Am I crazy about going to WDW at Christmas?

[DisFanDad]

Yes. To me it's a waste, you spend more and get much less of an experience. Unless insane crowds are what you like.

But that's just my opinion.

 

[LA Poolboy]

We have been during 4 different Christmases, including the last 3. It is incredibly crowded, but you know that going in. Expect to do a few things and not everything. Park closures usually happen around lunchtime for non-property guests and it goes in phases. Not sure it got quite to that point last year, but it was full. NEVER drive to parks during that time of year as half your day will be spent in traffic. The entire property is beautifully decorated and Wilderness Lodge is my favorite followed by the Grand Floridian. Make sure to take time to see all the decorations you can while working in your rides and shows. We know we are going to be mostly milling around taking it all in after our fast passes are used up, but those are our expectations. There is no place to go to get away from the crowds...buses, boats, monorail, parks, resorts, everywhere is people. But it's okay. But I may skip this year since we have been so often...and are here now.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

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!

You sound very reasonable. I hope the experience doesn't sour you on Disney. I go every year with wife and we will never do Christmas again...without lots more liquor than we brought the first time.

 

[intertile]

As everyone has said...it's crowded, expensive, but beautiful. Like others have mentioned you need a real good plan, but more importantly you need PATIENCE. Lots of it. Things will go wrong, it will feel at times like you can't get anywhere in the park. You can't fight that...just got to go with the flow.
We have gone during some of the busiest seasons, and I have 1 rule. No complaining. It's a vacation, and we are here to have fun. If your family isn't good with being inconvenienced, I'd rethink it. If you are a more relaxed go with the flow type...you'll be fine

 

[Rustysmom]

I must be more insane because I was playing around with my dates and I think we are going to do a split stay. I've never done that before, but my kids really want to stay at Wilderness Lodge because it "feels like Christmas" there, and I couldn't get it for the whole week, so I got it for 4 days including Christmas day. I have reservations for the Beach Club that I'm going to have to modify now for the rest of that week. And first time traveling anywhere without my husband! I'm just hoping my daughter's leg will be healed by then (she still has an immobilizer on and will have to keep it on for at least 6 weeks and crutches), and that I can get that week off from work. I'm not telling the kids that I was able to get Wilderness Lodge just yet.

 

[Networth]

Nope, never I would rather not go than be on Disney property that week, but different strokes for different folks.

Personally spending thousands and thousands of dollars to feel like I can’t breath while walking through MK, waiting for 3 monorails just to be packed like the Tokyo subway, waking up like I am going to work is not worth it to me.

Not to mention EVERYTHING cost more from lodging to food but hey like I said some people enjoy it.

Your daughter can’t wait till next spring break/summer for a more enjoyable trip?

 

[CookieandOatmeal]

We'll be there during Christmas week and it is our first time too. I'm planning on doing dessert parties for every park and making sure I have ADRs for each day so we have planned breaks. Our plan is just to do our first 3 FPs each day and just go with the flow admiring the different decorations that are up at each park/resort. I'm going to WDW during this week to take in the festive atmosphere more than anything else so that will be my first priority.

 

[david joyal]

While I personally would not go, I think it is all about managing expectations.

I personally get really annoyed by long waits and not being able to do things that I want to do. I want to have more of a relaxing vacation than be anxious because everything I want to do takes so long.

That being said, if going into it you know and are prepared for this, then no, you can have a great time. Between the christmas party + fireworks + parade you would be seeing things that are very special to that time of year as well!

 

[WDWSimz]

Add me and my family to the crazy list! We are going Dec 21-26. My husband surprised us last month with a trip for Christmas. I am so excited to go! Can't wait to see everything decked out for Christmas! It's always been a dream of mine to be there during the holidays.

 

[Rustysmom]

Your daughter can’t wait till next spring break/summer for a more enjoyable trip?

No, can't wait because we have something else planned for next summer, and the weather this last week during the summer was pretty awful. The kids don't have spring break at the same time.

 

[DVC_Dad_Canada]

Go when it's less crowded. You're paying top dollar to wait forever in lines with other pissed off people.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

Our family has gone Christmas week or the week between Christmas and New Years for the past 3 years and we'll be there again this year. It's VERY crowded but we always manage to have a good time. There's no place we'd rather celebrate Christmas together. We stay at a condo offsite, and traffic can sometimes be a nightmare, but we're just happy to be there (and not at home where it's usually FREEZING). We make our 3 FP+ reservations for each day and just go with the flow. The decorations are amazing and most everyone is in a good mood because it's Christmas. I hope you have an amazing trip!

 

[TwinkleKS]

We go every year for Christmas. My kids know nothing else. I'm kind of glad so many people have negative thoughts about going that time of year so that is one less person there . It's not that bad. As others have said, it is all about knowing what you are getting into and managing expectations. We normally go with a non-Disney guide and that helps, especially if you have never gone at Christmas before.

If you don't want to stand in lines, don't ... I mean we always get stuck in a ridiculous line at least once during the trip but for the most part we manage it ... we get a FP for what we really want to ride and then have fun with the corny side of Disney. Yes, we are that family that piles into the Carousel of Progress and sings and claps along with the song. My kids hold their hands up and shout weeeee on the PeopleMover. It's part of the trip.

We also go into it with the expectation that we will be back at Disney (I know this isn't the case for everyone ... if it was a once in a lifetime trip I might pick a different time to go). So if we don't ride a ride, its okay ... we can ride it some other time. Although we have never not ridden something that everyone wants to ride.

Planning is also important. I know where I am going to eat six months ahead of time. But you don't have to stress ... I usually make the plans at 180 and then go back and move things around and get even better selections / times as we get closer to time.

We don't rope drop. We don't normally stay out until park closing. We drive to some parks ... we use Disney transportation ... Just don't drive on NYE. That was the only totally psycho driving experience I've had.

 

[NYCgrrl]

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?

OK so I see you're from here and so am I thus I'll speak the "common language".

It's not 4th of July at Battery Park or FDR Drive crowded.
It's not Times Square on New Year's Eve crowded (that's just stoopid).
More like....leaving Central or Prospect Park after a Philharmonic in the Park evening. Yes, it's crowded but everyone is mellow, smiling, and could be mistaken for tourists, LOL.

We were there for 2 weeks last Christmas, staying at the Poly. Except for the intensely annoying and needed to be expanded Hawaiian Christmas music playlist all had a good time and rode every ride we wanted even though FoP needed to be rope dropped. We toured most of the resorts so we could see the holiday decor. When crowd levels at parks were high we went early in the morning did the rides we wanted and got out before noon. Or as was the case for NYE we just canceled our park dinner reservation (I was sick)and enjoyed room service at the GF (the man's family was staying there) and watched the World's fireworks from their balconies.

From my POV the December holidays at WDW was a relaxing blast and worth doing again.

 

[FastPasser.]

Yes, it's crowded but everyone is mellow

Everyone, uhh, I'm not sure about that.

 

[djc9699]

We went from 15-29 Dec last year for our first Christmas visit and had a wonderful time. My DD (14) and I are Disney nuts and go every year mostly in the summer. We went during spring break this year and both agreed we like Christmas better than Spring Break or summer. It is crowded, but the parks are open longer, the weather is better, and there is so much more to see and do. We are going again this year but staying through New Years this time. We are going to do the Pixar Party for NYE. My daughter is so excited. We have decided that Christmas will now be our time to go. The crowds kind of force us to slow down, look around, and enjoy more of the parks. I wouldn't advise a rookie to go at Christmas, but I would encourage anyone who has been a few times to try Christmas at least once. Hit the parks early, schedule your favorite rides, look for additional FPs, have a table service meal each day or eat at your resort, take your time around the world showcase, and have a wonderful trip.

 

[Micca]

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

I think this is an important point. I also think you want kids who are old enough to get a bit jostled around in a crowd without freaking out. Keeping track of little pedestrians in a situation so crowded would be very stressful. I don't know if this is an issue for OP, but for anyone who might be reading the thread and considering a Christmas trip with small children it's certainly something to consider.

 

[Soarin4us]

It’s a personal decision. How do you feel about crowds? I LOVE wdw. It’s my happy place. But, I’d rather work every day from Christmas to New Years than be in Disney World. For me, and my family, those crowds are not fun — they’re a nightmare.

 

[gharter]

I think a lot of it is attitude and expectations.
If you know its going to be crowded and plan for that, you'll be fine. Planning ahead is very important, planning ADRs and FPs are critical.
If you don't like crowds, don't do Christmas.

 

[DVC-Don]

Done Christmas/New Years week twice. One time we had mid 40's with rain. Never again.