How Busy is Christmas Day?

[egritz]

Asking for a friend whose husband is trying to convince her to take their 2 kids (3 & 5) to Disneyland for the first time ever on Christmas Day. I've already told her I believe the morning might not be too bad, but that later in the day gets super busy. How busy though? Does DL get close to (or hit) capacity on Christmas Day?

TIA

 

[SMD]

Does DL get close to (or hit) capacity on Christmas Day?

Yes.

 

[tarheelalum]

Ridiculously busy.

 

[Disney_Alli]

Pretty much guaranteed to hit capacity of Christmas Day every single year

 

[mom2rtk]

So busy that I probably wouldn't go if I had a free ticket.

 

[PoohsFan1]

Does the same hold true at CA?

 

[Darkbeer1]

Does the same hold true at CA?

Yes, there have been years where they stopped selling all tickets, and restricted access at the turnstiles at both parks.

It is a weird day to be there, and something I wouldn't want to repeat if I didn't have a good reason to be there. I would pick another day, and maybe go to the Beach for the day.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/-280819--.html

 

[Rabb it]

I've been there on X-mas day once two years ago and it was insane. Main street is shoulder to shoulder traffic pretty much all day. And the lines are unreal..

 

[StageTek]

In my experience it's not worth going on Christmas Day. Especially with a 3 and 5 year old.
But if it's the only day they can go then....

 

[Malcon10t]

Insanely busy, wall to wall people, turnstile closures in the afternoon, and yet, I love it! It is our Christmas tradition.

 

[Skyegirl1999]

In my experience it's not worth going on Christmas Day. Especially with a 3 and 5 year old.
But if it's the only day they can go then....

I would say no precisely BECAUSE it's the only day they can go. If you're a frequent visitor, or you're there for multiple days and can at least spread things out, well, that's one thing.

But first time EVER on Christmas Day sounds so miserable that I can't imagine they'd ever want to go back.

 

[coaches24]

Is it just Christmas day that is that insane or are all the days around Christmas crazy like that? Ive been the week following new years before but and it was very crowded but I don't think it got close to capacity where they stop selling tickets. But this year we are going on the 27th-30th. Will it be much busier this trip or close to what I experienced before? The time we went after new years most school districts I know of had that first week of Jan off and the Christmas decorations stayed up till like Jan 7th or 8th.

 

[sheetz]

I would say no precisely BECAUSE it's the only day they can go. If you're a frequent visitor, or you're there for multiple days and can at least spread things out, well, that's one thing.

But first time EVER on Christmas Day sounds so miserable that I can't imagine they'd ever want to go back.

I agree. I guess if they are getting APs they could make do. But if they are buying single day tickets then they'll likely think they wasted their money.

 

[SMD]

Is it just Christmas day that is that insane or are all the days around Christmas crazy like that? Ive been the week following new years before but and it was very crowded but I don't think it got close to capacity where they stop selling tickets. But this year we are going on the 27th-30th. Will it be much busier this trip or close to what I experienced before? The time we went after new years most school districts I know of had that first week of Jan off and the Christmas decorations stayed up till like Jan 7th or 8th.

This is the first year without the old premium AP, so we don't really know how the new blockouts around Christmas will really affect crowds. But historically, the week between Christmas a NYE is the single busiest of the year with capacity closures of various levels on multiple days. All of your days will likely be more crowded that Christmas day itself.

 

[egritz]

Thanks everyone for confirming my thoughts, relayed to her what was said here. She's totally against going, just has to convince her husband that's not the best way to spend Christmas....

 

[northshoremama]

A good friend of mine spent Christmas Day there with her fiancé last year. She said it was sooooo crowded, she'd rather go on the busiest and hottest day in the summer than go on Christmas Day ever again.