How crowded is it the week AFTER Christmas?

[YankeeFan51]

I know that New Year's Eve is probably very, very crowded--I would imagine a lot of those who live in the area might choose to ring in the New Year at WDW in addition to all the tourists. But how are the crowds the rest of the week after Christmas? Does it start to clear out a bit right after Christmas, or not really until into January?

 

[breick]

My opinion - busy all the way through New Year's! Doesn't decrease until the first full week in January...

 

[Miffy]

Hi YankeeFan51 (from a fellow Yankee fan).

We were at WDW January 2-12 this year. It was really really really crowded in the MK on January 2, but we got to do everything we wanted that evening anyway (including CoP, which, by the end of our stay, was already closed, and the Country Bears Xmas show too).

By the next day, the crowds had thinned out already--we were at MGM that day and there weren't even that many people at the Osborne Lights. We walked into Mama Melrose's w/o a PS and got seated immediately in a half-empty room. By January 4th, we were strolling around like we owned the place. The 5th-12th were wonderfully empty. We were often riding buses to-from our resort alone (I mean just me + dh) and they actually had to re-start Figment's Journey for us the night we were there because we were the ONLY PEOPLE ON THE RIDE!!!!

HTH --miffy--

ps The magic number is 6!

 

[jcemom]

I've read in a couple of places that the entire week from Christmas to New Year's is the most crowded week of the year.

 

[ldisneydennis]

The crowds are crazy the week between Christmas and New Year! My husband swore he would never step foot in a Theme Park again. We still enjoyed ourselves, and granted my husband just hates crowds in general, but if you can avoid that week I would. (We did have good luck on the 26th of December in the evening during the parade but otherwise be prepared to get up very early to ride with less than a 1.5 or 2 hour wait.

 

[YankeeFan51]

Thanks for the replies. I know many guidebooks say this week is the worst of the year as far as crowds go--but some of the same books also say October is very slow, which seems, from more recent reports, not to be the case in the past year or two. I was wondering if the predicted crowd levels had shifted a bit more recently, but it seems as though this will always be a really, really busy time to go.

Miffy -- the magic number is now 3 -- don't you just love this time of year

 

[Micca]

I think October may have increased in traffic, but it wouldn't begin to compare to 12/25-1/1. October would also be kind of hit and miss as crowds are concerned. I think you could find some days and parks that were busy but could get some respite in a different park.

 

[swilphil]

The week before Christmas isn't as bad, and anytime the first two weeks of December is great. We did go Christmas week three years ago. If you are staying on-site, it is manageable.

 

[Miffy]

YankeeFan51: I absolutely love this time of year! Boomer goes for #200 tomorrow and the magic number is now 1! And we're going to WDW in December.

--miffy--

 

[jdonat]

Well, we've been going down for the week between Christmas and New
Year's since 1992. It's the busiest week of the year. Period.
Now, having said that, it's some of the most fun you can have.
Usually, the MK is open from 8 to midnight (including 2002) and the other parks
tend to be open later, too. The parks are busy, so's you have to plan a bit. Use
FastPass bigtime this week.. You MAY see e-ride nights -we've had them a
couple of years lately.
The holiday decorations and music are still going, including the Candlelight
Processional -which is going on until the 28th or 29th this year. All the resorts
have their decorations up, too.
Gettting a room the last couple of years has not been too bad -we're
DVC so's we've stayed at the Boardwalk and the Beach Club villas the
last few years. But, before that, we stayed at the CBR and the Beach Club
and had very little trouble getting ressies... Stay on site... I tell you three times.
This week it's the only way to go. NYE, the parks may go on restricted access..
the last group to be denied access into a park because it's so busy are
Resort guests....
We've definately noticed a drop off in park attendance since 2000-2001.
(we missed y2k), but the attendance at the parks and resorts is definately
down some. We'll see about this year... We've paired up with another DIS'er
and between the two of our families, we've got a Grand Villa at OKW for this week!
I think we'll be irretrievably spoiled after this week.

take care...

JED

 

[JulesMom]

Crowds start building Christmas Eve and Dec. 27 and 28th of the last 2 years were the most crowded we have ever seen the parks. MK was closed. We leave before New Years.