Am I nuts for considerin going 12-25 to 12-30? Updated post #29

[disneycjm]

Dh, DD11 and I would like to go 12-25 to 12-30. Opinions please.....

 

[Mousema]

Be prepared for MK to close due to crowds every day. You won't get on more than 2 or 3 rides during the day, also. I did it one year and will never do it again.

 

[CarolB]

We have gone twice during "part of that time." We never stayed until 12/30, but have been there for 12/25. Honestly, the park (MK only) closed one day of our trip in 2004 (and it wasn't Christmas - I think it was 12/27) and one day in 2005 (12/25, I think). The crowds are big, but the parks are open late, are decorately beautifully and we had no issues. I would go back in a heartbeat! In fact, Christmas day in 2004, because it was cool and overcast, the MK was actually empty. We started our day at AK, because we thought it would have the least crowds, but we also checked out MK later, too.
If this is your first trip, then maybe another time would be better....but I just love WDW during the Christmas season.

 

[gcrw11]

We were there this past Christmas and it was a zoo but we still loved it. It rained on Christmas Day most of the day and the crowd was still crazy. We only got on about 5 rides a day. It was fun though.
I would do it again.

 

[want2bamommy]

Dh, DD11 and I would like to go 12-25 to 12-30. Opinions please.....

DH and I are going from Dec. 22nd- Jan. 1st this year. We've been to Disney before (a few trips) and I am aware that it is the single busiest week of the year. We had no choice but to book during this time and I am a little concerned but it isn't stopping us from going. We thought that since we'll be there for 10 days that it might not be too bad and it is just the 2 of us.

The main impact on us is that we like to take a small break from the parks in the afternoon but if the crowds reach capacity we wouldn't be allowed back in the park to make our dinner ADR's. Sooo...we will not be able to take afternoon breaks.

I look forward to hearing everyone else's opinion too.

Thanks for posting this question!

Missie

 

[perd]

Be prepared for MK to close due to crowds every day. You won't get on more than 2 or 3 rides during the day, also. I did it one year and will never do it again.

Ditto. We did it one year, rode very few rides because the lines took forever, and we will never do it again.

 

[disneycjm]

Thanks so much to those that have replied. Yes, this will be our first trip to DW and our DD's birthday is on the 29th and this will be a suprise trip for her. She starts 6th grade in the fall so it will be harder to take her out during school. I've heard how awesome it is at x-mas time. I guess like some said, if we are prepared and have a game plan than this will work. Now the question is, what resort?? Opinions welcome on this too!

 

[Seahunt]

Now the question is, what resort?? Opinions welcome on this too!

Well, just how "deep" are your pockets?

For your dates you will be paying "Holiday" rates, so I'd start there - do you have a general idea on what range you want to pay for your room? For example, it wouldn't be good to recommend a Deluxe if you don't want to pay $350 and up a night

Re-post an amount per night you're looking for and we can give you some ideas from there!

 

[NHTikiBeckie]

Dh, DD11 and I would like to go 12-25 to 12-30. Opinions please.....

No...you would be insane!

 

[dbmarie]

If you could do the week prior to Christmas it wasn't so bad but on Christmas and the week after was crazy. Just for example fast passes for Test Track were gone by 10:45am and the line for standby was over 3 hours. Personally we won't do it again it just adds stress that we don't want on our vacation.

 

[reelmom]

I would say go for it. If this is the only time you can go, what else can you do? We are going the week before Christmas and I am kinda scared about the crowd level. However, this is the only time we can go so no use worrying. I would rather be at Disney than anywhere else, so I take what I can get. Have fun, plan out your trip and get there early.

 

[Unregistered]

We're in the same boat--due to schedules, we can't go any other time, so are braving the crowds over Christmas for the first time. We've been the second week of December, which I agree is one of the best times to go, but we can't do that this year.

Since this is our fourth trip to DW, I'm thinking we may try deemphasizing the parks--especially Magic Kingdom. I'm thinking Epcot should be doable, my kids would kill me if they can't ride Rockin' Roller Coaster, and Animal Kingdom is my personal favorite. We'll arrive early at the gates, and if it's too crazy by afternoon, just leave. I plan on visiting the resorts to see decorations, and will go to Downtown Disney. Any other suggestions for experiencing Disney magic at Christmas without actually riding all the rides?

Tina

 

[Boomer1]

DH and I are going from Dec. 22nd- Jan. 1st this year. We've been to Disney before (a few trips) and I am aware that it is the single busiest week of the year. We had no choice but to book during this time and I am a little concerned but it isn't stopping us from going. We thought that since we'll be there for 10 days that it might not be too bad and it is just the 2 of us.

The main impact on us is that we like to take a small break from the parks in the afternoon but if the crowds reach capacity we wouldn't be allowed back in the park to make our dinner ADR's. Sooo...we will not be able to take afternoon breaks.

I look forward to hearing everyone else's opinion too.

Thanks for posting this question!

Missie

Resort guests are guaranteed entry. This may be a consideration if you have ADRs in the parks. We have gone the past three years at Christmas and have avoided the parks during the day but found that using the EMH in the evenings made it much better with the crowds.If your main reason for going to WDW is going on all the rides this may not be the best time:however, WDW at Christmas is spectacular.

 

[waltfan1957]

Dh, DD11 and I would like to go 12-25 to 12-30. Opinions please.....

We go every year from the UK to include these dates my wife is in a wheelchair and insists we go at this time yes its busy but its so worth it
our advice go for it pm if you need any info
Gaz

 

[dbmarie]

Resort guests are guaranteed entry.

Actually that's not true. The parks close at different levels and Resort guests are the last to be turned away but they have in fact been turned away. I believe by law they are only allowed to have a certain number of people in the park at one time, and yes it has happened where resort guests were turned away during Christmas.

 

[want2bamommy]

Actually that's not true. The parks close at different levels and Resort guests are the last to be turned away but they have in fact been turned away. I believe by law they are only allowed to have a certain number of people in the park at one time, and yes it has happened where resort guests were turned away during Christmas.

That is what I've heard on the Restaurant board as well. I'll just have to plan our days without breaks.

Thanks!

Missie

 

[tinkwdw47]

Dh, DD11 and I would like to go 12-25 to 12-30. Opinions please.....

we went dec 27th thru jan 2nd and be prepared.... Its so crowded at Magic kingdom by 1....Leave early you see more But its so Beautiful ...the decorations...The Xmas Parade ...Theres nothing like it... we went in 2006...We are going back in 2008 for Xmas again...Go especially early if you have to rent strollers or a wheel chair cause they run out early....For new years in magic kingdom it got so full they closed the park.. nomore guests was to go in by the afternoon..They were at FULL Capacity...

 

[MomofCKJ]

We went last year the week BEFORE Christmas and it was wonderful. Not the huge crowds you will find the week you are looking at but all the same spectacular decorations. We pulled our kids out of school and honestly they didn't miss much of anything since the week before Christmas break they don't do much, don't introduce anything new, etc. It worked out beautifully.

If you do go that week you should check out tourguidemike.com. We loved his tips on our last trip and I would never attempt a trip on such a busy week like you are planning without him.

Allyson

 

[TreslovesWDW]

We were there this past December Christmas week , way to crowded for us. To me it is not fun if I am being pushed and waiting in line for an hour and a half. If you don't mind the crowds go it was very nicely decorated for Christmas everywhere. I am glad I did it once but never again that week.

 

[10_Kyle_10]

We did a Christmas-New Years Trip and it def had it ups and downs...Clearly the lines were out of this world...You need to basically pick the park you want to be in and stay put cause like many others have said they close upon reaching compacity...I highly suggest MGM as they had a spectular light display as well as some 3-D effects with the lighting (with the glasses on it looked like snow flakes)...All in all it was very nice and I would do it again but I must say the crowds are insane!