How Are The Crowds From 12/26 - 1/1???

[salvatorejrm]

Just wondering if anyone knows how crowded the parks will be during the Christmas week?

 

[NJFireman22]

I believe that week is the week , when all parks are the most crowded of the year.

 

[pmgreene]

Check out touringplans.com for a great calendar for how busy every day of the year is. Looks like your dates "win" for having a high number. Relax and enjoy the diverse folks all around.

 

[tiberius]

They are busy, but can also be very enjoyable with the proper planning.

 

[disneymom2one]

Just wondering if anyone knows how crowded the parks will be during the Christmas week?

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It's the most crowded time fo the year. We were there last year from the 16th through the 28th and the parks got more crowded each day. By the 26th/27th MK was routinely closed down due to the crowds. Christmas day wasn't too bad - but only because it was rainy and cold.

Still we loved it enough to do it again this year. It's amazing and our favorite time to go - not hot either!

 

[K&KsMom]

disneymom2one: I noticed you are staying at OKW during the holidays; we are too. Have you stayed there before? This is our first time.

salvatorejrm: The parks are busy but if you head to them in the morning you will maximize your time and get one most rides without a long wait. Have fun. It is so beautiful this time of year.

 

[SamRoc]

It's very crowded, I think the busiest of the year. We stayed in Disney last year from December 23-January 1st. But there is so much to do and see. Make sure you see the Osborne Family lights at MGM, the Gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian, and on the 30th last year they had a preview of the New Years eve fireworks in the Magic Kingdom so we didnt have to be there with the crowds on New Years eve. It was spectacular! The decorations are beautiful, it was our first Christmas at Disney and we had a great time.

 

[ASilmser]

I've been to WDW with our family 2-3 times at Christmas break. We enjoy it very much--but you have to have the right attitude. Going to WDW at this time and hoping to avoid people is like expecting to avoid people at the shopping mall on the Saturday before christmas--it's not going to happen. However, if you go with the expectation that it WILL be busy, and you know what's ahead of you, you can have a magical time.

The crowds are huge, and typically, the parks and/or parking lots are closed to new guests as they reach capacity in the middle of the day. Words of advice: Stay on property--it offers you the most flexiblity and the least amount of transportation hassle (this doesn't mean there won't be any--I've been in many a traffic jam and on my share of packed WDW busses before). Make lots of plans ahead of time--including meals, because there's very little room for spur of the moment or walk in dining. Don't wake up in the morning and spend 2-3 hours deciding what park to go to, where to have breakfast, how to get to your destination, and where you're going to eat lunch. Know these things ahead of time and decide as a group so no one's surprised. Arrive Early--the parks usually open at the crack of dawn, leave during the day to nap and recoup, return in the evening and stay till the bitter end--the parks also stay open very late (exept AK which still closes at dusk) and you can usually walk right on to anything you want.

The plus is that when the parks are packed with guests, they are also packed with cast members. The rides/attractions run at full capacity, there is very little closed for rehab, and the guests/cast members are generally on their best behavior. Disney also pulls out all the stops when it comes to the little "extras" of a visit to the theme park. Lots of street performers, side shows, characters, decorations, and other little surprises around every corner. The trick is to STAY RESTED and be patient. If you are well rested, you won't be as crabby, and the hustle and bustle is kind of fun.

 

[DonnaL]

The week between Christmas and New Year is the MOST crowded you will ever see the parks. Expect at least three of those days to have crowd levels so high the park (at least MK) will be closed to new guests by 11:00 a.m. or so. We were there one year during that week and never again. We still go at this time of year, but, not that week. We were there 1/1 thru 1/9 earlier this year and we're there again 12/10 thru 12/17. Since the 1st was on a Saturday last year by Sunday afternoon crowds were minimal and the rest of the week it was great.....crowds practically non-existent until late Thursday when people started arriving for Marathon weekend. Several years ago we also went in mid-December and it was wonderful.......all the Christmas decorations and all the CM's are still very pleasant not stressed out like they will be later in the month.

 

[AJKMOM]

That is, indeed, the worst time to have a nice, peaceful, relaxing visit. You would be better of staying away from MK, it's a madhouse.