Disney at Christmas

[sammysmom]

My oldest daughter will be turning 13 next December and has always wanted to spend her birthday in Disney-we usually go in September. I have never been there at that time and have no idea what to expect in terms of crowds, weather etc. Can any of you December experts help me out? I think that we'd look to go 12/26-1/2. Her birthday is the 28th. Thanks!!

 

[mickeynut1]

December is a great time to go as Disney is awesome at Christmas time . But with that said, the week between Christmas and New Year's is the busiest time of year, so during the dates you are considering, it will be packed. We have been twice during December, but our last day was a few days before Christmas and both times we noticed it getting busier on our check out day with alot of people checking in to be there over Christmas. It is doable and you will still have a fabulous time, but it will be nothing like September when you're used to going as the parks will be very, very busy. It will also be holiday rate season, which is the highest rate of the year, with very little to no chance of a discount. Good luck and happy planning .

 

[pepe of ohio]

December is a great time to go as Disney is awesome at Christmas time . But with that said, the week between Christmas and New Year's is the busiest time of year, so during the dates you are considering, it will be packed. We have been twice during December, but our last day was a few days before Christmas and both times we noticed it getting busier on our check out day with alot of people checking in to be there over Christmas. It is doable and you will still have a fabulous time, but it will be nothing like September when you're used to going as the parks will be very, very busy. It will also be holiday rate season, which is the highest rate of the year, with very little to no chance of a discount. Good luck and happy planning .

We've been to WDW before Christmas a few trips and that ended our going at that time...we're September/October types....even then, before Christmas, is packed....more than I care to experience even with the decorations.....we went 2 trips ago, week after Thanksgiving.....crowded.....crowded and got very cold...no using the pool, dressed in coats and hats (and we're from Ohio)....weekend got even worse crowd wise.....

That's it for us in December....as posted, your time period is peak rates...too high for me.....when we go to WDW, we want total use of the resort and its pool and to enjoy the Florida sun....I can shiver at home...don't want to do that on vacation and then deal with the holiday crowds...

Nothing is better than that September/October....celebrate early and go with the value season and reduced crowds...totally worth it in my book....

 

[Missytara]

My boss did it once about four years ago.

Did they have a good time? Yes
Did they get to everything they had marginally hoped for? Yes
Did they have overly high expectations? No

Would they ever do it again? Not in a million years.

 

[myramsy]

We went at Christmas last year and despite the crowds and the cool weather we loved it and would go again! We just had a plan and stuck to it! it was fantastic and very magical!

 

[henry72]

I agree with the others...there is no way I would want to go the week betweein Christmas and New Years. It will be crowded. We have gone twice in December (usually the 2nd week of Dec.) and it has been awesome. I would certainly do it again but now that DS is in elementary school that has a very strict absence policy, we will not be going in December anymore (or anytime during the school year).

 

[Forever Fairy]

We have gone once before the week before Christmas. Early in the week, it wasn't so bad but by the weekend, the crowds were super crazy. I have had friends that have visited the week between and they have said they would NEVER do it again. Besides 4th of July, as the other posters have stated it is the busiest time of the year.

We're leaving Tuesday for this years trip. I expect crowds to be manageable until the weekend.

 

[Karabee]

I went last year during December - 10-13th and while it was stunning to see it during Christmastime, I would never go back during that time. It was so cold (I know this can change) and the crowds were too much for me. Also there were Cheerleading competitions and Brazilian tour groups there which made things crazy also. If you do go in December please go the very first week. The weekend that we were there seemed to have alot more check ins than check outs.
Then again I'm a fan of Disney when it's warm out and fall decorations so maybe I'm bias

 

[DisneyChristmas]

Imagine the parks REALLY crowded...and the reality will be even more. !! But it's a wonderful time to visit. Concentrate on special shows, parades, fireworks, and decorations. Don't waste hours standing in lines for rides.

The past two years late December/January have been colder than normal. We've been at WDW for the Christmas-NewYear week with 70s day and 60s at night. And at New Year 2001, the night temps dipped into the 20s. There's no predicting this far out.

Watch the Weather Channel a few days before you leave, believe what you see, and pack accordingly.

Enjoy!

 

[ccgirl]

My oldest daughter will be turning 13 next December and has always wanted to spend her birthday in Disney-we usually go in September. I have never been there at that time and have no idea what to expect in terms of crowds, weather etc. Can any of you December experts help me out? I think that we'd look to go 12/26-1/2. Her birthday is the 28th. Thanks!!

Busiest week of the year. As in closed to capacity busy. Personally, no way would I want to go then. YMMV.

I would celebrate her bday a few weeks before that, if I were you. We went Dec 2 - 10th and that seemed to be a good time to go.

 

[papas4]

We will be going December18-27.We went last year at the same time and noticed that as the days got closer to Christmas the busier it got.My only advice is to plan as much as you can about what rides you are very interested in and get to them as early as possible.Don't forget to get those fastpasses.If certain rides are packed just skip them and do at another time.I have found if you get bogged down waiting for rides you will miss chances to get other things done.I would also recommend extra magic hours if your staying at Disney resort.You'll find them very helpful for Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.One last thing is,last year we went down and froze.One night the temp was 27 degrees and only in 40's to maybe 50 during days.I talked to DVC member services today and they see temps at around mid 70.s for next 10 days and no real cold weather in forcast.Let's just hope.Have a great time(you will) and Merry Christmas.

 

[trac96]

My advice is don't do it! We also have done it in the past and it was miserable. was cold to the point we had to buy a coat and gloves, and we are from pittsburgh. { i know this isn't always the case} Not to mention we had hoodies and sweat shirts with us but they wasn't enough. The crowds we crazy, take your worst case senerio and multiply it by 10. MK closed 3 nights for capacity. Waits for rides and buses was painful. with that said if you don't want to ride everything or see everything then by all means go for it. If you want to go to just see lights and Christmas deco's then by all means go and have fun.

 

[sammysmom]

Thank you all so much for all of your responses. Based on what I've read, I think that we're better off sticking with the plan to go in September. My daughter would love to celebrate her birthday in Disney, but wouldn't want the crowds

 

[missy120]

We went 2 years ago Dec 26- Jan 2.

We had a great time, everything was so beautiful for Christmas and the feeling I just cannot put into words. It just so happened that was the year of the cold snap so it was very cold and I am from PA, I wished I had brought more warmer clothes but we managed and had fun.

Was it crowded, oh yeah, did it keep us from having a good time, no not one bit. We did not have problems with waiting in line for buses or anything like that. We had a plan and stuck to it. We made sure we were at the parks for rope drop. We were able to get most of the stuff done at the parks in the morning and early afternoon, go back to the room for a break and then hit the parks in the evening. The parks really filled up by then but we had our stuff done earlier. We were able to do everything we wanted to with taking a break every day. We made sure we ate before the crowds hit, we tend to eat early anyway so that was not a big deal for us.

Would I go back this time of year: yes

As long as you have a plan it will work out fine and go into knowing that this is the busiest time of year.

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

We know two families that vacationed together over Christmas. Only one person (adult) said they would do it again. The other three said did it once, never again. Way too crowded; they knew it would be but still weren't ready just how crowded. Not sure what the kids thought.

 

[rock_doctor]

We go over Christmas to beyond New Years every year for the past 20+years. It is ok and well worth the trouble. There are tricks to get it all done and if you are patient and think ahead you will be fine. You must stay on property, you must make use of morning extra hours (the reason you need to stay on property) and you must drive everywhere (well this is not a must be makes it a little easier). If you use the extra hour you can get 1/3 the way though the park before it even opens to the general public and can get 90% of it done before the crowds get untolerable (around 12noon). So hit the parks super early, hustle your way though the good rides and plan to just hit the stores, shows and parades after noon. Take days off from the parks and look at the other hotels and DTD. It is very cold in the morning but does warm up to normal FLA winter temps during the day. Disney is interesting with a coat of ice on everything. You will be fine, just think ahead. Make your reservations early...value and some moderates/deluxes are known to fill up early. Do a search here, there were tons of threads covering tricks to make it around the world during peak.

 

[tgropp]

To spend Christmas at Disney is an amazing time. Having said that, we try to get out of there on the 26'th. The 3-4 days leading up to Christmas day are so magical. After the 26'th people start to get rude again, mainly because of the crowds. Sometimes the weather is good, sometimes not. I have seen it all. If you are there for the week between New Years and Christmas, the best way is get to the parks early, leave at noon and go back at 6 at night. It is very manageable. Have fun!!

 

[M2inOR]

Our family of 4 adults will be there 12/27-1/1

I've seen mention of parks closing to new entrants due to crowds.

We're staying at one of the Epcot resorts. When parks are "closed", do resort guests still get to enter? We've got dinner reservations each evening within Epcot.

Would hate to be prevented from dining if we weren't able to return in the evening.

Otherwise, we know the crowds will be heavy and are definitely psyched. Weather looks to be warm enough.

Thanks in advance for any tips.

 

[tgropp]

Our family of 4 adults will be there 12/27-1/1

I've seen mention of parks closing to new entrants due to crowds.

We're staying at one of the Epcot resorts. When parks are "closed", do resort guests still get to enter? We've got dinner reservations each evening within Epcot.

Would hate to be prevented from dining if we weren't able to return in the evening.

Otherwise, we know the crowds will be heavy and are definitely psyched. Weather looks to be warm enough.

Thanks in advance for any tips.

You will be let in for your dinner reservations. I have only seen MK closed during my visits there at Christmas time, and even then at some point when guests leave, they reopen the gates again. Remember to get to the parks early and go back to swim/rest in the afternoon. It gets very busy.

 

[Tori2]

I've been to Disney once in November when they were putting up all the Christmas Decorations and once in December. I went in the beginning of December and we had a good time minus the cooler and rainy weather. I loved seeing the different shows and the Caslte lit up with all the icicle lights. I wasn't a fan of the Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom. It was too crowded for me. But I did love the cookies they gave away for it. They were delicious! I loved the Osborne Light Show at Hollywood Studios and I loved looking at all the Christmas decorations throughout the parks and resorts.

Even though I haven't traveled there at the times you are going I do believe that is one of the peak times so I would totally expect big crowds for everything. The beginning of December doesn't have as many big crowds which is why we go then. It makes it easier to travel from park to park and the lines aren't going to be as long.

But either way I hope you have fun!