Christmas week experts - day at MK (was asked for advice!)

[Boardwalk III]

FWIW, all three of the All-Star resorts have rooms available on Christmas Eve. Those may be cheaper than Saratoga Springs studios and still serve the "throwaway" purposes. If they were going to MK on Christmas Eve, they would not need to check into the rooms first. However, I don't know what would happen if no one checked in on Christmas Eve and they tried to go to Early Entry on Christmas Day. Disney might consider the reservation abandoned and cancel it if no one ever checked in on its first day. Maybe someone else can answer that question.

P.S. The All-Stars all have rooms available for check-in on Christmas Day also. People checking in that day can attend Early Entry that morning.

Thanks so much. I literally sent her an email this afternoon outlining suggestions here and things to consider. I also suggested going to MK Christmas Eve Day rather than on Christmas Day which I think she would be open to. Good to know about the check-in considerations. I was wondering that myself. It’s possible they’d choose rooms at Saratoga if available on the 23rd, spend that evening at Disney Springs and head to the park the next morning for their long day but either way I’ll make sure she checks on the check in process.

 

[Marthasor]

We did Christmas week a few years ago and will never do it again. As PPs have mentioned, I would probably suggest going Dec. 24 instead of Dec. 25. We have been going the week before Christmas for a few years now and one thing I noticed, especially last year - when the local APs are blocked out (starting on Dec. 19 this year), crowds dropped pretty significantly. They need to really consider traffic though and how long it may take just to park. One thing we love to do leading up to Christmas is just visit the resorts and see the decorations, which they may want to consider as well.

 

[focusondisney]

We went last Christmas for the first time(been many other times). Honestly Christmas eve and Christmas day were fine. I expected absolute crazyness. That started 26th. We did MK on Christmas and it was wonderful!

Happy to read this. We’ve been going to WDW multiple times a year for over 30,p years, but never on Christmas Day. We’re going December 22-26 th this year. Because we go so often, we’re not too worried about rides but mostly want to take in the atmosphere. Touring Plans crowd calendar has our days as 6-7s, with the biggest crowds starting as we leave on the 26th. Hoping we have the same experience you,did!

 

[Disturbia]

We are going over Christmas/NYEE and this is the first year post COVID without park pass reservations so expecting crowds to surpass 2019.

We will probably do a few hours in the morning IF we manage to get an VQ and a LLSP and hop to AK for extended evening hours.

You do get the Christmas parade and fireworks every day 12/23-12/29 during regular park hours

 

[Disturbia]

Kyle Pallo has a great video on Christmas Eve at HS as well; characters and snacks+water in line when the ride broke down for just a few mins!!! Nothing like that post COVID even when we waited 2 hours

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

We are going over Christmas/NYEE and this is the first year post COVID without park pass reservations so expecting crowds to surpass 2019.

I doubt that. Attendance is down this year versus 2019.

 

[Disturbia]

I doubt that. Attendance is down this year versus 2019.

It was during the summer. If you read any of the mid October+ posts people were surprised by how crowded it was. I’ve been trying to come up with Dec park hopping plans and I have yet to see GOTG available for more than a few mins. There were multiple resort and dining offers until 12/25, so I would be careful with underestimating the crowds. Although I do hope parks don’t hit capacity on 12/30 and we can take aid day break.

Nate posted a video yesterday and barnstormer was almost wrapping around to Tron, although SDMT seemed low at 90 mins

 

[Disturbia]

Also, park capacity is not a fixed number. MK can handle 100,000 people a day but if too many CMs call in sick and they’re short staffed that capacity number can be as low as 80,000

 

[focusondisney]

It’s also the Gartner convention this week, one of the biggest if not the biggest convention at WDW. 20,000 attendees many of whom bring families. So this week is over & above regular attendance.

 

[Disneylover99]

Looks like annual passholders are no longer able to book a reservation at the MK on Christmas Day. Not suprised by this. But even regular ticket holders and resort guests are now fully booked at the MK on New Years Eve.

https://www.wdwmagic.com/other/myma...ked-for-resort-guests-and-regular-tickets.htm