Disney or Universal over xmas?

[braddillman]

DW is a teacher , and our choice of vacation time is likewise constrained. We want to go in 2nd half of 2010 after Harry Potter island is open at IoA. DW suggested xmas week 2010. We have a timeshare on I-Drive, and we'd stay there (assuming we can book it, but you can only book 11 months in advance, so there is a reasonable chance to get one). We've always traveled to Orlando in Sept, Oct or April. Obviously, I expect flights from Halifax will be much more , and we'd possibly consider driving to Bangor and flying from there.

Anyone experienced in this? Is Orlando recommended over xmas week? Any tips?

TIA,
Brad

 

[tone.def]

Once Disney parks are at capacity - they will no longer allow off-site guests in, so if you are staying at a timeshare and are not there when the rope drops, you might be out of luck for the day.

I would stay as far away from any Orlando attraction as possible the week of Christmas to New Years because of the overwhelming crowds and costs. I remember being there on Boxing Day when I was a teen with my family and the line ups were so long and the parks were so jam packed, it was far from enjoyable.

Just my 2 cents...

 

[MikeJ]

I have to agree with tone.def. We were at the parks from Dec 21-28, 2001 - three months post-911. Everything was dead until the 27th when I think all of America said "to heck with the terrorists, let's go to Disney World." For the last two days we were lucky to get half a dozen rides each day because the lines were horrendous. Actually, the crowd levels were probably back to normal for that time of year but horrendous for what we'd been used to earlier in the week. You were literally packed like sardines at the Magic Kingdom.

It was an experience to do it once (particularly coming back to our room at the Boardwalk on Christmas Day with the smell of roast turkey wafting down the hallway out of our room) but I would never do it again.

- Mike

 

[mastersd]

Hi,
I would steer clear of Disney, but it is beautiful at Christmas. Universal Studios has a "front of the line" pass you can get for FREE if you stay in one of the on site resorts. If you will be there at such a busy time I would book one night in an on site hotel for the pass. Even if you don't stay there--just pay for the room. I would stay there. The front of the line pass is different than then fast passes because you ride when you want to. You can buy a front of a pass, but it only allows one ride on each ride and its expensive.

 

[murcor]

We go during this time and yup the parks are insane but we find the resorts are great to stay at and you dont even realized they are at capacity.

So for this week we dont do parks or only for a few hours at opening and then do a meal in the park and leave.