Advice Needed - Brave Disney at Christmas (2014) or Put on My Patient Pants and Wait!

[erineab]

In the past 7ish years, I have become somewhat obsessed with Disney vacations. As a teacher, I am very limited with the times I am able to travel and we always go during spring break in March. For March 2015 however, my family is going on a reunion cruise (Royal Caribbean). This has left me borderline desperate to find another time to get my Disney fix!

Logic is telling me just to be patient and aim for a late August 2015 trip. My Disney side though is screaming at me to bite the bullet, brave the crowds and go at Christmas.

Just hoping to get advice from the experts. Should I try to be patient and wait another 15 MONTHS!!?? Or should I book an extremely busy and crowded Christmas trip?

 

[freediverdude]

If it were up to me, I would go to Disney summer 2014 (in the next few months), then do the cruise spring break 2015, then go back to Disney August 2015!

 

[pad406]

In the past 7ish years, I have become somewhat obsessed with Disney vacations. As a teacher, I am very limited with the times I am able to travel and we always go during spring break in March. For March 2015 however, my family is going on a reunion cruise (Royal Caribbean). This has left me borderline desperate to find another time to get my Disney fix!

Logic is telling me just to be patient and aim for a late August 2015 trip. My Disney side though is screaming at me to bite the bullet, brave the crowds and go at Christmas.

Just hoping to get advice from the experts. Should I try to be patient and wait another 15 MONTHS!!?? Or should I book an extremely busy and crowded Christmas trip?

We did our first trip at Christmas and are going again this year. Yes the crowds are huge but we still had a great time. We do tend to go for long vacations so we don't have to squeeze everything in, but by the sound of it you've been a good few times so you know what you want to do and see.

The parks and resorts are beautiful at that time and the atmosphere is great. If you can handle the spring break crowds I'm sure you can handle the Christmas crowds

You'll probably get a 1,000,000 people saying how horribly crowded it is and they hated it, but we had a great time. If, however, your vacation is all about getting the maximum no of rides done, probably not a great idea.

 

[ferd]

The week before Christmas, and even Christmas Eve, is a magical and fun time to visit. I would recommend it simply for the atmosphere around the parks at that time of year. The week between Christmas and New Years is an absolute mob scene and I would avoid it like the plague.

 

[mmafan]

Chistmas...Christmas.....Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MlWinans]

I've been the week between Christmas and New Years (widely considered the busiest week of the year) 3 times and loved it each time.

The increase in the crowd is crazy but the spirit that Disney creates all around WDW for Christmas is incredible!!

I would highly recommend going at Christmas. Get the experience of be there during that magical time in the parks. Just set you expectations right; don't expect to just walk onto rides, expect to utilize Fastpass + to make the best out of your days, make all dinning reservations months in advance, and expect the nighttime shows to be crazy (I highly recommend going to the parks that only resort guests can stay at after the shows, Extra Magic Hours - So that you can stay for a hour or so and try to let the bus lines clear before heading back to your hotel).

 

[thiabelle]

I'm a teacher as well so I totally understand what you are saying. I've been to Disney two times at Christmas and I am returning for a third time this year. The PP's are correct- expectations are key. Mine were so low that I was surprised by how much we accomplished. I just wanted my mom and DD to enjoy the decorations and Christmas feel. RD and FP+ are the keys. Also- I was able to go last year from 12/21-12/28. The uptick in crowds from 12/26 on was considerable. I am very blessed to work for a district that will allow me to take personal days before a holiday so we are leaving after school on 12/19 and saying bye to Mickey on 12/27 (then we are hopping over the Darkside for some WWOHP fun).

 

[Sammie]

As long as you know going in what to expect, go for it. It will be an experience that you might never have again.

 

[erineab]

Alright, we are currently booked at Caribbean Beach with free dining from December 20-27. I was very close to cancelling this after a little more research about crowds, but then I started looking into the heat factor of August. So my new question is....What is worse; the crowds of December or the heat of August??