Holiday History Black Out Dates

[Greenmom]

DD is going to be doing a PI June-January. Want to come down Dec. 26th -Jan. 2nd and can't wait for the official black out dates because we want to use skymiles. Do all of the parks have black out dates during the holidays or just the Magic Kingdom? Will stay for a week and don't need to go to the parks everyday, but would like to at least a few days if they aren't all blocked. Anyone with any holiday history??

 

[Epeyon]

Usually all parks are blocked out Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Years Eve. Magic Kingdom will be blocked out from Christmas Eve through New Years Day.

If they're expecting heavier crowds they might extend that to other parks. But also don't forget she will be able to purchase discount tickets. And Epcot is an awesome experience on New Years Eve.

 

[brerroadrunner]

Are the CP participants blacked out or just admitting their guests blacked out?
We want to visit over the holidays, and would like to do the parks on our CP son's days off with him. We have AP so we don't need to use his guest passes.

 

[polymerpig]

The CMs are not blocked out in general, but I believe they are among the first people closed out if the park is starting it's phased closures due to reaching capacity (http://touringplans.com/walt-disney-world/capacity-closures). This could happen several days during Christmas week - especially New Years Eve. I know we had to go extra early to make sure my CP daughter got in with us on NYE.

 

[luvthephunk]

To the best of my knowledge, Polymerpig is right saying that cast members are generally not blocked out but they are phased out early! A little reminder though, CPs are and will be scheduled tons of hours during the holidays and they may not have alot of time off!!

 

[elphie101]

This past holiday season, MK was blocked out December 17th/18th (can't remember) till January 19th. The other parks are typically December 26th-30th/31st. Your DD will be able to buy tickets at a discount (not sure what the actual discount is) which is the only way you would be able to get in the park at that time.

CMs CAN get in during block out periods, however as was previously mentioned we are the first people denied entry when a park starts to go through phase closures. I believe the first phase of closure also includes people on non-hopper tickets who are staying off property if this affects you. This WILL happen during that post Christmas week, especially the 28th-31st, so be prepared!

Where is she doing her PI? I worked 56 hours during the post Christmas week with only one day off (which is fairly common) but if she's not in the parks things might be different.

 

[KCMiller]

I wanted to chime in here - my DD was at the end of her first CP last year during the holidays, and she was scheduled for work almost every waking moment, it seemed - certainly, she had NO free time the week between Christmas and New Years (and was unable to either request time off or give away shifts, specifically, during that time - missing work without a trip to the emergency room was grounds for immediate dismissal, and she knew three CP'ers this happened to, on the last two weeks of their program!). And she was working such long hours that when we did see her, it was for fleeting moments before she crashed into bed - she was completely exhausted the whole time.

If your DD has an end date in January, my strong advice would be to skip the week between Christmas and New Years, and come down MAYBE in time for New Year' Eve, but plan the bulk of your trip for the first week in January - it's sort of like being there for the holidays without all the insane crowds and mayhem <g>. If my DD does a PI over the holidays next year, that's exactly what we'll do - never again Christmas week, though, not and expect to see our child.

KC