DVC at Christmastime

[gracelrm]

Our family has never been to WDW at Christmastime, but after reading so many wonderful comments about MVMCP, CP and watching the Holiday Special on Travel Channel, I've decided we have to go! Our home is VWL, so we know we can get those ressies at 11 months - Yippee! We would likely go around the 18th - 22nd of December. For those of you who are veterans of Christmas trips, is this a really crowded time to go? I'm afraid that DH wouldn't be able to enjoy the wonder of the season if it is shoulder to shoulder people. Also, one of my kids gets a little freaked out in big crowds. We usually go to WDW in June - so we can tolerate crowds of that size. I know that points are real high then so I don't know if that's a good indicator of smaller crowds or not.

TIA

 

[kathleena]

The last 1 1/2 to 2 weeks of the year are very crowded - I've always been told the rule of thumb is Dec 22nd or so until Jan 1st - but it does depend somewhat on when schools close and what day of the week the 25th and the 1st are on. i.e. if a Monday - then families would travel for that weekend also. Next year it's on a Saturday.

Based on what you have said, my opinion is you should consider going a week earlier. Enjoy the MVMCP and all the decorations and the lighter crowds.

 

[mbhoxsie]

We always try to go to WDW during the first two weeks of December..

The crowds are smaller than usual... The xmas activities like MVMCP, CP, and OFoL are already taking place, and the decorations are all up.

You might have better luck booking VWL earlier in the month as well... I have heard that VWL is very popular at Christmas time.

Another added bonus is that it still gives us enough time after the vacation to get home, decorate, and do that last minute Christmas shopping....

 

[Gigashadow]

For the last 2 years we have been at the world both before and after Christmas Day, first trip at VWL and this year at OKW. The pattern I have seen is that starting the immediate Sunday before Christmas Day, the resorts fill to capacity and the parking lots go from @ 1/2 to basically full. As far as the parks, again its like day/night after that Sunday. We have been down for a couple of holidays and I have never seen the Magic Kingdom as packed on any of my trips as was on the 22nd (Monday) this year. So the earlier dates you get to the parks on your trips before Christmas day, I say the better if your down before that Sunday, you miss absolutely nothing (Decorations/Parades/Shows). The one good thing is that MVMCP has dates that end before the week of Christmas Day and last year we did it and the park was no more busy then what I have become used to for holidays at the parks.

Another thing, if you are planning to eat out at Disney Resturants during your trip, I strongly recommend making priority seating reservations during at the earliest they can be made. If you wait too late near your arrival date, you'll hear 9 outta 10 times that they have reservations after 9:00pm avaliable.

Have fun and enjoy the holiday decorations at our home resort !

 

[Pinnie]

Our usual time to go is around Dec 10 - 14 and plan to do it again in 04 around those times. MVMCP on the Friday night was SOLD OUT again this year and that is about the ONLY time we were in a crowd. EPCOT had a 10 minute wait at TT on Friday at about 11:00a.m. Everything else was a walk on.

It is a wonderful time to go. The decorations are up and we usually put ours up at home, get the cards mailed and the majority of the shopping done before we go and then we can really ENJOY our time there.

Have a happy time planning and a great new year!

pin

 

[jel0511]

The closer you get to Christmas, the more crowded it will be. That is the weekend and times directly before Christmas, and it most likely will be MOBBED. I'm a vetern of the summers at WDW, usally late June to mid July, and even I couldn't handle the crowds when we were there for Christmas 2001 (now supposedly a light year due to 9/11). If you really want to go during the Christmas season, and crowds are a problem, I'd go during the week before you are considering. 12/11 - 12/15. The crowds will be significantly less that week. I've been once in early June and the crowds at that time are no where near the crowds later in June and early July, and seems basically desserted to Christmas at WDW.

 

[PamOKW]

Disney is starting the holiday pricing on 12/20 this year so that's roughly when they expect the crowds to start building. That also usually signals the end of MVMCP. The dates you are thinking about are probably good ones to get the holiday feel but miss a bit of the crowd.

 

[Gigashadow]

I think the problem that many of us face with school age children is during the first 2 weeks of Dec, as good as it looks, its just not a good option for us. I know here in NY its just not like it was for us to be pulled out of school and make the work up during the trip. The expectations and work has more than doubled for our kids and I call the teaching today "crash course learning". My son is in 3rd grade, and at Back to School Night we were all told that this years extra help would only cover the New York State testing for 4th grade. I only pulled the kids out 3 days right before the winter break because the teacher told me the whole week was going to be a review of the last grading period. I would love to use my points at times other than Premier and Magic seasons.

 

[rsschneck]

We too are thinking about that timeframe because of the school break.

Our DD will be in 2nd grade and missing school is something we are trying to avoid.

We really want to see MVMCP, CP, a character meal, and checking out the decorations at the parks and resorts.

Then, we want to make a stop over from the 24th through the 26th in Indiana to visit my DH family.

A little WDW, in-laws, and home for rest and New Year's.

We are hoping for the crowds to be a little lighter prior to Christmas and New Year's. We were at DL last Christmas and know how busy it can get. Mind blowing!

 

[jel0511]

Originally posted by Gigashadow
I think the problem that many of us face with school age children is during the first 2 weeks of Dec, as good as it looks, its just not a good option for us. I know here in NY its just not like it was for us to be pulled out of school and make the work up during the trip. The expectations and work has more than doubled for our kids and I call the teaching today "crash course learning". My son is in 3rd grade, and at Back to School Night we were all told that this years extra help would only cover the New York State testing for 4th grade. I only pulled the kids out 3 days right before the winter break because the teacher told me the whole week was going to be a review of the last grading period. I would love to use my points at times other than Premier and Magic seasons.

I completely agree with you. My DD just started kindergarten last fall and I'm beginning to see how hard it is to pull them out. We usually go to WDW during the summer, but will go around Christmas again, probably a couple of years. I know how hard it is to deal with the points around school breaks, I'm doing it. Sometimes when I look at the "cheaper" seasons, I get sick. I only have enough for a week in a one bedroom during Magic season, or 6 nights during Premier season. When I look at the cheaper point times, it is depressing to say the least. Oh well..... The vices of having school age children, I had to buy more points!! Once the kids are out of highschool (15 years away!) Dh and I will have TONS of points for the cheaper seasons!!!

 

[VMS]

How early in December do all the Christmas activities start at WDW? I was thinking of going down next year December 5 - 10. Will they have all the decorations, CP, and MVMCP going by then?

 

[PamOKW]

"Christmas" starts at Thanksgiving at WDW. The week you mention 12/5-10, usually has one performance of the CP that is not available (I think they hold a press event) but other than that everything should be happening. I'm not sure what nights the MVMCP occurs.

 

[Cruelladeville]

As a teacher, I can only go to Florida during the high point times, in fact my goal is to go to Florida in October when I retire! That's too many years away, but it's still good to have a goal!

We go every year in July, December, and April, and the crowds are big, but never bigger than at Christmas. We arrived at BC on Dec. 21, and the crowds were not too awful until Christmas Day, but after that was capacity crowds. Even Animal Kingdom closed by 9 am! I am claustrophobic, and the closed-in, trapped, not moving crowds cause a panic attack, so once Christmas arrives I spend my time visiting resorts and doing Orlando area stuff, but I don't do the parks, unless it's near closing (MK from 10pm to midnight is very nice). While Christmas is the best time of year to visit Disney--candlelight processional and Osbourne lights are worth the entire trip, no matter how crowded--you will just have to plan other events during the busiest days, especially if you have family who have difficulty with the crowds. This year on Christmas Day, we spent the afternoon playing golf. What a treat!! In Michigan it was cold and rainy, so 65 and sunny on Christmas seemed like a present from God!

 

[VickiVM]

We were just there 21st thru 26th. Here's how we managed:

Sunday we went to MGM after lunch and only did a couple of attractions. We had Fantasmic package that evening and dinner was at 4pm. We watched the parade and had dinner imm. after. Then Fantasmic at 7pm or so. So we didn't get much done, but we got Fantasmic out of the way.

Monday we went to MK mid morning and only did a couple of rides, did Buzz twice using Fastpass. We had lunch ressies at noon at Liberty Tree Tavern. Finished lunch just in time for the afternoon parade. Went back to the room for a quick swim and nap.

Tuesday we to to MK at opening and managed to get all rides done by around 1pm. We didn't do any of the mountains, though.
We returned to the room for a break and went to Epcot for PS's at Le Cellier. Then we took monorail to MK for Spectro and Wishes.

Thru Tuesday it felt crowded, but not unbearable or too stressful. Kids did well and we felt our pace was fast, but not too hurried.

However...By Wednes (24th) we could tell the crowds were getting thicker and thicker. We went back to Epcot for a little while and then had CP that evening with dinner at Rose and Crown. Didn't see much that day, though.

Thursday we got to Epcot early and spent the entire day there. We got FP for Test track and Mission Space early. There were soon gone by early afternoon. Crowds were heavy and I was glad we had finished MK on Tuesday. I can only imagine how they were that day at MK. Oh, even though it was crowded, we had very little waits for everything we did all week. Using FP for the popular rides is the key to finishing those attractions quick.

Friday we left for home so I can't comment. However, check out did not seem crowded.

Also, you MUST get PS's as early as possible. Every sit down we did there was someone who had just walked up wanting a table without a PS and was told none were available - period! We never waited more than 10 minutes for a table for any of our PS's.

I enjoyed my Christmas trip and have lovely memories of it. My kids had a blast. And I was expecting worse crowds. But I don't feel I need to go at Holiday again. It's out of my system now.

Good luck.

 

[kshabare]

Let me say that Old Key West is gorgeous. The buses were great and it only took 15 minutes to the farthest park, Magic Kingdom. I could have stayed at the resort the entire time.

No really, I suppose going to WDW for Christmas is something everyone would dream of. I wouldn't do it again. I feel I lost the Santa experience although things worked out...if you get my drift. Christmas got lost amongst the shoulder-to-shoulder and long lines. Thank goodness for Fast Pass - take advantage.

I agree - PS is a must! We settled for The Plaza on Christmas.

Take the kids out of school - their memories will far outweigh any A or B you worry about sacraficing. Family time is important - don't exchange hurried jogs through WDW or the other parks just to say you did Disney on Christmas Day.

In closing... I'll be booking my Western on the Magic at the first bit of extra $$ that comes in. That's a vacation! ºOº

Kim

 

[trogan]

We were just at VWL this year from 12/5-12/14 and it was wonderful. The only time it was crowded were the 2 Saturdays we were there. During the week we walked on any ride we wanted, from space mountain to rock and roll coaster; even test track! The one thing you have to realize is that the MK closes much earlier this time of the year, mainly between 6-7p.m. The only problem we ran into was our own fault, we didn't make to many PS's because we heard the crowds were light, well the crowds were light but everyone must have had a PS cause we had a hard time getting any. But we survived and I would recommend those weeks.
As for pulling kids from school, I have a philosphy that family time is just as important as school time. They are only little for so long, before they don't want to do family vacations, so if your child is a good student than go for it! Many of us can only WDW once every year or so; they have 13 years+ to make-up what they will miss in those precious times that you get with them. I'm sure the teachers in the audience will disagree, but its just my thoughts.

 

[gracelrm]

Thanks so much to everyone for the thoughts on a Christmas trip. We wouldn't hesitate to go earlier in December (prior to Dec. 18th or so) if we could, but kids are in school AND DH and I are both teachers. So going earlier isn't really a possibility. To top that off, DH is a band director and serves five schools - thus five Christmas/Holiday concerts to direct - so no possible way to take off that time of year My thoughts were to go Sunday - Thursday. Do one full day at MK, one day at Epcot to do CP and then an extra night of MVMCP and then spend the rest of the time visiting the resorts and DD. It wouldn't need to be a trip with tons of rides - just taking in the scenery and the special holiday events. I just would hate to be so crowded that we couldn't enjoy the things we were going for. Now, for the other concern. We'll have to make ressies before the school calendar is released and will have to borrow points. If the school calendar is not what we're expecting - we'll have borrowed the points and won't be able to use them if they make us go to school until just before Christmas. Oh well, I've got a little time to think it all through! Thanks for all your help

 

[goldilocks_63]

I was also thinking of going these times. I'm going to make BCV reservations.

I'd love to try WVL though. If you are interested in trading reservations, ie you make one for me at BCV, and I make one for you at BCV, please email me.

goldilocks_63@yahoo.com

Sorry to put this in the thread. I couldn't email or PM you....

 

[jimmytammy]

We have been 4 times in Dec. Twice staying at WLV, and let me say I am an especially proud owner of that place during Christmas. They have it decorated so beautiful then. Youll see.

As for traveling at that time, the latest we have been there has been around the 20th. My advice is go earlier if at all possible. Those first 2 1/2 weeks are great. No crowds. Make sure you hit the parks as advised on the off days: ex. Dont go to MK on Sat as Florida residents help fill it up.

Go to MVMCP on days other than Fri or Sat. We have been twice, once on Thurs, once on Sun. Both times it wasnt bad. CP is always full so if you want to definitely get in do a dinner package.

We have taken our kids out twice for trips and though it is difficult it can be done. We now homeschool so its no longer a problem. Usually their teachers would say to keep a daily journal.

Good luck!

 

[Pixie_Dust]

We went the first 2 weeks in Dec. (less points). It was our first time ever during the Christmas season, and it was magical.

You're lucky to own at VWL because that resort is so desirable with their huge tree etc. that it was booked the whole time and we couldn't even get in to try it out. But we were very happy at our home resort. As someone else mentioned, OKW was gorgeous. We got a kick out of visiting *every* resort and seeing how they were decorated, as well as the parks and the special holiday events, as well as Florida Christmas outside of WDW.

Cheers