Christmas at Disney

[des4lee]

So I was wondering about being at Disney during Christmas. I've heard that Christmas week is the busiest week at Disney. A friend of mine was at Disney this Dec. 24th and 25th. She said the parks were EMPTY, completely dead. But the very next day, the 26th, it was PACKED! So has anyone traveled to Disney the week leading up to Christmas? I'm thinking of actually spending Christmas day at Disney. How are the crowds? Thanks!

 

[ironpig70]

Have yet to do the World on Christmas so I cannot speak for them.

I did Disneyland 2 years ago and did 5 days with Christmas Day in the middle. The first day was semi crowded, the day before Christmas, Christmas and the day after was an absolute zoo. Disneyland had to stop letting people in.


I have to say with the crowd levels we still were able to see/do everything we wanted to and then some. If you know how to use the FP system and you plan out your days it brings sanity to the holiday.

I also used Ride Max and on day 1 and getting FP's became a game.

My kids kept asking if it was time to get another one and even wanted to run to get more.

 

[amberg@eastlink.ca]

we checked into pop dec 22, then blt on the 23rd, 2011. crowds were inane! we skipped the parks xmas day just cus i knew they would hit capacity. by 1030 3 had closed to capacity and only epcot remained open. if you get in early and can get some rides done youre doing well. we left jan 6th and crowds were still going strong. nye was even worse. we went and told the kids, keep in mind it will be crazy, we will get done what we get done and if we miss something it is not the end of the world. at 6 and 4 they handled it well. were planning this xmas again. my new saying is, i've done disney at xmas and new yrs, nothing scares me! okay so med free childbirth did. a little. lol

 

[OLIVIA'S DADDY]

We usually go the first or second week in December, the crowds are very low, the weather is nice 75-80 during the day and cool 50's-60's at night...I'm not one who likes crowds or waiting, and definitely don't like it too hot so it is the perfect time for us...Also the christmas decorations are up and the holidays are in full swing...It's an amazing time to go....Hope this helps, enjoy your trip!

 

[Stinkerbell1973]

Christmas is such a magical time to be at Disney!
However, I wasn't there and I can tell you that the parks were not "dead or "empty" on Christmas Eve or Day. I know this because I read many, many, many threads on the "Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies" board (which I recommend that you do as well), and most of the day either my DH or DD would ask me to check the Lines app to see how long the lines were. 120 min waits were common, but IIRC, Space Mtn was at 200 mins, Test Track was around 200 PLUS and Soarin was around 200 as well.
A few people said that Christmas morning was pretty dead but that the crowds started picking up around 10am.

In 2011 we were there over Christmas - and MK on Christmas Eve at 2pm was a madhouse. Shoulder to shoulder people...it took us close to 30 mins just to walk down Main Street from the Princess M&G to the castle. And it stayed that way until 7pm-ish.

If you want to just experience Christmas at Disney, I highly recommend another weekend/weekday. Christmas Day will not be "dead" or "empty".

 

[joech]

So I was wondering about being at Disney during Christmas. I've heard that Christmas week is the busiest week at Disney. A friend of mine was at Disney this Dec. 24th and 25th. She said the parks were EMPTY, completely dead. But the very next day, the 26th, it was PACKED! So has anyone traveled to Disney the week leading up to Christmas? I'm thinking of actually spending Christmas day at Disney. How are the crowds? Thanks!

We were there the last two weeks and I wouldn't say the 25th was dead. We got to the park early on the 24th and it wasn't busy till 10:30-11:00am. We decided to skip the park on the 25th. My BIL tried to go to Mk at 9:00am and the traffic to the TTC parking lot was so bad that he turned around to go to Ak. Then it took him over 20 minutes to go through the parking gate at AK and turned around and left.

You would be ok as long as you get to park right when they are open. Also take advantage of Extra magic hours if you stay at a Disney resort.

 

[Disney-Chick]

When I speak to others on times to go I always mention how crowded it is during Christmas. That is why we always go the first 2 weeks of Dec. TSM is the only ride that I usually see hit around 100 min wait while we are there. I could never imagine waiting for a ride that is 200 min I would go crazy.

 

[rock_doctor]

We go this time every year. The park was not dead this last Christmas. The time that span a day to two before Christmas to a day or two after New Years are the worst times to go. Over that week and half or so the MK closed each day with a stage 3 or 4 closing. I have never see it so packed. I do recommend going this time of year because WDW is great with all of the Christmas decorations. It is actually pretty cool. Anyway, you won't know until you give it a try.

 

[bpesch]

I have honestly never heard that Disney was even remotely dead the week before Christmas through New Years. In fact I've always found them to be very crowded, way beyond what I thought. Not a chance for me. I like the middle of November. Low crowds, great temps, all the holiday decorations...

 

[chartle]

OP the only way that WDW is dead on the 24th and the 25th is if there is terrible weather.

The person that told you this may have gone the year that as I read here, Xmas day was cold and rainy and the parks were supposedly dead. That may also have been the year that they kept the decorations up until the middle of January trying to get people through the gates.

 

[des4lee]

Wow! Thank you! I'm not interested in huge crowds......so not going that week! How does everyone feel about Jersey week? I really want to go for Christmas without having my son miss too much school. He'll be in 6th grade next year. I feel like thats a bad grade to miss a whole week of school....