Dec 17-24

[smnslc]

Our trip is already made through DVC. Staying at BLT. Made reservation at 11month window. I figure the crowd levels will be manageable at the beginnig of the week but overwhelming towards the end. With Xmas being on Sunday when do you suppose the crowds will be arriving? I thought about moving our reservation up a couple of days but that may now be impossible. It is right now at the 7-month window. We would not mind a split stay keeping BLT for the end of the trip and try another DVC at the beginning. Am I being realistic or just overly concerned. This past year we (me, DH, DD(7) were there Dec 11-18 and had no complaints sbout the crowds the only long wait was TSM for and hour. We used our fast passes and actually didn't need them on our AK park day. We did MVMCP last trip and don't plan on it this trip since the last party is the 18th and will be absolutely packed. What does everyone think? Sorry so long.

 

[tgropp]

Keep the reservations that you got. You will be there at the most magical time and the crowds will be very managable. They will start to swell on the Sat/24'th. We were there last year from the 19'th thru the 26'th. Starting on Christmas day, the crowds seem to swell. We learned from our earlier trips to get out of Dodge on the 26'th but the Christmas atmosphere on the 22-23 and 24'th is amazing.

 

[sweetdana]

My dates 2010 were 12-16 - 12-24.

I would not call anything except the 1st day or so managable. By day 3 we could not use our stroller well. There was just not room to walk.

We missed TSM, Soarin, and nearly everything at MK due to we won't wait 45 mins and FP were hours ahead or already gone. Admittingly we go enough we are fine with missing things too.

I wouldn't go that week again, but I would enjoy what you can while there and just know what to expect and go to enjoy what you can. Views, lights, ressies you made months before. The parks closed mid day a couple times, but it didn't matter it was so full, the days they closed it we had left well before hand and went to DTD, or hotel ect.. The weather was unusually cold so we only went swimming once. If swimming is weather permitting I things would have been way better.

Go with the right mind set and do not look back.

 

[Deb & Bill]

My guess is that everyone will be arriving when you are arriving. While some schools may not be out for vacation until 12/23, I'm gonna bet a lot will be out before then. Or their parents will take them out a bit earlier to "beat the rush".

Keep your reservation. It may be difficult to move forward a week.

 

[smnslc]

I think we will stick wth those days and just get to the parks the first part of the week and hope the crowds don't get too bad until later on in the week. I am hoping everyone doesn't show up until Sat 24th since Xmas is on Sun and then we will be on our way home.

 

[ABCanada]

It depends which day of the week Christmas falls. It seems many of the Canadian Schools get 12-26 to 01-06 off this year so I am hoping the 18th to 24th will be lighter this year. In 2010 most of the schools we off 12-20 to 12-31.

DD gets almost 4 weeks at Christmas 2011 so we are booked from the 15th to the 24th and hoping for the best.

 

[staceymay00]

We went about the same time this past year, 2010. It was pretty busy all week, but we did not wait more than 15-20 minutes for anything (usually less) by arriving at park opening, using FP efficiently and having a good touring plan. We did not miss out on any attractions that we wanted to experience. It is a magical time of year to visit. We got to see the Christmas parades at AK and MK, plus the holiday Wishes and Illuminations.