Christmas Day?

[nemmie]

How was Christmas Day this year for any of you that were lucky enough to go?
We are hoping to go next year and will def buy express passes but just wondered if Universal pulls in the same crazy crowds as Disney?
TIA

 

[mykidsand_i]

it was busy- but not even 1/2 as full as Disney was! We stayed on site at RPR and had express passes- never stood in line longer than 15 minutes (and that was only because we had to wait that long for the next show to start!) most rides there was no line for us at all. Walking around though we could tell that it was busy, because the streets were a lot more busy and the parade on Christmas day was wall to wall people. We went to the parade 3 times while there and our last parade night was C-Mas eve- all three parades we had no problem finding a spot about 10 minutes before the parade started! On Christmas day we would have had to get a spot about 20-30 minutes early (NOTHING LIKE DISNEY WHERE GETTING A GOOD SPOT FOR C-MAS parades means that you wait for an hour or more to save your spot!!!)

Universal and IOA is definately the 'less crowded' choice! But, if I were you, I'd go like three days before C-Mas and stay till just after Christmas! the 21-24th were very uncrowded!

 

[nemmie]

Thanks so much! 15 mins is more than fine with us so we shall plan on that.

 

[Calgary DISHeads]

Because of the weather, I would say that this year was a non typical year for theme parks. We were at MK in the morning and while I waited in line at Main Street Bakery at 9:00am for our treats the family rode Space Mountain and got FP for a 10:30am return time, we then proceeded to ride Peter Pan, Haunted Mansion and Pooh all before our 10:30am ADR at CP (longest wait was the bakery). We then headed over and did most of US with FOL between about 3 - 6pm, doing Mummy and MIB twice.

 

[mamaminnie]

It was chilly and raining so I think that kept the crowds way down. We were at US and other than 2 hours waiting for R3 (due to technical difficulties) we didn't wait more than 20 minutes for anything.

 

[Calgary DISHeads]

Oops forgot about Rockit - yes, we did wait two hours at park closing - would have been an hour except for "technical difficulties"

 

[Metro West]

It was chilly and raining so I think that kept the crowds way down.

Yup...it rained until around 11am at my house which is about 20 minutes from Universal. It certainly wasn't the best weather day here.

 

[Calgary DISHeads]

20 minutes from Universal which means also close to WDW? - my kids dream locale The weather worked out for us visitors for sure, kept all you locals away

 

[Metro West]

20 minutes from Universal which means also close to WDW? - my kids dream locale The weather worked out for us visitors for sure, kept all you locals away

WDW is about 50 minutes from me...I'm north of the attractions area and Universal is in between me and WDW. You're right...I don't need to go walking around in the rain.

 

[mykidsand_i]

The weather worked out for us visitors for sure, kept all you locals away

I have to agree...it was a great week for my family to go- we were happy with anything that wasn't 30 below BEFORE WINDCHILL!!! We left what felt like 50 below to go to somewhere that was in the mid 60's and 70's- it was perfect and just what we needed. Christmas day was a little on the busy side (certainly busier than C-Mas eve was!!!) but, it was still nothing compared to how Disney is USUALLY on Christmas. AND, we had fun in the rain- we were actually at our hotel (royal pacific) for the hour or two of rain (it didn't rain very long that day) and we were sitting in the hot tub- my girls, husband and I thought it was the most memorable Christmas we had, we were in the outdoor hot tub, drinking mai tais (rootbeer for my girls) and it was pouring for 10-15 minutes...it barely drizzled for the rest of the time it rained...about an hour after the rain, we went to the parks and had a wonderful time! Barely any waiting for us at all, because of our express passes- and we ate at the Irish pub- sat at a table next to the cool musician and there were people dancing, the drinks were good and the food was good- it was a great day to be there.

 

[Calgary DISHeads]

We switched between AKL and PBH on Christmas Day (got the best rates that way - no idea why) and it turned out to be a great switch day because of the weather. As DH said - when again will we ever get to say that on Christmas Day that we rode half the rides at MK (Space Mountain once), had brunch at Crystal Palace, did most of the rides more than once at US, including RRR, had dinner at Mamma Dellas (and managed to make happy hour in the CL lounge )

Granted, I was absolutely exhausted but I have the pics to prove it