An early question about goint at Christmas time

[wendell78]

I am thinking about taking a trip during our Christmas break 2003. I am a teacher and this time works for me and the kids.I was thinking we could stay home for Christmas and not fly out until the 30th of December. We would stay until January 3rd or 4th. This is the one thing we have not done at Disney........Christmas. We want to see how things are decorated and take part in some of the special holiday events. I have some questions. Will the decorations still be up at the parks through this whole time we plan to be there? Will the special holiday events still be going on? It seems to me that MVMCP will be over by this time. In the past it ended on 12/20 or so. What about the other special events? Also how are the crowds at this time? Thanks for any help you can give me.

 

[diznee25]

Wendell78,

Hopefully I can be of some help

Will the decorations still be up at the parks through this whole time we plan to be there?

From what I read on another thread, the decorations in the parks were taken down around the 5th of January. So you'll be able to catch them.

Also how are the crowds at this time?

It's usually very crowded around this time! I can't speak for after New Years though. You mentioned staying at WDW until Jan. 3rd or 4th. The crowds might die down for those days.

Will the special holiday events still be going on? It seems to me that MVMCP will be over by this time. In the past it ended on 12/20 or so.

I asked about MVMCP in another thread a few months back and it looks like it ends before the 20th of December. As for other holiday events lasting thru the 30th, I'm not sure. I thought the Osborne Lights in MGM Studios went until Jan. 3rd or 5th, but don't quote me on that! Maybe someone out there can help you out with that


Diznee25

 

[rripper]

We were at Disney World this past December 28 - January 11. The Christmas decorations were up through the 5th of January. The parks decorations were pretty much taken down by the 10th of January. The Osborne lights were up for viewing until the 5th of January. The lights themselves were still up when we left on the 11th but they were not turned on after the 5th as I believe the take down process had started on the 6th. Some of the resort decorations were still up as late as the 7th of January (did a character dinner at 1900 Park Fare in the Grand Floridian ad the Christmas tree was still up). MVMCP stopped around the 20th of December. Our first week (12/28-1/4), the crowds were very heavy. Most big rides had lines with wait times greater than 90 minutes. Spaceship Earth had a line of two hours (we usually go offseason and I don't remember seeing Spaceship Earth with a wait longer than 5 minutes). Our second week down (1/5-1/11), the crowds were pretty scarce. Since most schools are out the week you are planning on going, most people take that whole week off which is why the crowds are so heavy. If you plan on going to a park on New Year's Eve, make sure you get there early and plan on staying the whole day. We were at MGM and the park was PACKED by Noon. The only reason we left was because of the down pour that started about 8:00 that night and rained about 5 inches in 4 hours (we have two kids (6 and 2 1/2) and both did better than expected that night and probably would have made it to midnight had it not rained).

Hope this helps,
Rob

 

[wendell78]

Thanks for your input. I may rethink my plans.

 

[Grumpy92]

Unfortunately the week between xmas & NYs is the busiest days of the entire year.

Many of the holiday activities do end. Much of the decorations remain up. But shows like MVMCP & the MK tree lighting end the day after xmas. They will still have the Osbourne lights & CP.

If you do plan to visit during this time period make sure you make PSs for sit down restaurants long before your arrival. If you are staying off property make sure you get to the parks early especially on NYE as they will fill to capacity and admission will be limited.

If you can choose alternate dates it will probably be a better experience.