How bad will it be Christmas week?

[Disneylover99]

When do they start prepping the Countries in EPCOT for the dance party stages to prepare for NYE crowds?

Usually the scaffolding starts to go up a couple of weeks before the party.

 

[MMSM]

Is it busy at the resorts from Jan 1 to Jan 4th? We just like to be by pool and my son and husband golf.

 

[scrappinginontario]

To help with actual data, these are the wait times today vs Christmas Day 2024. (Note - the labels on the second heat map are not displaying all wait attraction names but it does give a high level idea of wait times that might be experienced)

 

[DL1WDW2]

I just remembered dining in the Castle for stroke of midnight New Years Eve with Cinderella … The entire staff including Cinderella joins for Countdown to sing Auld LangSyne !
Most magical hard to get reservation ever!

 

[Isthisnormalatdisney]

Yes. Normally CMs are cleaning certain stalls/areas while guests use the rest of the area. Closing an entire restroom for cleaning is different and not the norm at Disney.

Yea I don’t think it happens anymore during that week than a typical week. If anything it’s less likely to happen during that week

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

Entire bathrooms have to close for cleaning? Is that something unique to that time?

Yes unique to that time of year.
No other time of year have I seen this happen and before they have closed get ready for overflowing toilets and paper towels overflowing out of the garbags.

The place is a mad house.
Still fun though lol.

 

[RysMomma]

As much as I'd love to change the dates, my daughter and I are bound by Christmas break (she'll be a junior in high school and I'm a teacher). My son will have flexibility being in college, but that won't matter because he's locked in with us.

All of you have given me so many things to think about though. Thank you all!

 

[sponica]

As much as I'd love to change the dates, my daughter and I are bound by Christmas break (she'll be a junior in high school and I'm a teacher). My son will have flexibility being in college, but that won't matter because he's locked in with us.

All of you have given me so many things to think about though. Thank you all!

I think the timing of Christmas also matters. Next year Christmas is on the Friday, so depending on when the K-12 schools end, (I'm really hoping we are still in session on the 23rd) will factor into people's vacation plans. If the schools decide to end on the Friday before Christmas, there might be a contigent that does the week leading up to Christmas and flies home on the 26th.


If school ends on the 23rd, there will be a contigent that flies down the night of the 23rd and stays until New years.

 

[fla4fun]

Hi everyone!

I should preface this by saying that my husband, kids (17 and 15), and myself, are huge Disney fans. We've gone frequently with the kids and we are toying with the idea of going down next year on our breaks. I know that it'll be crowded and I know that it'll be expensive, but we don't celebrate Christmas but we all want to see the parks decorated. It's been a dream of mine for years and now that my kids are older, they want to too. My son will turn 19 while down there and we just think it would be a fun thing to do to celebrate. I told the family not to expect the same type of trip we have had other years. It may be slower paced, not as many big rides that we usually go on, and maybe more resort hopping. But be honest with me, what else can you tell me about Christmas week there? Thanks!

The important thing in my opinion is to have a plan and book as much of that plan as you can in advance.

The last time I was there for Christmas Eve/Day/26th, I booked a CP dinner package so I would have a reservation and entertainment set up for Christmas Day itself. I also had my other dining booked as soon as I could. I don’t often recommend LLMP as I feel most of the time it’s a money grab, but Christmas week is the one time you need every advantage you can get. Focus as much as you can on the special holiday food and entertainment, not on the normal rides and restaurants you typically frequent (they will still be there when you go back). Adjust your expectations as it will feel like it takes twice as long to do anything, including bathroom breaks.

It can be a lot of fun but it will be a different experience than your average Disney trip. It sounds like you are keeping your expectations realistic, and that is half the battle. Have a great trip!

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

Everything is packed. It is peak season, Disney's busiest time of the year.

 

[lorimt]

Is it busy at the resorts from Jan 1 to Jan 4th? We just like to be by pool and my son and husband golf.

It depends on the resort. Monorail resorts are usually packed, especially on the 1st. SSR wasn’t too bad this year from the 2nd to the 4th but it was pretty darn cold to be swimming.

 

[Donald Duck888]

On a related note, how is the week before Christmas week? Going to be there Dec 14-19. Am most worried about the Friday (the 19th) when we fly home. We fly in the morning so I am hoping we are getting out before it gets too crazy for Christmas which is the next week.

 

[RysMomma]

You are all the best. We are summer travelers-July and August my whole life (I'm 47 so I've been going for years) and my kids have gone frequently (this April was our last trip there when they performed with their marching band down Main Street). We're used to the horrible heat! But with them being older, and knowing that we may not hit everything, we can pace ourselves and absorb the decorations and enjoy just being together. Maybe I'm emotional because the older one is a senior in high school and going to be in college next year and I just want to soak up as much family time as I can get. We're doing a ten day Disney Cruise this summer with my mom and family too, but this would be just us and I feel like it could be really amazing!