Christmas at WDW worth it?

[annainohio]

The pictures of Disney at Christmas look magical. Give the prices and the crowds, what has been your experience? DH is a teacher, so we wouldn't be able to go to late in December, near Christmas.

 

[staceyrhood]

It is beautiful! Lots of fun too! But...Christmas week is the busiest of the year, and MK closes to capacity on Christmas Day usually very early. If you could swing the week before it would be much better crowd wise and just as magical. It stays busy until school goes back after New Years.

 

[ajwolfe]

We've only been one time during the holiday season. While we found the decor beautiful and the theming magical, I just don't think it was for us. MVMCP was fun and the kids enjoyed themselves, but for some reason to us it didn't feel like a trip to Disney - weird I know and hard to explain lol. Guess we just like Disney the way it normally is. Crowds are thick, so be prepared. We would love to go at Halloween and see if we enjoy that more though.

 

[disneywithbaby]

Could I ask, when is the least crowded week during the year and during the Christmas season?

 

[staceyrhood]

Could I ask, when is the least crowded week during the year and during the Christmas season?

During the Christmas season, the first week of December is a great time. The rest of the year... Week after labor day until about Columbus day, and first couple weeks of may are very slow. There are some other slow times mixed in here and there, but I think that those are the 2 least crowded times. I've lived right next to Disney for 13 years and go often. I hope this helps

 

[gaunce78]

We went last year the first I week of Dec for 10 days. We enjoyed our trip, it is Disney, but we've enjoyed going more in the fall for fall break. We always do the parties & they like the dressing up for the Halloween party, as do we

 

[kohlby]

I used to be a teacher so we went during Christmas break three times - the week starting on Dec 26th, so the most crowded week of the year. We had a blast! However, crowds were bad. We were able to deal with them quite well though by touring smart. We didn't know about planning ahead in those days, but we knew enough about the attractions to tour smart. BUT - we didn't have kids then. I'd recommend avoiding Christmas week unless your kids are old enough (or young enough, like infants), to go with the flow. Instead, I'd recommend either going during spring break if it falls on a good week, right after school gets out if it's a district that gets out in May, or right before school starts if it's a district that starts at the very end of August or later.

I don't think the Christmas crowds are worth it for a family in most cases. If it's the only time you can go - then yes, of course it's worth it! But otherwise, I'd do a different week. The schools have quite a range of when they go back and that can help the crowds not be crazy at the end of May as well as the end of August.

*We've been in Nov/Dec avoiding the holiday weeks several times. Those are great weeks - but of course, impossible for a teacher in most cases! (I realize there are some teachers who can take off, but I never felt I could since subs in my state are just babysitters so nothing would get done while I was away. I was a high school math teacher, so it was a core class - and one that none of the subs could help the students with at all).

 

[mrsp1030]

We've been the first week of December too and it was a lot of fun. Our kids were 4,2 and had a blast. This year we are doing Thanksgiving and pulling the kids for a few days of school b/c we want the decorations, MVMCP and all but we can't take them out a full week of school, so tagging a few days onto this break.

 

[Pumbaa_]

First week of December can be very busy
Popular w DVCers, Internet groups and the taping of the Christmas parade

It is NOT a low crowd time anymore

I come home w a Christmas hangover