Convince my wife not to go Christmas week in 2006

[Teacher03]

This thread just made me change my reservations from December 2006 to June. I would love to go at Christmas, but I don't want to deal with all the crowds. I cannot go at anytime other than Christmas week at that time of the year, so maybe when I retire....

 

[skiingwife]

We were just there from 12/16 - 12/25 and I would do it again. The crowds were not bad up until about the 22nd. We went early in the morning, used fastpass to its fullest, had ADRs, and had a plan. We had a great time and never waited in line (except when we didn't follow our plan, or rather, Tour Guide Mike's plan). There definitely was a big increase in crowds the 23rd and 24th. I would never do Christmas week, but the week before was great.

 

[Kay1]

We usually go at Christmas and did this year, too. We stayed December 25th - 30th. For some reason, the crowds bothered me more this year. It was just so jam packed and meal times were stressful. Not to make light of their plight, but I felt almost like a woman in a Third World country who had to struggle to gather food each meal. If you go, plan to spend plenty of money and make dining reservations so you won't have to stand in long food lines and either fight for a table or luck out and find a garbage can to set your tray on. You should also consider the weather. If it's as cold as it was this year, you won't be able to excape to your hotel's pool.

 

[allshookup]

We just got back also (got to meet UrsulasShadow too!) and we thought it was extremely crowded. We got to the parks at different times, because we hopped around a bit. We also spent the whole day at some parks. Yes if you got there early enough you could get on rides & the crowds weren't too bad, but we got to Epcot at 11am one day & the fast passes for Soarin' were gone for the day & the wait was 170 minutes! On NYE we got there at opening & could've walked right on Soarin' but we got a fast pass & had breakfast first. There were times the parks weren't too bad but by afternoon the parks were jam packed. We encountered many families of 6 to 8 people that would walk side by side & then just stop in the middle of a walkway to have a conversation. It would be so crowded that you couldn't get around them so the foot traffic would just come to a complete stop. We've been there Thanksgiving week, the Fourth of July, and even Christmas week 1999 & I've never seen crowds this bad. I would definitely try to go around the holidays when the decorations are all up and there are special parades & fireworks, but I don't think we will ever go during Christmas week again.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Hi again, Cruise04 and allshookup! Was glad to meet you, and all the other DISers I was lucky enough to meet this trip (you, too, Crazy Hakim, Autumn Sun, and Kath1210!). I guess I just got lucky this trip (good thing, too, cuz DMom was making me crazy!). I knew it would be busy, because I've done this week before, so I guess I just naturally made my park plans for mornings, and all the rest for evenings. So I never got stuck in the nightmarish afternoon crowds. PLUS, I left NYE, so never lived through that particular party! Wish your trips were easier, and more pleasant.

 

[Lisacope]

We have kids in school but they get the week before Christmas off so we went Dec 18-26th in 2004. Because we arrived on the 18th we got value pricing for the hotel (an amazing view at the poly - yay we are going back this June!!!) and it didn't seem that crowded to me! We went to Epcot on the 25th and it was raining so the park was virtually empty. We were at Disneyland Calif Dec 18th-22nd this year and I thought it was much more crowded - maybe it is just a difference in the parks. Anyway - we had an amazing magical trip and I would go again in a heartbeat - but I wouldn't even try to go Christmas week!

 

[phisigprincess]

I just got back and would NEVER do it again. I was in Orlando for dance, so we took time to hit up the World on the 28-30th. I've read all the posts and issues that people have with that week, but being a habitual summer visiter, I didn't think it would be anything I couldn't handle. OH MY GOSH!!!! 180 minutes for Soarin (no more fastpasses by 10:30), 60 minutes for single riders at Test Track (160 for the regular line - no more fast passes), 90 minutes for Buzz, at 10 a.m. we got a 9:45 p.m. fast pass for Space Mountain.... not to mention the crowds at the parades and such. Even the popcorn line was a challenge.

I was amazed at what a difference 1 week makes. Earlier in December was wonderful. I found it hard to have a good time during Christmas week just due to the crowd size. I know some people enjoy it, but for me it was just a little bit too much. But of course, it was Disney so it was still a great time!!!

 

[julielovestigger]

We just got back (12/22 - 01/01) and it was the best trip of my life. Should you go? Good question. We had no kids, stayed onsite, used the dining plan, planned rest days, went to Kennedy Space Center for two days, and used the EMH mornings. Most importantly, I did six months of hard-core planning and purchased two customized touring plans.

Personally, I would not attempt this time of the year with small kids. The crowds were worse than the shopping crowds you see on the day after Thanksgiving, it that helps. If you go, you really have to know what you're doing, and PLAN, PLAN, PLAN!