Holiday Festivities worth the crowds?

[avd3875]

We go to Disneyland every January (usually the first Monday after New Year's). Our plan is to go on January 8th this year. However, I have discovered that the holiday parade and fireworks will be ending on January 7th. If we go a day earlier than planned we will get to see all the holiday stuff. If we stick with the original plan we'll see some decorations, but no parade or fireworks. I know that the potential for the park to be crowded on Sunday is high, and by Monday the place should be very quiet (that's why we usually wait until then). So, my questions to all the Disneyland experts are: would you go in time to see the parade and fireworks, or wait a day to avoid the crowds? Also, how crowded is it likely to be on the last day of the festivities? By the way, we will be traveling with our 3-year-old little boy (who is still talking about last year's trip)!
Thank you all so much for any advice and information!

 

[Tink33]

Are you going for one day? If two days are possible, you could go both Sunday for the parade and fireworks and Monday for the low crowds and rides.

I love the holiday decorations and visit every year. (I will be there next week) It will be crowded the last day.

 

[avd3875]

We'll be in the park for 2.5 days. If we arrive on Monday we'll be there that afternoon and evening, then all day Tuesday and Wednesday. If we arrive on Sunday, our last day in the park will be Tuesday. It's a little sticky because we have passes for Toontown's morning madness and the priority seating at Aladdin. If we arrive Sunday we have to squeeze Aladdin in that day because it is closed until Wednesday. It would make for a very, very long Sunday (leaving SF at 5:00am), but if the holiday festivities are really great, I don't want DS to miss out.