Big jump in WDW package price just a week later?

[disneybound31]

I am going to have to cancel our Dec. 16-22, 2011 trip and re-book for Dec. 26th-Jan 2, 2011...the difference in cost is +$450...why is this? And, historically, are there any discounts every offered for this time frame? Never been at Xmas or New Years...

Wonder why the huge jump from one week to the next- still both holiday times.

 

[java]

Holiday time- It's MORE holiday during the week after Christmas- NYE is a biggie. School break. All popular times to be there. make it PREMIUM Rate time.

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

I am going to have to cancel our Dec. 16-22, 2011 trip and re-book for Dec. 26th-Jan 2, 2011...the difference in cost is +$450...why is this? And, historically, are there any discounts every offered for this time frame? Never been at Xmas or New Years...

Wonder why the huge jump from one week to the next- still both holiday times.

The week between Xmas and New Years is the busiest week of the year at WDW. They sometimes have to close due to capacity so they do not need to offer discounts or deals during this time to draw people in since they are actually turning people away.

 

[angwill]

Historically there have been no discounts that time of year just like Easter and summer. If the kids in the US are out of school there won't be discounts. Less people go on vacation before Christmas than after.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

When WDW used to have three "seasons" (value, standard and peak) value season ran to December 23 and peak season started December 24 and ran to January 1.

 

[chyam]

Personally, I would try and find another block of time to go...the parks are packed during that time, it's hard to enjoy all the rides etc. when it is wall to wall people, as other's have said somedays during that time period they reach capacity and don't let more people in....but as we all know Disney will pack as many as they can get in there! I just don't feel you get your moneys worth when it is so overcrowded....and my idea of park time is not standing in line after line. But of course that is just my opinion.....I learned my lesson years ago when it took me over 3 hours to get out of the parking lot at EPCOT on New Years Eve!

 

[Mickey527]

I am surprised you can even find a resort for that time period with availability.
I have been on a wait list for a studio for that time since July and have not had anything come through for any of the resorts.
But I do have a request in for one of the Epcot resorts because as Chyam said, that 3 hour walk to the car is just the start. It took me almost 4 hours to get to my Old Key West room because of the way they re route traffic on NY Eve.
If you do go expect at least a 2 hour wait for any of the popular rides, I usually just take in the lights and sights during that season.

 

[DawnM]

I have to say that I don't find this time of year to even be fun. We have been to MK on Christmas day when they had to close due to crowds and you can barely even move around in the parks, never mind the 2 hour waits for rides.

I too would look for another time to go.

Dawn

 

[Minnesota!]

I wouldn't go to WDW during that week if it were free!!!! No way Jose...the crowds, the prices (even the meals are more expensive!), etc. Go earlier in December if you want to see the decorations. But avoid Christmas - NYE at all costs...

 

[PatMcDuck]

We went last year, Dec 30-Jan 4. It was the only time we could go, with some of the college kids schedules. We managed to book at BLT, which was ideal. It was great! Our trip was shorter because of the higher cost at this time of year. Parks crowded, but some of us went to parks early, and the teens stayed out very late instead.

We had a great time, but of course it is a crowded more expensive time to go. We did NOT spend NYE in a park, we watched MK fireworks from the BLT bridge. They were AMAZING.

 

[Allison]

Peak season pricing.

I have to tell you we had a wonderful time during the week of Christmas. We didn't wait in long lines, we didn't stand in the middle of huge crowds, transportation was not a problem. It was a great time.

If you plan properly you can have a great time that week.

 

[csharpwv]

If I were you I would stick with the earlier travel dates - and possibly move them back even further - for two years now we have gone around the 1st week of December and the crowds are very low - and being DVC members - we have been able to get exactly the reservations we want - for our resort AND our dining. The longer you wait to go in December/New Years - the larger the crowds and the higher the prices.

We love going in early December - it REALLY puts us in the holiday spirit - we use out Annual Pass discount to get all our Christmas shopping done - plus the crowds are practically non-existent AND we stay where we want - and eat where we want!

PLUS you can sometimes get great deal on dated merchandise - I don't care if my sweatshirt says 2010 on it - I saved $37.00 on it!!!! I would never pay full price for Disney clothing - it's outrageous - but with the new year coming - they want to get 'old' merchandise off the shelves! The same applies for pins too!

Avoid the holiday weeks like the plague if you want to enjoy your vacation!

 

[disneybound31]

I am surprised you can even find a resort for that time period with availability.
I have been on a wait list for a studio for that time since July and have not had anything come through for any of the resorts.
But I do have a request in for one of the Epcot resorts because as Chyam said, that 3 hour walk to the car is just the start. It took me almost 4 hours to get to my Old Key West room because of the way they re route traffic on NY Eve.
If you do go expect at least a 2 hour wait for any of the popular rides, I usually just take in the lights and sights during that season.

It is not for THIS New Years- it would be for 12/2011- 1/2012...that week that has tons of availability because it is more than a year out.

 

[disneybound31]

If I were you I would stick with the earlier travel dates - and possibly move them back even further - for two years now we have gone around the 1st week of December and the crowds are very low - and being DVC members - we have been able to get exactly the reservations we want - for our resort AND our dining. The longer you wait to go in December/New Years - the larger the crowds and the higher the prices.

We love going in early December - it REALLY puts us in the holiday spirit - we use out Annual Pass discount to get all our Christmas shopping done - plus the crowds are practically non-existent AND we stay where we want - and eat where we want!

PLUS you can sometimes get great deal on dated merchandise - I don't care if my sweatshirt says 2010 on it - I saved $37.00 on it!!!! I would never pay full price for Disney clothing - it's outrageous - but with the new year coming - they want to get 'old' merchandise off the shelves! The same applies for pins too!


I SOOOO wish we could push back the dates, but with the kids in school (7th and 4th grade) we just don't take them out for vacations and I help run our family business and the week before Xmas is so busy for us that I felt guilty about leaving my parents in a lurch without my help...they would never say so, but I know I saw some relief when I told them I was most likely going to cancel the trip and re-book for the week after Xmas.

This will likely be our ONLY trip to WDW for Xmas and I wanted it to be so special...I am bummed now. I remind myself (as the kids shopped tonight for the angel tree children they picked at church today) that we are so blessed to even be able to THINK about a trip like Disney at Xmas and so blessed to have been able to go in October and in April years ago that I have NOTHING to be bummed about for sure!!

We just sure love our WDW time!!

 

[Allison]

Don't be bummed. We had a wonderful time at Christmas.

I'm copying this from what I had posted before. We had a wonderful time, did LOTS of stuff and didn't wait in big lines for anything. You just need to know how to tour the parks in the best way.

We were there from December 25-January 3 and had a great time. We got to do everything we wanted to do at the parks and that was plenty of things. We didn't wait in any long lines and used FP as much as possible. We got there early in the morning (not always right at park opening but close) and got our touring done and then relaxed by the pool at the resort in the afternoons. I would go again this time of year without hesitation.We didn't feel exhausted or wiped out at the end of the day and it was great to not deal with the heat and humidity we have had on our June trips. The weather was beautiful.

We did have one 30 minute wait. After Wishes, the kids wanted to do Splash Mountain so we waited 30 minutes for that. Otherwise, we used fastpass or did the attractions in the morning and walked on or just waited for the next show to start or were in a short line that was constantly moving along.


Here are some of the things we did. We had seven days in the parks(not long days) and one day we didn't go to a park.

Epcot:
Soarin' (3 times)
saw the World Showcase Players (walked up as they started and got a seat on the sidewalk to watch them)
Canada Santa storyteller(sat down front row about 2 minutes before it started)
Miyuki
walked around several countries
tree lighting ceremony
Figment-3 times
Nemo-twice
Mexico boat ride
Illuminations-twice
Test Track-twice
Character Connection-Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Chip & Dale, Goofy, Pluto-without a line
Spaceship Earth-twice
LeCellier
Teppan Edo
Tutto Italia
Imagination Station at Figment ride
sitting and enjoying the atmosphere

MGM (this is our least favorite park so we didn't have a lot we wanted to do here and we took it very easy):
Beauty and the Beast
Tower of Terror
Indiana Jones
MuppetVision 3D
Parade (had a wonderful seat to watch this)
shopping
face painting
Hollywood & Vine
Narnia
Walt Disney One Man's Dream
Fantasmic
Osborne Lights

Animal Kingdom:
Safari Breakfast
Kilimanjaro Safari (3 times)
Kali River Rapids (twice)
Primeval Whirl
TriceraTop Spin
Bugs Life
Nemo the Musical
Festival of the Lion King
character meeting for Donald
character meeting for Goofy
Pangani Trail
Birds of Wonder
Maharajah Jungle Trek
Jingle Jungle Parade
shopped

Magic Kingdom:
Buzz Lightyear (3 times)
TTA
Laugh Factory
Pooh (twice)
Peter Pan (twice)
It's a Small World
Haunted Mansion
Splash Mountain
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (twice)
Mickey's Philharmagic
Goofy's Barnstormer (4 times)
WDW railroad
Magic Carpets of Aladdin (twice)
Pirates of the Caribbean (3 times)
Enchanted Tiki Room
Christmas parade
Holiday Wishes
Spectromagic
shopping
Indy Speedway

Other things:
Chef Mickey
'Ohana
sleigh ride at Wilderness Lodge
Whispering Canyon
lots of swimming at the resort
shopping at Downtown Disney
explored other resorts Christmas decorations-Boardwalk, Beach Club, Wilderness Lodge, Contemporary, POR, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian
rode the monorail
kids spent time in the arcade