Disney at Christmas- Am I crazy for doing it

[melana]

Okay..
I made the decision today that I will be going to Disney and staying Dec. 23rd to Dec. 26th this year.

Is this crazy?? This will be my fourth trip to disney and my first solo trip. I was wondering about crowds at the parks during this time of year. I was thinking of doing the Magic Kingdom on Christmas Day..but would another park be smarter.

I have never been to Disney during the holiday season..so I just don't know what to expect.

 

[ktlm]

It is the most crowded week of the year, but we were there the week between Christmas and New Years 1999-2000 and even though parks were closing for capacity we had a blast! We did it pre- kid and I think as adults it is much easier to deal with the crowds and to get more done. WDW is beautiful during the Christmas season!

 

[melana]

That is what I have heard about that week. But I couldn't pass up the price on the package and it is a present to myself after having an already difficult year with some things that have been going on. But I am usually with two other people when I go so I was thinking it would be easier with just me this time. It is an extension of my cruise that I am taking the week before.

I think I will enjoy it. If anything if it gets too crowded for me, I can always resort hop and check out the decorations!!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We were there from Dec. 25 - Dec. 30 last year and, yes, it was incredibly crowded. Doable, but crowded. My advice would be to NOT go to MK on Christmas day. We went on Dec. 29 last year (which, I'm sure, was less crowded than Dec. 25) and it was not fun. We managed to get our FP+ rides in, but walking around just wasn't fun. For me, the entire ambience of the park is lost because you spend so much time trying not to bump into people, trying not to get run over by strollers and scooters, etc. If you do go Christmas Day, get there at RD and reserve FP+. If you want to watch the Christmas parade, I highly recommend standing on the bridge between Frontierland and Liberty Square (as you head toward Ye Old Christmas shop). You won't get a front and center view, but you can stand right at the rail of the bridge so no one can stand in front of you and you will get a mostly unobstructed view of the parade. My DS8 and I did this and we were the only ones on the bridge - a nice breather from the crowds.

I would actually pick any other park that day. We went into EP on Christmas Day and as long as you avoid WS during Candlelight Processional time (go to FW in the evenings instead), it's pretty doable. We were also in DHS on Dec. 26 and it was absolutely manageable.

I would also suggest doing off-the-beaten path things you may not normally do on a WDW visit - visit resorts, play mini-golf, go to the Boardwalk at night. I wouldn't go to DS! And if we ever went back over Christmas, I would actually not visit MK at all!

 

[Disneylover99]

For me, there's nothing more magical then being at MK on Christmas Day. Get there super early and marvel at the lack of crowds for the first few hours. Then get the heck out late morning/early afternoon. Return for fireworks in the evening.

 

[Mainemama]

You will love it! Just read as much as you can about special offerings and typical crowds so you have your expectations in order. We were here last 12/20-12/30. We only felt frustrated (and only a bit) by crowds on the last 2 days. We did spend more time at other parks than MK, because crowds affected touring the most there. That said, I did end up in MK on 12/25, but after spending most of the day at Epcot. My 3 year old wanted to ride on Dumbo, so we hopped over at 6:30 and in 2 hours did Dumbo, Barnstormer, People Mover, Ariel, had Photopass pictures taken during fireworks, Carousel, Pirates, and at least one other ride that I can't recall. That was without fastpasses and with boing more than a 10 minute wait! It was a magical Christmas night for sure! I have no idea why it was such easy touring as the rest of our trip the park was very crowded at that time of night. I would plan to eat at off times on 12/24 and 12/25 (we had brunch and then a 4:00 dinner both days, which worked great.) , hit the parks at rope drop and bail when you start to find the crowds bothersome.

 

[North of Mouse]

Yes, it will be crowded wall to wall - waits for everything, so now that you won't be blind sided - entirely your decision on paying for being there!!

For us, yes, 'we' would be crazy, as we don't enjoy that sort of torture at all!! To each their own!!

 

[Accident]

I have never been to Disney during the holiday season..so I just don't know what to expect.

If this is what your after, starting after thanksgiving weekend, everything is already going if your looking to experience it all but don't mind being a little further from the actual holiday.

Pro-tip, technically it's going when the first MVMCP starts but epcot doesn't switch over until after food and wine with their holiday show starting right after thanksgiving..

 

[melana]

Thanks everyone.
I am going to do as much research as I can and be as prepared as I can be.

 

[Tink415]

We've been many times that week and I think it gets busier at each day, and IMO MK is OK on Christmas Day, and only gets more crowded each day. Have fun!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Have fun and at least check out the lobby at the Grand Floridian! If you want to get away from the crowds, rent a bike at FW to see how the campers decorate. Dinner at Trails End is very good!

 

[21stamps]

Have fun and at least check out the lobby at the Grand Floridian! If you want to get away from the crowds, rent a bike at FW to see how the campers decorate. Dinner at Trails End is very good!

I didn't think about that! Adding the bikes to my list for December!

 

[joanchris]

We were there from dec 24 to Jan 1 in 2012. As long as you go into it with realistic expectations on the crowds, then I think it's a great idea. We'd totally go over Christmas again! Sure it's crowded, but it's Christmas at Disney

 

[florep1]

We did this several years ago and loved it. We usually go in the summer or spring break so this was a nice change. I packed all our Christmas presents and checked that luggage. They were already wrapped so it wasn't stressful. We joined a Christmas tree train for our resort so we had a tree in our room. Staying at SSR also helped calm our nerves as it is so quiet and relaxing. We had Christmas Dinner at Turf Club. We didn't go to any parks that day, we slept in, opened presents, and resort hopped to check all the Christmas decorations. We left the day after Christmas just before every family that hot a Disney trip under the tree got there. We have no plans of doing it again in the near future as all the kids are grown. Maybe when we have grandkids.

 

[DVCkidsMOM]

We are regular visitors to WDW and, for the first time, went for almost a week through Dec 26 during 2014. We knew that we wouldn't experience anywhere near the attractions we experience at other times, but we went anyway. That year the days prior to Christmas were mid-week, whereas your dates this year are holiday weekend and will likely be more crowded than we saw. As repeat visitors, we knew that it was OK if we only saw a handful of attractions each day.
How we approached it was: made ADRs for a TS mid-day to ensure easy access to food and bathroom and a guaranteed seat and break from the crowd, made FP+ typically for late morning and immediately after that TS lunch as well as for MK holiday parade, rest and/or check out resort decorations during the afternoons, attend am EMH and/or rope-drop each morning, return in the evening for holiday lights and atmosphere. We did have a dessert package for the MK holiday fireworks but staked out a spot for Illuminations with holiday ending on our own. It worked for us - YMMV.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

IF you can avoid it I would ... Definitely go during the Christmas party to get the spirit. However, if you have the choice to go at another time do it...the cheistmas crowds are crazy!

 

[TexasKiwiPrincess]

WDW at Christmas time is extra magical! I think you will have a great time. The crowds were difficult for my family because we had young kids at the time and I was stressed about the crush of humanity. As a solo trip, I think you will be able to manage just fine. You could check out the Theme Parks Community and Doing the Happy Dance boards and maybe plan a Meet-up with other DIS-ers that are going on the same dates. I love the idea of resort hopping and renting a bike to see all the fun decorations at FW is genius.

 

[tj6285]

We went in 2011. I thought with the economy being bad it wouldn't be as crazy as people say. Wrong! We were at Sanaa for Christmas dinner and my girls begged to hit MK after dinner. While it was cool to see it 'snowing' on Main Street, it took us 30 minutes to push our way through. One day while waiting for the monorail, we chatted with a lady who said she had been coming Christmas week for about 10 years and she had never seen it as crowded as it was in 2011!

If you are going solo, it might be fun because you are on your own schedule and will not have to worry about losing others in the crowds.

As for me...never again.

 

[brian95]

We will be there with you. Dec 22-30, i know it will be crazy but its still disney. Our plan is rd, eat, use fps and get the heck out of the park

 

[Accident]

I just moved here and 1 of the things we want to do is see what the parks look like on the different holidays so if you see someone randomly waving to nobody, it's just us saying hi.