Disney during Christmas week....are we crazy?

[disneychic]

My mom wants to take the family to WDW next year for Christmas (using her DVC points). But, she wants to go during Christmas week the 20-27 or something to that effect... I would LOVE this but my stepdad, my husband and my brother and his wife all think my mom's crazy for wanting to go during Christmas week because the crowds will be outrageous. Can anyone out there reassure us? Just how bad is it during Xmas week??

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Next year Christmas is on a Sunday. The 20th through 22nd or 23rd should not be too bad as for most schools that will tend to be the last day of school before Christmas. However, starting either the 23rd or 24th it will be a total zoo with capacity closings.

The turnstile master computer at each park keeps track of both entries and exits. When a park capacity closes (which is done in stages) there has to be a certain number of people exiting, with the total "in park" below a certain number, before they start allowing people in again.

I am low enough on the totem pole that I have no idea what these numbers are.

There are four stages to park closing:

Stage 1 - The parking lot entrance is closed. You can only access the park if you are using Disney Transportation.

Stage 2 - The ticket windows are all closed (and the automated Ticket Vending Machines are turned off). Unless you already have a ticket you cannot get in.

Stage 3 - Only people with Annual Passes or current Resort IDs will be allowed in.

Stage 4 - Nobody is allowed in.

Note - having restaurant reservations in a park, even with written proof, will not override a stage closing for you.

Also, if you are staying at a Disney owned and operated Resort and have a ticket, you are guaranteed entry into A park. Not necessarily the one you want (unless you want to go into AK). And if you have entered and left a park and do not have a hopper you may not get into anything.

 

[Tink813]

its an awesome time to go... be patient its super crowded!

 

[Havana]

We go at this time every year! It is extra magical. Patience, rope drop and EMH's are your best tools during this week.

 

[CanadianPaco]

It is extra magical. Patience, rope drop and EMH's are your best tools during this week.

Good enough for me!!!! THANKS!!!

 

[pad406]

Well, I hope you're not crazy or else so are we. Looking forward to our first trip in about 45 days!

 

[disneychic]

My DH and the rest of the guys are going to just have to get used to the idea of going during Xmas. I'm not expecting to do anything but enjoy the atmosphere and decorations. It's just something that my mom and I have always wanted to do-wake up on Christmas morning at WDW.

 

[rock_doctor]

Every year for about the last three decades we go from the day before Christmas to the day after New Years. This is one of their most busy times so you have to be super efficient. Here the trick we use... Make use of all extra morning hours in the parks (we do not bother with the night hours). Each day will be a different park and hustle to the big rides as soon as you get into the park. You will have till about 10am before the parks start getting busy, until about 11-12p before the bus tour groups arrive and by 1pm you are done. The lines for everything after the buses start to arrive will be outrageous. So plan to use the times between 12 to as long as you can tolerate, to be shopping and looking around times. Pray for very cold weather. It will keep the crowds thin until it warms up. Have fun

 

[dblr]

We did this trip 2 years ago and we had a great time and would do it again,just plan on large crowds and take your time you will have a great time.

 

[Butterball]

My very first trip ever to WDW lasted from December 21-28 in 2008.

I had NO previous knowledge about WDW let alone the crazy crowds, I was just content to go to WDW.
The family I went with had been going 20+ years and they ALWAYS went the week of Christmas so they were pros and knew what to expect, but they didn't tell me it was one the busiest weeks to visit WDW.
We stayed offsite and didn't do the rope drop but we still got in the parks all that week before 9 am. But they did have ADRs set up months in advance, so I definitely recommend that!

Yes, it was unbelievably crowded...
Yes, the lines were looooong...
Yes, there crowds and crowds of people...
Yes, there seemed to be too much going on...
Yes, people bickered in lines and parades...
Did I mention it was crowded?

But I had the greatest week ever!! I even went again in December 22-27 in 2009 (missed a couple days thanks to a snowstorm in Philly). I had such an awesome time that I'm going for Christmas week again this year*.
So I say go for it! Don't go in with high expectations, just go in to have fun.
Oh and the weather is kinda screwy, definitely layer your clothes.

*I hope I don't jinx myself and I still have a nice time.

 

[BradyBz12]

Single busiest week of the entire year at WDW. Capacity closures are common.

This past year MK closed 4 days Christmas week - almost always around 11-11:30 a.m. On 3 days it reopened around 3-3:30, the other day was NYE and it reopened at 9:30pm

HS and AK both closed one day each - pretty close to the same times. I didn't read any reports of EP closing.

That said...

The keys to crazybusy times at WDW...

4. Rope Drop
3. Fast Pass
2. Good Touring Plan

...and the #1 key to having a great time at WDW with thousands of your new best friends??

1. Good attitude and realistic expectations

Top 3 things to ruin a WDW vacation during crazybusy times...
3. Not making a plan and thinking you'll be able to just "wing it" and do everything you want without ADRs or a clue
2. Not being ok with standing in masses of people or waiting in lines for rides/shopping/food/bathrooms.
1. Expecting to "do it all"

Go expecting it to be crowded and having to wait in line and being prepared and ok with that.

Go with your short list of "must dos" and consider everything else a bonus.

Go with the attitude that you're just going to have a wonderful time just BEING AT WDW!

 

[kent285]

All of the above, and I would splurge and get TourGuide Mike. That's what we did when we went Christmas week 2007 and it was worth it just to get the Least Crowded Park info. And, my tip would be to NOT go into MK on Christmas Eve...unless you go really, really late (after Wishes). Never in my life have I experienced such a crowd-it was truely scary!

 

[Jana49]

As fun as it would be to wake up in WDW on Christmas morning, I would never, ever go then because of the crowds. Do you really want to spend most of your time waiting in lines all day, every day that you are there? Not just for the the rides, but for transportation, food, at cash registers, bathrooms, etc? If that sounds ok to you, then go ahead, and have a good time!

 

[CanadianPaco]

It's all in the attitude.

 

[RoseColoredGlasses]

Just remember to be patient. without patience you will drive you and your family nuts. Take things slow and enjoy yourself, just because it is the holiday season doesn't mean that you can't relax. Remember you are on vacation!

 

[DisneySJB]

I agree, it is all in the attitude. We went for NYE 2008 and it was CRAZY. BUT, the decorations were unbelievable! I would go back, but would not plan for it to be a "parks heavy" trip. Like others have said, go first thing in the morning. Stay until you can't stand it anymore Go back to the hotel and relax. One of the best things we did was tour other resorts. They are all decorated so beautifully. So... make some ADRs at resort restaurants. BUT, do make those ADRs cuz you won't get table service without them.

 

[disneychic]

Since the key to having a great time while visiting WDW during the holidays seems to lie in having a great attitude, I know that my mom and I will have a wonderful time....everyone else will have to go into it just being happy to be in "the world" during Christmas. As I mentioned earlier, I just want to be able to be there, see the decorations, and enjoy the atmosphere -- I'm not worried about getting on any rides/attractions. Also, thanks for the great tip of getting to the parks early, enjoying the mornings and then leaving when crowds get crazy and enjoying the resorts.

 

[DisneyFreakz]

It is very crowded at xmas but not until about the 23rd does it get bad. Going to MK on Christmas Day was sooo nice. But you have to get there when the park opens because they close the park when they get to capacity which they will. It is beautiful there during Xmas. You should definitely go.

 

[ms mouse]

As fun as it would be to wake up in WDW on Christmas morning, I would never, ever go then because of the crowds. Do you really want to spend most of your time waiting in lines all day, every day that you are there? Not just for the the rides, but for transportation, food, at cash registers, bathrooms, etc? If that sounds ok to you, then go ahead, and have a good time!

Have you ever been Christmas week, it really isnt that bad. IMO much better than July and August with the heat.

 

[mydisneykids]

It seems as if a number of you have been at Christmas before. We are going 12/26-1/3. I have always wanted to go at Christmas but my DD17 singing in the Candlelight Processional on 12/28 clinched it for us this year. We will be there on our own and she will be with the school choir. We will get there for am EMH and try to do all we can then. We will be going to the same park as the choir each day out of hopes we can get them some fastpasses. See, they are having workshops in the morning and one morning going from one park to another with their tour group. I was hoping on us being there at opening we could ride without fast passes and collect them to give to our DD and her friends when they got there. There will be four of us and her group will likely be about four so it would work, but how early do fast passes run out that week. I am not even going to attemp TSM. We will ride it first and then go over and ride and get them fastpasses for Tower or RRC. Those of you that have been there at this time, how do you think this will work? I am also concerned that we will do this and the park will fill to capacity and they will be sent to another park. I guess the bonus in that is her sister and brother will get to ride some extra rides.
I am not too worried about my DD as we were in August and she will have 2 days after her choir trip to stay with us but a few of her friends have never been and this is a big deal to them.
Thanks for any help.