right when they open up at the 60/180 day window how hard is to get passes and reservations for big groups? (really interested in Ohana (breakfast and dinner), Chef mickey, & Wilderness lodge cafe.

We are thinking about Micky's Christmas, when do tickets typically go on sale for this party?

My strategy will be get to rope drop every morning and go back to hotel midday. Should I be worried about the parks being closed due to capacity and not being able to get back in if we leave?

I feel like this being the first time for a lot of people going I made a mistake of agreeing on Christmas. I'm debating on telling everyone to pick a week in October and do it then so we can not worry about crowds. I just know that most of the push back is going to be "we are already buying tickets to go out there we might as well kill 2 birds with one stone."

 

[upbeatred]

I think you will have a great time and you are starting really early so you should be able to get good fast passes and reservations. Disney at Christmas is crowded, but the decorations are truly magical and it will be so much fun for the first timers to see the parks in all their holiday splendor. I've been lots in October and went between Christmas and New Year's this year, and really the parks are always really crowded now. So you just have to deal with the crowds not matter the time of year. You will probably have better weather in December as it can still be really hot in October. The Animal Kingdom Lodge is amazing. Go for it you will have a great time. I think most of the Christmas parties are over by then. If you get right on it dinner reservations are usually available. I'm not a big Ohana fan, and you might consider Boma or Sanaa as they are both at your resort and excellent restaurants.

 

[Robo]

1. If I stick to getting fast passes/dinner reservations right when they open up at the 60/180 day window how hard is to get passes and reservations for big groups? (really interested in Ohana (breakfast and dinner), Chef mickey, & Wilderness lodge cafe.

2. We are thinking about Micky's Christmas, when do tickets typically go on sale for this party?

My strategy will be get to rope drop every morning and go back to hotel midday.
3. Should I be worried about the parks being closed due to capacity and not being able to get back in if we leave?

4. I feel like this being the first time for a lot of people going I made a mistake of agreeing on Christmas. I'm debating on telling everyone to pick a week in October and do it then so we can not worry about crowds. I just know that most of the push back is going to be "we are already buying tickets to go out there we might as well kill 2 birds with one stone."

1. Booking dining will be easier than the "top" FPs.
2. June/July
3. No.
4. Oct. will be "easier," yes.

I don't usually equate a WDW trip with killing birds.

 

[SillySallySews]

MVMCP tickets will probably go on sale this summer. I’m sure someone here will start at 2020 party thread before they even go on sale so be sure to look out for that. I might be in the minority, but I don’t think it matters how much you do or how crowded it is on your first trip because you have nothing to compare it to. It’s not like you know half of what you’re missing. The very first time we went to Disney as a family it was the middle of July, CROWDS EVERYWHERE, we were sweating buckets the entire time, everything was a long wait, we had no FP because they didn’t exist, and I think we had maybe three ADRs for the whole week we were there. It was still a fantastic trip! If I could go back and do it again I wouldn’t change a thing. Since you are the only one who has been before, you’ll probably be the only person stressed out about any of that. Just be persistent when it comes to making your ADRs and FP for the things you really want, and try to stay flexible. We’ve had great luck getting last-minute openings for a larger group. And I wouldn’t sweat not being able to get into the park the week before Christmas due to capacity issues. I think for at least a few years they’ve only gotten to a phase 1 closure at MK on NYE? Even then the park opened back up after a few hours. Just keep your expectations realistic and have fun!

 

[Cj2017]

MVMCP tickets will probably go on sale this summer. I’m sure someone here will start at 2020 party thread before they even go on sale so be sure to look out for that. I might be in the minority, but I don’t think it matters how much you do or how crowded it is on your first trip because you have nothing to compare it to. It’s not like you know half of what you’re missing. The very first time we went to Disney as a family it was the middle of July, CROWDS EVERYWHERE, we were sweating buckets the entire time, everything was a long wait, we had no FP because they didn’t exist, and I think we had maybe three ADRs for the whole week we were there. It was still a fantastic trip! If I could go back and do it again I wouldn’t change a thing. Since you are the only one who has been before, you’ll probably be the only person stressed out about any of that. Just be persistent when it comes to making your ADRs and FP for the things you really want, and try to stay flexible. We’ve had great luck getting last-minute openings for a larger group. And I wouldn’t sweat not being able to get into the park the week before Christmas due to capacity issues. I think for at least a few years they’ve only gotten to a phase 1 closure at MK on NYE? Even then the park opened back up after a few hours. Just keep your expectations realistic and have fun!

That is a great way of looking at it! This helped a lot thank you so much

 

[SleeplessInTO]

We went October 1-7 and December 16-24 in 2019. Overall preferred December. Better weather (I prefer cold to hot!) and the crowds weren’t too crazy in December. Definitely didn’t feel like (or actually experience) anything close to the parks hitting capacity. And the decor at the parks and resorts is better for Christmas compared to Halloween imho
All this to say, I wouldn’t worry too much about going the week before Christmas.

Hope you have an awesome trip with your family!!

 

[epcotty]

in our experience although it is really busy on those dates, I don't believe it's as bad as after Christmas (we haven't tried the week after Christmas though). But we've gone on those dates, even the 24th. It's doable

 

[DisLiss]

Looking at the calendar for 2020, Christmas is a Friday, so Christmas Eve is Thursday. A lot of schools will have a half day or less on Wednesday. There's only 2-3 days of school that week, then, and they likely won't be doing anything new or monumental that day. To me, that indicates a good week for people to take kids out of school. Plus, people may have the 24th & 25th off work, meaning they can get a week's vacation in and only need to take 3 days off.

So I think with the way the holiday falls it may be more enticing to people to go the week leading up to Christmas. Especially if it means they can head home on the 26th or 27th and still enjoy that holiday weekend with family at home. Kind of the best of both worlds. You get your holiday vacation at Disney, but you still have a day or when extended family might be home from work and able to celebrate with you.

But even if a whole lot of people notice this and decide to go with that idea, I still think it won't get as busy as the week between Christmas & New Years.

 

[Cj2017]

Looking at the calendar for 2020, Christmas is a Friday, so Christmas Eve is Thursday. A lot of schools will have a half day or less on Wednesday. There's only 2-3 days of school that week, then, and they likely won't be doing anything new or monumental that day. To me, that indicates a good week for people to take kids out of school. Plus, people may have the 24th & 25th off work, meaning they can get a week's vacation in and only need to take 3 days off.

So I think with the way the holiday falls it may be more enticing to people to go the week leading up to Christmas. Especially if it means they can head home on the 26th or 27th and still enjoy that holiday weekend with family at home. Kind of the best of both worlds. You get your holiday vacation at Disney, but you still have a day or when extended family might be home from work and able to celebrate with you.

But even if a whole lot of people notice this and decide to go with that idea, I still think it won't get as busy as the week between Christmas & New Years.

I agree the time frame makes it more enticing. I also think schools are out sooner. Most of the teens in my group going have finals on the 18th which is also their last day of school.

 

[cgattis]

You obviously know your party better than I do, but I’d say make sure they are all bought in to the idea of what time rope drop really means! Because I do agree that’s your best hope. Or have everyone’s FP made with the understanding that it’s every man for himself if they aren’t in the lobby/at the bus stop/whatever by your designated meeting time (ok, maybe plus 5 minutes, then ditch them!! LOL). I think it will basically get more crowded every day, so try to do your must-do’s earlier in the trip.

Also, as others have said, you’ll get the Christmas vibe, but no storytellers until Blsck Friday and no party until the Sunday or Monday after Thanksgiving. Still a fantastic time of year to go and magical to have extended family to spend the holiday with . Have a great trip!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

We are thinking about Micky's Christmas, when do tickets typically go on sale for this party?

Exact dates have varied over the years, but the last few year trend for when MVMCP tickets have gone on sale:

2019 - 4/8/19
2018 - 3/19/18
2017 - 5/10/17 (they released dates that year in April but tickets weren’t on sale at the same time)

 

[Nvrgrowup]

We my dh me and ds did Christmas this year for the first time in 11 years. Dec 18th -26th. I was worried about the crowds too. We prioritized what top tier fp's we wanted. Got just about all. Got the adrs. You may want to think about dividing your group in to 2 groups for adrs. We did the MVMCP and a Disney after Dark at Animal Kingdom. For us it worth it. We even got up at 5am 2 mornings for RotR at HS. We didnt feel the crowds were awful . Christmas day was very crowded at MK but we had fps and headed out of park for Christmas dinner. Have fun planning. You can do it.

 

[MulanMom]

We are also planning a trip to the World during the same time and will have 2 members in our party (our kids' SOs) who are Disney first timers. We've been to WDW for Christmas before about 3 times. Previous Xmas trips have been from a few days before Christmas through to New Year's. Although the entire time is busy, I actually prefer the time before Christmas through Christmas day. The day after, the crowds, at least in my perspective, seem to get heavier.

It's a great time of year to go...wonderful decorations, parks are usually running fully. And even with the heavy crowds, other hotel and park guests seem nicer, too. I think everyone recognizes it's busy and they've packed their patience!

As for dining reservations, a few of my Xmas trips were initiated between 2-4 months before the holiday. While it made getting dining reservations at popular places more of a challenge, it was still possible. Beginning 6+ months out, you shouldn't have a problem getting what you want.

Enjoy your planning!

 

[Cj2017]

Is it possible to buy something like 7 say tickets, but have a gap in time when they are used?

We are thinking something like this

Hotel: 2 - 2 bedroom villas at Animal Kingdom lodge
Dec 19 - Saturday - Park 1
Dec 20 - Sunday - Park 2
Dec 21 - Monday - Rest
Dec 22 - Tuesday - Park 3
Dec 23 - Wednesday- Park 4
Dec 24 - check out of Animal Kingdom Lodge head to brothers (vero beach)
Dec 24 - @Brother house
Dec 25 - @Brother house
Dec 26 @Brother house
Dec 27 - Drive down to Disney to use another ticket
Dec 28 - Drive down to Disney to use another ticket

Would we be able to book FP for rides when we book for the original dates? Or would it be considered seperate?

Thanks,

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

We just went for a few days after Christmas before our recent cruise. We toured all of the parks on December 26th, 27th & 28th. Two years ago we visited AKL on December 26th after a cruise. In both trips, Christmas week was nothing like the horror stories I've read about online, of shoulder to shoulder crowds everywhere. Yes, there were plenty of people, long standby lines, and having ADRs was important, but it never felt insane at all. Plenty of room to move around. In fact, we enjoyed it so much that we've booked a return trip for December 19th - 23rd next year. October is now also a very busy month at WDW, so I wouldn't expect that to be a whole lot better.