Another Christmas break question

[disland7]

Considering Disney world for 2 weeks over Christmas break. We have been to DW 3 times a prefer longer trips while taking breaks in the middle of the day, doing parks and water parks and maybe mini golf. We are considering dec 21, 2026- Jan 5, 2027. We have been in mid October, early November, and Jan 1-13 before. We have 2 adults and 4 kids on this trip (10, 12, 14, 16). We have not planned on getting LL but we could get it on some days. Likely staying in a deluxe resort most of the time. My husband is (probably rightly) worried about crowds and requested I seek advice from the boards before moving forward. The other time option would be lasts week of may and 1st week of June 2027.

 

[Dave006]

We are considering dec 21, 2026- Jan 5, 2027.

Wow that is peak crowd season. The crowds ramp up every day the closer you get to Christmas. This year Christmas is on a Friday, and crowds will be very likely staying through at least Jan. 3rd.

We have 2 adults and 4 kids on this trip (10, 12, 14, 16). We have not planned on getting LL but we could get it on some days.

If you have that long of a visit you don't really need LL for every day. But I would suggest a couple of days earlier in your visit vs later in your visit before the crowds hit, and stay around through after new years.

The other time option would be lasts week of may and 1st week of June 2027.

This is a good time for crowds but it is often Hot & Humid if you are not ready for it.

Dave

 

[CAPSLOCK]

If you haven't yet, price out both options. Crowds aside, your Dec dates will be much more expensive (which is also an indication of the anticipated crowds...). There will be few deals or discounts to be found, Disney doesn't need to incentivize attendance on those dates. LL will be at their most expensive, will sell out, and have more limited availability for additional picks day-of.

That said, you should also have the longest park hours of the year, so splitting up the day and returning to close the parks gives more evening/night hours. You will be able to take advantage of "lower" crowd days on party days at MK. You will be able to see the holiday parade and other happenings (with thousands of your new closest friends!).

 

[Rory607]

It will be very crowded, but with two weeks I wouldn’t worry as much. I would head to the parks in the morning and do the afternoon break. And I agree with planning MK on party days as we found the crowds significantly lower then. It’s fun to go to other resorts and see the Christmas decor when you want a break from the parks.

 

[vspenn]

check ThrillData for wait time on those days. Personall, I would pick May/June.

 

[disland7]

check ThrillData for wait time on those days. Personall, I would pick May/June.

Thanks for the opinion.

 

[disland7]

It will be very crowded, but with two weeks I wouldn’t worry as much. I would head to the parks in the morning and do the afternoon break. And I agree with planning MK on party days as we found the crowds significantly lower then. It’s fun to go to other resorts and see the Christmas decor when you want a break from the parks.

Thanks - I appreciate your reply

If you haven't yet, price out both options. Crowds aside, your Dec dates will be much more expensive (which is also an indication of the anticipated crowds...). There will be few deals or discounts to be found, Disney doesn't need to incentivize attendance on those dates. LL will be at their most expensive, will sell out, and have more limited availability for additional picks day-of.

That said, you should also have the longest park hours of the year, so splitting up the day and returning to close the parks gives more evening/night hours. You will be able to take advantage of "lower" crowd days on party days at MK. You will be able to see the holiday parade and other happenings (with thousands of your new closest friends!).

very good points- thanks. I had forgotten about the Christmas parties.

 

[fla4fun]

There shouldn’t be many, if any, holiday parties by December 21st. At the most, you may arrive on the last party day, so I wouldn’t factor those in so much.

This is a tough choice as I have had trip at both times of the year. Christmas week is extremely crowded and we typically find ourselves spending more time at the resort than at the parks, so be sure to select a resort you will enjoy due to theming and amenities, not just location. The weather is cooler and for some reason people seem less stressed even if the crowds are higher. The cooler temps probably help with that. Most annual passes will be blocked out, except for the most expensive one, for the bulk of your trip. The decorations are lovely and there is holiday music everywhere. The holiday parade that is run at MVMCP runs daily at MK during Christmas week instead of the regular afternoon parade.

May into June is much hotter and more humid. Our wet season typically starts sometime in May, and there are usually a couple of hours each afternoon when storms will come through. When that happens the Skyliner and boat transportation will stop until it is safe to resume operations, so keep that in mind when selecting a resort. Crowds will be lower than Christmas, but you will have a bump in crowds if your trip includes Memorial Day Weekend. We typically aim for a resort break to coincide with any expected storms, but we don’t use the pools. Rooms should be cheaper than they are at Christmas, with some discounts in place if you qualify, and date based tickets should be cheaper as well. Most annual passes should be able to access the parks, based on their individual block out dates.

So for us it would be better temperatures vs less crowds, provided there weren’t any budget constraints. If there were budget issues, then May/June would be the better choice. You can have a great trip either time of year, so long as your expectations are reasonable. Only you know what will work best for your family