Christmas & New Year Advice

[Olivier]

We're from the UK and it's our fifth trip to WDW (coming up on 12/20), but our first at Christmas. Planning has proved even more difficult than usual, but I'm nearly there.....just a couple of questions for the experts amongst you out there.....

1. Any advice on the best park experiences for Xmas Eve and New Year's Eve.....do any of them put on special Fireworks etc ?

2. How quickly after New Year's Day do crowds drop off ?

3. What's the typical "real" opening times during the week between Xmas and New Year and would you advise Seaworld/Universal rather than WDW during this time ?

thanks for reading this far, your advice would be appreciated.....

Olivier

 

[Serenity]

Welcome to the Dis!

This is our first year at WDW for December, so I am not the right person to answer your questions. But I will bump you back to page 1 so hopefully the December experts can give you their opinion.

Have a great trip.

 

[laceemouse]

I'm not sure about your other 2 questions, but I think crowds will drop off considerably on the day after New Years. New Years is on a Saturday, and most kids have to be back in school that Monday after.

 

[allie5]

Hi Olivier...another Brit here

This is our 9th visit (I think, I lost count!) and although we have done early December before, this is our first Christmas. We leave on Dec 9th! I will try to help with your questions, but they are only based on my research, not first hand experience!

1. Any advice on the best park experiences for Xmas Eve and New Year's Eve.....do any of them put on special Fireworks etc ? As far as I know, on Xmas Eve, all Fireworks as as per the usual, ie Wishes, Illuminations and Fantasmic. There will be 2 showings of Fantasmic, but nothing else "different"! There is apparently, a bigger than usual Fireworks display on Christmas day. NYE is totally different! There are two Wishes (8.30pm and 12 midnight). Epcot sees in the year as each country in the World Showcase enters its "timezone". UK will be 7pm US time! This is considered THE PLACE TO BE, but it will be packed jammed solid. Illuminations will be on twice at 730 and 11:40pm.

2. How quickly after New Year's Day do crowds drop off ?
Expect crowds to have diminshed considerably by the Monday. This is meant to be one of the quietest weeks at WDW, so make the most of it!!

3. What's the typical "real" opening times during the week between Xmas and New Year and would you advise Seaworld/Universal rather than WDW during this time ?
We were there on the week of July 4 last year and MK gates were opening around 8.30am (scheduled opening was 9am). I think they open them at 8am over the Xmas - NY period, but again, I have no REAL experience of this. This period is by far the busiest of the whole year, so if you can plan around it. The other parks will be busy as well, but maybe not as busy as MK will be. I would choose parks like Epcot that can handle large crowds until the masses disperse after the holiday!

Have a great trip! Might see you there. Unfortunately, we will miss the NYE celebrations as we fly home on the 30th, but hoping our first weeks will be quiet enough to do some rides!

Come and join in on the UK trip planning board if you can!

Allie