Am I crazy about going to WDW at Christmas?

[Rustysmom]

i just came back from Disney and a cruise on the Dream, but it was not a good week. My daughter fell in the bathroom of our room at Wilderness Lodge while she was getting out of her bathing suit. The paramedics came and she had to go to the ER, where they said she dislocated her knee. She spent the rest of our time there with a stabilizer on her leg, with crutches and a wheelchair. She was so disappointed that she couldn't go on rides she was looking forward to for 6 months, like FOP. So, I decided we need a do-over and the only time the kids have the same time off is Christmas week. Nothing official yet, because I didn't even ask my job for the time off, but I'm starting to plan.

Is it really, really horrible that week? I'm kind of scared when I read about how crowded it gets. We will be staying on site. Is the transportation a nightmare?

 

[DisneyWishes14]

You will get a variety of answers here as different people have different tolerance levels for crowds. We went Christmas week in 2015 and it was really crowded. I mean, really, really, really, really crowded. That being said, we had fun. But we certainly didn't do as much park touring as we would do at any other time of year.

Where are you staying? That can make a big difference. Yes, traffic is unbelievably congested. We stayed at BWI and it saved our trip as we simply walked to EP and DHS and didn't have to rely on anything but our own feet. MK is really the most crowded park, but, if you go at RD and get out around lunchtime, it's doable. We also found alternative things to do - we did Wild Africa Trek, HDDR and a sleigh ride, a monorail tour, etc. - things that were fun, but weren't park-centric. I think if you focus on your "must-do's" in each park and find some non-park alternatives, it's ok. Other tips - if you want to see fireworks or any evening shows, dining packages and dessert parties are your friend that week!

I would say, too, if there is any time in 2019 you could go instead, you may want to consider changing your dates. Any other week will be less crowded than Christmas week.

 

[tink2]

We've been several different times of the year~ including Christmas week a few times. Christmas week is by far, no holds barred, THE busiest week of the year. That being said~ it is also so magical and can be wonderful with correct planning. It is the most tiring week to go to me because the parks open daily at 7am~ it's still dark when you leave the resort~ but it is soooo important to get there for park opening because for the first couple of hours~ you can literally walk on rides with no to little wait. By 10am~ it starts becoming the zoo and you can expect phase closings to begin by lunch. We don't leave the parks and stay until fireworks most nights~ with the exception of one or two early nights because we are so exhausted.
Crowds aside~ those are some of my favorite trips and I honestly wouldn't hesitate to go Christmas week again. You have to set your expectations, be ready to be flexible, and really plan well and you can have a very magical trip. The Christmas decorations are beautiful and they run the Christmas parade at Magic Kingdom twice during the day that week~ it is a must see!

 

[Mome Rath]

Is it really, really horrible that week? I'm kind of scared when I read about how crowded it gets. We will be staying on site. Is the transportation a nightmare?

Your poor girl! Hope she's doing well now!

It's really crowded, but if you have Disney experience you can handle it with planning. It's one of the few times I would recommend Deluxe (or a strategic mod or value) solely for the sake of proximity to the parks. The more ways of getting to and from your hotel the better. I think going on holidays is really memorable you just have to adjust your expectations for what all you can get done, but use your FP's and plan and I think you'd have fun, and would definitely have memories!

 

[Rustysmom]

I am trying to possibly get a room at Wilderness Lodge because I hear it's beautiful at Christmas. The other possibility is Beach Club, but it's much more expensive. I already booked a room at Pop just in case I can't get anything else, but it's probably very crowded then.

 

[Disneylover99]

It's not horrible at Christmas to us. We love it, but if you're looking for a do over so your daughter can focus on rides, then Christmas might not be the right time for that. We find buses excellent over Christmas week, but I'd avoid driving to the parks.

 

[Rustysmom]

I don't drive so it will all be Disney transportation, or our feet lol. I want to go for 7 days so that she has the best chance to go on rides she missed, plus we can go to Disney Springs and just enjoy the resort. We were only at WDW for 4 days this past trip and with most of a day spent at the ER, it wasn't enough to do anything.

 

[danielocha30]

can you try Thanksgiving week? it will be less crowded, Christmas decorations will be up and you can book a Christmas party. I won’t go on THE busiest week when the point is to make up for the rides she could go, the shorter line will be like 60 min and that’s for Winnie the Pooh, all trill rides will be double than that.

 

[jvz82]

We've gone over Christmas lots of times and I have always enjoyed it! The only day that was ever so crowded that I found it somewhat not enjoyable was New Years Eve day at Magic Kingdom. And even then, it was almost empty until 11 am so we got tons of rides in right away in the morning. I would probably not do that again because it was so crowded we couldn't move. But every other day was manageable! Get there early, have a flexible plan, and you will be ok!

That being said, we're going after Thanksgiving this year because the resorts at Christmas time are just so expensive.

 

[nycdisneygal]

very crowded but if you get to places by rope drop then its very manageable !! Staying on site helps as you get the 60 day FP + . We went once the week leading up to XMAS and it was not crowded and we just went right after xmas through NYE -- the most crowded we have ever been but still manageable. MK is the worst.

 

[FastPasser.]

If Christmas week is the only time I could go to WDW, I'll pass.

 

[Nancyg56]

If Christmas week is the only time I could go to WDW, I'll pass.

Me too. I usually leave on the Saturday or Sunday prior to Christmas and those weekend crowds make me nuts. It has been years since I was there between Christmas and New Years, and still the memory is burned into my brain. Never again.

 

[SmallWorld71]

We went Christmas week a while back as it was the only week all 3 kids could go due to activities, jobs etc... We had a great time and got a ton done. That said, I have a few requirements for traveling that week:
1) stay on site - traffic can be bad and it was much easier to use Disney transportation, especially at times like New Year's Eve
2) everyone must be able to get around on their own - it would be too stressful to me to push a stroller or wheelchair through those crowds
3) everyone in the group must be willing to follow a touring plan as well as get up early and stay up late as needed: ex. we got a ton done at MK at 7:00 am but that means leaving the resort in the dark
4) book packages such as Fantasmic, Candlelight processional etc... to reduce stress of waiting in large crowds
5) sit down meal each day whether through dining plan or OOP; it's a nice break from the crowds

I am sure there are more, but you get the idea. This is not the week to just roll out of bed at 10:00AM without a plan.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I am trying to possibly get a room at Wilderness Lodge because I hear it's beautiful at Christmas. The other possibility is Beach Club, but it's much more expensive. I already booked a room at Pop just in case I can't get anything else, but it's probably very crowded then.

WL is gorgeous at Christmas and you will have the boat to MK (plus the boat to CR which enables you to then walk to MK), but you will have to take a bus (or uber/lyft/Minnie Van) to the other parks. BC is, obviously, much more convenient to DHS and EP. Also consider looking into Swan/Dolphin which typically prices out less than the WDW deluxes. You get EMH and 60 day FP+ privileges. You would lose DME, though, so you would need to factor in transportation to and from the airport into costs. I, personally, would not want to be at Pop over Christmas, but that's just personal opinion. Also, if you go to DS, go in the morning. By afternoon/evening it's really crowded, like, just below MK crowded.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

it will be incredibly crowded but it is going to be awesome. Just plan for the crowds, especially if you want to focus on rides and will be disappointed not to get to popular rides without a long wait. Use Fastpass.

I'm not going to make a detailed plan for the group. If the niece and nephews (youngest will be 15) want to get up and go to a park early they can make that decision themselves... and we shall visit Disney Springs since we're at Old Key West. Got a Candlelight Processional lunch package for Christmas Eve (all the adults are excited for that)

 

[McFly913]

If you go this week it needs to be planned and can not wing it. This is a crazy time to go, and while it it beautiful around the resorts and park, the crowds bring out the craziest behavior in people.

I saw a fight at Fantasmic during this week, countless arguemenst around MK between people in the same family or other families yelling at each other and countless guests screaming at CM for something the CM can't control .

If you are a person who can't deal with crowds because of anxiety then stay as far a way as possible. But if it's the only time then go. Seeing the resort all decorated for Christmas is great.

And remember don't stress out if you can't get to do something because of the crowds, it's just incentive to come back.

 

[MHSweb79]

If your intent is to have a “do-over” to make up for a bad trip, I’m not sure I would pick Christmas week.

If there is really no other possible time then plan, plan, plan and be willing to get up very early if you want your DD to experience a lot of rides.

 

[reluctantredhead]

Well, if you're crazy I am too!

But first...so sorry to hear about your D's accident! Hopefully she is completely healed and doing well now.

We've been to WDW twice at Christmas, and both times we arrived on the 18th/19th and left on the 26th. Now granted, those trips were 9/10 years ago, but we didn't notice the crowds start to get crazy until Christmas Day...in fact, we found the crowds to be light until the 24th.

We have a trip booked for this year from December 20-27, and I've read here on the boards that things have changed since we were there last and the crowds get larger sooner. So to help lessen the effects of the large crowds and the increased traffic, we've booked a split stay between the Wilderness Lodge and the Beach Club, and we've planned our days so that we'll stay at WL and only visit MK and AK from Dec 20-23 (since these are the lower crowd days during our stay). Then, when the crowds get larger from the 23-27, we'll move to the BC and visit EP and DS. By arranging for this split stay, we'll be able to avoid road traffic completely from the 23-27 since we can walk to EP and HS, we'll use the boat transportation from WL to get us to the MK, and we'll use a Minnie Van to get to and from the AK (and our AK day is planned early in the trip).

Another thing we've done to try to counteract the impact of the large crowds is to book Club Level rooms and take advantage of the CL FP+ program, which gets you 3 extra FP+ per person, per day (the cost is an extra $50/pp/per day). It also may get us FP+ for reserved viewing areas for the fireworks shows (a reserved area used to be guaranteed; now it seems to depend on which CM you get on the phone...see the thread on CL FP+ for more info). If your budget will allow for it, you might consider looking into this option, because it would guarantee you at least 6 FP+ per day.

As others have also recommended, you could also book MVMCP (I believe it runs through Dec 21) and/or the dessert parties to help you avoid the crowds a bit and guarantee you a spot to view the fireworks without having to waste time saving it far in advance.

HTH!

 

[SmallWorld71]

There are some positives about going during this week:
1) Extended hours
2) Everything is open including those elusive CS
3) Minimal refurbishments if any
4) Transportation runs more frequently
5) beautifully decorated (obviously this is throughout the season)
6) weather- you never know with this one, but we had perfect touring weather; temps in the 60s and 70s and not a drop of rain
7) chance to see the Christmas parade and meet Santa Goofy

 

[bkfamilyof5]

We are going this year from Dec 21-29... I'm completely dreading it but it's been my husband's dream, since he was a kid, so I'm fulfilling his fantasy. We are a big group (10) including young kids, mobility issues and one 75yo. It's going to be rough and I'm just trying to be as well-organized as I can in advance. It's also INCREDIBLY expensive, like $25k for the hotel and tickets for 10 people. INSANE if you ask me, but again this isn't my choice. I enjoy WDW but am not a fanatic and would be much happier to go at a less crowded time. Even if we have a "great" time I will never plan to return at Christmas week! So many other places to go!