Christmas crowds...will it make a difference

[sonocruiser]

So with Christmas being in the middle of the week, will that affect crowds? I know it will be busy but how about the few days before? We are thinking about going Dec 20-23. Will it be as bad as right after?

 

[GeneralTso]

According to my crowd calendar, it's going to be nuts.

20th--DL 9.6 out of 10 CA 8.0/10 Overall 10/10

21st--DL 9.6/10 CA 7.3/10 Overall 9/10

22nd-- DL 7.8/10 CA 8.1/10 Overall 8/10

23rd-- DL 7.7/10 CA 8.4/10 Overall 8/10


That whole week looks the same. It's just peaking all week.

 

[CaliDisneyMama]

So with Christmas being in the middle of the week, will that affect crowds? I know it will be busy but how about the few days before? We are thinking about going Dec 20-23. Will it be as bad as right after?

These are the Touring Plans predictions for this year. I don't believe that 5 on Christmas Eve.

Fri, December 20, 2013 10 out of 10 9.6 8.0 SL SC
Sat, December 21, 2013 9 out of 10 9.6 7.3 SL SC DX
Sun, December 22, 2013 8 out of 10 7.8 8.1 SL SC DX
Mon, December 23, 2013 8 out of 10 7.7 8.4 SL SC DX
Tue, December 24, 2013 5 out of 10 3.1 7.3 SL SC DX Christmas Eve
Wed, December 25, 2013 9 out of 10 8.0 8.8 SL SC DX Christmas Day

Last year from the 20th through the 25th it ranged from 8-10.

Honestly, I don't think there's much of a difference in how it feels between 8 and 10. It's all just nuts.

That said, I haven't been there on the days preceding Christmas, but I have been there on Christmas Day, and it was enough of a nightmare that I will never be there on Christmas again.

 

[aidensmom31]

Pretty much all of Christmas break is busy. But I still feel it is worth it, the holiday season is so magical at Disneyland. We are going 12/24 to 1/5, I am expecting insane grounds but still plan to have a awesome time.

 

[larina]

I don't think Christmas being midweek will affect crowds at all. That week is a mobbed mad house, but if you go prepared for that, it is the most magical trip ever!

 

[DarthMole]

We had friends go last year who said it was busy but manageable the days leading up to as well as Christmas day. It was the 26th and beyond that got really crazy. We took that info and booked our stay from the 21st to the 26th, leaving mid morning on the 26th.

 

[sonocruiser]

I am having a hard time with the decision of when to go. All year I have been imagining a Disney Christmas. My husband really thinks it would be much nicer to go in the middle of January instead. It would be our first time at Disneyland and our son will be just over 3. I know in my head less crowds=less frustration but my heart is sad

 

[lucysmom]

We were there last year from the 18th through the 23rd. If you stay on property and get to the gates by 6:30, you will ride all you want to ride before it gets crazy. Then, rest in the afternoon and save evenings for dinners, shopping, and shows. We are going again this year at the same time. It is magical.

 

[Cheshirecatty]

So with Christmas being in the middle of the week, will that affect crowds? I know it will be busy but how about the few days before? We are thinking about going Dec 20-23. Will it be as bad as right after?

We were there last year, from the Sunday before Christmas, till the Saturday after, and the days before Christmas, Christmas Day itself, and the day after Christmas were wonderful!

Like Previous Posters have said, getting up and getting to the Parks early is the key. We did everything we wanted to, and did not feel the crowds were in any way over the top or miserable---that came two days after Christmas!

We loved it, and are braving it again this year---it's wonderful!

 

[crystal1313]

We are thinking of doing the same dates OP. We know it will be NUTS! LOL. It just works best for not having to take our oldest out of school, and my husband gets the 2 weeks off already (he works for a college) so we aren't burning precious vacation time. I would totally prefer to go earlier in December. But, I will take what we can get! We are just going to prepare our kids that it will be crowded and that we may not get to do ALL the things we want. Heck, I'm happy just sitting on a bench eating a gingerbread cookie, haha. We've gone every year at Christmas time since my oldest was born, so I really don't want to give up the tradition. And my boys are already asking to see Santa at DCA. We will have fun, crowds or not!

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

I am having a hard time with the decision of when to go. All year I have been imagining a Disney Christmas. My husband really thinks it would be much nicer to go in the middle of January instead. It would be our first time at Disneyland and our son will be just over 3. I know in my head less crowds=less frustration but my heart is sad

Could you go the first week of Dec? The first two weeks of December aren't nearly as crazy as Thankgiving/Christmas week, plus you still get all the decorations and not as many ride closures as you'll find mid-Jan. Before we had to deal with school schedules, it was the time we went. Now we brave the craziness of Thanksgiving week

 

[V2000]

It's going to be really busy. It's hard to walk through the crowds.

Try to go the beginning of December. Or choose a time where kids are not on christmas vacation from school.

 

[sonocruiser]

Thanks for all the replys. The first week of Dec is a possilblity. What are crowds then? And the weather?

 

[crystal1313]

We usually go the first week and crowds aren't bad. They are noticeably bigger crowds as you get closer to Christmas. We've gone the week before school is usually out and there was lots more people. Not terrible, but not like early Dec either.

Weather has been all over the place. In 2008 it was pretty chilly (for us, we are native Californians, and not used to cold weather). We were bundled up tight at night time. In 2009 we were wearing short sleeve shirts. We just pack layers and are usually fine =)