Anyone else arriving AFTER 12/17?

[kerri0616]

Are you like me? Making the insane decision to visit during Xmas Week? Not only will we see the highest crowds of the entire year, but we also don't get a room discount or "free dining!"

It would just be nice to know their are other people like me...paying rack rate...going during peak attendance.

Here's why I'm arriving 12/24...I'm a teacher who also has 2 kids in school. We don't get out of school til the afternoon of 12/22. Sigh....

Congrats to all those who are able to take advantage of the deals...I think I have about 15 years til retirement. Suppose I might have grandkids by then

I am truly looking forward to experiencing the magic of Christmas at Disney!

 

[McKelly]

Yes, me, I work for our school district too (not a teacher though). We go to school through the 22nd. I am hoping to get off a couple days before the 22nd because we are going to drive and then our stay will be longer (worth that loonnnggg drive).

I was REALLY HOPING the free dining would have went through the 22nd, but no such luck. Full price for us as well. Ouch! I'm just praying for warm weather!!

 

[saskdw]

School is out on 12/16 in Canada. We will pull our son out a couple of days early and will be there from the 14th-28th. This is the 3rd time we've gone at this time and it is awesome! We love Christmas at Disney, but don't want to battle the crowds the entire trip. From the 14th-22nd we pretty much have our run of the parks before you guys come along and crowd the place up...lol!!! Then we take a more relaxed approach the last week and enjoy our Christmas. And 14 days of FD to boot!

 

[OhioDisneyDad]

We were originally going to Universal but once free dining was announced I checked the dates and booked us for 12/17 - 12/23. We did a similar trip a couple years ago for similar dates and I was surprised how manageable the crowds were. Now when were leaving on the last day it was a different story. We went to the MK EMH and left about 11:00am - THE INCOMING CROWDS WERE INSANE (this was Xmas Eve morning)! As long as you hit rope drop and have a good touring plan it's fine but I refuse to be there between 12/24 - 1/1. Of course we've been many times so we were experienced DISers. That last week of the year is not for the faint of heart!

 

[ocalla]

Count me in!!!

School doesn't start Christmas break until 12/21, so we will fly out after exams on 12/20 and stay through the chaos until 12/27!!!!

I'm still pretty positive that some type of discount will come out for the rest of us.

 

[vsimeone]

We were originally booked for the 23rd - 31st and planned to pay for the dining plan. When the free dining came out, I re-ran the numbers. To check in on the 17th and stay until the 31st cost us a WHOPPING $75 more! It was a no brainer! Two weeks with Mickey and FREE DINING!!!

 

[ms mouse]

This will be the fifth year we have gone to Christmas at Disney. We went one year just for a change, loved it so much we go back every year. Yes the crowds are terrible but we just sit back and crowd watch. We always go in around the 21 and every year except two years ago we have had a discount. Last year if was a free dining pin. So dont just assume there will be nothing, there is always hope. The biggest suggestion I can make is make dining reservations. The counter services are crazy and sometimes you cant even find a place to sit. Its nice to get away from the crowds for a meal. Have fun!

 

[canadianmom2three]

School is out on 12/16 in Canada. We will pull our son out a couple of days early and will be there from the 14th-28th. This is the 3rd time we've gone at this time and it is awesome! We love Christmas at Disney, but don't want to battle the crowds the entire trip. From the 14th-22nd we pretty much have our run of the parks before you guys come along and crowd the place up...lol!!! Then we take a more relaxed approach the last week and enjoy our Christmas. And 14 days of FD to boot!

Wish I lived where you do in Canada.....where I am, school gets out DEC 23. We did get a pin code for rooms up to the 22nd, so might pull the kids out a day or 2 early to check in on the 22nd, or may just go for it and pull them out a week early for FD, since it is a MUCH better deal for our family of 5 disney 'adults' we can go 10 days for just a bit more than 5 days with our room only code!!

 

[su_A_ve]

This will be the fifth year we have gone to Christmas at Disney. We went one year just for a change, loved it so much we go back every year. Yes the crowds are terrible but we just sit back and crowd watch. We always go in around the 21 and every year except two years ago we have had a discount. Last year if was a free dining pin. So dont just assume there will be nothing, there is always hope. The biggest suggestion I can make is make dining reservations. The counter services are crazy and sometimes you cant even find a place to sit. Its nice to get away from the crowds for a meal. Have fun!

I disagree. I think pretty much the 17th is setin stone. Based on the latest offers trend, they all started on a Sunday and ended on a sat. Problem is with Xmas being on a Sunday.

We went in xmas in 2008 and last year. This year we decided n a Tuesday night to Sunday the week before, pulling the kids out for 3 days. We get the Xmas feeling but jot the crowds and FD.

Otherwise we would have had to arrive in the 17th and either come back before Xmas or stay over a week, out of budget.

 

[ms mouse]

You could be right about the dates this year but people are reporting on other threads about receiving pins good up until Dec 22. It may never go public, or we may not get a pin but I'm still hoping. We will go whether we get a discount or not, but a discount would be nice.

 

[RedOne3781]

I am part of the super insane crowd too. We are getting there on 12/26 and leaving on 1/1, due to work schedules.

It is going to be a HUGE change for me, since I am used to going the last week in August when there is not only free dining and other discounts,but very small crowds as well. So not only am I trying to get over the sticker shock of traveling discount-free but also trying to mentally prepare myself for the insane crowds.

 

[anut4disney]

Okay I read the title wrong. I am arriving on the 17th not AFTER the 17th. I will be having eye surgery in a couple of weeks and hopefully will be able to read much better. Have fun all.

Count me in. We will be arriving on the 17th and leaving on the 27th.

It will be me and my granddaughter (12) and grandson (12), we are staying at Wilderness Lodge.

 

[Disney-Chick]

Wish I lived where you do in Canada.....where I am, school gets out DEC 23. We did get a pin code for rooms up to the 22nd, so might pull the kids out a day or 2 early to check in on the 22nd, or may just go for it and pull them out a week early for FD, since it is a MUCH better deal for our family of 5 disney 'adults' we can go 10 days for just a bit more than 5 days with our room only code!!

I am from Canada as well and the reason school ends earlier is because we start later then most in the US. I know that some schools have already started back where as ours does not start back until Sept. 6th. We then don't have any breaks until Christmas & then March Break with school ending the end of June and again if im correct the US schools end in May (?). We are booked for the beginning of Dec (3-15) We stayed over Christmas last year and it was crazy but that was only because we were getting married in January. Never again will we stay over Christmas unless we have to.

 

[su_A_ve]

Depends - here in NJ, school starts after labor day and ends in late June. NJ does have a 2 day break first week in Nov, which usually down in the world is know as NJ week, as half the NJ families go down there during this time.

The summer crowd goes the last 2 weeks of August, when value season starts, since school doesn't start until Sept.

But of course, now there are less and less offers for end of August and 1st week in Nov, due to this kind of localized breaks.

We pull the kids for 3 days... In the past, we've done twice xmas down there, but this year, we are going a week earlier...

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Well, not this year, but next year we are booked for Dec 20-27...so, yep, we will be there right in the thick of the chaos...honestly, I cant wait!!

 

[place513]

We are staying from 12/20-22 and 26-29. I ordered a customized map and about a week later received a PIN with 30% off Room rates from 12/20-22. No discount (nor do I expect to receive one) for 26-29 Unfortunately, there weren't any rooms available for the PIN discount at POP, where we are booked. It would only save $85 to move to All Star Sports- not sure that is worth it. We want to stay at POP for the transportation. We could possibly go to Port Orleans Riverside for about $15 more. Since we are doing a split stay anyway, I'm considering that move. Just wish they had more rooms at POP available for this PIN Code!

 

[kerri0616]

Wow. I haven't heard of a PIN for 12/20 +.

No matter though, we cannot arrive before 12/24!

My trip report will be called, "The non-discounted, no PIN, no free dining adventure." Nah, that's too wordy...I'll keep working on it.

K