Christmas Day

[tashasmum]

We are thinking of going in MK on Christmas Day but can't decide whats best. Staying in for the duration and trying to get a meal in the park or coming out mid afternoon and going back to AKL to chill out and meal at Jiko's.

Any thoughts and do you think we would have chance of getting back into Epcot at night???

 

[Goofyish]

MK is extremely busy on Christmas Day - they usually have to close the gates to guests around mid-morning. If you do come out, you may not get back in!

Crowds will be murder once you get in - ride lines will be long, Fastpasses will probably sell out very quickly and if you are a lady, toilet lines will be huge!!!

We spent Christmas Day in Epcot last year and didn't find it that bad crowd wide

If you do go to MK on Xmas Day - make an ADR for lunch or you will not get a table and lines for counter service will be huge

 

[allie5]

We did Xmas day at MK in 2004. We had breakfast in the castle with the princesses.

Xmas Day 2004 was a cold, wet, miserable affair, so when we arrived at the TTC at 7.20am it was still quietish (though filling up fast). The rain was pretty heavy early on, but let up to a drizzle by 8am. After breakfast, we managed to do a few rides but by 11am, the rain had let up and people were pouring in. It was PACKED. The parade route was 10 deep in some spots (with 2 hours to go!!) and as we left at noon, even more people were trying to get in- mega, mega, MEGA busy!!

So, if you ARE going to do it, get there EARLY (rope drop was at 8am at the bottom of Main St, so aim to get to the TTC for 7.30am). Dont expect to ride anything you havent Fast Passed after about 10.30 (earlier if the weather is good!). If you want to eat in the park, you will need to book as early as possible (100 days out if you are staying onsite). Personally, I would eat at Jiko later.

Yes, you would probably get into Epcot later. Its a huge park and I dont know if its ever reached capacity??!! Anyway, later on, folks with young kids (like us) tend to be back at our hotel / villa so you would probably be fine (though it will still be very very busy).

Have fun!

 

[tashasmum]

thanks for that, looks like Jiko's and then maybe over to Epcot or maybe chill at AKL and open Chrissie presents.

Does anyone know if the parade on Christmas Day is the same as the MVMCP parade????

 

[AndRu]

I don't believe in religion.
I love Disney.

But I find the thought of spending Christmas Day in a theme park to be very strange. It's not something I'd ever want to do. I'd much rather be at home with my family than at a bustling park. Most of all I feel sorry for the staff that have to work

 

[tashasmum]

as i'm from a family of seven we do appreciate spending christmas time with family. However for both our 40th birthdays this was something special.

Also the last time i looked christmas day was a religious holiday.

 

[Cyrano]

When I worked as a waiter at hotel, working on Christmas day was one of the best. Bus picked me up at 01.00hrs and I got home on Boxing day

 

[TinkTatoo]

We are staying at the Contemporary and plan to walk to MK for opening on Christmas morning and leave around lunch time. We are planning to have have our dinner at Ohanna's but might go for 1900PF as we think the park will be way too crowded later in the day

 

[Goofyish]

thanks for that, looks like Jiko's and then maybe over to Epcot or maybe chill at AKL and open Chrissie presents.

Does anyone know if the parade on Christmas Day is the same as the MVMCP parade????

Yes, after the last MVMCP night the Christmas Parade takes place in the afternoon, replacing the normal MK parade.
I prefer the parade at night during MVMCP - the atmosphere seemed more Christmassy, especially with the snow falling on Main Street

 

[Goofyish]

The Christmas Parade is also filmed in early December and shown on TV on Christmas Day. I think it's on ABC, could be wrong though

 

[Lisash]

I find the thought of spending Christmas Day in a theme park to be very strange. I'd much rather be at home with my family than at a bustling park.

To be honest as our children are older now (17 & 10) Christmas has got quite boring as they just open their gifts and disappear to their rooms to check out their CD's or playstation games leaving DH & I to entertain whichever set of parents is over and basically eat/drink too much and watch endless TV repeats. NYE is much the same as it is hard to find somewhere suitable to take children so we usually end up at home with a nice dinner and early night.

We tried WDW last Christmas and felt the most 'Christmassy' we had in a long time. The atmosphere was really festive especially MGM's Osborne lights and we spent much more family time together than we would have done at home. It was lovely to get texts from home about snow when we were enjoying the sunshine and NYE in MK was probably the best one we have ever had. Yes it was manic but the atmosphere was fantastic.

We are spending this Christmas Day in Epcot. I just have to decide where to book for lunch. Can't wait

 

[gilld]

We did MK on Christmas Day a few years back. It was horrendous. The gates closed at mid morning and it took over an hour to walk between BTMRR and Liberty Square as the crowds were so huge - we felt it was positively dangerous. We had to stay all day as we'd booked dinner at LTT - which was lovely. New Years Eve was even worse - we didn't even attempt a park that day and gates closed at Epcot and MK by 9.30am.

It was a magical experience going at Christmas/New Year, seeing all the lights and decorations but I wouldn't recommend it and would NEVER do it again. It was also extremely cold with frost most mornings.

 

[tashasmum]

i thought Epcot was not supposed to be that busy and you were more or less able to get in. Thinking of doing it for New Years Eve but going in later on in the day and staying to see the new year in. May need to revise our plans.

 

[Claire L]

I asked about Epcot and NYE on the theme parks board and got told Epcot is very unlikely to close and it is bext to get there for the evening as daytime is busy and huge queues for the rides!

Claire

 

[Lisash]

If it's any help we were in MK and gates closed at around midday last NYE but my DBIL got into Epcot around 2ish without much problem

 

[gilld]

If it's any help we were in MK and gates closed at around midday last NYE but my DBIL got into Epcot around 2ish without much problem

Maybe as the day goes on and people leave it gets better but we were told by the Conciege people that it had closed - or maybe we went a busy year.

Anyway, I wouldn't personally do it again but I do understand that people need to see for themselves.

 

[tashasmum]

what would you not do again? Disney at christmas or parks on NYE?

 

[gilld]

what would you not do again? Disney at christmas or parks on NYE?

Sorry, I wouldn't do either again. Too, too packed for me - we've never seen crowds like it - wall to wall bodies - mind you, at least they warmed us up a bit.