Between these two weeks...

[mesbijoux]

what would you do (those who have Holiday crowd experience :

We are Deluxe AP holders and are dealing with the blackout dates of December 22 thru 31 (with a family of 7 we're not not wanting to pay additional fees to go for a black out day more than say...once ). We have contemplated pulling the kids out of school and going December 16 - 21. Or paying the upgrade to go on December 31st for New Years Eve and staying thru January 5.

What are your experiences? Is the week before Christmas a better choice than the week after? How is New Years Eve at the park - is it something that would be cool with 5 kids (10, 8, 7, 4 and 1) or too busy / crazy? When do the Christmas decorations come down? It would be a disappointment to everyone to miss that (especially the Nightmare Before Christmas themed Haunted Mansion).

Guess I just need some input - I've never been during either of the two weeks we're contemplating and so have no idea what to expect.

 

[BecBennett]

I'm sorry I'm not really going to be answering your questions because I don't have too much experience with the crowds, but I just wanted to say that I've never thought pulling kids out of school for a week or so as any harm!

I know they miss a bit of work, but it's never too much to get them that far behind... I remember having a few weeks off from school just sick once and I'd much prefer the time off for a holiday!

Coming from Oz, it's not uncommon for kids to miss three weeks of school to go somewhere like Disneyland, that's what I did in 95.

I've even heard a teacher say that the life experience that kids gain from going on holidays is much more invaluable then the time they miss at school. This of course may not be the case if they go often...

I hope this helps make your decision easier

 

[DLR29]

Definitely go the week before Christmas. We went last year and it was great! In only 2 days we rode over 50 rides and saw fireworks and Fantasmic. We went the W and Th before Christmas and Wednesday was significantly less crowded than Thursday, so be sure to go in the beginning of the week. NY is crazy and not worth going to DL IMO if all you're going to do is swim around in an ocean of people.

 

[BillyFan]

I would never take kids to DLR over New Years. In my experience several years ago, it was Super-Crowded!!!!!!! We were shoulder to shoulder and just couldn't do anything after 7:30. No fun.

 

[cirquelovers]

I personally wouldn't take my child on NYE. It is a chaotic mess and you really can't go on many rides. We did go the week after and it was nice and quiet. The Christmas decorations were still up and it was fun to watch them try to carry off the Disneyland Hotel tree. It actually fell over in the parking lot! Although sometimes they are fazing out holiday merchandise so it can be harder to find that special something in your size.

If I was you, which I'm not, I would pull the kids out early and enjoy the season without the crowds. We actually prefer early December, as the crowds are more manageable and the hours for the parks aren't as short as November.

 

[Delilah Bleu]

With the way that Christmas falls this year many school are out December 24and return to school on January 7th. We plan to go the Jan 1-5 because we are also Delux AP holders.

 

[Phalene]

Of the 2, I would choose the 16-21st, I think NYE would be just too crowded and hectic to be really enjoyable for the kids.

Although, if you're taking the kids out of school anyway, November 1-6 would be a great time too