Convince my wife not to go Christmas week in 2006

[kydisneyfans]

We have gone to Disney during the summer (too hot), during Memorial Day weekend (not bad), the week after Thanksgiving (not an option now, DS in school but loved it), and the last 2 years we went on fall break in October (love that, low crowds).

Now she has the great idea of spending Christmas in 2006 at the world. I say no way due to crowds and higher room costs. What type of wait times for Buzz, for example, were experienced last week.

Convince me that I am right.

 

[pepe of ohio]

From reading these boards, I would never attempt to go during xmas or nye. I've been to WDW first week of December and a week before xmas and both times its just as Christmasie, but without the crowds and hassle. After they put up the decorations in November is the best time, everything is done up and fresh, we have had some of the best vacations after Thanksgiving and this past year we went for Haloween, second week of October actually and experienced MNSSHP for the first time and were amazed of the few guests, not like summer months.

Vacations to us are susposed to be relaxing, peaceful and enjoying. Being rearends to elbows for a week is not appealing to us. Any holiday at WDW is pure choatic and from what I read here, just are getting more rude and unruly as time goes by.

 

[safetymom]

I have been many times at Christmas when I lived up North. I thought it was a great time to go.

 

[cleo]

You're right in not wanting to go that week. UNLESS you just want to go and enjoy the atmosphere. If the attractions are the most important thing, don't even think about going during Christmas/NY week. It's spam-in-a-can, shoulder to shoulder, packed in like sardines! The wait time for Space Mountain while we were there (just to give an example) was 2 hours.

On the other hand, if you are going specifically to enjoy the Christmas decorations, some of the special events, etc, and there's no possible way to go between Thanksgiving and Christmas, it could be worth doing. As with all things Disney, it depends on your attitude, flexibility, and willingness to do less (far less!) than you could do during slower season.

 

[byoung]

too crowed for me that week.

 

[Steamboat Bill]

The only way to enjoy DW at that time to to arrive at each park 15-30 minutes before the park opens and leave after lunch....

 

[salmoneous]

Convince me that I am right.

Depends upon what you mean. If you mean, are you right that a trip will be crowded and expensive? Sure.

f you mean, are you right to try and talk your wife out of a trip she is excited about, well that's a different story.

 

[lovmy2girls]

It is a wonderful time to go and see all the christmas decorations. But the crowds are like summer crowds or worse. you will have to decide.

 

[Gary M]

We just got back from a 12/25-12/30 WDW trip and never again. The crowds were too much for us. We have gone to WDW over 30 times during the slower times and this was a real mess for us. The pluses were the parks are open longer hours and if you got to the parks when they open you could do several attractions early. About 1 1/2 to 2 hours after the park openings the masses came roaring in. If you don't mind large crowds then this time is OK. One afternoon (about 2:00 pm) Soarin' had a wait of 110 minutes and the fast passes were long gone. The Test Track had a wait of 80 minutes and the Fast Passes were 5 hours ahead. The MK was almost gridlock.

 

[rkmassa]

Don't do it!!! You all will most likely be very disappointed. The crowds are just huge!! We always go the week before Christmas. Very nice time with moderate crowds. We went the 17th to 27th this past Christmas. Stayed out of the parks after Christmas. Went to the beach, swam, shopped, and the kids did the Pirate Cruise. Try to go the week before if at all possible.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Different opinion here. Just came back from WDW 12/25-31, and didn't find it at all difficult. I know folks here say you have to get to the parks at the crack of dawn to even have a chance at a headliner, but I disagree. I have 2 teens, an elderly mom, and a lazy DH who wouldn't get moving for the life of me, so we never got to a park before 9:30 the whole time we were there. I rode Soarin' (standby, 20 min.), Test Track (singles line, 5 min.), all 3 MK mountains (Space Mtn, standby, 25 min, FP Splash, BTMRR FP), ToT standby both times, once was 75 minutes, but that was at night, 2nd time 15 min, RnRC FP, Indy FP, Dinosaur FP, Kali River FP, Kilimanjaro Safari FP...I could go on and on, but the point is, I was at the parks most days around 9:30-10 a.m., left most days before 2pm, and got ALL my rides in, w/out much stress. I think most of this is due to the good advice of Unofficial Guide's best parks site, the DISboards, and having a good idea of where I want to go and what I want to do. And no, my family did NOT allow for commando touring. The crowds, IMHO, are overstated.

 

[sharonW]

It is very crowded at christmas, a mob scene. However it wouldn't stop me.
Disney is so magical I can deal with anything. It beats working! If you hate crowds and can go early dec you will probably enjoy yourselves more. The MVMCP is a lot of fun and your can only experience it before christmas.

 

[stacy6552]

Now, I'm not just saying this because us wives must always stick together........but go! Yes its crowded, but it sounds like you've done WDW enough to know the ins and outs. We went over spring break-another packed week-and didnt find the crowds too too bad because we knew when and where to eat and catch the parades, etc. etc.

Go. Christmas is a wonderful tim to see WDW.

 

[TDC Nala]

Do it if...
1) you're happy with hitting the parks as soon as they're open, knocking off the most wanted attractions quickly, then taking the rest of the day to enjoy the shows and decorations and resorts.
2) you don't mind making your dining reservations as soon as they're available.
3) you don't have a problem with crowds.
4) you don't mind anticipating waits for buses and in traffic.
5) you're okay with getting your parade viewing spots up to a couple of hours ahead of time.
6) higher costs for rooms is okay with you.

 

[Cruise04]

I have to agree on both sides - like UrsulasShadow (who I got to meet btw ) we just got back (12/23 - 1/1) - and I will say this - NYE was a MADHOUSE!!!!! We have been there for both ends - before and during Christmas and after Christmas through New Years - and this was the worst by far that we have seen. We never dreamed that sitting down on a bench on NYE in MK at 2:45pm was the best thing we could have ever done. We did not move from the bench - with the exception of rotating bathroom breaks, drink runs, and dinner run until we left the park at 12:20am. However, it ended up that we didn't have the best spot that we thought we had at first but after having our feet stepped on we got up on top of the bench and it was the best spot we could have ever had. It was unbelieveable. The crowds this year were by far the most we have seen at this season and many CM's and locals who come at this time of year (and returning guests) said the very same thing. However, most days (except NYE) we didn't get to the parks until after 9am and we were still able to do and see everything we anticipated or planned on seeing and doing. We did work in several breaks throughout our week which helped - Christmas day we decided not to go to a park so we resort hopped and saw the decorations. Two days later we went to Kennedy Space Center for a break. The 30th we did the rest of the resorts we missed on Christmas day. So we took it very easy. On NYE we got in 8 rides from 7:30am to 9:30am with 1 fastpass used. We did notice just before lunch that fastpass times were around 10pm so they were going very fast. Lines were almost 2 hours long on a lot of the rides at MK.

So as others said - if you have patience, plan out your days, do not go back to your resort on Christmas Day or NYE (you can but risk being closed out of the parks) then it's doable AND enjoyable. We had a very enjoyable time - we didn't rush ourselves, we didn't commando like we have done in the past, and we used a lot of patience. Another thing that you do HAVE to remember with the patience part is there are A LOT of foreign guests that don't speak ANY english and just don't get it - you just have to be patient with them - TRUST ME!

 

[jade1]

Have done WDW XMAS week 2 times and plan to in 2006-we love it but are no longer (after 15 trips) in commando mode and actually only plan on a few attractions a day at best that week. It will also be our 3rd trip of 2006 so whats the hurry?

We just enjoy the weather, decorations, the DVC Resorts, and WDW during XMAS is just beautiful.

If you are concerned how long the wait line for Buzz is that week, I would recommend you stay far away from WDW.

 

[disney1990]

Christmas week is our favorite time to be at Disney. Yes, it is crowded. But, by going to the parks early and using Fast Pass, you can manage the ride everything that you want to ride AND enjoy everything that Christmas week has to offer. As you said in your email, you have been many times before, so this time go Christmas week, relax and take it all in!

 

[mickeyworld]

How old is your child? IMO I think the week after Thanksgiving is the best week of the year unless you are into the pools. I have a high schooler and a 6th grader and I take them out of school. Being a teacher, I encourage parents to go on trips- family time is so important and if you leave the day after Thanksgiving and come home on Tuesdayor Wednesday, they only miss a couple of days. If your teachers can't make up 2 or 3 days of school, what is their problem, they have 180 days!!!!

 

[cobbler]

Ok, this was before fast pass so . .

We went over Xmas week in 98. AK was very new. It closed to capacity about 2 hours after opening. We also waited 2 hours for the Safari.

It was wall to wall people, very busy. I remember having fun but I remember waiting and waiting and waiting. I wouldn't go during Xmas week again.

 

[cyndibelle]

yup were another group who goes the week after thanksgiving...my kids are in kindergarten and 3rd grade..we pulled them out this year for a week in october and next year it will be the week after thanksgiving...christmas there is crowded...and crowded means people with attitudes..and long waits..and lots of money...and it all equals misery...