Easter vs Christmas crowds

[Tattylou]

For those who have done both, I'm just trying to get an idea about Christmas crowds compared to Easter crowds. I've gone the week of Easter so I know how crowded that can be. I'd like to eventually see WDW at Christmas, but b/c DH is a teacher we will probably have to go the week between Christmas and New Years. Any feedback is appreciated.

 

[wisblue]

Christmas crowds are larger

The simplest objective evidence of that is that it is common for the MK to close due to reaching capacity for a few hours on several days around Christmas and that is rare at Easter. It makes sense because school breaks are not all at the same time during spring break and Easter, whereas everyone has the week between Christmas and Easter off.

That having been said, our approach to touring is the same at both times and the results are largely the same. The biggest key for us is taking advantage of expanded park hours, especially early EMH. Usually the MK has EMH at 7 AM during that week, and if you can get to those you can enjoy a lot of attractions before 10 or 11 AM. Then you can slow down and do some of the "anytime attractions", or take a break away from the parks when the crowds are at their peak.

One of our favorite afternoon activities at Christmas is visiting the resorts, as several of them have excellent Christmas decorations and displays.

It is definitely worth doing at least once. If you have experience dealing with Easter crowds you'll have a great time.

 

[lovin'fl]

We've done both. Easter week was super crowded. When we went, twice, for Christmas we went the week leading up to Christmas (the 19th through the 26th) and it was not bad until the night of the 24th. Christmas day was downright unbearable and the most crowded I have ever seen WDW. They even shut down parks at capacity. The 2nd trip, at Christmas, we flew home on the 25th so as not to even deal with the crowds. We have also been in the parks for July 4th and in the summer, which is also crowded but I'd say Christmas day was the worst I have experienced.

We hate doing WDW when it's crowded and will now do our best to avoid the holidays and summer break. We plan to do our future trips in January and then in the fall for F&W. It's nice to see WDW all decorated for Christmas and I recommend folks should do it once but if it's possible I'd recommend going between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve.

 

[Tattylou]

Thanks for the input and ideas. It is definitely on my bucket list to see the Christmas decorations at least once, hopefully in the next year or two. I'd like to do a long weekend to see the Halloween ones eventually too.