Christmas Week or Not at all???

[CrazyDisneyMommy1]

We were in Disney World in May this year for two weeks and would love to go for Christmas, but my DH says no way!! He is saying possibly we could go to DL instead. We can drive down from Alberta, Canada which makes about $2500 cheaper then going to WDW. My only problem is we have been to Disneyland at Christmas in 2002 and it was crazy ridiculous. Now my inlaws were there in 2001 xmas and it was fine. Now this was right after 9/11 and no one was travelling much. So did everyone decide to go in 2002 and that's why it was nuts? We have been to DL three times at Spring/ Easter Break and can handle those crowds. It's either go Dec. 24 -30 or not at all for a couple years to either. What do you guys and gals think?? Thanks for any help

 

[tinkerbelt]

Christmas tends to get crazy - I remember it was really crowded (sold out) during Christmas 2003. Not sure about 2004 and 2005, but it was pretty crowded in 2006.

I'd say go, even if it is crowded. You will have enough days to spread the trip out that you will have plenty of time to do stuff, even if you have to wait in some long lines, but that's just me.

 

[tinkerbelt]

Oh, I just realized - is Dec 24-30 your park time, or does that include your driving time as well? Because if that includes your driving time, then it might not be worth it.

 

[CrazyDisneyMommy1]

We would have 5 or 6 days that we would be able to go to the parks. Driving time would be on top of this. Dec 21 to Jan 1 or 2 would be the total trip.

 

[cats mom]

Personally with a choice of deal with crowds or don't go at all and knowing I'd have 5 or 6 days, I'd still go. If it was only 1 or 2 days my choice might be different.

We did the 12/27 - 1/2 thing a couple of years ago. Yes, it was extremely crowded... but we knew it would be going in; we adjusted our expectations accordingly, and we had a great time.

Normally we tend to approach the parks somewhat commando style. I think doing so that week could have pushed me right over the edge.

We spent more time in Downtown Disney, went to movies, took afternoon breaks, did some people watching (you will most likely see a melt down or several ) and we just generally adopted a much slower pace.
DS probably only hit the halfway mark of his record for rides on Screamin' in one trip, even though we were at the parks longer than we usually are, so just a different kind of trip than we're used to - but still fun.

Good Luck with your decision

 

[CrazyDisneyMommy1]

Thank you for your responses. Now I see that there is alot of construction going on at DCA, do you think this will make DL even busier.

 

[Barbday62]

If this helps any I started thinking about the weekend befor Christmas only a week ago and looked at all the hotels on Harbor for the nights of Dec 21-23 and everyone has openings that weekend. I would have thought most hotels were booked by now. Im sure it will be crowded but could this be a sign of less crowds?

 

[CrazyDisneyMommy1]

I saw that too. I was on expedia today and there was alot of openings for the whole week. Even some with 10 to 25% off. Maybe everyone is going before and after to beat the crazy crowds?? But do you think everything will be open at DCA with all the construction. On the Disneyland site it says they do not open till 1:00 p.m. each day into the fall??

 

[Barbday62]

I think the only thing that opens at 1 is the california Screeming roller coaster. The other pier attractions are open earlier I think.

 

[dwelty]

If this helps any I started thinking about the weekend befor Christmas only a week ago and looked at all the hotels on Harbor for the nights of Dec 21-23 and everyone has openings that weekend. I would have thought most hotels were booked by now. Im sure it will be crowded but could this be a sign of less crowds?

Be careful using hotel occupancy as a barometer. 70% of Disneyland visitors are Southern California locals. When we haver visitors come down for Christmas, a Disneyland trip is usually planned. So alot of the park guests you will see that week will be friends and relatives staying with local residents.

 

[staley7580]

I am going that week, so we can all suffer the crowds together!

 

[yipee]

I would go, and adjust your expectations knowing there will be crowds! We've been really spoiled by going in the off-season, but if it was Christmas or not at all, I would have to suck it up and give it a try!

 

[DangerMouse]

Most of the newest planned construction over at DCA won't start until after the new year. I doubt you will see any more closures than normal.

 

[Leofoenget]

We were in Disney World in May this year for two weeks and would love to go for Christmas, but my DH says no way!! He is saying possibly we could go to DL instead. We can drive down from Alberta, Canada which makes about $2500 cheaper then going to WDW. My only problem is we have been to Disneyland at Christmas in 2002 and it was crazy ridiculous. Now my inlaws were there in 2001 xmas and it was fine. Now this was right after 9/11 and no one was travelling much. So did everyone decide to go in 2002 and that's why it was nuts? We have been to DL three times at Spring/ Easter Break and can handle those crowds. It's either go Dec. 24 -30 or not at all for a couple years to either. What do you guys and gals think?? Thanks for any help

I live close enough to go during Christmas break with the kids and there is NO WAY I would do it. I hate crowds and Christmas is pretty much the worst. You could maybe brave it a day and go to some other LA attractions. Universal, Knotts, LegoLand. There are other places to see.

 

[CrazyDisneyMommy1]

Thanks everyone. I will have to think it over some more. There is no way I could only go to Disney for a day. My DS 7 and DD 9 would be very upset along with myself. My husband would also say we are not driving all that way to only go to DL for one day. We have been to Knotts once and that was enough. We have never been to Legoland... but have been to Universal and Seaworld. Maybe that would break it up a bit?? But I am sure those places will be busy too, but not like DL!!!

 

[Pinkstarblm]

This last December I needed a Disney fix and bad.. so my brother's girlfriend and I flew down there the 26-28th... hahaha I will NEVER do that again! the 26th they were having some rose bowl ceremony with USC and Michigan teams there + fans. It was wall to wall people it was crazy. Lines were rediculously long. we spent most of that day in DCA. It was fun to see Disney in all it's holiday glory buuuuut if i had to do it over i would go for beginning december when schools are still session.

 

[CrazyDisneyMommy1]

Thanks, but beginning of December is not a option this year. It may be only week of Christmas for a couple years, due to my husband's holidays. I know we have been spoiled getting to go to WDW twice in late April and beginning of May and DL at Easter Break and once at Christmas ( which was crazy). Now we did the Christmas 2002 at DL and it was nuts and my kids were only 2 and 4 so it was harder then with a stroller and one in diapers/ training. With them being older and Disney wise as they have been to WDW twice and this would be their 5th time to DL, so they get lines and crowds, but I don't know about these crowds??

 

[drag n' fly]

Normally I would say...no. However you have enough Disney trips under your belt you know exactly how to manage the crowds. It is just a question of whether you want to or not. HTH

 

[Pinkstarblm]

The lines actually weren't too bad thanks to Fast Pass.. The only long line we waited in was Indiana. 115mins.. and we were trying to kill time before Splash Mountain.. And for pirates the longest was about 25 mins... It really wasn't that bad just wall to wall people. DCA was quite pleasant because everyone was over at DL.