Christmas Crowds?

[neoavatara]

I don't even want to be in the vicinity of FL if Stitch is @ 60 minutes.

It actually went up to 75 MINUTES at one point...I should have taken a picture!

 

[dimndgal1]

We did MK last night and found it a breeze!
We arrived around 830p and walked up Main St with some trouble as people stationed themselves for fireworks (shout out to the interconnected shops for allowing easier transit!). Fireworks started as we hit the Hub and we spit to Adventureland. Jingle Cruise was a walk-on during fireworks so we enjoyed the festive ride and wandered toward PoTC which was... down.

After using E&A FP (standby was at 70 min), we did

• HM (15 min)
• Carousel 2x (walk-on)
• IASW (10 min)
• BTMR (rode 2x in 20 minutes)
• skipped Splash (but it was 5 min)
• grabbed a Dole Whip (walk-up)
• Space (15 min)
• Dumbo (walk-on)
• Buzz (10 min)
• Meet Mickey (5 min)

Best part: We happened to be by the tree at the front when MSEP started and got front-row seats just by walking up to them. Second parade is def the way to go! We left at 12:30 but feel like we accomplished all we set out to do, save for PoTC which went down 3x in that period.

Overall, we found this entire week to be manageable. DH and I agreed that if you have younger kiddos, RD and maybe one later evening is good, but if you have older kids or just adults, you can start your day around 7p at MK and do everything you want before park closes. Also, we used LINES for wait times because Disney's posted times were ridiculously off - Dumbo said 60 when it was obviously walk-on, E&A posted 75 but app said 40, and Space posted 40 and was 15.

 

[Disneylover99]

We did MK last night and found it a breeze!
We arrived around 830p and walked up Main St with some trouble as people stationed themselves for fireworks (shout out to the interconnected shops for allowing easier transit!). Fireworks started as we hit the Hub and we spit to Adventureland. Jingle Cruise was a walk-on during fireworks so we enjoyed the festive ride and wandered toward PoTC which was... down.

After using E&A FP (standby was at 70 min), we did

• HM (15 min)
• Carousel 2x (walk-on)
• IASW (10 min)
• BTMR (rode 2x in 20 minutes)
• skipped Splash (but it was 5 min)
• grabbed a Dole Whip (walk-up)
• Space (15 min)
• Dumbo (walk-on)
• Buzz (10 min)
• Meet Mickey (5 min)

Best part: We happened to be by the tree at the front when MSEP started and got front-row seats just by walking up to them. Second parade is def the way to go! We left at 12:30 but feel like we accomplished all we set out to do, save for PoTC which went down 3x in that period.

Overall, we found this entire week to be manageable. DH and I agreed that if you have younger kiddos, RD and maybe one later evening is good, but if you have older kids or just adults, you can start your day around 7p at MK and do everything you want before park closes. Also, we used LINES for wait times because Disney's posted times were ridiculously off - Dumbo said 60 when it was obviously walk-on, E&A posted 75 but app said 40, and Space posted 40 and was 15.

Awesome!

We're at MK this morning. My family is on the Teacups, then we have a FP for the Mine Train. After lunch we'll head back to our resort and come back again to the MK tonight.

 

[think-like-tink]

Happy to read the great reports on Christmas day! We are planning a Christmas trip next year. Lets talk weather....what were the temps like?

 

[Disneylover99]

Happy to read the great reports on Christmas day! We are planning a Christmas trip next year. Lets talk weather....what were the temps like?

Weather was beautiful Dec. 20-24... High 70's/low 80's. I walked around in shorts and a tshirt with a sweater tied around my waist for the evenings just in case. I never used it though. It did rain one night for about an hour.

Christmas Day was about 60 degrees though, very cool. Dec. 26, about 70 degrees. Today, hot and beautiful again.

 

[PJ]

We were driving out of the Poly parking lot about Noon today(Saturday 12/27) and as we drove past the MK Parking kiosks it looked like they had just lit the "MK Parking Full - Park at Epcot" signs and were just putting up cones to divert traffic.

 

[think-like-tink]

Weather was beautiful Dec. 20-24... High 70's/low 80's. I walked around in shorts and a tshirt with a sweater tied around my waist for the evenings just in case. I never used it though. It did rain one night for about an hour.

Christmas Day was about 60 degrees though, very cool. Dec. 26, about 70 degrees. Today, hot and beautiful again.

Sounds perfect! We are summer going people so that sounds amazing to me, not to hot or cold.

 

[CleKait]

Have the parks been closing because of full capacity? Most of my party is arriving January 1st but my brothers aren't coming until January 2nd. My mom is worried that Magic Kingdom will be closed to capacity by the time they get to the park on the 2nd. Their plane lands at 8:30 a.m. So hopefully they can be to the park by 10:30 a.m. Thanks!

 

[laura428]

We were driving out of the Poly parking lot about Noon today(Saturday 12/27) and as we drove past the MK Parking kiosks it looked like they had just lit the "MK Parking Full - Park at Epcot" signs and were just putting up cones to divert traffic.

Yep, we saw this, too. We had our fun at Epcot and HS and left by 2:30, and World Drive looked like a parking lot. The drive back to CBR was easy, but I mentioned to the kids how glad I was that we had no reason to drive that way, because those folks were going nowhere fast. And that's when we saw the MK parking lot closure sign. Eeek.

 

[robinb]

Have the parks been closing because of full capacity? Most of my party is arriving January 1st but my brothers aren't coming until January 2nd. My mom is worried that Magic Kingdom will be closed to capacity by the time they get to the park on the 2nd. Their plane lands at 8:30 a.m. So hopefully they can be to the park by 10:30 a.m. Thanks!

The MK does go to Phase 2 just about every day between Christmas and New Years: http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/magic-kingdom/news.htm . It should be fine on the 2nd.

 

[dimndgal1]

Awesome!

We're at MK this morning. My family is on the Teacups, then we have a FP for the Mine Train. After lunch we'll head back to our resort and come back again to the MK tonight.

I hope it works out for you like it did for us! We were amazed at the changes after fireworks... totally saw crowds melting away! We found it the perfect time to sit with a Dole Whip or Mickey Bar and crowd watch until we saw a wait time we liked pop up.

Happy to read the great reports on Christmas day! We are planning a Christmas trip next year. Lets talk weather....what were the temps like?

Weather was beautiful Dec. 20-24... High 70's/low 80's. I walked around in shorts and a tshirt with a sweater tied around my waist for the evenings just in case. I never used it though. It did rain one night for about an hour.

Christmas Day was about 60 degrees though, very cool. Dec. 26, about 70 degrees. Today, hot and beautiful again.

I just want to apologize for the two rain showers (on the 21 and the 24). The first time we were in line for CP and irony had to kick in as we were a captive audience and the second time DH had made the comment that he hoped we could ride TT this trip because lightning closed it on our last night in Sept... and then it proceeded to dump on him as he rode.

FWIW - this winter has been a little warmer than usual, but it is not uncommon to see 70s this time of year. However, it's also common to see 50s so plan accordingly. Florida likes to mess with you like that!

 

[drp4video]

Years ago when we used to go yearly between Christmas and New Years, we always did MK on Christmas Day. It didn't get bad until about 1:00 p.m.

 

[Aurora0427]

Happy to read the great reports on Christmas day! We are planning a Christmas trip next year. Lets talk weather....what were the temps like?

Weather is unpredictable! We were there two weeks ago- highs in the low 60s, lows in the low 40s. But it was sunny and beautiful, just too cold to swim!

 

[Disneylover99]

I hope it works out for you like it did for us! We were amazed at the changes after fireworks... totally saw crowds melting away! We found it the perfect time to sit with a Dole Whip or Mickey Bar and crowd watch until we saw a wait time we liked pop up.

It worked out great! We had a FP for Wishes and then we went right to the Monster's Laugh Floor with no wait where my husband got to be "That Guy". I'm sure it will be the highlight of his trip.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

Just called - Disney waived the cancellation fee, thankfully. DH woke up feeling worse than he did when he fell asleep. At least this way, someone else will be able to grab our table.

I was there the last week of November/first week of December and definitely picked up a bug/sinus infection while down there. I have been sick since the 3rd of December and just now recovering.
My DIL and DGD also came back with it. Praise the Peace spirits my husband did not get it. Still, while I am not thrilled I picked up something this horrible from someone there, I can totally understand. There is so much planning for months that goes into this it seems to be near impossible to cancel. I just can't imagine if I had this stuff full force while down there. I would have been miserable. I feel for your husband.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Went to MK yesterday.
From 7-9:30 am, we got a ton done: Space x2, Buzz, Astro Orbiter, Tea Cups, Pooh, IASW, Little Mermaid, met Alice and White Rabbit, and enjoyed cinnamon rolls at Gaston's. We also used FP+ for Mine Train, ETWB and the parade.
90% of the people at rope drop headed to Mine Train and the line quickly backed up almost to Storybook Circus. If you avoid Mine Train and A&E, you can get a lot done in the morning. At around 11, things became nuts and only got worse.
For example: Around 1 pm the Stitch cue was completely full and a CM was holding a sign to show where the line ended. We left the park after our 2:15 reservation at CP and returned around 8. The throngs on Main Street were so thick, we were not allowed to walk down it, but instead were directed around the back and into Tomorrowland. The park stayed busy until midnight.

I would absolutely come at Christmas again. But I would not do it with little ones; pushing a stroller would be a nightmare. As would having a scooter or a wheelchair in these crowds. With a good touring plan and the ability to rope drop, you really can accomplish a lot. But moving through the crowds has been the biggest challenge, IMO.

 

[Disneylover99]

I would absolutely come at Christmas again. But I would not do it with little ones; pushing a stroller would be a nightmare. As would having a scooter or a wheelchair in these crowds. With a good touring plan and the ability to rope drop, you really can accomplish a lot. But moving through the crowds has been the biggest challenge, IMO.

I think the cm's are doing an excellent job trying to organize the flow of traffic. The problem is the families who stop dead in their tracks to look at a map or discuss where to go next without moving to the side. That really causes bottlenecks.

 

[SmallWorld71]

I think the cm's are doing an excellent job trying to organize the flow of traffic. The problem is the families who stop dead in their tracks to look at a map or discuss where to go next without moving to the side. That really causes bottlenecks.

Yes, it does! A lot of people are completely oblivious to what is going on around them.
Overall, I have been very impressed with the CM's; you really need patience this time of year and they are doing a great job. The guests have been pretty good too; I've only encountered a few rude parties.

 

[MulanMom]

We're also in the World for the holidays. Our experiences pretty much align with what everyone here has been saying. The 23rd we were in MK and it was great. 24th in Epcot, and the crowd levels were less than we expected. Christmas Day was MK...we got into the park early for a CRT reservation and left around noon. We returned at night after the fireworks and it was very manageable. However, the days following Christmas have been notably more crowded. You can still get things done by using FPs, going against the crowd, but there's a difference. On our way to HS on the 26th late afternoon, we saw a sign stating the Parking lot was closed and to park at Epcot. heard that MK was closed completely due to capacity. Not sure if that's accurate. Epcot on the 27th was markedly more crowded, but still doable. Today (28th) at MK...crowds were incredible during midday. We started out with a Crystal Palace breakfast and had FPs through the early afternoon, but a lot of standby wait times were 120 minutes plus for the most popular attractions. DH drives ECV so that made dealing with the crowds more challenging. We stayed throughout the day since the mixture of FPs and ADRs couldn't be changed. CM's doing an awesome job. Restrooms are clean. CM's much more cheerful than I would ever be under the same circumstances. And they are patient! We'll see what rest of week will bring. ;-)

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

So basically MK on Christmas or between Christmas and NY is doable if you rope drop until about 10 or 11am. Then it is madness until after the fireworks, at which it becomes manageable again. Which is great if you don't have small children and are totally cool with being up at 6am to make 8am RD on vacation. 7am if you are doing EMH. I've been looking at wait times on multiple sites and most rides have waits over 90 minutes. At EPCOT, Figment has a 50 minute wait. Figment.

To each his own, but I am glad we experienced Christmas at Disney 12/11-12/17. I am cool with doing RD, but with small kids hanging out at MK from 10pm-3am just won't happen.

I love doing Disney from early December up until around the 18th or 19th. I get the holiday decorations and magic without being pushed around like a punching bag by wall to wall people.