Crowds In December For Xmas

[angel659]

Hi

We are planning to go away for xmas in 2008. It is a long time away and your probably thinking I am mad for organising it this early. The reason I am organising it this early is because we will be going with my mum and dad. My mum works in retail and I will then be a Student Nurse so it wouldnt effect me if I went away in December.

Are the crowds unbearable during the holiday season? I doubt very much we would visit WDW during Xmas day but if we did I expect the park would be heaving. Apart from Xmas day is the parks very busy?

Any tips for planning a christmas vacation would be great. This would be our first time we have planned to go away at christmas.

 

[Laurafoster]

In a word YES!

We went once on about the 20th December until new year and most parks were full to capacity by midday! Therefore meaning we didnt get in on somedays or had to hang around waiting for people to leave.

That being said i still had a wonderful time, the decorations are lovely and the atmosphere is great! But do expect crowds.

If you can go a week or so earlier on the other hand its usually pretty quiet, we also went first 2 weeks in december and there were 5min queues max for most things!

 

[angel659]

Hi

We want to spend xmas at WDW so we have to go on those dates.

Are there any new year celebrations going on then? Special firework displays? Again I would imaging MK being full so we would have to spend the whole day in the park otherwise we could lose out.

It is annoying that it will be full so quickly. Never mind. A price to pay.

 

[TinkTatoo]

We are planning our first Christmas trip this year (we usually go during the summer) from what I can gather there are special Christmas fireworks and all the resorts are decorated for the holidays.

I think the parks are absolutely packed from 23rd Dec until 1st January bit we just plan to get there early ride what we can, then just soak up the atmosphere. I am sure you will have a great time and happy planning

 

[Miffy2003]

If you are going over the Xmas holiday period (eg after Dec 22nd or so onwards until after New Year) I'm afraid it will be terribly busy.

If you are going to have small children with you, seriously think about it as I was nearly separated from my 5 year old a couple of times due to the crowds and that was pretty scary,

There are tons of good things about going over the Xmas season, but as you asked about crowds sepcifically, I am answering according to my experience

 

[martinrmn]

I am going with my family on Dec 1st this year for two weeks. After reading the forum it would appear that we have picked the best two weeks to go. The crowds are not big and most attractions are still open. Once I am back mid December I will be giving my opinion. By the way, what branch of nursing are you going into?

 

[Shane]

Hiya Angel

Well, my mother, who is actually organising a family trip for febuary next year contacted me earlier today to discuss the trip and after browsing the internet she said the crowds in Febuary are about 22,000 a day (in a park) upto 55,000 in July and upto 75,000 christmas week!

 

[wayneg]

This year will be our 4th Xmas/NewYear visit.
It is ridiculously busy at this time of year. Last year lines at Soarin and Test track were over 2 hours long. Car journeys that nomally take 15 mins take 30-45 mins. Going to eat offsite at meal times takes twice as long as other times of year.
Does it matter? NO. You are in Disney at the most magical time of the year.
You have a long time to plan so ask lots of questions on here and know what you are going to do before you get there.
As I said this is 4th New Years eve we have done 3 of them in Epcot and I am almost sure will be there again this time. Celebrating New year twice 7pm (UKmidnight) in "England" watch the (early) superb firework/laser show then get out and go to Downtown Disney to see Fireworks at midnight.
Are you planning on staying Onsite? if not they do turn away guests when they reach capacity. They tried with us one year until we told them we were staying onsite. Now we saty offsite but get in parks very early.
Good luck with your planning.

 

[angel659]

Hi

Thanks for your advice. What are the best reasons to go in Dec Miffy

Hi Martin

I will be going into Adult Medicine. I start my training in Sept 07 cant wait.


Hi Wayne

Wow 75,000 it will be busy then.

Thanks again

 

[paulh]

we have been at christmas and found that say from 2 days before to new years day its bussy but befor and after that its quit
Paulh

 

[angel659]

This year will be our 4th Xmas/NewYear visit.
It is ridiculously busy at this time of year. Last year lines at Soarin and Test track were over 2 hours long. Car journeys that nomally take 15 mins take 30-45 mins. Going to eat offsite at meal times takes twice as long as other times of year.
Does it matter? NO. You are in Disney at the most magical time of the year.
You have a long time to plan so ask lots of questions on here and know what you are going to do before you get there.
As I said this is 4th New Years eve we have done 3 of them in Epcot and I am almost sure will be there again this time. Celebrating New year twice 7pm (UKmidnight) in "England" watch the (early) superb firework/laser show then get out and go to Downtown Disney to see Fireworks at midnight.
Are you planning on staying Onsite? if not they do turn away guests when they reach capacity. They tried with us one year until we told them we were staying onsite. Now we saty offsite but get in parks very early.
Good luck with your planning.

Thanks for the advice. We would be staying in a villa we would get to the parks early so we can have a head start with the bigger rides.

Does anyone go to WDW on xmas day? Cant wait to see New year fireworks two sets wow. I hope we still get the special magic even though its busy with all the lights etc....

The only problem I have is how do we take the presents?? My dd will be expecting Santa to go to WDW to give her presents to her

 

[wayneg]

Never been there for Xmas day. I own Flower shops so Xmas eve is one of my busiest days of the year, always fly Xmas Day or Boxing day.
Last year we had to do Presents Xmas eve, we always go out to relatives 7pm ish so amazingly Santa knew and brought presents while we were out. He is so clever.

 

[Miss Mickey Mania]

My mum and I did a ladies only Christmas in 2003. It was the best holiday ever, but also the busiest. WDW was PACKED from Dec 23rd to Jan 1st.

Just as an example, Magic Kingdom closed to all guests by 10.30am on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. I can't remember details of other parks but I do recall this. We had eaten breakfast at Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary and said no way were we tackling MK. We went to Animal Kingdom and it was great! Not so busy at all and a less obvious choice for Dec 25th.

As you wouldn't be staying onsite, you MUST get to the parks early. By that I mean get to the car park before opening time. The car queues to get in can be crazy long so make allowances for that in your timing. You want to be at the park gates for opening if possible. This will let you do more attractions and let you leave when the crowds get too bad.

Don't assume you will get to do all the attractions you would ideally want. We have 'done' WDW many times so weren't too fussed if we missed rides etc. We used our time to look at the smaller details and soak up the wonderful atmosphere.

I hope I haven't been too negative in this post, as I really don't mean to be. It just pays to be aware of the craziness that is Christmas at WDW. It is truly an amazing time to visit and I'd love to do it again.

If you'd like more info on our trip, feel free to send me a PM. Beware, I'm only available until Wednesday night because look at my trip countdown timer!

Louise

 

[CHRIS F]

Michelle

As most people said Xmas is just maxed out with crowds, we went on 26th December 2003 for two weeks, some queues on NYE were 3-4 hours at Epcot, but we knew it was going to be like that and just accepted it. We got on rides when we could did things in the park we would normally overlook [as they were less busy than the popular rides]and spent more time than we would normally around the pool as I had enough of bumping into people in crowds also my two boys moaned non stop because of the crowds as they were used to 5 minute queues from previous holidays in the first two weeks of December.
But here is the trade off for the above. Disney does Christmas like no other experiance I have ever had, christmas shows, carols, christmas spirit etc . I love christmas and would go again anytime to WDW. The best single item was the fireworks at Epcot on NYE ok we had to get there by 8.30am and spend the whole day there but one of the most enjoyable days of my life.

And of course I did not have to spend xmas with the in laws lol

 

[Goofyish]

We went last December from the 15th until the 30th. Up until about the 23rd the parks were not very busy at all. We were in MK on Christmas Eve and it was very busy, especially for the Wishes fireworks.

On Christmas day we went into Epcot (we were staying at the Dolphin so it was quite handy). We didn't find Epcot that busy first thing. It did get busier as the day progressed though.

Christmas week we tended to just go to the parks for specific rides or meals. With careful planning and clever use of Fastpass you can beat most of the crowds

Make plenty of ADRs for table service meals and for counter service try and eat early or between popular meal times.

The atmosphere over the holiday season is special in WDW. Make sure you get to as many resorts as you can to see the decorations and special events

 

[angel659]

Wow it sounds great. Its a pity I have to wait that long. Thanks for all of your advice. Plenty of planning will be my priority. People think I am mad for thinking about it already, but I know it will be a one time thing only and I want to make sure we get things sorted out especially when my parents are coming along. Its another worry if I did not organise things well.