Christmas Day at EPCOT - How crowded?

[ZuzuT]

Can some of you Christmas veterans tell me what your crowd experience was on Christmas Day at EPCOT? We are not planning to even attempt MK on Christmas but I am hoping to have Christmas dinner in EPCOT. I have reservations in Germany but I don't want to spend the whole day in the park just to be able to go to dinner. Has EPCOT been one of the parks that closed due to high crowds on Christmas in the past or should we be safe wandering over in the late afternoon?

This is our first trip to WDW at Christmas and I am so excited.

 

[BradyBz12]

Every year is different of course, but I haven't seen any reports of EP closing to capacity in the past couple of years.

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

We'll be at Epcot on Christmas Day this year. So, I am REALLY interested in your responses.

I keep second guessing our itinerary. But, I created it with past guests experiences in mind. I've made numerous ADRs, cancelled some ADRs and made new ones. Planning this upcoming December trip has been the most frustrating experience. We usually travel during value season and the week of Thanksgiving. So, I know WDW crowds. But, Christmas at WDW is suppose to be a whole new experience with the crowds and lots of WDW novices.

I chose Epcot for Christmas Day because it has the highest guest capacity of all the parks. Like you, there was no way we would even attempt MK on Christmas Day. I'll leave that to the novices and just plain crazy DISers. I've read the horror stories. I had no problem getting a lunch ADR at Epcot. So, I hope that is a good sign. We plan to head out of Epcot early afternoon, relax at the BWV and then head out to dinner at one of the resorts. We're stearing clear of the park in the evening. I assume WS will be crowded in the evening with people wanting to see the holiday IllumiNations. I would make sure to make an evening ADR in a restaurant where you can view IllumiNations from the restaurant (just an idea). We'll catch it earlier in the week as well as the Candlelight Processional.

Jennifer

 

[BradyBz12]

There's a post with some Christmas week photos HERE

 

[loribell]

The only info I can offer is from 2006 and doesn't really include Christmas day because we spent the day at our resort just doing family stuff. What I can tell you is that from the 27th on every park closed to capacity except EPCOT in the afternoon!

 

[purpliequeen]

We'll be in Epcot on Christmas day as well. From our previous experiences, Epcot handles crowds really, really well. New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, etc. Just be prepared that you may not get to ride as many attractions you would like. If you go in to all of the parks during Christmas week with this mentality, Christmas week will be amazing. We're planning on spending a leisurely Christmas Day in Epcot. We'll get there hopefully at rope drop and get fast passes for Soarin'. When the World Showcase opens, we'll spend our own sweet time snacking, shopping, and experiencing the holiday magic of each of the countries.

OP- We will leave Epcot in the afternoon for some down time in our resort before heading back to Epcot again for dinner ressies. From past experience, Epcot has never closed due to capacity for resort guests on the major holidays. We're hoping this is again the case this year. It's really good that you have your ressies all lined up. It's incredibly important to have them this time of year. Make sure you record them in two different locations- say on your itinerary and on your phone. It makes things a whole lot easier.

It's wonderful that you're excited. I'm so excited too- this is my most favorite time of the year to visit the World. As long as you go with this open mentality that it's more of the experience vs. riding the attractions and getting to every location you get to, you're going to have an amazing vacation. It's a true get-away. Enjoy!

 

[mollybeasley]

I checked LINES once in a while this week and noticed that the lines on Thanksgiving Day weren't as bad as the days around it. I imagine that the restaurants were full though.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are family holidays, so I would think that many families will spend more time eating and relaxing together on those days.

On Xmas, they might exchange gifts in the morning or have a nice meal rather than race to the parks. You mentioned that you aren't going until the afternoon, right? I would guess others have the same plan. I believe Epcot has the largest capacity, so it could be the safest bet.

Another thought... The Candlelight procession seems like it a might be a good substitute for families that normally go to church on Christmas Eve. Plus the Christmas stories in the World Showcase might have greater emotional impact on Xmas eve. If a lot of people think like me, then they might be going to Epcot Xmas eve, not xmas day.

 

[staxia]

Add us to the crew gonna be at Epcot for Christmas day. As a trip to Disney was the only way to bribe the entire family to spend Christmas together, we don't have much of a choice (I live out of state and no one ever visits me, but I'll travel for Mickey!)

We (4 adults) are planning on rope droppin' it a MK in the early AM, resting late morning, early afternoon, and then ADRs at Le Cellier and CP at 8ish and Illuminations "special seating" for whatever that's worth.... That's *MY* plan anyways... we'll see how the rest of the family feels about it all.

2 of the last 3 years I've been at WDW either the day after Christmas or the week after, i know the crowds.. it's just the way it is, and we know that going in... Hopefully my park hopping won't get us in trouble, but Christmas day is the only full day the entire family will have in the park!

 

[DisGal520]

There's a post with some Christmas week photos HERE

Last XMAS day we were at Epcot and I swear we did not have the crowds in the posted link. Will actually be there this XMAS day also.

 

[RMulieri]

It doesn't close to capacity, it handles crowds realtively well, but it can get very crowded..especially around the World Showcase paths..wait times can be ridiculous for things like Soarin though..It was 240 mins the one time.

 

[si-am]

Very crowded. You can walk, but you can't sit anywhere. That's the worst part.

 

[Tam1067]

We were at Epcot on Xmas Day 2009. We rode Test Track 5x, Soarin' 2x, and did everything we wanted to with minimal waits. I used the UG touring plans and grabbed extra Fastpasses as we went. No problems at all. It was truly a magical day.

We will be there again this Xmas.

 

[ms mouse]

There's a post with some Christmas week photos HERE

We were there last year too, I never saw crowds like that, maybe everyone leaving candlelight? We did everything we wanted to do, it actually rained in the morning so it was very light but not bad in the evening.

 

[Dolce27]

I was there Christmas Day 2008. Did what I wanted in Future World at rope drop and collected FP's. Had a dinner ADR scheduled and hung out in the World Showcase for the rest of the day once the crowds in Future World picked up. (I finally found the time to watch Impressions de'France.) My advice: be there at rope drop, go in with a plan but take a laid-back attitude to the crowds, have an ADR and just enjoy the atmosphere of being at Disney on Christmas Day.

PS: The line for Spaceship Earth moves really fast regardless of how far the line is wrapped around outside.