Christmas/New Year's at Vero??

[SafariTigger]

I am waitlisted for all over WDW for the dates of 12/28-1/3 but I am getting nervous that nothing will come through. I really want to be down there at that time because I have never seen Disney at Christmas but I do have to at least come up with a plan B. My DH said that there is availability at Vero for the time that we want. Has anyone been at Vero for the holidays? What is it like? Do they have special holiday events?

 

[isyt]

I have seen Vero at Thanksgiving (the decorations are up) and its beautiful. The whole is draping with Christmas and the 4 story tree is lovely.

 

[SafariTigger]

What is the weather like at that time? Can you use the pool?

 

[SafariTigger]

I was just reading other threads and found this quote from BostonDisneyKid
"How truly bad are the crowds between Christmas and New Years?...

The best way I can explain it is that it is like being at a sporting event or concert and when it ends everyone all at once heads for the exit. Thats what it is like at the parks all day, everywhere and you cannot escape it until you leave the park itself."

This is really making me nervous. I am bringing my son (3) and my daughter (1) as well as my in-laws and I don't know if any of them are going to be too happy with those kind of crowds.

I need some advice, is it really that bad? Do the decorations and Christmas events make the crowds worth fighting? Should I consider switching to Vero or maybe even HH? Help!

 

[garnet1240]

I was just reading other threads and found this quote from BostonDisneyKid
"How truly bad are the crowds between Christmas and New Years?...

The best way I can explain it is that it is like being at a sporting event or concert and when it ends everyone all at once heads for the exit. Thats what it is like at the parks all day, everywhere and you cannot escape it until you leave the park itself.":

I haven't been the week of or after Christmas..but a few years ago, wanted to see Christmas at the world, my DDs and I went the week before. It wasn't too bad when we first got there, but as it drew closer to Christmas, you could see the crowds growing each day, during the day. By the day we left, we thought is was nuts! It was hard to get around the parks. Our last day we were sitting back by the Haunted Mansion and were amazed and commenting about the droves of people steaming into the back of the park, a CM was listening to us, he just smiled, patted me on the shoulder and said we must be Christmas newbies...you ain't seen nothing yet!

If you plan to go during that time, you just have to know it'll be crowded and plan to do what you can and not stress about what you can't get to.

It is truly magical at Christmas, and came home with such holiday spirit. If we ever do another holiday trip, and we could work school schedules out, would try to stay beginning of December..

 

[bookswin]

I was just reading other threads and found this quote from BostonDisneyKid
"How truly bad are the crowds between Christmas and New Years?...

The best way I can explain it is that it is like being at a sporting event or concert and when it ends everyone all at once heads for the exit. Thats what it is like at the parks all day, everywhere and you cannot escape it until you leave the park itself."

This is really making me nervous. I am bringing my son (3) and my daughter (1) as well as my in-laws and I don't know if any of them are going to be too happy with those kind of crowds.

I need some advice, is it really that bad? Do the decorations and Christmas events make the crowds worth fighting? Should I consider switching to Vero or maybe even HH? Help!

Yes, it is that bad. Sometimes the fire marshal won't let any more people in, it's so crowded. And after the fireworks, 50,000 people all leave at once. funneling down Main Street. NOT FUN.

If you have any flexibility in timing but still want to see the Christmas decorations, I'd recommend you consider either early-mid December (but check for the Pop Warner/cheerleader dates) or (my favorite) the week before Thanksgiving, departing the day before Thanksgiving. That's our favorite time of year.

If you dislike crowds, don't go the last week of December. Worst time of year IMO, except for July 4, which is the same plus godawful hot and humid.

And think of what it must be like for a 1-3 y.o., seeing almost nothing but the lower halves of other people all day.

 

[Starr W.]

I am waitlisted for all over WDW for the dates of 12/28-1/3 but I am getting nervous that nothing will come through. I really want to be down there at that time because I have never seen Disney at Christmas but I do have to at least come up with a plan B. My DH said that there is availability at Vero for the time that we want. Has anyone been at Vero for the holidays? What is it like? Do they have special holiday events?

Last year someone posted they go to VB regularly for NYE. They really enjoyed it. I was at VB for Easter and it was 100% full. Yeah you had to get to the pool early if you wanted a seat, if you go to the beach no problem getting a good spot.

They do have a NYE party.

 

[willidc]

2008 will mark the 11th trip we have made to WDW during December holidays. By that I mean exactly Dec. 24 and Dec. 25 are included in our itinerary. We found that the only way DH, 3 DSs and myself could have a holiday of our choosing together (without hurt feelings on either side of the family) was to 'leave town'.

We have found the week immediately leading up to Christmas is quite enjoyable. I add that we are the type of family that stays on property, gets up early, has a plan, and is at the gate before park opening. Use those EMH as well if you are on property. Yes, there are grumblings at 6:30 AM when people want to sleep in, but at the end of the day it has been worth it.

As a PP indicated, the closer one gets to Dec. 25, the more people you will need to work around. This year we are going from Dec. 21 through Dec. 26. We are going to do the most popular attractions during the early part of the week when lines are short. As the week goes on, we will do things that get left out of many peoples' schedules. We already have made our ADRs for 12/24 and 12/25.

On those two days we will sleep in, visit Osborne lights, watch the castle lighting, spend time watching special entertainment in the parks, enjoy the pool, visit DTD, and be sure to enjoy all of the beautiful decorations and magic that the World presents to us.

A word of wisdom from a family that has more than 35 visits to WDW-----Do not (repeat, DO NOT) attempt to manage Magic Kingdom on 12/25. We tried to do it once (that should tell you something), and it was NO way to spend Christmas Day (or any other day). We typically do our 'Christmas Parade' thing on Dec. 24 and this year it will be Dec. 23. Use 12/25 to visit some other park.

I don't know what happens on Dec. 26, but it is as if a switch is flicked and droves and waves of people flock into all of the parks. It also appears as if their 'holiday cheer' expired 11:59 on 12/25. We did the week between Christmas and NYE only once. Which is why we now leave on 12/26.

WDW during the holidays has provided us with some of the most enjoyable and magical memories that our family has. If you have realistic expectations and do just a little planning (and fastpass use), you will have a very joyous holiday!

I am waitlisted for all over WDW for the dates of 12/28-1/3 but I am getting nervous that nothing will come through. I really want to be down there at that time because I have never seen Disney at Christmas but I do have to at least come up with a plan B. My DH said that there is availability at Vero for the time that we want. Has anyone been at Vero for the holidays? What is it like? Do they have special holiday events?

 

[starbox]

I've done Christmas and NY and yes - it was extremely crowded. Spring Break last year was worse. Luckily, with DVC, we were able to switch gears pretty quickly and get out of the parks - we ended up spending much more time at the resorts. You could hardly walk - and getting to parks at rope drop did not do a thing (example: the wait was 120 minutes for Everest at 9:05 am). We had ADRs and waited close to an hour after each ADR time to get seated in restaurants!

I'm going next year, but I've re-adjusted my expectations. This won't be a big park trip - and I'll let the kids make a tope 10 list of what they want to ride, but we won't even try to do everything. We'll know going into it that the parks are going to be really crowded. We'll mostly enjoy having nice weather and being in Florida.

Would I choose a holiday week for a once-in-a-lifetime trip or grand gathering with people that had never been to Disney? No way. For DVC families that go regularly - it's perfectly fine. There are decorations and new shows and parades to see - a nice resort to explore - and there's not that pressure to ride/see everything else.

 

[SafariTigger]

If you have any flexibility in timing but still want to see the Christmas decorations, I'd recommend you consider either early-mid December (but check for the Pop Warner/cheerleader dates) or (my favorite) the week before Thanksgiving, departing the day before Thanksgiving. That's our favorite time of year.

I would love to go a different week but I am a teacher and my vacation time is defined for me. The only reason I even thought of trying Disney at Christmas this year is because New Year's Day falls on a Thursday so I don't have to return to work until the 5th. Unfortunatly I am sure lots of people realized the same thing.

My problem is that right now I have a 2 bdrm booked for VWL for 12/28 and for 1/2 but I have no where to stay for the days in between. This is why I am considering booking Vero instead just so I have a definite place to be, but truthfully I really want to be in WDW! I even have my dining booked already!

We aren't big into the rides because our kids are so small, we are mostly interested in the Christmas decorations, parades, fireworks, etc. So I guess if I am prepared for the crowds and don't expect to do too much I might be ok. Now I just need large amount of pixie dust so my waitlist comes through.

 

[fluffykim]

We also do Xmas every year in Disney (including Xmas even and Xmas day). Xmas day is THE busiest day of the year in MK by the way.

It truly is THAT bad.

IF you are going for the lights..they go up the day after Thanksgiving and stay up till around MLK day.

We spend Xmas day at AK. It usually is not very crowded, we do the park for a bit then swim the rest of the time.

Just know it WILL be busy and be prepared for it..or stay at the resort and enjoy swimming and the such.

 

[ont/ohana]

We were at VB last NYE and they do have a party at the pool with a DJ, games, etc. They pass out noise makers and hats for everyone. At 12:00 there is a NYE pool jump. The resort was busy ( at least busy for VB ) and then thinned out after January 1st. We had a great time.

 

[iloveokw]

Vero is great for NYE - done it about 5 times. Enjoy the pool side party! You never know about the temps that time a year at Vero or WDW. So there is no guarantee about swimming. The resort is usually full but it is NOTHING like the crowds at WDW!