Christmas @ Disney

[Dorenda]

We are planning a trip to Disney this coming December (2004). We are thinking of spending the week of Christmas there before we go on the Disney Cruise. Is there anything at all going on at Disney for Christmas? Is it busy or really dead? Any information would be great. Also I would like to hear from anyone who has gone on the cruise. Is it worth it?

Thank you

 

[Bbgrizzle]

Hi Dorenda,
WDW is usually very busy from the middle of December thru New Years, not to mention, it is one of the most expensive times to go.

I have done the 7-day Disney cruise twice and we are booked to go again next December. Again, during that same time period, the price of the cruise goes up a LOT. Our next cruise is booked for December 11th, which is still value season, but the next week (the 18th), is the 10-day Christmas cruise, which is twice as much as our 7-day on the 11th. Yikes! We love the cruise, and definitely think it is worth it, but would I pay more just to go at Christmas time? No way. Same with the parks, I would go in early December cause you can still experience all the holiday festivities with fewer crowds. But it is an expensive vacation to waste it fighting crowds and waiting in long lines the week of Christmas. Just my opinion, hope it helps!

 

[magsmom]

We have not actually been during Christmas, but we watched a special on the Travel Channel a couple of weeks ago on Christmas at Disney. It looked great. The decorations were spectacular. MK has a special parade, complete with snow on main street. Epcot has a differant local Santa in each country (well, at least those that celebrate Christmas). We want to go some year, but, since we are going in Oct. 2004, it probably won't be next year.

In answer to your question whether it is busy or dead during Christmas, its both. I think that they celebrate "Christmas" for most of December, and attendance varies widely.

My Unofficial Guide to WDW 2004 says that the week between Christmas and New Years is the busiest of the year, with an average of 70,000 visitors to the MK per day. Room prices are also at their highest.

The period between Thanksgiving and Christmas weeks, however, is the slowest of the whole year, with MK attendance averaging about 15,000/day. Rooms are cheap.

Check out the Travel Channel's website. I don't think they will air the show again til next year, but I think they have some pictures posted.

 

[phillyfamily]

We went Christmas 2000 Dec.26 to Jan3 2001 ..Put it this way..by noon for this week almost every park was closed due to overcrowding ..it was wall to wall people. Its nice to see Disney at Christmas.and New Years Eve was so cool in Epcot .but is it worth going on 3 attractions all day. If I hadnt been there 10 times I would have been upset.

 

[TINK61]

We're booked at the Pop Century Dec 18 thru 23. I was surprised to still be able to get the value season rate. I believe the crowds will be a lot worse the week between Christmas and New Years.

 

[CamColt]

We were just there from 12/20-12/29. I was expecting huge crowds, and to not get much done, but we got tons of stuff done...more than we usually do at less busy times of the year. We got to the parks early which really helped. On 12/21 we were walking down Main St practically alone...at 7:30am. It did get crowded, but we worked around it and didnt really have a problem. I have 8 out of 10 days of my trip report posted if you want an idea of what we did.

The decorations are beautiful and all the Christmas events(tree lightings, special shows, etc...) were great. The Candlelight Processoinal is absolutely amazing. We did it on Christmas Eve and it was just perfect!

If you have any specific questions, keep asking.

 

[jaguar9748]

The days before Christmas are typically not too crowded. Christmas Day is PACKED usually. Then the 26th things are usually fairly uncrowded. However, by the 27th and 28th the crowds ARRIVE in full force.

I will say that this year it was more crowded before Christmas (thanks to heavy Disney advertising). Christmas day there were 62,000 people in Magic Kingdom alone. I heard that MK was closed 3 times and AK 2 times the week between Christmas and New Years. By the time we left 12/28 it was crazy and insane!

However, Christmas at Disney is magical and must be experienced!! I wouldn't miss it!

 

[TINK61]

Originally posted by CamColt
The decorations are beautiful and all the Christmas events(tree lightings, special shows, etc...) were great. The Candlelight Processoinal is absolutely amazing. We did it on Christmas Eve and it was just perfect!

Do you think the Candlelight Processional is something that 14 and 10 year old girls would appreciate? I don't really know much about it. I am hoping to be able to experience the MVMCP. I hope it is scheduled for the time we will be there (12/18 - 12/23). Thanks.

 

[Mishetta]

We were at ASMovies from Dec 19th thru the 26th & we got value rates (I believe the 19th is the last check in date for Value rates). The parks were very manageable until the 23rd, then it started getting really busy. We would be at the parks really early though, so by mid afternoon, when the crowds picked up, we were getting ready to leave.

I would say that Christmas time at Disney is so magical that everyone should experience it at least once in their lifetime. Don't plan on being there Christmas day though. We drove past the (what is it, a 6 lane entrance into Magic Kingdom parking lot?) & it looked like a parking lot!! Cars were packed in by 9am trying to enter the MK parking. What a nightmare that would have been!

Can't help with any cruise info ~ I get sea sick looking at a glass of water.

 

[Eeyoreluver]

Hi
We were at Pop Century for Christmas. We arrived on the 19th and stayed through the 28th. It was wonderful, I loved everything. The decorations were even better than I had imagined and the snow was fantastic. Would I do it again? No. It was way too crowded for me. From Christmas Eve until we left, it was very crowded. I loved it and I am glad I experienced Disney at Christmas. I have great memories and am looking forward to scrapbooking them. We also went in November, the week after Jersey week, and we only thought it was crowded then. In 2000, we went in October, before the Halloween crowd. It was great, there was no crowd and some rides we got to stay on because there was no line. We used the fast pass then just to say we had used it. We are planning another trip in October again this year. I prefer less crowds. All that said, if you can experience a Christmas at Disney go for it. Christmas at Disney was a once in lifetime experience for us.
Hope this helps,
Gina

 

[jaguar9748]

CP lasts about 45 minutes. The girls should be fine because they'll know most of the songs. There's a lot to look at - choirs, orchestras, trumpet players, speaker, etc. If you have a video camera, maybe let them be the "filmers"! We love CP - don't miss it!

The last MVMCP was 12/19 this year.

 

[TIGGER'SFRIEND]

The week before Christmas is a great time to go. Not too busy, gets ya in the Christmas spirit. We will be there next year for sure. Candlelight processional is awesome!!!

 

[TINK61]

Originally posted by jaguar9748
CP lasts about 45 minutes. The girls should be fine because they'll know most of the songs. There's a lot to look at - choirs, orchestras, trumpet players, speaker, etc. If you have a video camera, maybe let them be the "filmers"! We love CP - don't miss it!

The last MVMCP was 12/19 this year.

Great idea! Thanks!

 

[Taja]

I was at WDW December 10-17, 2003. All of the parks (okay, the three I went to--missed AK) were beautifully decorated. Some areas more than others. Crowds were manageable through the 14th, but became more crowded thereafter. Probably some schools were on vacation. Also, the cheerleader competition was in full swing.

MK: Main Street is gorgeous. Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is terrific if you can swing the $. It's less than the price of a park ticket, and if you're on a budget, you can plan to hotel hop or do other things to save an admission ticket that day and go at night. Certain dates sell out more than others (Friday nights and closer to Christmas). The night I went (12/11/03) was wicked cold! It was very clear and more of a high desert cold than sub-tropical cold!

Country Bear Jamboree usually is not one of my favorite attractions, but it had a cute Christmas theme. No "Blood on the Saddle" song!

Epcot: Future World decorations are rather minmalistic. The gateway into World Showcase where the tree lighting ceremony is located is gorgeous! After the tree lighting ceremony, walk toward WS and make a hard right. There are benches along a railing where you can listen to the music and watch the arch for a while without being trampled. Candlelight Processingal is narration of the traditional Christmas story with music provided by an orchestra and combined choirs. I believe most, if not all, of the choirs are from high schools. Try to schedule it near the beginning of your trip, as it is cancelled it it rains. That way you'll have time to reschedule, if necessary. Suggestion: Unless you're staying at one of the Epcot resorts, take your jacket and other paraphanalia with you into the park and rent a locker at the International Gateway entrance (the entrance to WS from the Epcot resorts). Cost is $7 for the day, with $2 refundable when the key is returned. If the weather is warm during the day, you won't be encumbered by heavy jackets, but you can retrieve them before the tree lighting ceremony (if it's cool enough to think you might need them at that time) or Candlelilght Processional.

Disney-MGM: The Stars & Motor Cars Parade has a holiday theme.
Decorations were really nice, although no Osbourne lights in 2003 (I've never seen them, but understand they are spectacular).

Overall, the weather was variable. Be prepared for very warm to extremely cold (by my standards). Two days after MVMCP, it was so warm that I didn't need to jacket even at night! And for MVMCP I was wearing a lightweight jacket, a mid weight jacket and a reversible fleece/water repellent 3/4 length jacket! Plus insulated leather gloves! Of course, a couple from New Hampshire was wearing shorts and tank tops and just pulled on zip-front hooded jackets midway through the early parade (about 8:30 p.m.). Cold is relative!

If you love the holidays and love WDW, you'll have a great time!


Taja