Holiday question

[mommarjam]

We have two options for vacation times next year and I need some opinions on which one would be better.

Option 1: get to Disneyworld Dec. 18th and stay until 29th.
Option 2: get Disneyworld on the 26th and stay until Jan. 5th

Thanks in advance!!!!

 

[MinnieGi]

Both would be fun, however we did your option one last year and really liked it.

Why?

-less crowds before Christmas Day. Now the parks are already pretty crowded right before Christmas, but I couldn't believe how much MORE packed they became starting Christmas Eve. I was glad we were able to get on loads of rides before the packed crowds crowds came in!!!!

Now I guess since you would stay past New Year's the crowds would thin out then, however we seem to go more full tilt on the beginning part of our trip and then relax a little more toward the end so I wouldn't want to depend on that time after New Year's to get lots of riding in.

-Also not sure if you have kids, but they just adored being in Disney for Christmas!! We brought a small 4 ft tree, lights for the balcony and decorations. The kids loved it! And since we were going to be there for Christmas we didn't put up a tree at home and just went real light with the decorations which was a wonderful bonus when we got home as there wasn't alot of pack away as far as decorations!! If we hadn't arrived until the 26th my kids would have demanded a tree for Santa!! And yes Santa still found on, we wrote him a note and he delivered right to the BLT!!!

-We all loved it so much being there over Christmas that we are already planning to be there for Christmas 2013!!

 

[bobbiwoz]

We usually do an early December trip and then we do go again for NYE. Next year, we're foregoing the early December one, (DH is out of vacation time, but I may go solo). However, we're still doing the NYE trip. I really enjoy the fun of being at Epcot on NYE!His company is closed that week, so no vacation time is needed!

If you are adults, I vote for the NYE stay, although, our oldest DGD was 8 this past NYE and she loved the fireworks at DHS, she was there with her DF, her siblings 6, and 7 were sleeping. Her DM had to watch from the balcony of her BW villa!

 

[Granny]

Personally, I wouldn't want to spend Christmas day packing and getting ready to leave for WDW. I wouldn't be able to enjoy that beautiful and special day as much with leaving on my mind.

The other benefit of the 18-29 stay is that at least for the first few days of the trip the crowds at the parks will be pretty manageable. The crowds get bigger and bigger leading up to Christmas and then the parks are packed every day from Christmas through New Year's.

Definitely, I'd pick the Dec 18-29 trip. But then again, we aren't all that into the whole New Year's Eve celebration these days anyway.

 

[tjctoy]

We also reccomend going the 18-29th, BTW we will be there at almost the same time as you. Since all the parks and resorts will be in holiday mode, we think lower crowds are the best reason to go earlier. from Xmas eve to the week after New Years the crowds are a complete joke. The last 5 years we have been at WDW during the 24-5th and we have never seen crowds as bad we saw then.

Since we have been to Disney so many times, we aren't fighting to do rides, but 30 minutes to get a coke is a joke. So with that said go early, you still get the holiday experience and 1/2 the crowds.

Weather is up in the air either time you pick, we have seen awful to perfect weather.

Hope you have a blast either time you pick.