Christmas

[Marvin1968]

We are planning on coming down Christmas week, which includes Christmas Day. Dare I ask, how are the crowds?

 

[Lynne G]

Not sure what this year will look like, but a few years ago, we were there that week. A sea of people I think is the right description. Even express lanes closed as too full, for the poplar rides, and even some I thought are not as popular. If you can get up early at least one day to do early entry, go to the most popular rides as soon as you can, as the early hours are the best time to have the lower wait times, at least the first hour or so. After that, crowds just built and built.

Make sure you make meal reservations, as we saw so many turned away, and make time to get to the restaurant, as once the parks are near to close, and well thereafter, City Walk was wall to wall people. Only time my adult kids and I held hands as a chain to get through the crowds to our restaurant after arriving by boat for dinner on Christmas Day. If I’d do it again, I’d just eat at our hotel’s restaurant.

So, like any busy time, pack your patience, enjoy some pool time if warm enough, eat off hours, and try to be early, very early and use the early entry for hotel guests at least a day or two. And make sit down places reservations. You may be able to change them if not wanting to go then. There is no money penalty if you don’t show, but be considerate and cancel as soon as you know not going.

But I will say, favorite time, as everything is open, and I love holiday decorations, and the holiday parade.

 

[Marvin1968]

Thank you so much!! I have a Spirit voucher I have to use and this is the only time when both kids are on break. Thanks again.

 

[Grumpy92]

Christmas is busy no matter which theme park you go to. The xmas decorations at the hotels are really nice and they try to spread that throughout the theme parks as well. Otherwise follow Lynne's advice.

 

[cfoxga]

Haven't been at Xmas, but been at Thanksgiving 3 years now. Lynne's advice is spot on. For us EPs are a must. Crowds really picked up after 10:30 am, and EP lines in the afternoon would be 45+ minutes. So we would eat a late lunch and go back to the resort for a nap/swimming. Then we'd go back in the evening and the crowds were back to a reasonable level. Diagon Alley at night is my favorite place in the park to relax, as the only people there are in line for Gringotts...

 

[cschaaf]

We've been there 2 or 3 times for Christmas week. On each of those trips, we've checked out on the 26th.

We've also had EP for those trips. It's certainly possible to have a good time without EP, but you'll need to prioritize what you want to experience vs how long you are willing to wait for that experience.

Even with EP, we are fans of going for Early Park Entry, taking mid-day breaks, then returning to the parks after dinner. That's our plan no matter the time of year, but it's particularly helpful when the parks are busy.

The lead up days to Christmas Day weren't too bad, but every day closer to Christmas, you could feel the crowds getting bigger. And the days between Christmas and New Years are even more crowded. Walking through the lobby on the 26th while checking out, it was always a mad house.

 

[Marvin1968]

Thank you all. My plan is to fly down the 22nd and fly back the 27th. We’ve been there twice before and stayed at HRH. Will try to get an express pass hotel if they have a military discount.

 

[Swidner]

We went Dec 25-31, 2019. Park days were 26-30. It was PACKED, but fun! We stayed at RP so had EP, which made it so much more enjoyable. Kids felt cool getting to the "front" of the lines. I don't remember regular line wait times, but I know they were always LONG. We are going back the first week of Jan 2022 and hope for smaller crowds so we can enjoy seeing more of the park without crowds. Just pack patience...it takes a lot navigating the crowded areas, especially in HP areas. Literally standing room only in some areas and there is no EP for that LOL.

 

[Marvin1968]

We went Dec 25-31, 2019. Park days were 26-30. It was PACKED, but fun! We stayed at RP so had EP, which made it so much more enjoyable. Kids felt cool getting to the "front" of the lines. I don't remember regular line wait times, but I know they were always LONG. We are going back the first week of Jan 2022 and hope for smaller crowds so we can enjoy seeing more of the park without crowds. Just pack patience...it takes a lot navigating the crowded areas, especially in HP areas. Literally standing room only in some areas and there is no EP for that LOL.

Thank you. Just Reserved sapphire falls for the 23-27. This will be out first trip without EP’s