Early December or Xmas?

[Laurafoster]

We are already going in May but we are looking at going at the end of next year but at the moment we cannot decide when.

Early December - We would fly out around the 28th November and stay for 2 weeks. We got married at the Yacht Club on the 5th December so would be nice to go back for our wedding anniversary.

Xmas/New Year - We would fly out Xmas eve maybe? Or Xmas day if it is cheaper i dont mind - again for 2 weeks. DH would love to celebrate NYE in epcot or somewhere.

We will be staying in DVC - i expect that at xmas we would have to stay at our home resort SSR which is no problem. I know crowds are much bigger at xmas but i still cant decide when to go.

Any opinions? i know what its like early december so im especially interested in views of being there at Xmas!

 

[wayneg]

We have no choice, being in retail I have to work upto Xmas eve 4pm.
Such a difficult choice. Crowds are ridiculously busy 2-3 hour lines for popular rides, car rental companies run out of cars so you can imagine how many on the roads, a 10 min journey can take 30-40.
The only thing you really miss going early Dec is NYE which we love in Epcot, this will be our 5th this year. But its too much for many, you have to be in from early morning or they close the gates.
I would guess early Dec you can be more relaxed, goto Mickeys Xmas party if you wanted, we never have as they end before Xmas day. Cheaper flights cheaper hotels.
If I had a choice I would go early Dec but thats an easy choice for us as already done 4 NYE's.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

we are going on 11th Dec 2010 and staying through to the new year - we always wanted to go for xmas but also wanted to catch the mvmcp and avoid some of the crowds.

I think it depends on how often you go to wdw and if you have small children. We've been several times so the crowds won't bother us (as if we hardly see anything it won't matter - we will be there for the atmosphere over New Years) - However, that being said, we are taking our two children (who will then be 3 and 6) and have opted for the disney cruise over 'actual' christmas - I really couldn't face the xmas day crowds worrying that they might get crushed.

So I guess I have been no help really!! - I have never actually been so can't say - but I am purely guessing that early dec will be more relaxing!!

 

[jen_uk]

Having been at both of those times I would choose early December, weather might be slightly warmer and crowds should be really quiet then. You would still get to see all the decs and Xmas parades etc. When we were there over Xmas day it actually felt like a bit of a let down.

 

[T16GEM]

We are also in retail so we ar boud a little bit to what we can do and when. We prefer to go in November as the weather and crowds are fantastic and reading threads on here and other Disney forums the time that you are talking about didn't seem that busy.

Last year we flew on Xmas day, and it was very very busy everywhere for the 1st week of our holiday, luckily we weren't too bothered as we were there for 3 weeks and we were taking everything at the kids pace.

This year we fly out on the 30th and am hopng that it will be a little quieter, our 1st day will be NYE and we plan on being at Epcot, we did the same last year and had a fantastic time, the kids lived it too - especially the disco and the fireworks were just out of this world!!


As far as flight prices are concerned we found that just being flexible with dates and playing round with different options got us the best prices.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[penlanspice]

Hey Laura

We got back Sunday night and I am most definitely going with early December.

We had great weather (what's happened to the weather here?? we've been away for nearly a month and someone turned the temp down a little, LOL) the crowds were pretty good, nothing major at all.

As you know we were there at the new year too but it was crazy busy, although we would go again at that time of year beginning of December was great.

Drop you a line later.

Sam

 

[Laurafoster]

Thanks everyone.

I always thought early December would be better crowd wise and cost wise but hubbie has had a thing about celebrating NYE in Epcot.

 

[wicket2005]

We were there from 10th to 21st December 2008 and very much enjoyed it, had great weather. Crowds at Universal and Islands fairly light but busier on a weekend. Disney was busy but provided you were there early in the day picking up fast passes or going on less popular rides was not a problem. In fact I preferred this time of the year to holidays in July/August/February.

We did see everything we wanted Christmas wise in the parks and it is definitely worth going just to see the decorations and special events. However, we went to MK on an evening and it was heaving and though we loved the castle and fireworks it didnt make that pleasant an experience because of the volume of people there. I would imagine over Christmas the park is heaving even more. So I would tend to think go early December and get better value for your money as you will be able to do more rides.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

However, we went to MK on an evening and it was heaving and though we loved the castle and fireworks it didnt make that pleasant an experience because of the volume of people there. .

Hi - glad you had a great time!!

Just wondering - the night you were at MK - was that for a MVMCP or was it just a normal night?? (We were expecting crowds for a party but hadn't thought about it other than that??) - thanks for any info!!

 

[orangetiggs]

we flew our on thanksgiving the other year and the crowds were perfect, I found the weather chilly on some nights(esp when we did the christmas party) but i would def go back this time of year and be there for black friday, great discounts in stores

 

[wicket2005]

Just wondering - the night you were at MK - was that for a MVMCP or was it just a normal night?? (We were expecting crowds for a party but hadn't thought about it other than that??) - thanks for any info!!

It was a normal night, not that there are many at that time of the year, but it was a Saturday night and I think crowds were bigger on the weekends with the locals coming out.

Though we love MK, we dont particularly like it on a night, at any time of the year, because lines are long and it takes ages to get back to the car. Though Bay Lake is pretty, I wish it was just a car park as it would make it much easier to get to the car. We always avoid MK on a night because of the time it takes to get out of the park and the crowds but this year we really wanted to see the Castle lit up with crystals which was truly beautiful and a sight not to be missed, so we braved the crowds. Incidentally, the couple of weeks before Christmas week are supposed to be Disney's lowest crowds levels, on some days we found parks to be just as busy as in July.

 

[Danauk]

If your DH wants to go for NYE then I would go then. We went for Christmas and new year a few years ago and are planning on going the same time again for 2010/11. If you research the crowd patterns (we used Tour Guide Mike) and plan well enough then you can avoid the crowds. We were in the MK on Christmas eve day and most of the rides were walk on or 5 minutes wait until lunch time!

 

[wicket2005]

I did extensive research using Tour Guide Mickey and the Brits Guide and did the usual get to the parks early and was extremely surprised at the crowds at Disney, it was was quoted as the quietest time by Tour Guide Mickey. Some days the crowds levels (judging by line lengths) were the same as in peak July when we visit so I can only presume that this year the crowd levels were considerably higher than is usual.

 

[lost_in_hollywood]

Hey guys, me and my family have just booked for 23rd DEC 09 for 2 weeks, should i be worried?

i mean reading all the stories of horrendous lines etc. We have been 4 times before so i don't think it will phase us that much but is it still a bit of a silly time to go.

Cheers guys.

 

[wayneg]

Hey guys, me and my family have just booked for 23rd DEC 09 for 2 weeks, should i be worried?

i mean reading all the stories of horrendous lines etc. We have been 4 times before so i don't think it will phase us that much but is it still a bit of a silly time to go.

Cheers guys.

Difficult to answer. Is it possible to go 2 weeks earlier?
We always fly Xmas day or Boxing day, have done 5 times now. It is a fantastic time to go if you are experienced and not expecting to do much. If its anyones 1st visit they will miss out on lots of stuff due to crazy lines and journeys taking twice as long as rest of year, so would never advice a newbie to go.
The Xmas decs are great to see so earlier in Dec is a good time to go but from Xmas day thru to New year its manic, you can't possibly know what the Disney Xmas crowds are like until you have experienced it, at busy times its litterally shoulder to shoulder, ok if you are with a friendly crowd but there there a lot of arrogant, impatient people about.

 

[wicket2005]

I have to echo what Wayne has said, if possible I would go earlier. We went from 10th to 21st December and it was lovely, Disney was busy but Universal and IoA were very quiet. The best bit was seeing all the decorations, it was so festive.

I personally would not go over the festive period just because of the crowd levels which are high though from what people have said they were even higher this year.

Then who can predict what 2009 will be like, if you are happy to go expecting the worse lines you have ever experienced then you may find it isn't as bad as you expected.

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

Having been at both times I think if you want to go at Xmas and do the rides then you need to get up and be there early!

This year we were there from the 11th to 31st - and yes the crowds do ramp up at Christmas. Saying that on Xmas day we went early to AK, DD & DH went on EE twice when we got there, we had a character breakfast & then went on the Safari (using FP), saw the bird show, went on a few other rides & then left about 2ish when lines were longer.

Another day after that we just looked round the Boardwalk area, rented a boat & then went to Fantasia golf - all very relaxed and it was a lovely day. So it depends really what you want to do - over Christmas MK was open until 12 & 1am -so you can go in later and use FP a few times if they haven't gone.

Hope you manage to decide!!!

 

[Lisash]

Having just done 13th - 27th I'd definately say early Dec. We've done 3 Xmas stays now and while the atmosphere is great over Xmas and New Year the novelty of the crowds wears thin pretty quickly. Early Dec is much better

 

[milomummy]

We got back today, although we were only in Orlando from 23rd Dec - 4th Jan. I have to say, for a few reasons, we certainly won't be doing it again at Christmas (if at all). We went to the studios on Christmas Eve and it was really quiet, we went on Toy Story Mania twice, 15 min queue first time, 30 minute queue second time.....DS loved the ride so we went back a couple of days later and the lines were 2.5 hours. I mean, really, who in their right mind would stand in a line for 2.5 hours for a 2 minute ride? In the heat??!!
We went to Magic Kingdom twice, once early afternoon through to 9 ish and once later on, around 8-11. Both times it was jammed to the hilt and people were rather fractious with each other.
Animal Kingdom...went early ish one morning, did a few little rides, triceratops, dinosaur etc...then it seemed like half of Florida turned up at the same time and you literally couldn't walk along the paths. The line for the Safari was massive, I still can't believe that folk stand and wait so long for things.
We had a meal at the T Rex place (nope, we didn't line up for long lol!) and it was mediocre food, slow service and big prices for what you got. Didn't thrill any of us. Planet Hollywood was much better.
I am gutted to report that I didn't really feel the magic at all...the Fireworks were amazing at Magic Kingdom, our hotel was great..in fact, we spent more time round the hotel pool than we did in the parks! Ironically, the part we enjoyed most about our holiday was the part I was very close to cancelling....Miami!!

 

[wayneg]

Welcome home.
Sorry you did not enjoy your trip as much as you expected, Your 1st trip if I remember rightly, if it was it confirms what I was saying a few days ago, Xmas is great for anyone experienced that knows how to work the system, get to parks for opening etc. Not enjoyable for a novice.
Don't know if you saw my thread "leaving Soon" I posted link to pics in there, took photo of Soarin wait time 4hr:40 mins. We went on it twice no problem 1 of 1st in line and got fastpass for 11am. Then across to Test track single riders, got on everything we wanted early.
Crowds this year were worst we have seen in 5 Xmas' so you picked a bad year. Totally different to other times of year, some days things are walk on with no lines, Xmas is just the extreme.
We have a 20 min wait limit, no idea why anyone waits for a ride longer than that.
We have never eaten at Trex, never will, went in to look in October, noise alone put me off, it was soooo noisy. I guess if you like dino's its a novelty, I don't so no way paying OTT to eat there.
Was it Best Western laskeside you stayed at in the end? If it was its a good value resort. You are lucky it was one of warmest Xmas' on record so you could go in pool, still wasn't warm enough for me to swim, I only go in a pool if its 100+.
Glad you liked Miami, not somewhere we have ever considered.