Christmas 2016

[Elitravelor]

Need to ask....and want as many opinions as possible!!

We have been to Disney over 10 times with our now grown children-going mostly in the summer due to my teaching schedule. Our DD will be turning 21 this fall and wants to celebrate at Disney over Christmas week. Yikes! As much as I would love to see Disney at Christmas....is it really as terrible with crowds etc as we have heard? People told us about ---Parks being shut down, wall to wall people, no way to get into food areas?

Would you go or not???

 

[mrsjoannh13]

I'll preface this by saying I've not been during Christmas week...

Even with the crowd levels at 10/10 Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, if my child ever asked me to go during a specific time I would take her no matter what. That's just me.

But I would plan on going in early a.m., doing what we could do, and just having the attitude that things are going to take a lot longer than usual.

If you could go for a week leading up to Christmas you'd still have some low crowd days (starting on the 18th through the 21st) that you could enjoy the parks before it gets too crazy.

Life is too short. If it's a dream to see Disney at Christmas and you have the means to - my vote is to do it!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Only park that stands a chance at going stage 4 (meaning nobody gets in until the crowds thin out) is Magic Kingdom. Unless you are staying offsite and driving in, you will probably get in if you want to.

As for the food areas it will help a great deal to eat at off-peak times if you are talking about quick service places. If you want TS you might need some ADRs.

 

[Elitravelor]

So true about life being short....can't believe the baby will be 21!

We always stay onsite and have been fortunate to stay in many deluxe resorts. Hard working DH --well all of us work hard!!! ---that sees the magic!! DD actually picked Disney for her celebratory Valedictorian Trip--instead of Spain. We had an awesome trip. We plan hard and hit the parks early everyday.

I must say I'm a little worried about the weather. We always go in the summer and deal with the heat. Cold/rain in December??

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

Buckle Up.

I'm probably the biggest supporter of Disney during Christmas week. A quick background - like your family, mine grew up on Disney. I'm 26, my sister is 31 and my parents are in their 60s. Back in 07/08, my dad was diagnosed with cancer. It was a long, drawn-out battle that he won. After his surgeries and he went into remission, we wanted to celebrate. We'd always been to Disney during the summer, but he wanted to try it for Christmas.

Looking back, our planning was terrible. We had ADRs but no dining plan (which you don't necessarily need). We didn't plan out our parks or schedule anything (outside ADRS). It wasn't a mess, but we've learned a lot. We loved it so much that we went back in 2010, skipped 2011 due to a wedding and my impending job hunt, and returned in 2013, 2014 and this past Christmas.

Is it packed?
Yes. Main Street on Christmas Day is a nightmare. It's crowded with wall-to-wall people and wait times for popular rides can surpass 2 hours.
But, planning your day can go a long way. For instance, my family quickly learned that while Magic Kingdom is CRAZY crowded on Christmas Day, Animal Kingdom is not. Now, we'd never break tradition. We love MK on Christmas Day. So, we arrive early for morning EMH. We also learned that the park doesn't typically get crowded until 10 or 11am. We go on as many rides as possible and schedule our FP+s for 11am, 12pm and 1pm before heading back to the resort for a break.

Parks getting shut down
Yes and no. Parks will see phased closures. However, if you're staying on-site, you're at a huge advantage. I've only witnessed MK see a Phase 3 closure (usually 12/25, 12/26 and 12/31). I think MK only hit a Phase 4 closure once - back in 2007. Only at a Phase 4 closure are on-site guests turned away.

Is it as terrible as you've heard?
A Disney vacation is only as terrible as you make it. If you go in there expecting to skate through the park and see and do everything, you're gonna be disappointed. If you go in there with the understanding that it's gonna be crowded and brace for the worst, you're gonna have a ball!

You're at a tremendous advantage having been to the park so much. I wouldn't recommend Christmas week for first timers or even people going for their 2nd or 3rd time. However, you've already seen and done everything! If you miss a ride or two, would it really kill you? You also have an older family which is awesome. Magic Kingdom will do at least one late-night EMH (1am-3am). Most of the families will go home after the last parade/fireworks show and the park really empties out by 2am. It's an awesome opportunity to see the park without the crowds and go on your favorite rides at a much reduced wait time.

The whole food area thing is false. Will it be crowded during lunchtime and dinnertime? Absolutely. But we've never had a problem getting a QS table. Now - you NEED to be online at 7am the second your 180-day window opens. ADRs will go QUICK, but this notion that you'll wait to go to the bathroom or for a table at a QS is wrong - however, it is true on NYE.

I'd say do it. It's expensive, it's crowded and can be stressful, but nothing beats it. My sister is a teacher, my dad is retired and my mom has a ton of PTO days. I'm really the only one stuck using 1/3 of my days for the trip.. but, I wouldn't have it any other way. The way I see it - all my friends wake up on 12/26 and go back about their normal lives. They go out, they go back to work, etc. Me? I wake up and go to the parks. We all lead busy lives, so having a week-long vacation and spending what feels like a week-long holiday together is awesome.

My blog and free digital book is at survivedisxmas.com if you wanna learn more.

 

[a742246]

Since you know Disney and how to use fast passes I would do a Christmas week. At 21 you never know how many years she will go with you!

 

[Disneylover99]

We've done it and it's awesome!!!!

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

Also, a side note... Despite having a broken foot - my first Christmas tip after turning 21 was the most memorable. Cruising the World Showcase on an ECV sipping a big beer from Germany. Nothing beat it! There's also a ton of fun Christmasy alcoholic drinks for your daughter to try... you know.. if she drinks!

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

One more side note - sorry, just trying to help!

Disney for Christmas isn't just about the parks, either! We've spent an entire day touring the deluxe resorts. If your daughter does drink, do a monorail crawl and stop at each of the deluxe resorts for a drink. While there, tour the lobbies. Each deluxe resort has beautiful decorations and a towering tree decked with ornaments that fit the resort's theme.

Also, I'm not sure where you're from, but Disney is a break from the cold for us. We're from NY. Now, we've been to Disney when it's 30 degrees at night, but the past two years it's been hot! It's such a nice vaca before hitting the dead of winter in NY!!

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

I must say I'm a little worried about the weather. We always go in the summer and deal with the heat. Cold/rain in December??

December is a pretty dry month in Orlando. On average, it rains ~4 days. In 2014, 2 of those days were at the end of our trip.

For the most part, prepare for weather in the 60s and 70s, but pack for every season. My luggage typically consists of short-sleeve shirts, long-sleeve shirts, shorts, pants hoodies, thick socks, scarfs and hats. THis year I packed too warm. It was in the high 80s most of the trip and it was HUMID! It's really hard to predict. The heat was supposed to break on the Sunday we were there and we were supposed to get cooler nights, but it never happened. I'm not complaining, but it was hotter than expected.

Layers are your friend. In truth, you can get anywhere from lows in the 30s (like in 2009/2010) or highs in the mid 90s. More often than not, you'll get weather in the 70s though.

 

[Elitravelor]

Thanks everyone! I feel so much better already....we can do this!

PlutoTheDog89--I downloaded your book. You are so kind to offer it! Thank you!

Yes, DD is very interested in Christmasy Holiday Drinks! She is a great student and an amazing young hard working woman. She deserves a magical vacation and will love vacationing away from the Boston weather!

On to the planning...which resort....??? ahhhh love it!

 

[monique5]

Christmas 2014 was our 1st Disney Christmas. We loved it! Especially my DD6. I read PlutoTheDog89 book, checked the Dis for Christmas threads , and used KennyThePirate website. Was on the phone at the 180D mark, and was able to reserve all of my ADRs. Did BoG for the end on trip, we were there for 10D, leaving 2D after Christmas. I did have to call for some of the ADRs. Going back for Christmas next year!

Having a plan works well, which you know from previous trips. The best advise I received was getting to MK early on Christmas Day. Dream of ours to be on Main Street Christmas morning & MK on Christmas. Walking down Main St. @ 7:01am is AWESOME. We accomplished so much by 10am with no FP+ -- SDMT, Barnstormer, Dumbo, PPF, SW, MTC, cinnamon rolls @ GT, and all of the character M&G in NFL. BBB @ 10am. Lunch @ CRT @ 11:30. Then had FP+ for 12, 1, & 2; then headed to resort & had Christmas dinner @ Mickey's Backyard BBQ, one of the special Christmas dinners.

BTW-we had a blast touring the resorts looking @ Holiday decorations. CP was amazing @ EP too.

 

[Elitravelor]

Thanks for all the information. I have never heard of Kenny the Pirate ...I will check it out.

 

[PrincessJo]

We've been during Christmas week, Thanksgiving week and New Year's Eve. We DISers know more than the average Disney visitor, so I think it'll be fine because you're ahead of the game. One year I wasn't able to get a FP for A&E, so we got there bright and early and ran over, stood in line fot 30 minutes and saw them just fine. Never had trouble riding everything we want and getting the reservations we want. Plan for the crowds and you'll have a great time!

 

[AussieNSW]

I had been dreaming on visiting Disney at Christmas and was going to do this for my 50th birthday. I was working out family availability and decided that I would do it earlier. Only a year. As we were coming from Australia this was going to be a major trip. I busily start reading everything I could and then the doubts started to creep in. I decided that it would be easier to go to Anaheim instead but then I started to follow the Christmas thread for Disneyland on dis boards. It seemed that everything was a little bit up in the air due to the 60th. Maybe no parade, maybe no fireworks, maybe no lights on the castle. Then there was going to be a parade then there was not. I had to make some decisions so that I could get decent airfare prices. I made the choice based on the information that was available to me. Wdw provides you with the information so much earlier than Disneyland. So Wdw it was.
I could not believe it we were going to Wdw from the 28th dec to 2nd Jan.
I read all the posts and stories and watched the videos about the crowds and thought you are an idiot for wanting to do this. It was the last year for the Osborne lights so I thought it's going to be even more crowed. I then thought I have wanted to do this for such a long time, I am going to do it. So we did and I don't regret any moment of it.
I think you need to go to it with the right attitude and realise yes it's going to be crowded, yes you will not get to ride everything you want, yes it will be expensive but WOW.
It was the most magical time of the year. We stayed at grand Floridian which was beautiful and provided us with great transport options. We got fast passes for the mickeys Christmas parade which was brilliant for us and also fast passes for the holiday wishes. On the 30th dec we watched the rehearsal for the NYE fireworks at Magic kingdom we went to the dessert party. On NYE we went to Hollywood studios and left at about 9:00pm and came back to grand Floridian to watch the fireworks which was fantastic. For us it was more about the experiences. We also had a booking for Crystal palace one morning at rope drop. The rope drop for this week was really early and it was still dark 7:00am. They let us in before the rest of the early risers and we got to have photos in the park fully lit as it was still dark with it being empty.
One of the important things I learnt from people on this board is rope drop is your friend and it was so true for us. I think this is what helped us to have the magical time we had. We hit rope drop in the mornings and left each day when it got to crowded which tended to be about 11/12 am. We either then had a booking for lunch or had it back at the Floridian. We then went back in the evening. During the time in between we rested or swum. I understand that it was unusually warm during the Christmas new year week 2015/2016.
I would not have swapped the Christmas experience we had for anything and I am glad I did not listen to the negative stories but I think if we did not plan as much as we did and had the right expectations and were flexible then our trip may not have been as magical as it was.
Have fun.

 

[Elitravelor]

Thanks so much for sharing your experience with a Christmas visit. We are very thorough planners and always do spreadsheets with all of our fastpasses and reservations. We are rope drop people and make the most of early mornings. I was worried that even with our planning, we would not be able to enjoy the parks. Now I feel much better. We can do this and our expectations will be realistic. However, I am so excited to see the Christmas magic!! Yippee!

 

[disneygolfer1985]

Thanks everyone! I feel so much better already....we can do this!

PlutoTheDog89--I downloaded your book. You are so kind to offer it! Thank you!

Yes, DD is very interested in Christmasy Holiday Drinks! She is a great student and an amazing young hard working woman. She deserves a magical vacation and will love vacationing away from the Boston weather!

On to the planning...which resort....??? ahhhh love it!

Personally, I would recommend an Epcot resort over Christmas. Epcot has holidays around the world and since everyone is older, I think you will spend more time around the WS enjoying the festivities. We go either for thanksgiving or Christmas every year. We stay at the boardwalk and it's great being able to walk to 2 parks. I really enjoy walking around the WS during the holidays and listening to the storytellers and tasting the holiday drinks.

On the weather, yes 2009 was frigid, but this past year it almost didn't feel like Christmas. It was 85 during the day and 75 at night. Layers are best bet, but have a great time and enjoy. It truly is a great time. You could also do one of the holiday tours, which is pretty fascinating.

 

[Elitravelor]

What is a holiday tour?? I never heard of it.

I am thinking Boardwalk also just for the ability to walk to Epcot and a quick ride or even walk to Hollywood Studios.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

They have a few different tours that show the behind the scenes of how the decorations around Walt Disney are created. I've been on the Yuletide Fantasy tour before. It was pretty cool seeing the workshop where they create all the magic.

 

[courtneybeth]

We were there during Christmas Week in 2014 and it was amazing.... and busy.

Christmas Eve gets packed closer to the evening and Christmas Day is pretty full at MK and EPCOT. It took us 90 minutes to get from Animal Kingdom Lodge to EPCOT on Christmas morning -- so when you make your plans:

1. Choose Animal Kingdom on Christmas Day or get to EPCOT super early on Christmas morning. I wouldn't try Magic Kingdom - it'll be full super fast.
2. Stay on property but choose a hotel that's centrally located to most of the parks.
3. Plan your days so that you do more of the busier parks further away from Christmas. If you're there the 21-28, try to do MK as close to the beginning as possible - or the day after Christmas and further out in your trip to departure day.
4. Make your Fast Pass reservations for LATER in the day - not in the morning. Same goes for ADRs, do lunch. That way if you do get delayed you're not penalized. (We missed Test Track FP+ by 5 minutes due to the 90 minute bus ride to EPCOT).