Christmas at Disney

[Cara Sue]

We're considering doing Christmas at WDW next year.. has anyone been there on December 25? How has it worked for your family?

 

[byoung]

Will be crowded. We go around the 10th crowds are low.

 

[chris7]

We just got back, our trip was Dec. 17-26. We had a fabulous time. I had really expected huge crowds but we followed the Tour Guide Mike and Unofficial Guide suggestions of being there before park opening and doing rides in the order suggested and we walked on all the rides we wanted. We really got there early, we were usually the first in line at one of the turnstiles but it was so worth it. We stumbled onto a couple of magical moments by being early and in the right place at the right time. My daughter got to "open" MGM on the day of her 6th B-day. We were the first people on the Pangani forrest trail at AK one morning and they had just started this thing were the first family gets to "let the gorillas out". By the time we were finishing the rides and attractions we really wanted to do for the day (around noon, sometimes earlier) the crowds were really exploding. We would go back to our condo so the kids could nap and we could chill out and then we would head back out late afternoon to check out resorts or go back to a park. It was really the trip of a lifetime (our first time at WDW).

 

[SusanD]

Yes, it is very crowded (we were there last year) and the attendance can be so high the restrict admission. It helps if you are staying onsite or have an annual pass.

 

[experiment626mom]

We just came back and I would say avoid MK and Epcot on Christmas day. We spent the day at Animal Kingdom and did not have any long waits for anything, including Kilimanjaro Safari. We heard that MGM was okay too.

I would agree that you need to take advantage of EMH and get to all parks early so that you can do all that you want to do.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Our very first day EVER at WDW was MK on Christmas day 2002.

It was a spur of the moment (first) trip for us and we were just naive and didn't know any better. We drove down on Christmas eve and went to MK on Christmas day. Didn't even know this board existed until we after we'd returned home in Jan! I was so naive I actually (blushing just thinking about it) thought that if we went to MK early in the morning that "probably" most everyone else would be at home or with their family (even if travelling to MK during the holidays) opening presents and such. HAHAHA What a moron I was.....

Ofcourse it was packed- but we got there first thing in the morning and really didn't notice how packed it was (keep in mind it was our first trip/first day ever... I have since learned on subsequent trips exactly HOW packed it was that day!) until later in the day. We didn't know we were doing it "right"- we just did what we wanted. We got there extra early and head straight to Fantasyland for the kids rides... it wasn't until the afternoon parade that we realized how packed it was! (because we wanted to leave and head out for a little rest and could NOT get out of there- we were stuck right almost at the main street coming from Tomorrowland and it was shoulder to shoulder/stroller to stroller- couldn't move an inch and actually started feeling claustrophobic for the first time in my life)

I'm sure if we'd have thought to head out an hour earlier or something- it wouldn't have been a problem. Live and learn. LOL

So it's doable.. if a complete newbie (to WDW) who was totally NOT informed about anything at all- could do it... anyone could. Just get there early, do what you really really want to do- FIRST... maybe head out for awhile if the crowds are getting to be too much.

That day the kids were so beat that once we finally got out of there (after 5pm or so) they basically crashed when we got back to the condo. *I* went back alone from about 10pm to midnight and watched the parade then. It wasn't until then (talking to others sitting near me) that I found out that earlier that day they'd actually closed the entrances not allowing people in (I assume meaning no one except those who were staying at a resort or had an annual pass or something?) They said it was after noon (can't remember the exact time) that this happened. we were oblivious to the fact... and didn't really notice it being all that crowded except when we tried to leave right before the parade time. We're used to major crowds at Six Flags over Texas though- so maybe that had something to do with our perception of how packed it was. LOL

 

[Excited2Go2Disney]

We also just came back. We spent 1/2 the day at AK and the other 1/2 at MGM. Neither were very crowded. We were very shocked! We went to MK on Sat. 12/24! WOW! It was extremely crowded, couldn't even hardly move to get out. We only went for our Cinderella lunch and left right after. I don't know how anyone did any rides that day! CRAZY!

 

[sjpwhelan]

Hi! Just back from great trip 12/17-12/26. Parks were fine in the beginning of the trip. We did the last scheduled MVMCP which was great! Our 2nd MK day was on 12/24. We arrived early and accomplished some shows, character greetings, and a few rides we missed at MVMCP. It was really crowded by the early afternoon so we headed back for a swim, visited characters and Santa in the lobby at WL, ate a delicious dinner at Portobello Yacht Club, and attended a surprise evening at Cirque. Great way to spend the holiday.

We avoided parks on Christmas day. Attended 8:00 am mass at the Contemporary and then Lilo & Stitch breakfast at the Poly. The resort had some special activities planned for the kids and we visited Fort Wilderness petting zoo.

We found that there is plenty of Disney around, even if you are not in a park. It was probably our favorite Disney trip and we've been several times!

 

[MICKEEP]

We were there 12/17 thru 12/26 and thought the crowds were really light considering the time of the year. We used fastpass quite a bit but even on standby never waited for more than 20 minutes for anything.

We were at MK Christmas morning until the power outage (Got stuck in the dark on Buzz and had to be evacuated---Kids think that was the highlight of the trip ). Left MK during the outage because it was too crowded with no one on the rides or in the lines. Stayed at our hotel during the afternoon and went to MGM during the evening. MGM was empty in the evening (Considering the day) R&R & TOT were less than 20 minute waits and the 10:00PM Fantasmic was only 1/3 filled

 

[CamColt]

We were there 2 years ago and plan to go again next year. It was wonderful. We arrived on 12/20 and didnt find many crowds until Christmas and after.

Christmas Eve we did the Candlelight Processional and I cant imagine a better night to do that.

We started Christmas day by riding in the front of the monorail from the Poly to MK. We were there for opening and walked on 4 rides before breakfast in the castle. It was a magical morning, but we left MK before it got too crowded. We then took some time to visit some other resorts to see the decorations and play minigolf. After returning to our hotel to wash up, we went to the Wilderness Lodge for a sleigh ride (Santa brought the "ticket" that morning).

 

[Disney Spaz]

We have gone two Christmas's 02' and 04'. And both trips we went to MK on Christmas day. I would suggest arriving early like the previous posters said. What we did was schedule CP breakfast at 8:05AM that morning, arrived early then as we ate the first person finished took all our tickets and went and got Fast Passes to the ride we wanted to really do the most. This way by the time we left we could hit one ride than go straight to our Fast Pass ride then get another Fast Pass. I know this sounds like a lot of work but only for the person who finished their food first. Either way I would definatley do WDW on Christmas Day again you just have to be prepared for the crowds and set a reasonable pace for your family. Short tempered people do not do well in this environment.

 

[Kellyh123]

We just returned from our trip 12/22/-12/27. Christmas day was wonderful.

We participated in a Christmas tree swap organinized on the DIS. We had our tree and took our stockings and presents. When we woke up Christmas morning we openend our stockings and presents. We had bought pastries at the bakery in Norway the day before so this was our Christmas breakfast.

Then we went to the Contemporary to attend Mass. We were staying at BWV so we walked through EPCOT to ride the monorail to the Contemporary. On the way through we fastpassed Soarin.

After that we went back to our resort for a little break and a snack.


We went to Epcot and rode Soarin test track and spaceship earth. The longest wait was on test track about 30 minutes. We walked through Ecpot and enjoyed the atmosphere and we did the Candlelight processinal dinner package. We had dinner at Le Cellier at 5:15 which was an awesome dinner! We attended the 8:15 Candlelight processional show. Dinner did take 2 hours so having all that time before the CP show was a good idea. The show was wonderful.

After the show we watched Illumnations and then took a slow stroll back to our rooms at BWV. On the way back to our rooms we watched a juggler perform on the Boardwalk.

This was a wonderful Christmas for us. Our daughter is a sophomore in college and our son is a junior in high school. This was a great way to reconnect as a family away from all of the distractions there are at home.

We will for sure be doing this again!

 

[MBowers]

We were just at WDW Dec. 18-28 and had a great time. It was our first trip there and we found the crowds to be very manageable until the afternoon of the 24th. The morning of the 24th we went to MK and walked onto Buzz, three times in a row. We also walked onto Space mountain twice along with several other rides. It was awesome! When the crowds got crazy, we left and went back to the hotel for rest and lunch. We went back later, around five and the crowds were crazy. But, using fastpass and smarts, we never waited in line more than 30 minutes for any ride the whole trip. On Christmas Day, we went to MGM...again walked onto RnR, TOT several times each. When the crowds got heavier and kids grumpier we went back to the hotel for rest and then to downtown Disney. It was a fabulous vacation!

Monica

 

[Tink215]

Just got back today , We were there from Dec.25-30, and well the crowds at the other parks were crowded but could handle, MK was well a bit crazy, thank god we took advantage of the extra magic hour in the morning and went in at 7 am, did all the rides the girls wanted to do first like Buzz Lightyear then Pooh and Friends and more.......Fast passed the ones we wanted early then went to have breakfast at Crystal Palace, came out and well thank god we fast passed what we wanted to do....By Noon the crowds were horrible, we left the park by 3 in the afternoon we just couldnt stand it....I returened later that evening cause I wanted to see the Wishes Fire works and it was even worse!!!! There was total gridlock right after the fireworks show......So when they say here on the boards that its going to be crowded they are so right!!!!

 

[TXMommy]

So from what I'm reading, the days leading up to Christmas are less crowded/more manageable than the week between Christmas and New Year's?