Here now...

[theSurlyMermaid]

Sorry to hear that. Hope your daughter feels better tomorrow. Is there seriously a stomach bug going around? I feel like one always goes around at Christmas even here at home.

I feel like there’s always a bug floating around Disney and we just happened to be extremely unfortunate this year.

 

[ellynsoh]

The same bug is going around Ohio...

 

[djc9699]

We are here now, too. We were at AK yesterday. We arrived right at 7:30 for EMH. We went to Everest and rode it twice before park opened. Waited about 30 minutes for the safari. Had breakfast at TH (gifted a newlywed couple our ROL tickets). Watched the Lion King. Did our FP for Everest and then the safari, watched Nemo, then used FP for FOP. Left the park around 5:15 and ate at our resort. It was extremely crowded, but we went in with a plan had a great day. Going back in the morning for another ride on FOP and Everest. We were fortunate to get FP for FOP on two days so we are avoiding Pandora in the morning. I think that makes a huge difference in the enjoyment of this park. We are going to wait to try Navi next trip so we don't have to battle those crowds.

 

[twodogs]

We got Navi as our 6th FP yesterday so definately try for it. Just keep refreshing and it might come up. I would not wait 10 minutes SB for Navi but doing it with a FP was great!

 

[MamaBear12]

We’re going next week and now I’m really nervous about how packed it’s going to be (I knew it would be, but reading this makes it so much more real). We’ve only ever gone in the summer or early fall (September), so totally manageable. We’re used to doing all day at the parks, but I’m thinking we’re going to have to adjust how we do the parks this time. I haven’t be able to convince my husband if that though (yet).

 

[halfpintpeggy]

We’re going next week and now I’m really nervous about how packed it’s going to be (I knew it would be, but reading this makes it so much more real). We’ve only ever gone in the summer or early fall (September), so totally manageable. We’re used to doing all day at the parks, but I’m thinking we’re going to have to adjust how we do the parks this time. I haven’t be able to convince my husband if that though (yet).

He may change his mind when he's packed into the crowds like a sardine unable to move...

 

[Klayfish]

He may change his mind when he's packed into the crowds like a sardine unable to move...

Let's not exaggerate and scare people. If you're in the center of the hub at fireworks time, yes, it's packed (you can still move, it just requires a lot of "excuse me"). However, beyond that, it's not crowded to the point you are unable to move.

MamaBear12, don't get too nervous about it. Yes, it's the busiest week of the year. No, you won't be able to do as much as you do during the summer...lines are longer, 4th, 5th FP+ are harder to get (but not impossible by any stretch). However, as I said before, if you have the right attitude and have some patience, you'll have a wonderful time. Lots of people in the holiday spirit, lots of neat Xmas decorations. Go with the flow, take your time and enjoy. We're many, many time summer veterans and had the same concerns as you when we did our first Xmas at Disney in '15. We had a fantastic time, especially once we came to grips with the fact that we weren't going to ride as many things as we normally do and just changed focus a bit. We're heading down tonight and staying through New Years. Gonna be awesome!!!

 

[Disneygrl71]

My dream was to do Christmas and now that I've done it, never again.

Same with us!

Rudeness level was off the charts, IMO, and I've been before at very busy times.

Agreed!

How have the FP lines been? Have any of your waits been super long?

We’ve waited anywhere from 10-20 mins.

We’re here now too. No crazy FP waits and our standby EE said 45minutes but it was actually 30-35. It is horribly crowded but I haven’t experienced rudeness yet.

Both my kids got the Disney stomach bug. My son started puking at Animal Kingdom on Sunday (luckily in the first aid center) but he was over it in a day. It has hit my daughter much harder. This was her second day in bed and she and my husband missed riding FoP. Our fast passes were for today.

Wash your hands, everyone. Like ten times more than you usually would.

My husband is still down and only made 1hr of the MVMCP. A friend of ours is also here and her daughter and husband have it. Agree.. wash hands and bring hand sanitizer and use italit in between. Hope they feel better soon!

 

[zebrastreyepz]

Let's not exaggerate and scare people. If you're in the center of the hub at fireworks time, yes, it's packed (you can still move, it just requires a lot of "excuse me"). However, beyond that, it's not crowded to the point you are unable to move.

MamaBear12, don't get too nervous about it. Yes, it's the busiest week of the year. No, you won't be able to do as much as you do during the summer...lines are longer, 4th, 5th FP+ are harder to get (but not impossible by any stretch). However, as I said before, if you have the right attitude and have some patience, you'll have a wonderful time. Lots of people in the holiday spirit, lots of neat Xmas decorations. Go with the flow, take your time and enjoy. We're many, many time summer veterans and had the same concerns as you when we did our first Xmas at Disney in '15. We had a fantastic time, especially once we came to grips with the fact that we weren't going to ride as many things as we normally do and just changed focus a bit. We're heading down tonight and staying through New Years. Gonna be awesome!!!

Um, my husband almost got into a fistfight in the crowded hub on Saturday because he bumped someone who went on an expletive explosion that included following him until the other guys' kids made him back off.

I've never felt as unsafe in a crowd as I did trying to leave before HEA this past week.

I'd rather be aware and prepare then go in with some idea that it's all hunky dory.

 

[Disneygrl71]

Um, my husband almost got into a fistfight in the crowded hub on Saturday because he bumped someone who went on an expletive explosion that included following him until the other guys' kids made him back off.

I've never felt as unsafe in a crowd as I did trying to leave before HEA this past week.

I'd rather be aware and prepare then go in with some idea that it's all hunky dory.

Agree! Same night we were there! I just wanted people to be aware so they could avoid the area during that time! Especially those with small kiddos, strollers, wheelchairs or scooters. I’m not exaggerating when I said it was a people jam and people were yelling at each other and shoving. I felt bad for the small kids that were scared. Security was called and they had a hard managing the crowds at first but finally got it u see control.

 

[wdwobsessed]

Let's not exaggerate and scare people. If you're in the center of the hub at fireworks time, yes, it's packed (you can still move, it just requires a lot of "excuse me"). However, beyond that, it's not crowded to the point you are unable to move.

MamaBear12, don't get too nervous about it. Yes, it's the busiest week of the year. No, you won't be able to do as much as you do during the summer...lines are longer, 4th, 5th FP+ are harder to get (but not impossible by any stretch). However, as I said before, if you have the right attitude and have some patience, you'll have a wonderful time. Lots of people in the holiday spirit, lots of neat Xmas decorations. Go with the flow, take your time and enjoy. We're many, many time summer veterans and had the same concerns as you when we did our first Xmas at Disney in '15. We had a fantastic time, especially once we came to grips with the fact that we weren't going to ride as many things as we normally do and just changed focus a bit. We're heading down tonight and staying through New Years. Gonna be awesome!!!

Honestly she’s telling it like it is. We just left yesterday before crowds got insane & it was pretty packed. It can get oppressive during the holiday week. Better to go in prepared and be pleasantly surprised then not realize what you could be in for.

FYI. It was IMPOSSIBLE to get a 4th FP this week for us. Party of 3 & we tried every. Single. Day. FP was sold out (unless you wanted muppets) the day before or early in the AM & not just on the typical headliners.

 

[Klayfish]

Um, my husband almost got into a fistfight in the crowded hub on Saturday because he bumped someone who went on an expletive explosion that included following him until the other guys' kids made him back off.

I've never felt as unsafe in a crowd as I did trying to leave before HEA this past week.

I'd rather be aware and prepare then go in with some idea that it's all hunky dory.

Um, sorry to hear that... If you feel unsafe, that's your subjective opinion. My subjective opinion is that I've never once felt unsafe inside WDW, ever, including on Xmas Day in MK in the hub. So I'm not going to "aware and prepare" people for something I just don't see as a huge issue. YMMV, but it doesn't make me wrong, or you wrong. Everyone keeps singling out the hub during fireworks. Yeah, that place is a madhouse, it's packed. But anywhere you have a massive crowd like that, tempers can flare...concerts, sporting events, you name it. That one portion of MK is no different. But I don't feel unsafe there, and I wouldn't cast that same blanket across the rest of the parks, because it's not that packed everywhere else. Sorry that your husband had that issue...I would chalk that up to something really unusual...typically when issues escalate that far where it nearly comes to blows, it "takes two to tango". One person gets grumpy and fires off, the other person then fires back and so on. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't been party to that myself before, but I was just as "guilty" as the other guy.

 

[Vaughn4380]

I’m thinking we’re going to have to adjust how we do the parks this time.

This is very true, we try to get to the World every Christmas and are heading down this Saturday, but we know there will be huge crowds and we will have to adjust how we do things. More time at the hotel, shopping, and just taking extra time to get around the parks so the crowds don't frustrate us. It is still worth it, you will be at Disney for Christmas and it is neat to see all of the decorations and little changes they make around the parks and hotels. You will still have fun.

 

[mom22boys]

Everyone keeps singling out the hub during fireworks.

And that is why we will be avoiding the hub during HEA! You will either find us on rides, behind the castle, or back at the resort all depending on how we are feeling that particular day.

 

[Eastern]

My son is there now and I was refreshing FP from home (for 2 people) to see what was available in AK. It was around 4pm so evening times were coming up.

Saw a lot of Tough to be a Bug, but also could have gotten EE, Kali River Rapids, Safari, Dino, PE, Triceratops Spin, Navi, and ROL. The only thing that never came up was FOP. You have to keep refreshing. Things disappeared and then reappeared each time. I did it for about 20 minutes.

 

[Eastern]

And that is why we will be avoiding the hub during HEA! You will either find us on rides, behind the castle, or back at the resort all depending on how we are feeling that particular day.

This is a good idea. For super crowded times, I like the area near Winnie the Pooh for fireworks. Maybe it's not as good a view as the hub, but the quality of life in that area is superior. People cursing at me for bumping into them would ruin my experience.

 

[Klayfish]

And that is why we will be avoiding the hub during HEA! You will either find us on rides, behind the castle, or back at the resort all depending on how we are feeling that particular day.

Amen to that. We're doing the same. As much as I have a very positive outlook at going to WDW, even during Xmas, the hub during fireworks is one place I just don't really have interest in being. We'll be going on rides if we're in MK during that time. During Thanksgiving week, we did HM and SM during HEA and we literally and truly walked right on to SM...it was almost eerie. We walked completely through the entire queue and the CMs were just waiting for guests to come and load the boats...we had the boat to ourselves. This was just as HEA was ending, as we actually stopped to watch some of it during our walk from HM to SM (we got on HM just before HEA was going to start). When we got off SM, there was a wave of people walking toward the ride, so I'm sure the line jumped back up.

 

[Klayfish]

My son is there now and I was refreshing FP from home (for 2 people) to see what was available in AK. It was around 4pm so evening times were coming up.

Saw a lot of Tough to be a Bug, but also could have gotten EE, Kali River Rapids, Safari, Dino, PE, Triceratops Spin, Navi, and ROL. The only thing that never came up was FOP. You have to keep refreshing. Things disappeared and then reappeared each time. I did it for about 20 minutes.

Yep, FP+ will be available. Just not as plentiful as other times of year, and sometimes you have to "work" for them. But the FP+ system becomes so fluid during the "day of" that you can pick up all kinds of stuff, even during the holidays. You're not going to score FoP, but other rides are available.

 

[FastPasser.]

I've never once felt unsafe inside WDW, ever, including on Xmas Day in MK in the hub. .

I'm always here now and I can't say that I've ever felt unsafe at WDW, even when wearing a red vest in a packed Hub during a holiday weekend. If you find yourself there, be patient, pick your spots, keep your sense of humor and, oh, be patient.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Let's not exaggerate and scare people. If you're in the center of the hub at fireworks time, yes, it's packed (you can still move, it just requires a lot of "excuse me"). However, beyond that, it's not crowded to the point you are unable to move.

During my trip the first week of November, the hub really was that bad. You literally couldn't move. There was nowhere to go. No paths were clear, the taped off sections were ignored. There was nowhere to go. I literally gave up and stood where i was. I was trying to get to the other side of the hub (so i could head towards fantasy land after). I have never in my life seen MK so packed before.