DILEMMA!! Last week December or First week of January?????

[DisneyMom]

Due to scheduling problems with my kids (19, 20 & 21) due to college, army, etc. - the only weeks we have available to go on a MUCH NEEDED Disney Adventure are the last week of December (12/26 - 1/2) or the first week of January (12/31 - 1/6). I thought the last week would be better because the parks would still be in HOLIDAY mode, Candleight Processional, all that but I've been reading about crowds that are huge, long waits, parks being closed and I'm really getting stressed.

The first week of January might be better crowdwise, but will the holiday "spirit" still be around? Would the trade offs on missing the Candlelight Processional and other holiday decorations/shows/etc be worth the less crowded parks?

All of our other Holiday trips have been taken mid-December and we've always had great luck with crowds, waits and getting good rates so this is a new and unfamiliar time of year for us to go.

Any advice GREATLY appreciated - since it's so hard to get everyone together, and seems to be getting harder every year (one son going to be shipped off to Iraq before too long!), I have no idea when we'd be able to all go again and want this trip to be as good as it possibly can be!!!

Thanks so much!!

 

[WDSearcher]

Absolutely, positively choose the first week in January!

The last week of December, between Christmas and New Years, is historically the busiest week of the year at Disney. The first week of January is one of the calmest. Holiday decor will be up for much of the time you're there, and you'll definitely appreciate the lower crowd levels.

 

[Michelina]

We went last year during the first week of January, it was great! Christmas decorations were still up everywhere, the weather was beautiful and the crowds were not bad at all. We're going again this year and will arrive on 12/31 to see NYE fireworks and the Osbourne Lights will still be up! Maybe we'll see you there!

 

[Bete]

first week of January is better. On the other side you do miss out on the Christmas dress parades at all the parks. They deck out the floats, etc. different at the holiday time and the characters. There's no costumes for the holidays like the Liberty Singers at the American Pavillion in Epcot including their holidays songs. CP and MVMCP are gone.

In reality I think it depends if you have seen all the above before.
If you have the first week on January will let you enjoy the parks better and you still get to see some decorations.

Any week in WDW is a good one, anyway.

 

[BrerMom]

Originally posted by WDSearcher
Absolutely, positively choose the first week in January!

Ditto!

We've been twice at this time. A lot of the decorations are still up. We even saw the Osbourne Lights one year. You don't get the Candlelight Processional, but you don't get the crowds, either.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Certainly understand your dilema-DS in college here and we chose 1/1-1/6. Although I've never gone the last week in December, the horror stories I hear of the crowds would scare me! I have done that very first week in January before (arriving 1/1 or 1/2) and although I've missed CP at that time, the holiday decorations are still up and Osborne Lights are scheduled until 1/2. Just a warning-Christmas decorations do start coming down during that time-one year I went to Epcot on 1/2 and saw the big Christmas tree and all the decorations around it. Two days later I was there again-all gone! They're still playing Christmas music then-I must admit that by then I'm usually kind of sick ofChristmas music and would like the regular Disney backround music.
Don't miss the Osborne Lights-I can't wait to see them again-so if you see someone practically running down the pathway from BWV to MGM on 1/2, that's me!

 

[funhouse8]

We were there the same time last year and I vote for 12/31-1/6. The last day for the candlelight Processional was 112/30 so if you could get there a day early you would be in luck.. Also don't forget to split your ressies into 2 because the prices will drop after Jan 1st. Gina

 

[DisneyMom]

Thanks for all the advice - we've confirmed the first week of January and will be sure to split the ressies to take advantage of any price break. Really looking forward to it!

 

[PAFamily]

I had the same question! Glad to hear that the first week in January is the way to go since I was leaning towards that week.

What special activities does Disney put on for NYE? This is our first time going in Dec/Jan. Any advice or hotel recommendations?

Thanks!!!!



Numerous Trips as a kid at the Contemporary
3/92- offsite
3/93-offsite
11/02- Old Key West
9/03- Wilderness Lodge Conceirge
9/04- The Poly Conceirge

How do I start a countdown at the bottom of my post?