Christmas Week

[capecoddisneyfamily]

Ok, is Christmas so busy it is more aggravating than enjoyable?

 

[ldo]

the resorts are so lovely with decorations, but the parks are nuts! If you can enjoy the resorts and go to the parks in the AM and back to resort mid-day and then just go back for fireworks, it's fine--but, by 2 PM, you can't even turn around in MK--hey--guess where we'll be this Christmas--at WDW!!

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Ok, is Christmas so busy it is more aggravating than enjoyable?

No it's not. You just need to plan in advance and be realistic. Make sure you have reservations for all meals that you want to eat out for and make them the first day you can. Also plan on hitting the parks either very early or very late. They are often open on both ends later and earlier so you should take advantage of it. Use Fast Passes and get out of the park in the afternoon after lunch or a parade. At night go see the lights, shows, other hotels/decorations, the CP, etc.....

It's a great time of year at WDW if you prepare.

HBC

 

[Connears]

We have been for to WDW for xmas week for the last 4 years and are returning this year for xmas week. We look at this week as the opportunity to see the great holiday venues. We do make adr's for the sit-downs, but we also are flexible with how and when to visit the parks. If it was my first (or only) time to visit wdw, that week would really limit your ability to see as much of the rides and attractions as possible, but the holiday shows and decorations make it up for us..we know we'll be back to see our favorites again.
Connears

 

[Deb & Bill]

I would never advise anyone going on a first WDW trip to go at Christmas time. It could be so frustrating to wait in lines 90-120 minutes long for a single ride.

But if you are going for the events, decorations, etc, then there is so much to do and see. Spur of the moment or playing by ear are not suggested for holiday time.

It is a good time do some of those out of the way things, like Winterland-Summerland miniature golfing.

 

[Safari Queen]

For us the answer is yes. I'm an impatient claustrophobic and can't handle shuffling along slowly in a crowd. We're arriving Jan 1 but plan to stay around AKL and do other non-park activities until about Jan 5 when our DGD, DD and SIL arrive.

 

[Cruelladeville]

I am also claustrophobic, but I use my Christmas trip to do the special seasonal things. I haven't been on a ride at Christmas in several years! But I can't wait to see the Lights at MGM, the fountain and the arch and the Processional at Epcot, and the special fireworks at MK! There is also a great ice sculpture thing at the Gaylord Palms that's great! Since we are from Michigan, it is a treat for us to golf on Christmas Day, and enjoy all the festivities at all the resorts. I am so excited to go! I am going down on the 24th, but I was even thinking of changing my tickets to get down there on the 21st, until I saw the price difference. Yikes!!

 

[tomandrobin]

Ok, is Christmas so busy it is more aggravating than enjoyable?

This our third year in a row going at Christmas time. The crowds are incredible, but the decorations are just as incredible. We go there with the mind set of going to the parks early, not going comando at the parks, relax and enjoy all of the activities.

We just take all in stride and enjoy as much as we can.

 

[beachblanket]

the decorations are just as incredible.

And are up by late November - so why wait until the most jam-packed and expensive week of the year to see them?

 

[drag n' fly]

And are up by late November - so why wait until the most jam-packed and expensive week of the year to see them?

Well maybe because anyone with kids just cannot drop out of sight because the crowds are low. Two of our kids are going into the higher grades 7 and 9 next year and cannot miss school so we need to go during those times for school reasons.

 

[Granny]

No it's not. You just need to plan in advance and be realistic. Make sure you have reservations for all meals that you want to eat out for and make them the first day you can. Also plan on hitting the parks either very early or very late. They are often open on both ends later and earlier so you should take advantage of it. Use Fast Passes and get out of the park in the afternoon after lunch or a parade. At night go see the lights, shows, other hotels/decorations, the CP, etc.....

It's a great time of year at WDW if you prepare.

HBC

I agree 100% with HBC's comments. It is a great time, but if you are the type who really has to hit a lot of attractions each day to enjoy the parks, it will be frustrating.

I think if someone has an AP it makes it better...there isn't a sense of "wasting" park days experiencing a smaller number of attractions than in less crowded times.

It's all about expectations. If heavy crowds frustrate you, then by all means it will probably be more aggravating than enjoyable.

 

[beachblanket]

Two of our kids are going into the higher grades 7 and 9 next year and cannot miss school so we need to go during those times for school reasons.

I understand the importance of keeping the kids in school; I have children about the same age and no, we never pull them out session to go on vacation.

However, we do pick times for our trips to WDW (late August as example) when our schools aren't open but crowds are smaller.

What we are not interested in doing is paying huge point and airfare premiums just to get the opportunity to be packed into non-moving lines, while listening to the scores of Disney World first timers (ergo, neophytes) endlessly whining about the crowds and waiting a minimum of 45+ minutes to be seated for every ADR.

We prefer the simpler (and IMHO more enjoyable) ways to celebrate Christmas:

 

[tomandrobin]

And are up by late November - so why wait until the most jam-packed and expensive week of the year to see them?

Last two children are in High School, enough said.

 

[tomandrobin]

However, we do pick times for our trips to WDW (late August as example) when our schools aren't open but crowds are smaller.

What we are not interested in doing is paying huge point and airfare premiums just to get the opportunity to be packed into non-moving lines, while listening to the scores of Disney World first timers (ergo, neophytes) endlessly whining about the crowds and waiting a minimum of 45+ minutes to be seated for every ADR.

We do not go in the summer months anymore, too hot. We liv eon the east coast, so travel is not that bad....total airfare for five 12/7-1/2 was $530. The point cost is high, but not as high as the cash rates...no Ap discount. We celebrate Christmas at home with family, our December trip is more or a New Years trip.

As Disney vets now, we know how to maximize our time in and out of the parks.

Oh, one more thing.....My company closes from 12/21 thru 1/2 every year, with pay. I get a bonus vacation without actually using my vacation time. So its a trifecta of Christmas/NYE time, kids out of school, me paid leave time.

 

[dgaston]

DH teaches HS -- no way he can have time off during the first two weeks of December. So armed with TourguideMike, we hit the parks early, rest in the afternoon, and return for evening activities like fireworks, Spectro, etc.

I do look forward to when he retires in a year or two and then I can maybe get to a MVMCP. We love MNSSHP when Don takes a personal day.

 

[yitbos96bb]

For us the answer is yes. I'm an impatient claustrophobic and can't handle shuffling along slowly in a crowd. We're arriving Jan 1 but plan to stay around AKL and do other non-park activities until about Jan 5 when our DGD, DD and SIL arrive.

I was there last year from Dec 30-Jan 10 and it was as JAMMED packed EVERYDAY we were there through the marathon (and then it cleared up). In fact, I think the parks were worse Jan 1 through the Sunday than they were on Dec 30 and 31... They reminded me of Easter and Fourth of July weeks, they were so crowded.

Just want to prepare you for it, because I was expecting it to be not too crowded based on several guides and people that post on Dis. For some reason the pattern changed (I think because a lot of school districts are changing it so that christmas break starts a few days before Christmas and extends the week past New Years... many in our area switched to this over the last two years.

I don't think Disney was expecting it either as several CMs I talked too (some ones I just started chatting with and others friends from my CP days who stayed on and still work there) said a lot of people took vacations at that time and they were understaffed... They also had several E-Ticket rides under Refurb, which I would have thought they would have waited until after the Marathon had they expected the crowds they got.

 

[yitbos96bb]

What we are not interested in doing is paying huge point and airfare premiums just to get the opportunity to be packed into non-moving lines, while listening to the scores of Disney World first timers (ergo, neophytes) endlessly whining about the crowds and waiting a minimum of 45+ minutes to be seated for every ADR.

Funny... I've heard many experience people do the same whining... as well as MANY DISers who are among the worst of the whiners Just pointing out that old or new, when its crowded or hot (or god forbid crowded AND hot) the whiners come... er... a whining.


(To be clear I am NOT referring to YOU or any other person who has posted in this thread.)