Help and advice for UK Visitor for Xmas and New Year Touring

[Leeds Utd Fan]

We are coming to WDW from the UK on 12/26 for 14 nights staying at ASMo, [with our two boys 10+15] although we have visited WDW many times never at Christmas or New Year so have a few questions.[ Fyi the passes we have are annual passes for WDW, we also have premium passes for IOA + USF [not valid until after 1/1] we also plan to visit Sea World.]

We are flying with Delta from the UK to MCO via Atlanta on 12/26; we have never used Delta before, good or bad? Is the 26th a busy travel day in the USA to WDW i.e. trying to guess if the Atlanta flight will be busy!!!

Our plan on 12/31 is to see be at Epcot from late afternoon [arrange a ps for mexico for 8pm]. We want to stay and see the new year celebrations, we are not worried about getting a good spot for the illuminations just want to be there. Are we safe in waiting until late afternoon to try and get in or do we have to be there early morning to guarantee entry?

What time do the busses run until on NYE [early morning 1/1]?

We are expecting large crowds between 12/26 and 12/31 what are the best times and parks to visit?
Does attendance at the parks drop significantly after 1/1?
Any tips for Christmas and New Year touring?


Thanks for your help!!


Chris

 

[NotTooGoofy]

Well I give ysome of your questions a shot-

First, Delta is a major US carrier and I have flown with them a number of times. They are about as good or bad as other carriers such as USAir, Northwest, or United which means Delta is generally ok. Atlanta is a major US airport so there will be crowds. The 26th will be busy but I would think the 27 or 28th will be busier since it's the weekend.

I know WDW has closed the parks to prevent overcrowding in the past. If you have APs or are a resort guest, they might you let you in anyways but perhaps someone else can answer that.

I think the busses run an hour after the park closes.

I've avoided WDW around Christmas so I don't what parks as best to visit when.

I imagine you will see crowds diminish starting Sunday Jan 4 as families fly home since due to schools starting up on Monday.

 

[belle3]

Hello
I will try and address some of your questions as best I can regardibg what happens at WDW after Christmas. We visited 3 years ago during that time and will be going again this year, as well. We drive, so I cannot comment on the plane issues. I do travel frequently with my job and Delta is OK. Atlanta can be quite large, especially if you are arriving from an imternational flight. I suggest keeping carryons to a minimum.
The parks are not too crowded after Christmas, but start to build up as you approach New Years. We left on NYEve, but found our trip manageable and especially enjoyed all of the Christmas festivities, especially the decorations and the CP. One bit of advice, bring warm clothing. While were there the temp dropped on aerage almost 40 degrees. We packed our winter coats just in case, and were very glad we had! So pack for a little bit of every weather or you will find yourself paying 50.00 for a sweatshirt (EEK!). We found it was just too cold after dark so we restricted our park time to daylight, then ate inside after dark. EPCOT is especially brutal if it is cold, especially by Spaceship Earth! Hoping for warmer weather on this trip. I will miss the Osbourne Family Lights this year, though, and since it is closed, I would expect more people throughout the other attractions!
Enjoy and I hope to see you there....ps... I have been to Leeds on business...beautiful country...stayed twice at the Village...nice place!!

 

[CindyAnn]

We were at WDW last New Year's from the 28th to 4th of January. The only really crowded park was Magic Kingdom, though we were able to see everything in 2 full days of touring. The other parks were quite reasonable, we thought, and ALL of our other trips have been in the off-season. Our strategy on NYE was to go to Animal Kingdom (not terribly crowded) and spend New Years eve in one of the resort restaurants. AK is a particularly good choice for NYE because it closes at 5:00 p.m. or so, BUT your concern about getting into Epcot later in the day is valid. We went to Epcot on New Years Day, and it was very manageable. You might also want to note that our credit card info was taken for PSes we made on the 31st and 1st. They could be cancelled up to 48 hours (24 hours?) before, but if you didn't show up they would have charged a fee of $10 per person, I believe.

WDW is a beautiful place during the Christmas holidays, and that's why we're going back again this year!!

 

[Grumpy92]

You will not have a problem with Delta they are a major carrier but I suspect the flight to ORL will be full. Traditionally the week between xmas and ny's is the busiest days for wdw for the entire year. Great choice on the annual pass though.
It wont matter which park you go into it will be busy so be flexible and keep in mind that you will have to wait in some lengthy lines.
Here are some suggestions:
Discuss now which park you want to go in. I have spent several NYE at all the parks each are a little different but we have learned one thing. Go early and stay there. There are no guarantees that if you decide to go to the park in the afternoon that you will be able to enter. In the past MK is the post popular and generally fills to capacity by 10am. The other parks follow at around 11am. I know some on this board have had luck getting in later but Disney only guarantees you entrance to "A" park not necessarily the park you want to go to. Having a PS will not guarantee you entrance either.
I would strongly suggest you decide on a park, choose a restaurant for dinner and make a Ps before you arrive for NYE. If you wait your choices will be extremely limited as in counter service only. Check out http://wdwig.com/hol_nye.htm
We really enjoyed EC the most. Each country's cms would gather close to midnight in their country and countdown to the NY. So it we saw celebrations all night. It was sooo fun, they also have a nice variety of entertainment and the space is good for crowds. MK was the worst, just tooooo crowded. The studios & AK were not bad but we seemed to run out of things to do.
As for weather prepare for both. One year it was beautiful 70s then on xmas day it rained and the temperatures dropped. It was low 30s the night we went to EC for NYs.
Disney will have the transportation running untill the parks are cleared so that usually is around 2am.
You will see crowds drop off after NY's. This year with the holiday on a Thursday some may stay thru the weekend.

Unfortunately many of the xmas decorations and celebrations cease after 12/25. They will still have the CP so you might want to reserve the dinner package for that.
Finally as a guest and a cm I request that you please bring your holiday spirit. I guess because it is so crowded the guest tend to be nastier on xmas day and NYE. I know it is crowded and that there are lines but if you are flexible and take it in stride your visit will be alot more fun. WDW is a wonderful place to be for the holidays as they are extra magical and you are with your family. I know you will have a wonderful time.