Another trip??

[Scottish_Maleficent]

Ok, I'm thinking of trying to persuade DH to agree to having a week at WDW December 2005 - thinking of leaving around 28th december for 1 week, staying on-site and using the Disney transport.

What I want to know is - how busy and how efficient is the transport? We always hire a car so this would be a wee bit of a change for us.

I think he will agree, but wasn't keen if it was going to be jam packed.

Cath

 

[2 Point]

Not sure about the transport between the sites but the parks themselves from 24th to 31st were heaving, not just busy, heaving. (in my best impression of Mrs Kali River Rapids).

As you've been a few times I'm sure you could cope with having to pick and chose where you go, I can't see how you could 'do' everything and totally enjoy the experience when it's that busy.

Doing the parks early on opening is essential when it's that busy, none of your turning up when you feel like it Septembers.

 

[KayleeUK]

You lucky thing, if only I could persuade my DH!!

 

[Miffy2003]

Go on Cath, you know you want to Got to use those AP's!!

From everything I've read (have not experienced this time of year myself YET) it will be totally and horribly packed until Jan 2nd which is then (I believe) the most quiet of times in the parks. So you'd have a couple of days of it being very busy and then a few when it would be the total opposite. And can you think of a better place to spend NYE??

Karen

 

[Miffy2003]

Originally posted by 2 Point
not just busy, heaving. (in my best impression of Mrs Kali River Rapids).

LOL, I know exactly who you mean. Let me tell you, you get soaked!

 

[disneyholic family]

if you dislike crowds at all, you REALLY don't want to go at Christmas/New Years....
think peak july but multiplied a hundred fold...
if you love unbearable crowds, then go for it...

but if you can go during the first two weeks of december you'll be much much much much much better off....
you'll have the parks to yourself...

 

[janeossie]

Last year I think upto about 2nd Jan it was jam packed you can't do what I would class as normal off peak touring. And you really do need PS.

Disney transport was ok but the buses do get busy and we stayed at the BCV and found that after the Yacht Club is was standing room only if we were that lucky and the poor people at Boardwalk didn't stand a chance.

We went to Epcot NYE and it was a fantastic but busy day. I believe they closed the gates at somepoint but they were opened again. But the fireworks and the atmosphere was well worth it. Why did we chose Epcot? The short walk back to the room! We were back really quick and after a long day I wouldn't have fancied a walk to catch transportation.

Jane

Doing the double digit dance but wishing I was in WDW for xmas and the new year again inspite of the crowds. Well theres always next year

 

[DisneyBB]

We are going Dec 05 for Christmas. Got really good prices for flights so just had to go! However after reading everything about how busy it is we are planning a few days off Disney property. Also we don't have enough DVC points to stay over the whole of Christmas week. From 27th - 31st we are staying near US and will be celebrating NYE in the parks there. Staying at Royal Pacific Resort, so a short walk home at the end of the night. Trying to push DH into staying at Club level!

 

[UKDEB]

We arrived in Orlando on January 1st this year. I had read on the boards that in 2003 the crowds <i>hadn't</i> cleared out of the parks on 2nd January as was the norm and that the parks had continued to be busy throughout that week.

I was surprised at how busy it was during our first week, but I think that was because I'd managed to convince myself that 2003 was a one off and I was expecting the parks to be dead after New Year's Day. In reality, it wasn't that bad, just not as quiet as I'd imagined it would be. It certainly wasn't as busy as it was in July this year.

The week of Christmas through New Year is the busiest time of all at WDW. I'm guessing that, had we arrived <i>before</i> January 1st, the parks would have seemed quiet afterwards in comparison.

Does it have to be that week? If you could go anytime in December before Christmas week, you'd get all the benefits without the crowds. In 2001, we flew home the day before Christmas Eve. We had a great time with low crowds and coming home wasn't as bad as normal because we still had Christmas to look forward to. It did take a bit of planning though!

I like your new avatar.

 

[Hilary]

We went for one week in 2000, from Dec 27th to Jan 3rd, 2001.

To answer your specific points:
how busy and how efficient is the transport?
I always think the WDW transport is great, and that trip was no different. I assume Disney must guage the likely demands on transport and plan extra facilities accordingly.

I think he will agree, but wasn't keen if it was going to be jam packed
It was very busy, and pretty jam packed. If we'd never been before, it would have been impossible to get much done and we'd have been pretty frustrated. However, if you know what you want to see / do and are prepared to plan, you can get a suprising amount done, and we managed to see all the seasonal bits and pieces we knew we wouldn't experience any other time of year.

Would we go again over NY? Probably not, but I think it's something any 'seasoned' WDW visitor should do at least once!

 

[Scottish_Maleficent]

Thanks for all you replies........still don't know what to do.......I don't want to take the kids out of school, so beginning of December is out. We could travel on New years Day - as the schools are not returning till 9th January 2006 after the holidays.

I think it's something any 'seasoned' WDW visitor should do at least once!

Am I a seasoned visitor then ?????lol.......

I like your new avatar.

Thanks Deb..I do love the villains.......

Off to think.......

Cath

 

[Hilary]

Am I a seasoned visitor then ?????

I'm sure you're working on it

 

[Camac]

We spent last Christmas and New Year at Disney (17th Dec to 1st Jan). The first week was very quiet - no queues. From Christmas Eve Disney got very busy. We had anticipated this so spent our first week doing Disney and the second week having early starts at Universal spending the afternoons shopping or relaxing.

Disney did close its doors early on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

We spent Christmas Day at Discovery Cove which was a wonderfully relaxing oasis in the middle of the hectic schedule. On NYE the parks again closed early, we spent the day relaxing by our pool, bit of shopping, drink at Wilderness Lodge followed by the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue (9.30 show) which let us out in time to see the Disney fireworks viewed from the jetties overlooking the lake. Much better than battling the crowds!

Christmas at Disney is wonderful and we have booked to go again Christmas 2005.

Enjoy!