How bad is Christmas time????????

[Wendi]

We are thinking of booking a Christmas trip and were wondering How Bad is it? Is it too crowded to enjoy? Do you just plan more "Down" time? How do you make it a good trip at a busy time?

Thanks,
Wendi

"I would love to be Tagged". I am a daily reader and help when I can. I Love Disney and look forward to my yearly trip from the day we leave.

 

[eeyore0062]

Well, how many times have you been to the parks?

How much does it matter that you may stand in lines for 2 hours for one ride?

Do you like to people watch?

Do you enjoy doing things outside of the parks?

Do you mind walking through the parks surrounded on all sides by others, sometimes pushing, and shoving?

Do you mind waiting for PS, even though you have made them months in advance?


Your answers to these questions will determine whether or not you will have a good time.

I think it is possible to go during Christmas, but don't expect to be able to do or see even close to what you could by going during the slower parts of the year. If you have your mind made up that you will go with the flow, you should be fine.

 

[lisajl]

We were there Dec 21-24 and it was busy!

We got to the parks first thing and ran to the back (especially at MK). At about 10:30 I looked around and said..."Where the heck did all these people come from?"

No kidding...we went right on Dumbo and then ran to HM and Buzz and all of sudden about a bizillion people showed up!

I only stepped on someone once and that was coming out of Fantasmic. No one stepped on us.
We were quite fortunate that time. We met someone from Dayton whose young son was run over by an adult trying to get to Stitch!

The lights are lovely, the decorations gorgeous. Just remember if you go, take your time. Enjoy the sights around you.
Yes, it will be busy, but your vacation is what you make it.

Lisajl

 

[safetymom]

We have gone at Christmas and didn't find it that bad. We worked our way from the back of the parks forward. I don't like standing in lines and I don't think it was all that bad.

It is a great place to be for Christmas so we relax and just enjoy. Maybe we don't see as much but you will have a great time.

 

[peachgirl]

We were at DW this past Christmas 12/19-01/03. The change in the crowd level from the 22nd to the 23rd was amazing. Up to the 22nd the crowds were very light, no problems. After that, and right up until we left, every park was packed.


I've said it before when discussing what the holiday crowds are like and I still believe it....it isn't the numbers so much as it is the attitude of the crowds during the week of Christmas/New Years Eve. Up until the holiday rush arrived, I never noticed anything. After that, I never saw so many rude, pushy and complaining people in all my life. After the first couple of days of noticing the change, we altered our plans in order to make sure we didn't let that kind of behavior put a damper on our trip. It's really hard to keep that magic going when you have to watch some jerk throwing his food over the counter and scream at the CM's because it didn't get to him fast enough!


If you make use of early entry, then get out of the parks within a couple of hours of regular opening, it's not bad. We learned to get out by noon and then go back later in the evening when the crowds were a bit thinner. We also learned to love rainstorms...it really thins out the crowds!

We enjoyed our stay, but had we only been there the week of Christmas/New Year's, I think we would have been very unhappy with our trip. We got what we really wanted to do out of the way the first few days and then just took it easy the rest of the trip.

 

[justhat]

We were there last year 12/27-1/4 and we had a great time. Yes, it was crowded, but if you get up early and get to the parks for EE (if you're onsite) you'll be fine. Regular opening time was 8am when we were there so we were at the EE park about 7:15 everyday. We'd hit everything we could (which was actually quite a bit) until about 10:30 or 11am, then we'd eat a late breakfast/early lunch in whatever park we were in. Usually after our meal, around noon, it was very, very crowded, so we'd go back to our resort and nap/rest, then get up and go to our dinner PS (usually around 5ish). After dinner, we'd go to whatever park we ate in or was closest to the resort we were eating at and stay until around closing time, which was midnight at MK, 10:30 at MGM, 9 at Epcot, and 6 at AK. We were there 8.5 days and saw everything we wanted to at least once and never waited in a line over 30 minutes. When we took our break (which is something we usually don't do) the lines were sometimes over 2 hours, but in the morning and after dinner they were never long at all, especially after the 2nd Spectromagic in MK, people left MK in hoards. So as long as you plan your days to not be in the parks much around midday, you should be fine. For us, it was one of the best trips we've had since we got to see all the holiday stuff at the resorts and we had a great time on NYE at California Grill. Also, it made us stop and take time to explore the different resorts more than usual, which was nice because it let us see which ones we might want to stay at in the future. So if you do go then, you'll have a great time, as long as you be sure to plan so downtime to escape from the crowds.

 

[Beachangel]

Disney at Christmas is something to see if you have the chance in spite of the crowds, lines, rudeness, etc, etc!

 

[Mickeycrazie]

We went the 1st week of December 2002 and it wasn't crowded at all. And the weather was great. Crisp in the early morning and evening and pleasantly warm during the day. If I had to go again to see the Christmas decorations it would definetely be that time.

Have a great time!

 

[Wendi]

Thank You so much for all the infomation. Here is the twist in my thought. We have gone several years the first week of January and so we have seen the Christmas Decorations, and enjoyed the non-existant crowds. So would you say go between Thanksgiving and Christmas to avoid the lines or would you say go in the spring and try a totally different time of the year?
That changes the entire Christmas theory but, my family is way too spoiled with the "Off" season to deal with the lines or crowds. Also, we have the pictures of the Christmas Decoration so am I missing anything by NOT going at Christmas?

Thanks, Wendi

 

[Mickeycrazie]

We have always gone the last week in August. In 2002 we were able to go the 1st week of December followed by a Disney Cruise. Needless to say we were very excited not to be in the heat. Now we are planning a spring 2004 trip the last week of April to see what Disney looks and feels like in the spring. Hopefully we'll get to enjoy the Flower and Garden Festival. From the pictures I've seen it looks very pretty. So we'll have some different pictures to take this time.

Good luck deciding.

 

[Wendi]

mickeycrazie,

That's exactly what I am looking at. I want to go at Different times and have Different Pictures to get a total year round feel and the looks of Disney. After reading some of the down sides to Christmas at Disney I am leaning more towards Spring myself.
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions.

Please keep those Christmas stories coming.

Thanks, Wendi

 

[laurabelle]

We've been twice during the in-between Thanksgiving/Christmas crowds and it was lovely! Nice weather, no crowds, got to enjoy all the wonderful decorations and special shows, like the Very Merry Christmas Parade. Best of all we paid value season prices!

 

[Wendi]

laurabelle,

What date's have you gone during that time. Was it closer to Thanksgiving or closer to Christmas?
What kind of rates did you get?
Thanks, Wendi

 

[eeyore0062]

So would you say go between Thanksgiving and Christmas to avoid the lines or would you say go in the spring and try a totally different time of the year?

These are our favorite low crowd times to go:

the 3rd week of May... nice and warm, warm nights, kids aren't out of school locally yet, so the crowds are very manageable, and the hours are a bit later... also, more hours of sunshine. Doesn't usually rain alot during then, either.

the 2nd/3rd week of August... hot, but fun. Low crowds, local kids are back in school, so the crowds are very manageable, and the hours are still extended... also, it is into value season, so you can save on your resort stay. Does rain, but that is good to clear the parks somewhat.

The 3rd week of October... Wine and Food festival, MNSSHP, and very manageable crowds, and great weather!

2nd week of December... warm days, cool nights, Christmas decorations, low crowds, MVMCP, value season!

Whatever you decide, have a great time!

 

[lwestwise]

I have been to Disney Twice during the Christmas season. I love it there during Christmas. We have always departed to return home on the 18th and never had to deal with extremely large crowds. Though during the Very Merry Christmas Party it was crowded, but even then not so crowded that we couldn't enjoy our time there.

 

[lwestwise]

PS.

I would definitely say go the week after thanksgiving. Decorations are generally scheduled to all be in place the monday after Thanksgiving and the heat is not extreme and they crowds aren't as bad until the weekends.

 

[gary403]

We,DW & I, normally go the 2nd weekend of December,for a few days. It really makes our holidays. Candlelight Processional is the best of the best to experience!

 

[Plan Man]

We are going fro 12-27 to 1/4 this year staying at the Swan. We have been to WDW in spring summer and fall but never during a holiday.

This thread is fantastic. What a range of opinions.

We are very similar to justhat in our planning. I would be horribly disappointed if we couldn't do the headliner shows and rides. We don't need to do them twice just once and we go to the parks every day. So it sounds as if we go in the morning taking advantage of EMH that we should be able to get a lot done and then break for lunch come back in the evening and spend the night in the parks.

What do others think?

How cold is it in December?
Can you use the pools??

 

[peachgirl]

Plan Man....

Since you'll be there for several days after New Year's you should be fine. We had a very late flight out on New Year's Day so we spent the morning in the parks. Even then, you could see that the crowds were lighter. As I understand it, the crowds drop off after the 1st just as dramatically as they increased after the 22nd of Dec. Otherwise, your plan sounds pretty good to me.

The weather can be very unpredictable that time of year. For the 2 weeks we were there, it never got warm enough for us to swim, although there were people that did! For us, if it's not in the 80's, it's too cold! The temps ranged from highs in the 50's to low 70's and it got very cold at night! It was also very rainy, especially on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. I can't tell you if that was normal or not, but it wasn't the weather we were hoping for.

 

[laurabelle]

Wendi,
We went the Monday after Thanksgiving one year and then another year we went the first week in Dec. I can't remember the rates exactly, but it was value season. Like I said, all the Christmas stuff, no crowds, and value pricing, you can't beat it! I would definately go that time of year again.