Epcot vs AK @ Christmas

[Enfortune]

We are headed to Disney 12/21- 12/25. Our kiddos will be 4 and 6 and LOVE MK. We are planning on spending the majority of our time at MK, but have slotted Christmas Day for a separate park. We leave at 7pm on Christmas Day and are not purchasing the Park Hopper option. So....AK or Epcot for Christmas Day? We have not been to either park. We are leaning Epcot due to the amazing zoo we have here in Columbus, OH that we visit frequently, but know that Pandora is now open at AK. We were at Disney last year for Christmas so we know the crowds will be heavy and are planning accordingly. Thanks for your input.

 

[mesaboy2]

I would choose Epcot not just on Christmas Day, but almost any day. AK is fine, but for my family Epcot wins hands-down.

 

[Alesia]

I love Epcot (it's our favorite park) but I'm not sure I would bother if I only had one day - especially if that day was Christmas day. There's just too much to see and do and it will be very crowded.

Animal Kingdom, on the other hand, will be practically a ghost town (relatively speaking.) It's nothing like the Columbus zoo. It's a theme park with animals, not a zoo.

 

[hakepb]

Traffic around Epcot can be a madhouse on Christmas Day, especially if MK closes due to parking problems.
A few years ago, we chose to go to AK from POR on Christmas Day. Our bus driver took us on the wrong route (going in front of Epcot). Traffic was at a standstill and it took an hour crawling by Epcot before we could finish heading to AK.

You might be OK at Epcot if you arrive before rope drop and are leaving in the afternoon..but there may be trouble if you are trying to catch a flight.

I do wonder how much heavier AK will be, but guess it will still be better than Epcot.

 

[MusicalAstronaut]

Epcot! It's beautiful. Just allow yourself extra time to get out in case traffic is bad. I've been on New Year's Eve and it was SLAMMED, so keep that in mind. You might not be doing all the rides, but it's fun to walk around and see the decorations.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

With kids, I'd go to AK.

We're also arriving on Christmas—flights were TOOOOO expensive on 12/24, even with our points.

Neither park will feel overwhelmingly crowded. They both absorb crowds well, unless it's NYE.

EPCOT is great during the holidays. In past years, they've had the holiday offerings around the World Showcase (a very, very scaled down Food & Wine—assuming they'll do it again); there's plenty to learn about the different countries and their traditions; you can go to the Candlelight Processional; there's a bunch of different places to eat—whether you celebrate Christmas with Italian food, a steak, French... whatever; and, it's close to Beach Club, Boardwalk, Yacht Club and Swan & Dolphin, which all are beautifully decorated and have their own assortment of food places.

In the past, AK has been the least crowded park on Christmas, but I'm sure that'll change this year with Pandora. If I'm a betting man, I'd say DHS is the least crowded, although we expected that 2 years ago and were pleasantly surprised (the new Star Wars movie played a big role in that.) AK obviously has more rides and a few more things to see and do.

There will be more to do with the kids at AK, but EPCOT definitely has more of a holiday feel to it. It'll come down to: would you rather go on rides or be in the holiday spirit on Christmas?

 

[Oneanne]

I'd vote for EPCOT. But if it is hard to get in to as a PP has mentioned, consider going to HS and taking the boat over to enter thru International Gateway, that could help to avoid the crowds up front and would put you right in to WS.

 

[Enfortune]

Thank you for the feedback. We are staying at the Grand Floridian. What is the most convenient way to get to/from Epcot from GF if we want to avoid potential traffic congestion?

 

[Alesia]

Thank you for the feedback. We are staying at the Grand Floridian. What is the most convenient way to get to/from Epcot from GF if we want to avoid potential traffic congestion?

The monorail

 

[martymcflyy85]

If you are staying at the Grand Floridian, you can just take the monorail to the Ticket and Transportation center, then take another monorail from there that goes to Epcot. That day Animal Kingdom will have the early magic hours from 8am to 9am. But honestly, with your kid's ages I doubt there would be many rides there they could do. I think the better option is Epcot as far as things your kids could ride. But I would expect both to be packed with crowds.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

We did AK last trip. I was pregnant so we just did the Safari and the train to the affection station. It wasn't terribly crowded but it wasn't a ghost town either, and this year i'm sure it will be worse in terms of crowds. The other thing to consider with Epcot, though, is that the storytellers in WS don't start until WS opens, and some start later.

 

[ellynsoh]

Epcot! Our littles loved the holiday storytellers. We have a precious photo of them with Mr. and Mrs. Claus in their sleigh.