Go Into A Park On Christmas Day?

[Sandiebean]

I know it's a ways away, but I'm trying to sort some things out. When you go to WDW for Christmas... do you go into the park on Christmas Day? We'll be there for Dec 20 to 27. I've heard that the parks are crazy that day.

What do you do on Christmas Day? Which park do you go to? Do you stay at the Resort?

Sandie

 

[Connears]

We were there on Christmas day 1998 and MK was insane! If this had been the first time I was at WDW I would never have returned. We had PS for dinner at LTT so we stayed at MK because if you park hop and the park closes, they will not let you in even if you have PS(even if you are staying on-site). After the first evening parade, it did quiet down. I think I would choose another park or do resort stuff if there on x-mas day again. We were there for New Year's 2002-3 and Epcot was crowded but manageable for NY EVE. Bigger park handles crowds better. You might visit the hotel decorations and have dinner in a different resort!
Connears

 

[CamColt]

I havent been for Christmas yet, but we are trying it this year. Part of me wants to avoid the crowds but a part want to be able to be in the MK on Christmas, so heres what I plan to do. We hope to arrive at MK at opening which should be EE that day. We will spend a couple hours there then head over the Chef Mickeys for a late breakfast. After that we will spend the rest of the day resort hopping, checking out the decorations and just taking it slow.

 

[XStAnt]

Sandie,

You don't say who is in your party, but here are some suggestions.

Stay away from MK on XMas Day. It is the MOST crowded park and usually closes to new guests.

Best bet on XMas day is to not do any park. Hang out at the pool, resort hop, go to the Boardwalk or DTD, etc.

I recommend Epcot on XMas Day, if you want to do a park. Due to its size it handles the crowds better and at least seems less crowded/hectic than the other parks. But get there early and do TT first, as lines for that ride form quickly and they run out of FPs early.

Make PS for any meals that entire week.

You are arriving several days before the onslaught of people. Do your favorite parks before Xmas. Do MK, MGM and possibly AK before 12/25 and you'll have relatively light crowds and should be able to hit most of the rides.

Good luck.

 

[Sandiebean]

Thanks for the suggestions. It's just me, my dh, and our (then 11 year old son).

Are you saying it won't be so crowded on the 20th, 21st, and 22nd?

Sandie

 

[XStAnt]

That's right. It's not empty. There are still plenty of people but very doable. That will be your best chance to get the major attractions done. The crowds tend to grow during the week before Christmas. Begining 12/25 and through 1/1 there are wall to wall people. It's still fun, just don't expect to be able to do as much.

DW and I went from 12/21-12/27 last year. We did MK on 12/21, MGM on 12/22, AK on 12/23, USF on 12/24 and Epcot on 12/25. On 12/26 we went back to MGM and Epcot and did what we missed or wanted to do again. Use FP and you can get a lot done.

Are you staying on site. The resorts are all decorated in different ways at Xmas. Holiday rates probably don't start until 12/24 or 12/25. If you check in before then you get the lower rate for your entire stay.

Good luck planning.

 

[dvc guy]

20, 21 , 22 will be less crowded as most school don't get out till 23 or 24. We have gone over christmas for the last 4 years..

You have gotten very good advise, if you are going to skip a day I would pick the 25th. We did EPCOT last year on the 25th and while crowded was not awful.

Make sure you get PS for the entire stay or forget about a sit down dinner. We had dinner at San Angel Inn on the 25th, while waiting for our table a woman asked for a table and was told nothing available, her response was OK what time should I come back , CM repeated all full for the rest of the night.

Parks hours will be extended during the week of the 25th, and you should be able to find some quite periods later in the evening. We were at MK on the 26th and walked on Splash Mountain at about 10:30 PM . Super time to be at WDW. We are going to be there 12/28- 1/2

 

[JulesMom]

We have been at Christmas the last 2 years.

The first few days of your trip will be great--low crowds. Crowds will continue to build thru the rest of your trip.

We went to MK both years on Christmas Day. We arrived at opening to a nearly empty park. We left about 10:45am. We rode many rides with very little or no wait. It was starting to get really crowded when we left. We took a pic on Main Street both years--the one the CM's take

We spent the rest of the afternoon at Epcot after having lunch and had a wonderful afternoon.

Christmas is my absolute favorite time!!! You will have a wonderful time. Make sure to visit as many resorts as you can to see the decorations. We usually had a meal at each resort so we could visit.

You will have a fabulous time!!

 

[hopemax]

I went to the Magic Kingdom on Christmas Day in 1998. It was fine. We were only there from about 11-2 and we only did Hall of Presidents, Diamond Horseshoe and the Christmas Show at the TL Theater I couldn't be in Disney World on Christmas and not go to the Magic Kingdom.

Just don't have expectations on doing the popular rides, or watching the parade. But there are out of the way things that you could still do. Make sure you have your sit-down meals reserved for that day and for Christmas Eve as soon as you are able for the restaurant you want. Our Christmas dinner was at Chef Mickeys and it was FABULOUS!

We were there from the 19th-29th and the 19th-23rd were so much less crowded than the 26th-28th. Christmas at WDW isn't something to be scared away from, you just need to have a plan of attack, and you can't really sleep in, it's really important to be there at opening.

 

[Sandiebean]

What wonderful advise!!!! Thanks so much everyone! I love hearing about other people's experience.

XStAnt... Yes, we are staying onsite. We are on the Disney Magic from Dec 13 to 20. We don't want to book in at 3pm, so we are booking our resort on the 19th though. That way, we can check in early morning. We are staying from the 20th (19th) to the 27th at Pop Century.

Sandie