Getting discouraged for my trip to WDW December, 2020

[SeeDisney]

Oh boy! I am checking out the wait times for WDW right now to plan and prepare for our family trip to WDW. Yikes! I don't like seeing the long, long wait times. Are there any positive reports I could read about dealing with the crowds and hoping to get on every favorite ride?

 

[Surgie2]

What are the dates of your trip? Are you staying onsite or not? Is this your first trip? How many in your family and ages of kids? What are the "favorite rides" you hope to ride? Answers will help others help you

 

[TammyLynn33]

Yes staying onsite and booking fastpasses for your must dos 60 days in advance will help. Using EMH will help and having realistic expectations.
I was planning Christmas 2020 but got scared off and booked summer 2020 ( other reasons too tho) we did Easter last year which was supposed to be crazy and found it manageable
Good luck

 

[Brett Wyman]

I'm guessing OP is looking at "week of Christmas" waits.

 

[StageTek]

If you're going between December 24 and January 2 you are going to see very long lines - just like you're seeing now. Get FP's as soon as you can for your fav rides.

 

[WIll C]

We just came back from the week before Christmas (21st-26th) and while it was busy, we did things in the morning, got FPs for the rides we cared about and it was fine. We had a special event for Pandora (Ultimate Christmas Package) and so that was taken care of for us (rode FOP and Navi with no waiting) and then did an early morning HS for RotR. We are not huge thrill ride fans so it was easy enough to get the rides we wanted. As things got busy, we left and went to the resorts to look at decorations and eat.
Do the Christmas party (and hope you don't get rained out) and schedule a Candlelight Processional dinner (and hope you don't get rained out) if there is one during your dates.

Don't expect to spend all day in the parks unless you want to stand in lines. Mornings aren't bad but fill up quickly.

 

[Klayfish]

No offense, but not sure what you're expecting to see. It's literally the busiest week of the year, so yeah you're going to see very long wait times. However, you can still have a great time. We've done it twice and expect to be there this week in 2020 as well, and we're excited! Just have holiday spirit and a little patience.

 

[Surgie2]

I think any week is doable with a plan - some being easier than others of course. As others have said, I would stay onsite if budget allows and there are hotels of all budgets. That way you can get FP at 60 days. Buy the most number of days of tickets you can afford. After 4 days, it isn't incrementally that much to add a 5th, a 6th etc. Each days gives you 3 FP so you can rack up a lot of favorite rides that way.

Be sure you understand how to refresh the app to get additional FP after you've used the first 3. This thread has tons of good information: https://www.disboards.com/threads/fastpass-frequently-asked-questions.3491680/

If your children can handle it, later at night is supposed to be less crowded at some parks. Ours were too little for long days so we got the the parks at rope drop to get a few rides done, then started our FP around 9:30. That said, it wasn't Christmas week, but I would take advantage of every early park opening I could. I wouldn't be discouraged. It is a choice to wait in long lines. For some people it's worth it to wait 90+ minutes for SDMT. For us it was not. There are ways to minimize waits with solid planning. For us that meant early mornings in the parks and back to the resort early afternoon. Those up for it could return in the evening with whatever FP they were able to get.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

As painful as it sounds, get to the park for those 6 am EMHs or 7 am park opens. We have friends there now that say they were fabulous times to be in the parks. Walk on for the first hour. Then go back to the resort to nap in the afternoon.

 

[Alesia]

This is absolutely the busiest week of the year, so of course wait times will be high. If you're going this time next year, you should be prepared for that. Having a good plan and making good use of fastpass are essential.

 

[TDSAXX]

We are at WDW right now. So far we’ve been to MK and DHS. Using the refresh method we’ve gotten same day FP’s for SM, 7D, SDD, TSM, RNR and TOT. Made FP reservations at 60 days and get EMH by staying at DS Hilton (much cheaper than Disney resorts).

 

[Wreckem]

I have been here since Dec 22nd. I won’t do rides over 60 minutes normally(unless it’s Hagrids at UO and then it’s always a crap shoot). I did everything in AK by 11am on Xmas day and today. No wait for anything other than Primeval Whirl(only one side is operational). That was a 30 minute wait. So far the two longest waits were 60 minutes. One for FoP on Dec 23 at park close(hopped in line at 9:30 and out of the ride by 10:30). And Smugglers Run tonight at 8pm. SDD at park close tonight will probably be our third 60 minute wait at Disney.

Basically we rope drop and leave the parks then go back after dinner and choose another park and stay till close hopping in a couple rides during the last hour and right at close.

Between strategic fastpasses and proper touring you can eliminate most of the wait. And HS is easy to get same day fast passes.

If you can’t do a proper rope drop or do late nights then you might as well not go at Xmas as all you will do is wait in long lines. During Xmas and NYE don’t expect to get much done during 10am to 5pm without fast passes.

 

[Breezy2]

Rope Drop is essential for the most pleasant experience-especially EMH. Try to get on your favorite rides and line up some morning Fast Passes. Take a break midday and head back to the parks at night. Avoid the MK on Christmas Party days as partiers start coming in at 4:00 and by 7:00 they start directing non party goers down Main Street out of the park-it's on total overload and a waste of a day ticket.

 

[bryanb]

Disney is doing everything it can to smooth out crowds around the year, stopping just short of telling people to stop coming. The truth is that Christmas and New Years week is the absolute most crowded time of the year — the time when the Magic Kingdom (and Disneyland in California) are most likely to need phased closures due to overcrowding. They make tickets more expensive and black out lower tier annual passes. But people still choose this one particular week.

If you must visit to experience the holidays at WDW (and frankly, it’s an amazing time of year), I’d advise the beginning of December to really appreciate the atmosphere and more moderate crowds. However, if you must visit during the busiest of the busy seasons, come with a great attitude in mind. Enjoy the excitement and buzz that the crowds bring, and the festive atmosphere of merrygoers. Bring your patience with your family, your friends, your cast members, and other guests and bring your good cheer to this lively time of year. Be prepared to wait in line, but you’re spending time with good people around you which is what really matters. Don’t count on crossing every Disney wish off your list this trip. Get whatever fastpasses you can, and anything on top of that is cream.

Which is to say, with the right attitude, Disney parks are amazing even during the most sardine-packed days of the holiday season. For the most part, you can have and spread good cheer to those around you and be in one of the hottest holiday destinations in the world. And in turn you will find it beautiful and energetic and filled with good spirits too.

 

[Nancyg56]

If you want Decemebr I suggest you look at your dates and choose something in teh t=first two weeks of the month. This december my trip was 10 through 17 and it was very manageable. As you get closer to Christmas the parks will be more crowded, so a plan is essential. IMO if you go Christmas week, unless you are a strategic planner, and I am not, you should not plan on doing all of your favorite attractions unless you include some of the less popular ones as must do attractions. That week needs a strong plan to manage all the top tier attractions, especially if you say you do not like wait times.

I think that Disney is more than the attractions, so Disney during the Holiday Season is lovely on it's own. 3 FP booked a day and everythign else a bonus is how I regard the trip

 

[LovesTimone]

Local here, the weekend starting before Christmas... through the weekend after New Year's is crazy busy.... and lines are just something that you are going to have to deal with... so enough said on that... use your fast passes, to get the rides you really must do... but again there will be waits for this even... bring a boat load of patience with you and ask Santa for some extra for Christmas... The parks are beautiful during the holiday, and busy... It is totally doable... you just have to think and work outside the box... of how you normally do the parks...

There are plenty of other things that you might want to consider doing....

Check out Fort Wilderness, they have a hay ride, or horse back riding, chip and dale camp fire...

Miniature golf... Fantasia Garden or Winter Summerland

Head for the resort to check out all of the Gingerbread house, and chocolate works - look for the hidden Mickeys

Go from resort to resort checking out the decorations, grab a snack along the way or a meal... check out the whole resort for future trips... not just the resorts on the monorail, pick the first bus to a resort and just go with it... We have done this, and you can make a whole day out of checking out the resorts and the decorations....

Head over to the Boardwalk to check it out, and check out all the resorts, maybe have lunch and/or dinner....

Try to get pictures in front of all Parks Christmas trees - in one day...

Head to Disney Springs - Check out the Christmas tree trail... get a picture with Santa, dine in Movies or reg movies, Bowling, VR, Balloon Ride, or ride the cars in the lagoon....

Depending on what resort your staying at see what they offer.... and people will be in the pool swimming at this time of year...

If you are thinking about leaving the bubble:

Ice at Gaylord Palms is always something to see...

There are concerts happening... As well as Bowl Games....

Sea World does have a cute Christmas Party.... depending on the age of your kids might be fun...

Head over to Cape Canaveral, and check out the Space museum, stop at the port to see if the Disney Cruise line is in port, hit the pier for some fresh seafood... lots of cool shops in this area, if you are looking for something different...

Head over to the beach... yes people will be on the beach... walking, sunning, and yes even a few in the water,

Legoland is not very far... I will say that this is would be a good fit depending on the age and interest of your kids...

Gatorland is another favorite... this is a nice way to spend several hours...

Dinosaur World, is another spot worth a stop.... our Grandson loves Dino's, and he always wants to go see the Dinos... there is not a restaurant on site, they welcome picnic's and have a nice play ground, with plenty of picnic tables... it is really well done... and super fun....

There is plenty of shopping mall, outlet malls, and everything in between and so many dinning options...on I-drive

On I-drive there is the Eye over Orlando along with the swings, and a Aquarium, and Wonder Works...

While I know everyone wants to stay in the bubble, Orlando and the surrounding areas, offer quite a bit, and getting out of the crowds for a while might be just the ticket, as well you might find something new to come back to each year... there are quite a few Christmas festivals, and art and craft shows if your interested in things like this...

I have friends that come during Christmas, and they rent a car... and head for places like Mount Dora for some unique shopping, they plan when Renningers is having the large flea market... they are in the same area... they also love to go to a tiny town Webster for the flea market only on Mondays... That is sorta their thing, she collects glass, and other things, and he refurbishes and creates new use's for old things...

Happy Planning...

 

[yulilin3]

I was at MK on December 25th, at 5:30 am for rope drop. I could've easily finished all attractions in tomorrowland and fantasyland by 8am, not kidding, rope drop is your best strategy

 

[sleepydog25]

The three parks not named DHS are manageable with a plan, especially one we prefer which is doing EMH in the mornings, thus saving FPs for another park in the afternoon. In between, go back to the resort and relax, or go look at decorations at other resorts, or perhaps even go to DS to look around and eat. As for DHS, unless you get there extremely early and immediately go to one of the premier rides (and with their new classification system, almost all rides at DHS are primo), just expect to have very, very long wait times. We arrived before official park opening, were in the park by 7:07 and got Boarding Group 93 for ROTR. We immediately headed checked wait times for RnR, ToT, Slinky, and TSM. The wait times already were 55, 50, 110, and 70 minutes, respectively. They only got worse as the morning went on. Will Disney change how they load ROTR by next year? Perhaps. Currently, that's an unknown.

 

[Candycane83]

We’re doing Christmas next year too! We did UO this Christmas (19-26) with 2 Disney Xmas parties and thought it was very manageable. Last day was crowded- we went in the morning before heading to the airport but I really think it’s just managing your expectations. Plan well but be flexible too. Early morning and late nights are best in terms of crowds. I have a 5 year old who is a night owl and early mornings were difficult! It’s still manageable though. I just realized how much it rains during this time! Don’t forget ponchos and sandals!

 

[sleepydog25]

Yes, it does rain quite a bit, and this year is one of the wettest on record there.