Christmas week crowd levels

[schoolinmy3]

Hello! I would like to know what your opinions are on crowd levels from Dec 20-23. My very good friend who has never been to Disney has decided she'd like to visit the Mouse. Her son is about 17. They'll be staying the week before at the beach and have decided to stay offsite. I would like this first experience for them to be enjoyable. Any insights would be great! Thanks!

 

[hopeful4fl]

I will start with the disclaimer that I have "not" personally been to Disney during Christmas, but here is the Verbatim statement from a Disney veteran:
You can open a can of Sardines and find more space between them than you will between people in Disney during Christmas time.

This friend has been to Disney 40+ times and frankly is someone I would trust. Hope that helps.

P.S. I would still go . Guess I am a glutton for punishment. This answer does change some days though

 

[scoobygrl79]

She's arrivng around the time I try to make sure I'm gone by. It really does start getting nearly unbearable by 12/22. She will suddenly develop a deep hatred for things she previously had no problems with such as people who suddenly stop while they are walking just to innocently look around, strollers, and backpacks that are bulkier than a sheet of paper...that describes me and I STILL hated my own kind! Like previous poster said, however, I would likely put up with it if I had to, I just adore the weather during that time.

 

[hakepb]

It's possible to have a good Christmas trip (I did this year) but it's super crowded so you can't expect to do everything.

I would have a hard time recommending a WDW vet take their only trip of the year over Christmas, and a newbie....
At a minimum, they will need tickets and book their FP+ 30 days out so they have some guaranteed rides. Otherwise wait times are a little more manageable at park opening or closing.

 

[Disneylover99]

It will be crowded. Since they are staying offsite, tell them to get up early and get to the parks but make sure they avoid the parks with extra magic hours in the morning for sure.

 

[Austintatious]

It's crowded. Very crowded. Like constantly-rubbing-shoulders-with-people-you-don't-know crowded. It's the time of year when we go that we don't expect to get much done because it's Christmas and New Years and we go for the decorations and holiday spirit.

Did I mention it's very crowded?

 

[cvjw]

We are Disney veterans, visiting multiple times per year. We planned a last minute trip last year and arrived in Disney on December 19th and stayed for 4 nights. We were expecting wall to wall people, like we had seen on a previous trip when we arrived on January 1st. It was not like that at all - it was crowded, but very manageable. We had a blast. The best part was getting to see all of the Christmas extras - DHS lights, Christmas fireworks, Christmas music and decorations at the parks.

The crowds were really rolling in when we left on the 23rd. I would not have wanted to stay any longer!

 

[robinb]

It is very VERY busy! They should make sure that they get their FP+ reservations right at the 60-day mark. For busy days like that I would suggest that they plan for rope drop and riding things stand-by and then using their FP+ later in the day or in the evening. They should look at the EMH schedule and plan their days carefully around it.

 

[kbelle8995]

Extremely crowded. Christmas week is the busiest time of year for Disney.

 

[sharonabe]

MK will probably have EMH every morning they are there, so they will already be behind the curve since they are staying off-site. If they can still get there for regular opening, it will be relatively uncrowded until about 10:00 and then they will just have to put up with the crowds.

 

[lovndisney12]

We have gone twice during this time (and will be heading there a third time this December) and actually the crowds will be getting the worse when they leave on the 23rd. With that said it will still be very crowded BUT it is manageable IF they take advantage of rope drop. Since they are staying off-site have them avoid the EMH as a PP stated. Make sure they utilize the various crowd calendars and go with the best recommended parks (and yes the different calendars will vary some but pick one that is recommended by multiple sites - they are all about posted but beware they may change slightly as WDW posts updated park hours. (easywdw has a great explanation of recommendations but as of yesterday it wasn't out yet)

We LOVE this time of year and after my husband changed careers and became a teacher, this is our only option as the boys have baseball spring and summer. I don't fear the crowds but certainly have strategies in place! (And last time on 12/25 and 12/26 when it was the busiest we were able to ride multiple high demand rides first thing in the morning in a pretty empty park by going with the recommended park for the day) Here are my tips for a great trip:

1) Expect crowds
2) Arrive to the park prior to RD to hit some of the main attractions (most likely WDW will extend park hours from what is posted now but don't assume this will happen either)
3) Avoid EMH parks since they are staying off-site
4) Pick fast passes for early afternoon when crowds start to swell
5) leave park mid afternoon and go back to hotel and enjoy pool, nap, or hop on the monorail and go visit the holiday decorations at the various resorts (or take boat from MK to Wilderness), go to downtown Disney and do some shopping, or enjoy a table service restaurant for a break
6) Head back in the evening to catch the fireworks, Osborne lights, etc.
7) Manage expectations - know that you won't see and do all - pick your top must dos and then make those your priority - anything else is a bonus

Off-site caution:
I'm not sure where they are staying but many years ago when we stayed off-site we did not find the resort transportation to the parks reliable and since getting to the parks early will be critical - I would drive if that is an option for them.

 

[HFC1969]

We are blessed to spend every Christmas at Disney..

The parks are full.. being offsite can be and will be a problem.

However... even being at capacity over Christmas and NYE.. we love it!

 

[msb578]

If at all possible, I'd recommend the DTD Hotels for off-site during this time. They are considered onsite for phased park closures (if you ride their buses), and the Hilton has EMH. Not a huge edge in the grand scheme, but every little advantage can help.

 

[robinb]

MK will probably have EMH every morning they are there, so they will already be behind the curve since they are staying off-site. If they can still get there for regular opening, it will be relatively uncrowded until about 10:00 and then they will just have to put up with the crowds.

Yup. When they go to the MK they should make sure to queue up all the way to the left nearest to the ferry. They don't run the monorail at rope drop and if they stand too far to the right they will be behind (literally) hundreds of people and will have to wait for a ferry or two to make it across the lake.

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

PP is accurate in saying that the crowds will really ramp up the day OPs friends will leave. It will be busy, but I don't consider it to be the peak of Christmas "busy." For the most part they will be able to still move through the parks comfortably and accomplish a lot with RD and a good strategy.

 

[elaine amj]

We were there Dec 26-28. I am in the process of writing up a trip report about that.

It was very, very busy (past trips were August, March, January) but manageable. My Dad joined us (he hasn't been since I was 14) and we had an awesome trip. We had to deal with lines we have never dealt with before and skip stuff we have never had to skip before, and maneuver through crowds we have never dealt with before. But the Christmas extras were amazing. And we had a fabulous. I do have a high tolerance for crazy crowded situations so had an amazing time. I was worried before I went but I would totally do it again.

But it was stuff like a 30 min line at BTMR at 9ish in the morning (EMH started at 7am), We hit Test Track at Epcot Rope Drop and by the time we got off, Soarin' was a ridiculous 45-60 min line and Spaceship Earth was 20 mins or so. FOTLK was packed when we went to AK in the afternoon. Standbys were still getting in though. My DH, DS, and father missed the FP window and ended up coming in through Standby and got seats at the very back.

 

[robinb]

If at all possible, I'd recommend the DTD Hotels for off-site during this time. They are considered onsite for phased park closures (if you ride their buses), and the Hilton has EMH. Not a huge edge in the grand scheme, but every little advantage can help.

I would also suggest that they consider staying ONSITE at All Star Sports under the free dining promo. It's $1584 for 4 nights, but that includes transportation from the airport, 4-day park hoppers and 16 counter service meals and 8 snacks. $1605 with a 5-day PH.

Let me take a second and break down the All Star resort further. The per-day vacation cost for the All Stars is $401 (with a 5-day PH). The QSDP has a value of $42 each. I do think that's a little inflated especially if you skip dessert and beverages, but we'll go with that. That's $84 for both of them. I'll use the UT price of $380 for tickets because that's what they would get if they were staying offsite. That comes out to $190 per resort night for a 5-day PH.

$401 (full ASSp cost)
-$84 (QSDP)
-$190 (PH)
-------------
$127 (INCLUDING 12.9% tax and transportation to/from airport and parking price for room to "break even")

So, for them to beat the All Star FD promo they would have to find a hotel that charges less $112 pre-tax and then factor in parking and/or transportation to/from the airport.

 

[msb578]

I would also suggest that they consider staying ONSITE at All Star Sports under the free dining promo. It's $1584 for 4 nights, but that includes transportation from the airport, 4-day park hoppers and 16 counter service meals and 8 snacks. $1605 with a 5-day PH.

Let me take a second and break down the All Star resort further. The per-day vacation cost for the All Stars is $401 (with a 5-day PH). The QSDP has a value of $42 each. I do think that's a little inflated especially if you skip dessert and beverages, but we'll go with that. That's $84 for both of them. I'll use the UT price of $380 for tickets because that's what they would get if they were staying offsite. That comes out to $190 per resort night for a 5-day PH.

$401 (full ASSp cost)
-$84 (QSDP)
-$190 (PH)
-------------
$127 (INCLUDING 12.9% tax and transportation to/from airport and parking price for room to "break even")

So, for them to beat the All Star FD promo they would have to find a hotel that charges less $112 and then factor in parking and/or transportation to/from the airport.

I agree completely- I would always choose onsite myself.

I just know some people have a mindset that they'll always choose off-site.

 

[robinb]

I agree completely- I would always choose onsite myself.

I just know some people have a mindset that they'll always choose off-site.

I'm totally cool with offsite myself. I stayed in a pool home 2 Christmases ago for a mere $800 for the week and it was wonderful. We were fine with missing EMH but we had more than 4 days too. I've also stayed at a number of hotels in the area including the Marriott, Hyatt and both Hiltons.

I guess my point is that many people get a big price shock with onsite pricing but when tickets and meals account for over two-thirds of the cost of a WDW vacation the price of the hotel itself is really not all that expensive. If they are driving, then they will have to account for another $17 in parking fees. If they are not, they will have the hassle of crappy shuttles that will probably cost money too.