Are we nuts???? Christmas in WDW????

[familydisney]

So my family (DH and 2 DS 15 and 13) has decided they want to try to get free dining but due to all of the high school activities, etc, they think it's best to go Dec. 21-29. This is the busiest week of the year, I know. Plus, in order to afford it with sky-high airfare, they want to DRIVE, from Colorado!!!

To be clear, we have been to Disney 8 times already and the boys have done about everything there is to do multiple times. That being said, we have tried to go at less busy times (last trip was Labor Day with no waits) so we aren't used to wall-to wall people. Our first few trips were at the Holidays when the kids were small and don't remember as well, but we left before the crowds got crazy. It would be nice to feel the atmosphere, parades, etc. but I don't want it to be an unpleasant experience. With the age of the kids and how hard it was to find a date for this trip, it may well be our last as a family and I want it to be as magical as possible....

Any advice? We could go at the end of October but it would mean coming up with money faster, taking time of off work, school and activities. I would prefer it, but so far I'm out-voted.

Will it still be fun to go at Christmas even with all the people? Does it even FEEL like Christmas waking up without a tree in Orlando?? Does having Mickey around make it worthwhile...? Please help this mixed up traveler come to terms with a VERY different kind of Disney trip. Tia!

 

[Jimbeaux28]

Having experienced WDW during the Christmas of 2010, I will never, ever, ever go to WDW during the week between Christmas and New Years, even if the trip were free.

 

[thiabelle]

We had such a great time last year that we are going back this year!! Yes it is bananas crowded but we zig when others zag and rope drop without question. I found that the crowds really built AFTER Christmas. The days leading up to it were busy but I guess I was expecting to not be able to move and never had that experience. I worried about the tree so I hired someone to decorate the room. I didn't need to worry. DD was thrilled with all of the Disney decorations that were around. Maybe it was for me?? This year I will skip that expense. It really was a fun time for us. Hope you get to enjoy whenever you go!

 

[freediverdude]

As far as the difference in plane fare, did you tell them how much the hotels are that week?? lol If you went in October instead, you could probably save enough to fly there, especially if you were thinking deluxe, lol. Even the moderates there would be like a $100 per day difference in the price. I don't think they realize just HOW crowded it is during that week, especially during the events like parades and fireworks, you literally cannot move for a while. Yes they have time off from activities/work that week, but the price is very steep.

 

[momabbate]

It sounds like you have an idea what you are planning. I say go for it. Make sure everyone understands the crowds. Have everyone pick one thing in park to do. Then enjoy the extras. I would love to go during Christmas. For us it would not work. Maybe one year. Can't wait to hear what you decided.

 

[stamot]

After being at Disney many many times we decided it that we wanted to experience Disney during Christmas. I was so worry but we prepared ourselves with plans for each park, and doing rope drop almost every day. We did it with out 9yo and it was amazing. Going at rope drop let us do a lot of the rides with little wait. We fallowed EasyWDW plans and they worked. When the park got crowded we went to our resort and did other things. We toured the deluxe resort to look at the decor. Visited Downtown Disney and play mini golf. We had a blast. This year we are going during Christmas again. This time with a 1yo, an 11yo, my dh and grandma. We are excited and can wait.

It will be crowded but we love the magic during Christmas.

 

[disnut8]

So my family (DH and 2 DS 15 and 13) has decided they want to try to get free dining but due to all of the high school activities, etc, they think it's best to go Dec. 21-29. This is the busiest week of the year, I know. Plus, in order to afford it with sky-high airfare, they want to DRIVE, from Colorado!!!

With the age of the kids and how hard it was to find a date for this trip, it may well be our last as a family and I want it to be as magical as possible....

Will it still be fun to go at Christmas even with all the people? Does it even FEEL like Christmas waking up without a tree in Orlando?? Does having Mickey around make it worthwhile...? Please help this mixed up traveler come to terms with a VERY different kind of Disney trip. Tia!

Your sons want to go to Disney World at the ages of 15 and 13. Your husband wants to go. That's the answer to any question you ever wanted to ask right there.

So, you drive from Colorado. When I was growing up, my family and I took a two week trip each summer to a different place from our home state of Pennsylvania. We drove every place. By the time I was twelve, I had seen half of the 50 states quite easily. Your kids are 15 and 13, I'm sure they know how to entertain themselves while in a car.

Will it be fun to be at Disney World even with all the people? Of course - because he only people you should be concerned with are your husband and your two boys who will soon be men.

As far as the tree - I haven't had a tree for Christmas in almost twenty years because my cats will climb them. And you know what, Christmas still happens. Christmas is what you make it.

In my opinion, toss all your past with Christmas out the window. Your boys and your husband want to do something different and that probably will not happen ever again. THEY want it so embrace that feeling because it will probably be better than any other Christmas feeling you've ever had. You will be together and having a good of a time as you can. That's called life.

As if it's not perfect? Who cares? You will be together. THAT is Christmas. Not when, where or how but being together.

 

[lblume91]

We just booked our first Christmas trip last week. Like you, we have super busy older kids & know this may be our last time to go as a family. I'm trying to prepare for the worst case scenario as far as crowds go so maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised. I also wonder if it will "feel" like Christmas but we're still excited to go!

 

[ktlm]

We did the week between Christmas and New Years pre DD. It was totally packed, but we had a great time. I would NEVER do it with a kid under 12, but you have 2 teenagers. I would think while it will be crazy packed, it will be doable without being totally miserable with that age kids. The only thing that throws a wild card in it for me is the FP+ impact. We've done FP+ once (not at Christmas), and I much prefer the old system. With so many more people at a crowded time starting off with 3 FP+ in hand, I think your chances of getting decent stuff with the rolling FP, go down quite a bit.

 

[glassslippergirl]

Your sons want to go to Disney World at the ages of 15 and 13. Your husband wants to go. That's the answer to any question you ever wanted to ask right there. So, you drive from Colorado. When I was growing up, my family and I took a two week trip each summer to a different place from our home state of Pennsylvania. We drove every place. By the time I was twelve, I had seen half of the 50 states quite easily. Your kids are 15 and 13, I'm sure they know how to entertain themselves while in a car. Will it be fun to be at Disney World even with all the people? Of course - because he only people you should be concerned with are your husband and your two boys who will soon be men. As far as the tree - I haven't had a tree for Christmas in almost twenty years because my cats will climb them. And you know what, Christmas still happens. Christmas is what you make it. In my opinion, toss all your past with Christmas out the window. Your boys and your husband want to do something different and that probably will not happen ever again. THEY want it so embrace that feeling because it will probably be better than any other Christmas feeling you've ever had. You will be together and having a good of a time as you can. That's called life. As if it's not perfect? Who cares? You will be together. THAT is Christmas. Not when, where or how but being together.

My thoughts exactly. When you have busy teenaged boys who WANT to spend Christmas at WDW with their parents, you do whatever it takes to make that happen.

DH and I are both teachers, so we go pretty much only during school holidays. It's crowded but not intolerable. Plan on rope drop and/or late EMH (if your boys are night owls). Plan your FPs to do the things they want to do most. Just take the rest as it comes.

As for the tree, if it's a must (and it would be for me), pick up a cheap, small one at Walmart when you get to Orlando (you'll have a car which opens a lot of possibilities-- even staying off property if holiday room rates are cost prohibitive). You can even buy ornaments at the park and take them home as souvenirs.

I can't imagine anything that says Christmas more than seeing the Candlelight Processional in Epcot on Christmas Eve (dinner package is a must) and holiday Wishes at MK an Christmas Day. Enjoy!

 

[DISNEYWITHCHILDREN]

I live here and go to WDW whenever I want so you'd think I'd avoid the crowds during the holidays. But my sister, brother in law, and two nephews come the last two weeks in Dec. My brother in law is all about Disney so with him, and our kids I do Disney the rope drop way. We are there for rd, spend 3-5 hours, and then head home. I have to tell you-it wasn't too bad. We actually had very little to no waits the first two hours.

That being said I did go on New Year's Eve. That I will not do again. It wasn't just that it was crowded, it was gross-vomit on the ground by late afternoon, people throwing food on the ground when they were done. I was shocked.

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

I have celebrated 3 Christmases at Disney and I always enjoy it. You will need to be okay with not seeing tons of things in one day and be okay with crowds. The earlier you start the day, the better off you will be.

 

[SillySallySews]

but I don't want it to be an unpleasant experience.

It doesn't have to be Christmas or crowded to have an unpleasant experience. People here on these boards complain about unpleasant Disney experiences all the time. It is what you make of it no matter when you go.

I will say this about it "feeling" like Christmas...I spent my whole life living in places where Christmas meant cold weather and most likely snow. I spent Christmas with my parents the first year after they moved to FL. It was like 80 degrees, slightly humid, sunny, and definitely felt nothing like Christmas lol! But I would imagine if you're actually in Disney surrounded by all those decorations and festivities, it might be different. I think it depends on what you're used to. If you're really stressed about the crowds maybe try to splurge on resort you've always wanted to stay at, and that way you'll have a nice relaxing place to get away from the parks. Have a great time!

 

[RayRay13]

I personally loved going the 1st week of Dec but it is not easy to coordinate the everyone's plans. This is where I love FP+. You know that you can each pick 3 things in each park some together and take a shot at whatever comes up. You can rope drop but you don't have too. With the my kids a little older we focus on late hours in the parks when the bulk of he crowd is done for the day. Even at busy times, we've had a lot of luck after 8 or 9 pm. We spend the early part of the day at the pool or just taking our time and using our FPs.
There is a lot of non-ride attractions at Christmas too. I think when you choose to go at a busy time, you have some built in expectation control. When something great happens, it that much more exciting.

 

[kathy884]

First of all -- Yes it's nuts to go that time of year

But you are in good company. I've gone seven different times at Christmas.

I totally get not taking kids out of school and activities too.

Some tips:
-- Resort time is great. Everyone is at the parks, so resorts aren't crowded.
-- Rope drop for a park day is an absolute must IMHO and get there early to be at the front of the rope drop crowd. The first two hours of the day are great. After that it's totally downhill.
-- A touring plan can really help lower time in lines. And there is a huge difference between crowd level 9 and 10 days. Try for the 9s if you have any.
-- Your days before the 24th will be less crowded than your other days. Probably good to do a more popular park like the MK earlier.
-- Don't drive anywhere you don't have too. Don't know if you are on or offsite, but traffic around dinner time etc. is horrible.
-- If you are offsite and want to go out for dinner, pick a place like Perkins that is mostly thought of as a breakfast place. It's the only place where you won't have a long wait.
-- Except for a possible lunch at a resort hotel, make sure that you have reservations for any Disney table service that you want to do.
-- The parks are really festive at Christmas, and can get you in the Christmas spirit.
-- We put up a mini tree when we are down for Christmas and put up lights etc. too.
-- Visit some of the resort hotels with great Christmas decorations. I especially recommend the Grand Floridian: Chestnuts roasting on an open fire for real, Dickens period carolers, a huge gingerbread house, a huge tree, really festive.


Keep expectations for what you can do low, bring lots of patience, and have fun.

 

[Lynne G]

Our two kids, a tween and teen get so much every year, last year we told them, family trip is your present and they were fine with that. We spent Christmas Day at Discovery Cove. That was the gift to our kids. We had a great time. When things got too crowded, we found something else to do. I loved that time of year. I had never seen any decorations, as we normally vacation at the end of the summer. We had a great family trip.

I say do it. Be patient, get up early, make reservations to cut down on wait times and just enjoy being with each other. Relax and think no shoveling needed. I would go again that time of year. I love all the extras that happen at that time.

 

[kerri0616]

There is nothing like standing at the gates of MK at 6:40 am. The only other people are crazy like us! We accomplish so much before the sleepyheads wander in. 3rd Xmas week trip is planned! My boys will be 18 & 15 and thrilled to be going!

 

[canadianmom2three]

We went at Christmas 2011 for what we thought would be our last disney trip with the kids. We are now headed back again this Christmas with DS almost 18, DD 15 and DS 12. They are soooo excited to be going back, Ds17 was online reading me disney facts just tonight. We were prepared for the worst and had the BEST TIME EVER. Can't say enough about how magical it was to spend Christmas there. FTR we drive too, and had never spent a Christmas anywhere but home- which being canada, is usually snowy etc. we brought a little tree from home. Hope you have a fantastic trip!!

 

[phoebusII]

Your dates are within the free dining time frame, so that should help with expenses. If you arrive on or before 12/23, you can get free dining for your entire stay.

We are trying Christmas week for the first time ever. While anxious about the crowds, we will try to do rope drop as much as possible and try to use FP+ wisely. Also, will try to follow the easywdw recommendations. I am awaiting the release of the December calendar, so I can plan the park days and ADRs.

 

[familydisney]

Thanks for all of the replies! We have already booked CBR for free dining starting the 21st. The savings for the food is certainly mitigated by the higher resort costs, but as many of you have said there are trade offs.

I agree with PPs who said I am so lucky all the "men" in my life want to go, so you are all right. I guess I'll temper my expectations and try to find new things to make this trip the best ever.

Another question...can you actually swim that time of year. Our first ever trip to WDW was 12/17-24 and it was so freezing we had to buy sweatshirts. We are from Colorado and we were still too cold! Would love to use the pool if possible as CBR is supposed to have a great one...