First trip over X-mas and the New year

[TinkTatoo]

We usually visit in August but are planning our first trip over Christmas and the New Year to experience the holiday spirit, decorations etc., We will arrive around 19th Dec and leave on 3rd Jan. I'll be arriving on my own with the kids for the 1st week as DH can't get off work and the plan would be for us to spend 3 nights somewhere (possibly a value) before moving to the Contemporary over Christmas then transferring to DVC (Epcot resort) for the final week.

So my question (finally) - where would you spend Christmas Day and New Years Eve?? I know the parks will be heaving so are they even worth venturing into?? and are they just as busy on Christmas eve, New Years day and the days after Christmas

Any help will be appreciated

Thanks

 

[crow11ad]

It seems as though you want to experience the decorations more than just the time. If I were you and if it can be arranged, go a little bit earlier than planned. Remember the week between Christmas and New Years is the buisiest and the most expensive.

 

[cleo]

I would avoid the parks at all costs on Christmas/Christmas Eve. We had a fabulous afternoon at the Gaylord Palms resort, touring their ICE! exhibit, watching the holiday show, having free cocoa, then having a nice meal. It's easily a few hours diversion with very little crowd (relatively speaking; we waited about 15 minutes to enter ICE!).

I'd do Epcot on NYE if you MUST be in a park. If you are ok with avoiding the parks, I'd do Downtown Disney and the Boardwalk Resort for the evening, maybe hopping into Epcot for the late showing of IllumiNations.

 

[rkmassa]

I would avoid the parks at all costs on Christmas/Christmas Eve. We had a fabulous afternoon at the Gaylord Palms resort, touring their ICE! exhibit, watching the holiday show, having free cocoa, then having a nice meal. It's easily a few hours diversion with very little crowd (relatively speaking; we waited about 15 minutes to enter ICE!).

I'd do Epcot on NYE if you MUST be in a park. If you are ok with avoiding the parks, I'd do Downtown Disney and the Boardwalk Resort for the evening, maybe hopping into Epcot for the late showing of IllumiNations.

100% agree--avoid the parks at all costs! They are just not magical standing elbow to elbow with thousands of other people. Try to get away a few days earlier if possible. You will be able to do so much more. We went this past Christmas from the 17th to 27th. Went to all the parks and never stood in line longer than 20 minutes. Of course TourGuide Mike is my credit for that one, but still the crowds were much lighter before the 25th. Christmas Eve was a bit more crowded than the other days, but still not bad. We avoided the parks the rest of the time. Went to the beach on Christmas Day. Had a nice breakfast that day too. Let the kids swim. My kids did the pirate cruise on the 26th. They absolutely loved that! I would just find other things to do. If you have to go the parks, try Animal Kingdom. It is not as bad. We have even been to the Studios after the 25th on previous trips, but the MK and EPCOT are just not fun.

 

[TinkTatoo]

The Gaylord is a good idea and as we are staying at the Contemporary we could watch Wishes from there. We could go to Epcot in the morning of NYE - the kids would only be 8 & 9 so we wouldn't be staying late in any of the parks.

When do the sales start as shopping could also be a destraction (although not on Christmas day )

 

[TinkTatoo]

100% agree--avoid the parks at all costs! They are just not magical standing elbow to elbow with thousands of other people. Try to get away a few days earlier if possible. You will be able to do so much more. We went this past Christmas from the 17th to 27th. Went to all the parks and never stood in line longer than 20 minutes. Of course TourGuide Mike is my credit for that one, but still the crowds were much lighter before the 25th. Christmas Eve was a bit more crowded than the other days, but still not bad. We avoided the parks the rest of the time. Went to the beach on Christmas Day. Had a nice breakfast that day too. Let the kids swim. My kids did the pirate cruise on the 26th. They absolutely loved that! I would just find other things to do. If you have to go the parks, try Animal Kingdom. It is not as bad. We have even been to the Studios after the 25th on previous trips, but the MK and EPCOT are just not fun.

Thanks - as we will have been there in August, getting on all the rids are not a priority for us. We just want to soak up the atmosphere so I think the kids and I can do the parks up until 23rd and perhaps early on 24th and we will just find something else to do on 25th.

We've done the Pirates Cruise so that isn't an option for us but even touring some of the other resorts sounds like a good way to spend a day. Are the water parks open on Christmas day and is it swimming weather??