Going week after Christmas-am I nuts??

[jcf]

12/28-1/4...dining reservations went pretty easy - getting "normal" dining hours...crowds are my concern.
Pros/Cons - going at that time?

 

[vicki_c]

What can you say? It's the most crowded week of the year. Be prepared.

 

[jcf]

I have a trip booked 4/17/11-4/26/11 (Easter). Probably will do that as I chickened out/cancelled Christmas trip 2 years ago...luckily I announce WDW trips a day prior to departure

 

[vicki_c]

I have a trip booked 4/17/11-4/26/11 (Easter). Probably will do that as I chickened out/cancelled Christmas trip 2 years ago...luckily I announce WDW trips a day prior to departure

Really - it's doable - we did it - it's just very crowded. But Easter probably won't even be noticeably different - that's hugely crowded too. Just go with the right expectations and will be very fun, I'm sure. Christmas - at least you get to see the Christmas stuff - Osborne Lights, Epcot storytellers, Holiday Wishes at MK, and the Christmas parade at MK (daytime parade), Christmas parade at AK. Really - I would pick Christmas easily over Easter.

 

[nolanboys]

Can't wait to hear how it goes. We want to do that same timeframe in 2012 for my 40th birthday. I figure even if it's still crowded, it's still Disney!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Do you have something against quiet, slow times?!?!

The decorations and events during the Christmas season are great so I'd say to give that a try.

 

[bobbiwoz]

DH and I did it 2 years ago because I wanted to experience NYE at Disney. We had a great time and we're doing it again this year. This year, however, we also have DS's family, including the 3 DGC, so it's going to be a totally different experience. We thought they would be living in Florida, but that didn't happen, so they are paying premium airfare for this, and I do hope it's worth it for them.

You just have to be realistic. Epcot had 2 firework programs, and one was around 8:30 -9. The announcement said "for families with children." It wasn't the great. "out of the ordinary" display that the one around midnight was, but we're hoping that it will suffice for the DGC, and then we'll take them back to the room and let their parents stay for the big display. The MK had the preview of their big show on the 30th, and we definitely want to do that again.

As soon as we can book Candlelight Processional dinner packages, I'll try to do it for DS/DDiL. This will be their first experience doing that.

Bobbi

 

[CarolAnnC]

I don't think you are nuts, but you will have to be realistic as others have mentioned above.

We have been over Thanksgiving and the beginning of December, and the Christmas decorations and events are spectacular. Well worth putting up with higher crowds, if Christmas is your time frame to go.

But, be prepared for extremely long lines for rides, massive crowds maneuvering through the parks, and encounters with some tourist Grinches, lol.

Also, on these high attendance days, there is always the chance that a park may close due to reaching its capacity. The MK is the most likely to do this, as well as Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. As you will be staying on property, you will at least be directed to another park where you will be guaranteed admission (a perk for staying on site). It will not matter if you have dining "reservations" so be prepared to get to the park early the day you are dining there, especially the MK.

 

[DVCStudio]

Big crowds, long lines, tired Cast Members... so if you plan on doing rides, get ready for long waits. Restaurants should be ok, but they'll be crowded as well with CMs being pulled in all directions.

A few years ago, I was finally pulled into the MK on 12/26 by some friends... (family and I never went during the holidays)... There was a good reason I never went Christmas week. It was a madhouse. Our friends had a great time, my wife and I couldn't wait to go home. Too crowded for our tastes. But we live here, so we can go anytime...

Jose

 

[Deb & Bill]

Get to the park you want to be at early that day. MK and Epcot do close frequently during that week. And you may want to forget about doing lots of attractions unless you get to the early.

 

[karrit2000]

I went for the Millennium Celebration from 12/30/1999 through the first 10 days of January 2000. It was great after New Years because most people went home. Your first few days will be really crowded because it is Christmas week but I'm sure you'll find the last few days of your trip to be a lot more peaceful and the crowds will disappear really quick. I managed to catch the Candlelight processional on 12/30 since that is the last day they do it.

 

[Alexander]

I think anyone going the week between Christmas and New Years is nuts...I'm there that week too!

We actually are there for the week before and the week after (12/17 to 12/31). Hoping to enjoy the parks the first few days we are there. We are moving from the BCV to Bonnet Creek on Christmas Eve. We'll have a much bigger villa to celebrate the holidays. We don't plan on any park time the second week due to the crowds. Just enjoying having a palm tree for a Christmas tree instead of a pine tree!

 

[bringmethathorizon]

I feel i can say that because ive been there and done that.

 

[mamaprincess]

Do EMH mornings and get fast passes as soon as you get in the park and always get a new pass when your window opens. Collect as many as you can and save them for later when it gets crowded. You can still get a ton done that way. Enjoy parades, shows, a lunch break, unpopular attractions and taking in the sights when the crowds role in or you can leave and come back later and use the fp's you've collected. Have a strategy. Do your must do's during morning EMH. You'll be fine up to about 11:00am when crowds start really coming in. You should be able to get everything in this way and not be stressed out. We've been during this time and while it is crowded, if you have a plan, you can deal. I feel sorry for anyone who doesn't understand FP or EMH during this particular week.

You'll really enjoy Christmas. Visit the resorts because they are gorgeous. See the Christmas parades, shows and fireworks. I particularly love Cinderella's Holiday Wish, Celebrate the Season (Castle Forecourt) and Holiday Wishes. The Osbourne lights are EXTREME!!! I hear a lot of gloom and doom about this week and while it is extremely crowded, you can do it with a proper strategy.

If you want to get out of MK before the crowds start to leave, you can see Holiday Wishes if you book an ADR at Narcoosee, California Grill or Ohana. Just book them around the 8:00pm to 9:00pm time frame.

 

[jcf]

With 1 adult and 1 child traveling???

 

[dblr]

We did that same trip 2 years ago and we had a great time,1st plan on a big crowd but when it got packed we took in the resorts to see how they were decorated for the holiday, we liked that, plan a swim break that always helps. If you plan on the MK for new years eve get there early and plan on spending the day there as if you leave you might not get back in, also if you stay for the fireworks @ midnight plan on a very large crowd when you leave,it took us almost 2 hours to get out of the park and back to SSR.
Everyone said we were nuts to go then but I would do it again without a second thought it is a great time to be there you just have to have patience.

 

[mamaprincess]

With 1 adult and 1 child traveling???

The most important thing about FP's especially during your particular week, are getting in the parks as early as possible and begin fast passing right away and collect new ones as your FP window opens.

Make a list of the rides and attractions you must do and break that list into attractions that have the FP option and attractions that do not have an FP option and further break that list up into Lands or areas, making sure to rank the rides in priority. You can break that list up into lands or areas. You can do all of your attractions in a land or area and then go to the next one or if you have 1 high priority attraction in each land or something like that you can just begin riding according to how your rides are prioritized but that may take a good deal of walking.

Get in for EMH. Fast Pass a ride then get on another ride, you may get two or more rides in before your window opens up to get another FP. Keep it going that way. You don't have to use the fast passes when it says you do, they are from the times printed on them until park close. The important thing during the time you are going is to get FP's early because they will run out early and the FP return times begin to be later and later as the day goes on. You don't want an FP with a return time of 8:00pm. when you have a child with you unless you plan on coming back in the evening after a successful morning tour. I don't think an all day stay is wise for a child and you will get the most done early anyway with the afternoons be very crowded. I'd catch the 1st parade (at MK) and get out of their afterward and if the child is up for it, I'd come back around 4:00pm and stay before the massive evening exodus.

 

[mamaprincess]

It's important to know what rides are really popular and would be problematic the later in the day it gets. If any of those rides are on your list, make them high priority. You have a Child so here are some that really are notorious.

MK

Peter Pan's Flight

Pooh's honey pots (may be the wrong name)

Jungle Cruise.

Haunted Mansion is very popular as is Pirates of the Caribbean.

DHS

Toy Story Mania
The Little Mermaid is quite popular (FP)
Playhouse Disney (I can't remember if this has FP)
Beauty and the Beast (no FP)

AK

Safari
Lion King

Epcot

Soarin (40 inch height requirement)
Nemo
Turtle Talk with Crush
The Character Spot (maybe wrong name) but the lines are ridiculous later in the day and no FP available.

 

[jcf]

FP good anytime that day..thought you had to go within time....

 

[vicki_c]

Mamaprincess - I think you forgot the most important one at MK - DUMBO!!