Any Recent Experiences With Week After Christmas?

[Shanti]

Can anyone share their recent experiences with visiting WDW or Universal during the week after Christmas within the past two years?

I know it is very crowded that time of year, and have read horror stories/seen horror pictures from several years ago, but I can't find anyone's actual experience from 2015 or 2016 for this week. Crowd patterns are changing at WDW, so I thought it was worth asking for recent experiences, to see if the crowds might have become less extreme during this particular week.

 

[mom2rtk]

Unfortunately I think that week will always be extreme. I do agree that other traffic patterns have changed some, but that one probably won't.

 

[Shanti]

Unfortunately I think that week will always be extreme. I do agree that other traffic patterns have changed some, but that one probably won't.

Maybe, but I still want to hear about actual recent experiences. I visited WDW over Easter weekend this year, which is supposed to be horrible, and it wasn't bad at all. Summer was always reputed to be horrible, and it's now a relatively low-crowd time to go. We managed July 4th just fine in 2015. It was crowded, but not crazy.

I am expecting it to be very crowded, but am considering the possibility that it might not the nightmare it was several years ago, before crowd patterns started the big shift they're in now. I seem to remember reading someone's post last winter stating that the days between Christmas & New Year's Eve weren't as bad as they were expecting.

 

[Disneylover99]

We were there from December 29th til January 5th this year. No horror stories from me. It's crowded, but totally manageable. I don't drive to the parks at all that week, but Disney transportation is awesome and quick!

I know DW gears up for those Disney marathons the first week of January every year. I'm not really sure how that impacts crowds.

 

[Shanti]

We were there from December 29th til January 5th this year. No horror stories from me. It's crowded, but totally manageable. I don't drive to the parks at all that week, but Disney transportation is awesome and quick!

I know DW gears up for those Disney marathons the first week of January every year. I'm not really sure how that impacts crowds.

Was it gridlock on the roads?

 

[Disneylover99]

Was it gridlock on the roads?

I don't know that it was gridlock during the day. I would imagine there would be gridlock after the fireworks at night. The park parking lots looked packed at all times, and there were some car lines getting into parks. But like I said, we only took Disney transportation to the parks and we experienced zero gridlock, even New Year's Eve.

 

[Disneylover99]

Was it gridlock on the roads?

Just wanted to add cause I forgot, we did drive to Disney Springs 3 or 4 times.....twice during the day and at least once at night. We stayed at POFQ and parked at the Lime garage. We didn't encounter any traffic on our route.

 

[mesaboy2]

The best you can get on a forum like this is a handful of anecdotal responses, and they themselves will be based on highly subjective perceptions (in the case of Christmas week “very crowded” versus “crazy crowded”, “manageable” versus “insane”, etc.). I think it is pointless to use them to bolster assumptions already made. We just don’t have access to the big-picture data that would be necessary to even attempt any useful conclusions.

That said—good luck, ‘cause I doubt I said anything to convince you otherwise.

P.S. I still disagree with your assertion that summer is now a relatively low-crowd time to go.

 

[Shanti]

Anyone else with experiences they would like to share? The info I've gotten so far has been a great start.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We were there Dec. 25 - Dec. 30, 2015. Yes, it was incredibly crowded, especially MK. We have gone to WDW during all seasons, over other holidays, etc. and we never experienced crowds like we experienced this week. IMHO, nothing compares to it. We still managed to have fun, but we spent a lot of time doing things that were off the beaten path, so to speak. We did Wild Africa Trek to avoid crowds in AK, spent time at the pool (the weather was amazing that week), DS went to the Sandcastle Club, etc. If you go, my tips would be - 1) stay onsite to take advantage of Disney transportation. Traffic is terrible and even affects bus times. We stayed at BWI and it took twice the time to get anywhere by bus than it normally does. 2) stay as close to the parks as you can afford. Staying at BWI was a vacation-saver for us because we could walk to two parks. Even the boat lines from DHS were incredibly long that week. 3) Do things off the beaten path - take a tour, tour the resorts, see HDDR and go to Ft. W for the evening, etc. 4) Don't go to DS (unless you go as soon as it opens). We went in the afternoon one day to see a movie at AMC. It was more crowded than MK 5) Don't go to MK. Ok, kind of kidding here, but it was a crowded nightmare for us. We literally could barely walk from one spot to the next. Go at RD and be prepared to leave if it gets too crowded for you. 6) Don't wing your meals in the parks. QS will be really crowded. If you are going to the parks for the day, make ADR's 7) If you want to see an evening show - ROL, CP, Fantasmic, etc. - book a dining package. Lines for standby will be really long. 8) If you are going to EP and don't want to see CP, avoid WS when the show is going on. The lines for CP are so long that it impedes walking around WS in the afternoon/evening. Conversely, it's a great time to tour Future World!

Hope that helps!

 

[HopperFan]

School holiday in middle of school year, and MANY can only travel during those weeks. Is going to be very crowded.

If you are talking legit week after Christmas Day, crowded and always will be. If you are talking week after the Christmas-New Years week. That dynamic can change based on school holidays. This year the whole week is a holiday for many, and with the marathon the next weekend - that will bring whole families not just runners.

 

[lullwater]

We’ve gone to Disney for a good 10 plus days after Christmas until a day or so after New Year for the past 5 years. There tend to be more extended families that can’t or won’t start the day early and crowd levels are low in the park if you start at rope drop. We leave the parks at noon to avoid the deluge. During the day we wear shorty wet-suits, if it’s cool, and relax at either Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach and crowd levels are determined by the cloud cover or lack of it. Driving is a mess as I-4 is worse than usual and it’s congested on local roads just getting to the outlet malls which won’t have any parking. We visit Disney 4 times or more a year and between Christmas and New Year is the only time I’ve seen the parking at Disney Springs at near capacity; of course this turns the local streets in and around to virtual parking lots as the traffic barely moves.

In the past 8 years or so Disney has improved bus transportation during the holidays with temporary dedicated lanes. We drive everywhere; however, on New Year’s Eve we have discovered that by using the bus we can save a good hour or two on the return trip.

 

[VTGirlinNC]

We went in 2016 (12/28-1/2) and are returning again this year. We have AP's and go 4 times a year (Easter week, mid July, first week in October and week between Christmas and New Years). All other times, I know how to manage the crowds. Christmas week is just...wow. We typically use our 3 FP's and run for the exit. The memory that stands out the most from last year is on 12/31...we just finished our 3rd FP at Epcot around 1:00. We were walking out of the exit from Spaceship Earth and the wall of people coming into the park was indescribable. My husband looked at me and said "let's get out of here!" As we were driving back to Bonnet Creek, we saw signs on the highway saying "MK parking lot at capacity". We parked at the hotel and didn't leave the rest of the day. However, (and I hate to even say this bc I don't want to jinx it)...1/1 at MK was the best day we have ever had. I don't think we saw another human being in adventureland at opening. It was the most magical moment we have ever experienced. I realize that crowd levels are subjective, but I can tell you (as someone who has been all 4 seasons in the past 12 months) that Christmas week is going to be the MOST crowded.

 

[jimbostacks]

We did the week after Christmas last year and are doing the week after New Years this year. We have been many times at Spring Break as well....so the crowds are heavy and with a plan like others have said..manageable. For a mid day or early evening break the larger group of us enjoyed the "monorail" trail....looking at the decorations of the monorail resorts and getting hot chocolate, quick meals, drinks, etc....or take a boat to Wilderness Lodge and try the new bar lakeside. Adults can have a drink and if needed send the kids to the arcade there.

Disney Springs - had good time during the day. One night we went to Disney Springs and to be honest complete mad house, parking looked crazy (we did uber). I wish it was not so bad , but they actually had ropes everywhere to guide walking traffic. We are staying at Saratoga this year and might try again. But the crowds did take some of the fun out of it....definitely get reservations to eat.

Rope drop is always the key....we usually skip out in the afternoon and come back later with fast passes in the evening and fireworks. I would use Disney transportation as much as possible. And remember there are a ton of places to take a break. ....could always take a bus back to Animal Kingdom Lodge for lunch and explore the resort, we sometimes hit the Polynesian for lunch. The resorts are a good break if you do not want to head back to your hotel/house/etc..... could even take a bus to Old Key West/Saratoga - and take a boat to Disney Springs....

I know sounds like a lot of work, depends on what your family likes.....once ride waits go above 35+ mins....I need a plan B for my kids.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Crowd patterns are changing at WDW

In regards to Christmas Break, Easter, July 4, etc the pattern is about as set in stone as anything at WDW. Crowds will be insane.

 

[Shanti]

In regards to Christmas Break, Easter, July 4, etc the pattern is about as set in stone as anything at WDW. Crowds will be insane.

Crowds weren't bad when I visited this past Easter weekend, and our visit over July 4th, 2015 was crowded but quite manageable. Nothing is set in stone at WDW.

I also stated upfront that I expect heavy crowds, but was curious if people still found it to be the utter nightmare that was often described 5 - 10 years ago. You can only find that out by asking people who have actually been during Christmas week in the last couple of years.

That's why I asked for actual first-person recent experiences, not for conjecture or "conventional wisdom", which is typically second-hand information and is often outdated.

 

[MisterBubbles]

We have been at WDW the last few years between December 22-Dec 28. That week has always seemed to be the most crowded that we have ever seen at any other time of the year. We have seen MK gates closed by noon a few times during that week. Traffic on I-4 is usually terrible. Once on the roads within WDW it is usually manageable with the exception of anything near Disney Springs. The road right around Disney Springs is gridlock at any time of the day.

To deal with crowds we usually do rope drop, eat lunch early to avoid a long wait for food at lunch time, and then we take our time walking around, looking in shops, people watching between noon and 3 or 4 p.m. Sometimes the crowds are so unbearable we return to our resort or visit other resorts. We know it will be crowded and that there will be waits.

Over the last few years we have moved from relying on WDW transportation to using our own vehicle to and from parks. The wait for buses, especially when leaving the parks can take an incredibly long time. Yes, there may be a long line of cars leaving if you leave with the crowd following fireworks, but it seems to get us back sooner rather than the wait for a bus and ride back.

We schedule lots of days to not enter parks during this week and that seems to help. Days at the pool, Disney Springs, or touring other resorts is fun. Although we were turned away last year from entering The Contemporary Resort unless we had ADRs for a restaurant there since there was no parking left.

Expect very large crowds. Visit parks early. Plan things outside of parks. It is still enjoyable.

 

[LSUfan4444]

They weren't insane when I visited this past Easter weekend.

Im not sure what you mean. Crowds for easter week, christmas week and july 4 have always been and will always be insane. Im not giving you my opinion, Im stating historical evidence.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Crowds weren't bad when I visited this past Easter weekend, and our visit over July 4th, 2015 was crowded but quite manageable. Nothing is set in stone at WDW.

I also stated upfront that I expect heavy crowds, but was curious if people still found it to be the utter nightmare that was often described 5 - 10 years ago. You can only find that out by asking people who have actually been during Christmas week in the last couple of years.

That's why I asked for actual first-person recent experiences, not for conjecture or "conventional wisdom", which is typically second-hand information and is often outdated.

Since 2013 Ive been for every major holiday. Are they "manageable" sure, any day is. Are the crowds "insane", yes. You may not like that answer but it doesnt make it incorrect.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

How you define 'insane' is subjective, I suppose. Over the years, we've been to WDW over every major holiday.

As I'm not a fan of hyperbole, I'll simply say that in 2002, holiday-week crowds weren't high.

Second, that's far from the only exception I've seen to the idea that all holiday weeks are "insanely crowded". Crowd predictors are mostly garbage as far as my experience is concerned. Just off the top, weather is ALWAYS an important factor in what local AP holders choose to do on any given day.

Third, no matter how crowded WDW gets, there are almost opportunities to zig when the crowd zags, though WDW has been steadily decreasing those opportunities. WDW doesn't operate the way it once did. When fewer people are expected, WDW now lowers their operating costs much more than they did in the past. Crowd totals are only half of the story. Options like extra EMH and extra quick serve staff= more throughput. Operating a single track of BTMRR = lower throughput. In other words, low crowds no longer = short waits. Low crowds = lower operating costs.

Fourth there's also the magic mysterious fluctuations based on the confluence of economics: prices, discounts, economic uncertainty, personal sense of security. Add in airline costs, weather, international travel; there are many variables.