Crowds Christmas week?

[mommyoeo]

It's my turn to ask the question about crowds! Will we even be able to have fun in the parks during Christmas? We'll be there Dec 19-29.

I WILL, without a doubt, use TGM of course! I was not convinced until I used him in October-- so many people wrote in complaining of crowds and I thought, "You mean there were OTHER people there?! I didn't notice!!" Seriously, I know October was busy by some estimates but "Mike" and I did fine for my family. My question is this: Will there be anywhere that's NOT crowded that he'll even be able to suggest? I don't mind lines but I feel claustrophobic if I can't walk anywhere due to crowds! I'll even go at a snail's pace, as long as I'm GOING! I got stuck once and literally could not move 2 inches for 20 minutes. My DH helped us jump some bushes and we lifted our 3 children and 2 strollers over and even climbed over and down a stone wall to escape. Will our WHOLE December trip be like that? We're going anyway, but I might not get tickets except for MVMCP and just use up the last day on our old hoppers if it's going to be nuts in the parks.

What has your experience been like? Will Christmas and school holidays make WDW a nightmare? Will be have ANY fun in the parks, or should we avoid them?

Thanks soooo much!!

Christy

 

[WDWNicole]

We had a wonderful time when we went at Christmas (arrived Christmas Day) but it was really crowded. We were there for 10 days, so we took our time and were able to see everything. The key for us was to use Fast Pass as much as possible. My DH is an expert at "working the system" and so we did great. The longest we waited while there was 45 minutes for the Great Movie Ride. It also helps to get to the parks early.

 

[Carrieannew]

My daughter and I will be there the same date . We spent 4 days in the parks last year between 12/26-12/29. The key to what worked best was early. We were at MK 2 days at 7am. And we had at least 10 things done by 10am. So i will be going into it with the same plan.

 

[mommyoeo]

Is there a place that shows the actual number of people for the last few years? I'd love to see the trends for myself.

 

[tjmouse]

Disney never releases actual numbers. You can find estimates on the web, on this site and lots of other places.

 

[allshookup]

I recommend you avoid the parks in the afternoons. I found the crowds to be managable in the mornings & then again later in the evenings. One night during Christmas week, MGM was almost deserted. I don't know why but it was the least crowded of all the parks we visited that week. However, there were times we were stuck in crowds that literally did not move at all in MK, AK, & Epcot. The strangest thing is with crowds that large, some families of about 8 to 10 people would walk side by side across the pathways & then just suddenly stop to discuss their plans. It was impossible to get around them & they would back up traffic. I tried to remain patient, but that would just drive me completely insane!

 

[tic-toc-croc]

Please tell me about New Year's eve. I expect crowds, but how bad? Do they give out party stuff, like hats and noisemakers? Would you choose Epcot or MK? where's the place to see spectacular fireworks? Lots of questions....thanks for sharing any info you have.

 

[allshookup]

Please tell me about New Year's eve. I expect crowds, but how bad? Do they give out party stuff, like hats and noisemakers? Would you choose Epcot or MK? where's the place to see spectacular fireworks? Lots of questions....thanks for sharing any info you have.

We chose Epcot but MK & MGM do a special showing of fireworks also. Epcot did a 7pm show for those with little ones that wanted to head out early. We didn't make it till Midnight but I watched the fireworks from the end of one of the buildings at POP & the whole horizon was lit up. It was beautiful! We got to Epcot early to get fastpasses for Soarin', the wait was 170 minutes by 11am with no fastpassess left. In hindsite I wish we had just slept in, stayed by the pool, headed to Epcot later in the evening & forgot about trying to get on any rides. My kids were exausted by 8pm. They do give out party hats & horns. It got very loud after that but I guess that's what it's all about. There are venues set up in different sections throughout the park offering entertainment. Bands, DJ's, etc. As far as crowds, well it wasn't too bad until later in the evening & the venues were set up. Then it was wall to wall people & hard to move. We went to Mexico & it took an hour to just to get churros. People were standing all along the wall trying to eat because there was no place to sit. They had the gates over by Mexico open to let people exit the park by the employee sections & we headed out that way to make a quick exit around 9pm.

 

[G's mommy]

The week between Christmas and New Year's is the busiest week of the whole year at WDW! Expect huge crowds for everything. Go early and do your must see's first. The upside is the parks are open long hours, the weather is normally good, can be cool though. Just enjoy the spirit of the season and don't let the crowds get to you. We usually go Thanksgiving week and it is busy too, not as bad as Christmas though and the decorations are up.