Christmas to New Years-Onsite Resort a Necessity?

[bwbuddy5]

My best friend and his extended family have just decided to go to WDW 12/26/17-1/2/18. Party of 8 includes a 7yo, 4yo, and an 80yo.

I tried to talk them into an onsite resort, but they went with the "perceived" cost savings and booked a 5 bedroom house in Kissimmee.

I'm concerned for them given the projected crowd level. What advice would you have for them? How often do the parks close for capacity to offsite guests during that holiday week.

Should I continue to try to talk them into a Disney resort for the perks? They're not the untra touring planners that most of us who hang out here are.

 

[vicki_c]

I don't think it's the park closures that drive the decision, but the traffic around the resort. For that reason alone, I wouldn't consider off site for that week.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If they intend to drive to the parks, they need to be ready for the long, long lines of people trying to get into the parks. And then maybe being shut out of the MK or Epcot because they are closed to guests because they are full. The MK will probably shut down multiple times during each day. Epcot several times during the week. And with AK now with Pandora, that could also have closures. The leave DHS which is not really a full day park right now.

If they aren't planners, they are going to be really disappointed when they (1) can't get into a park, (2) get into a park, but can't get on the attractions they want to see, (3) have to wait in line to even go to the bathroom. It's bad enough getting into the parks, but if you can even get into the parks, it will be bad. Figure on wall to wall people all day long in the parks.

There are some photos on the DIS of the parks during that week. Find them (or maybe someone here will post the link) and show them what they are up against. Gramma/Grampa (the 80 yr old, I guess) is going to be miserable.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We went 12/25-12/30/15 and thank goodness we picked BWV and could walk to two parks. Even Disney transportation that week was a nightmare because of the traffic. I would advise them of the traffic, the disadvantage of picking FP+ at 30 days, and the possibility of closures to offsite guests and then let it be. They may be saving money, but unless they have a huge tolerance for standstill traffic, massive crowds and lines, they're in for a pretty miserable vacation, IMHO.

We still go in December but have adjusted our dates to be out of there by 12/22 this year.

 

[violakat03]

Did you discuss with them the absolute insanity of that week? That is by far the worst week they could visit. It will be crowded beyond comprehension. My best friend decided she wanted lunch on Christmas day at Grand Floridian Cafe two years ago (against my recommendations!) and it took her family an hour and a half just to get through the MK toll booths. I would honestly try to talk them into picking different dates all together, not just moving to an onsite resort.

 

[Nancyg56]

Is this a first trip? I know that folks think that week will be "magical" and it can be, but it will be a lot of plannig to manage just the parks, never mind the traffic.

I think that you gave your friend feedback in regards to onsite vs off, but I agree I would also suggest any other week. THe combination of Christmas week and offsite lodging sounds liek a nightmare to me.

 

[Deb & Bill]

One more thing. Make sure this house has a pool and they pay for the pool heater. Because that is going to be their only entertainment for the week.

 

[cruisin5]

Just smile, nod and wish them a great trip. You gave the right advice, nothing more you can do except wait for the horror stories. I do feel bad for the 80yo though.

 

[bwbuddy5]

Mission accomplished -- they are delaying their trip by one week. Yout thoughts helped! That should help dramatically, don't you think?

 

[violakat03]

Mission accomplished -- they are delaying their trip by one week. Yout thoughts helped! That should help dramatically, don't you think?

I am so pleased to read this! A week will indeed make a huge difference in crowd levels and their trip will be so much more magical because of it. No fighting through hour plus waits just to get into the parking lot, wall to wall people, 3 hour waits for rides, etc.

 

[bwbuddy5]

Ok, now they want to do first week of December rather than first week of January. I assume enough kids will still be in school to make this a decent attendance week?

 

[Hopefully]

Better than the first week in January which is still very crowded

 

[bwbuddy5]

Better than the first week in January which is still very crowded

That's interesting - if you look on the Disney site for reservations, there are actually several value resorts available 1st week of January, while none were available 1st week of December. I would think for either, most kids are in school.

 

[maxiesmom]

That's interesting - if you look on the Disney site for reservations, there are actually several value resorts available 1st week of January, while none were available 1st week of December. I would think for either, most kids are in school.

Pop Warner hits the first week of December. They take up quite a few rooms at the resorts.

 

[mom2rtk]

That's interesting - if you look on the Disney site for reservations, there are actually several value resorts available 1st week of January, while none were available 1st week of December. I would think for either, most kids are in school.

Resort availability is never a reliable indicator of attendance in the parks. Offsite guests make up a large percentage of those in the parks.

 

[FelisLachesis]

One thing to consider about the first week of January: that is WDW Marathon Weekend. The races start stupid early in the morning, but there are more crowds.

Marathon Sunday, the 7th, will have people running all 4 theme parks, and people will be running in HS, AK and Epcot during park open, in that order.

 

[rosiebean]

We were at WDW last year the Tuesday after Thanksgiving through the first Sunday in December. The crowds during the week were really fantastic as was the weather. Crowds were so low that late Tuesday afternoon after we arrived that we walked into a 1/3 full Trader Sam's (and the bartender said the weekdays after Thanksgiving were really slow).

We were staying at BC, so school groups weren't noticeable at the resort, but crowds definitely got larger Friday and Saturday. Lots of cheerleaders around, especially in MK on Friday, but not so many that our park visit was miserable. The Christmas decorations were lovely, too, and if your friends want to see those, they might want to do early December rather than early January (decorations might come down by then).

In any case, we'd go again the first week in December without thinking twice!