How crowed is it the week after Chrismas?

[leopardspot]

Just wondering if it is worth heading to Disney for that week?

 

[KathyTX]

Very crowded. The week between Christmas and New Year's generally has the highest attendance of the year.

 

[sugermouse]

We are going to be there. We focus our attention more on the decorations and spending christmas in WDW and less on the attractions as the lines will be long. All a matter of attitude.

 

[Kapp]

is the highest attendance of the year with some parks closing admission at 11AM as the park will be filled. It can vary from park to park and day to day but it is VERY busy.

Good luck!

 

[dizneefamily5]

We were there last year from 12/17 - 12/31 and the week after Christmas was impossible! We had done the parks the first week so the 2nd week, we spent a lot of time doing other things (Downtown Disney, mini-golf, etc.) but even these places were packed. We will never do it again. In my opinion, it's much more relaxing to be at home, with snow on the ground, and the fireplace roaring that week! Just be aware that everything the busses to the restaurants, parks, etc. are packed with LOTS of people! If you can go any other time, I would!

 

[Hieatt]

If you mean that you are thinking of going in just a few weeks, I would think twice. I think it is possible to have a great time, but because of how busy it is, advance planning and reservations are a must, as is staying on site. At this point it will already be difficult to make priority seatings at many restaurants (except maybe at odd times), to book packages like Fantasmic or the Candlelight Processional, or to get a room on-site at a reasonable rate.

We are making our third annual Christmas-NYE trip this year and I personally love it, but I already have an itinerary for each day with Priority seatings and dinner packages booked, and rooms at the Dolphin at a discounted rate. When crowds are at the max, you don't want to be dealing with traffic - walking to Epcot, launches to MGM, direct bus to Magic Kingdom is the way to go. We get to the parks at opening, take afternoon breaks, and take advantage of later closing times, extra shows/parades/fireworks and use FastPass to the max.

 

[AppleSister1]

We'll be there too, and Sugarmouse is right, it's a matter of attitude and expectations. We've gone so much that we don't feel the need to see everything - we just get up early, do the parks till it's too crowded, and enjoy being in WDW the rest of the time. If you want to see it all, do it all - another time of year might be better. If you just want to soak in the holiday magic - it's great!

 

[crazy4dizney]

The parks are also open late. Last year we went for xmas and found that MK before it closes was a great time to do rides , we walked on to almost every ride in adventure land ,Big Thunder 10 min wait too.Tomorrow land a little busier.We usually do that side first thing in the morning. Mid day is the busiest at MK, so just plan lunch at your resort or go for a swim.

 

[Cookie54]

I have heard that on New Years Eve parks are closed to additional people by 12 or 1 in the afternoon. Does that mean that you need to stay at the park all day, or if you are staying on site can you go to your room and go back to the park that you left?

 

[bride03]

You will have a great time. My hubby and I went last year on the 28th-jan 6. It was crowded, but the lights and the happiness help you pep up!!! It was crowded I guess but you won't think about it!!!!!!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

I have heard that on New Years Eve parks are closed to additional people by 12 or 1 in the afternoon. Does that mean that you need to stay at the park all day, or if you are staying on site can you go to your room and go back to the park that you left?

Several times during the Christmas week period, the parks will close to any additional guest. But they will reopen a while later. They may also close again in the afternoon. If you arrive at a park that is closed to guests, you will be redirected to another park that is still open. But you won't automatically be allowed to re-enter the park.

 

[Cookie54]

Thank you. Since we have reservations for New Years Eve at Epcot, I guess we had better plan on camping out there all day.

 

[Dizz42]

May I jump in with a question? This is our first time for New Year's Eve, also. We are staying at the CR and have a PS at Liberty Tree for 8:30 P.M. If the park is closed, will they still let us in because of the PS? Thanks much.

 

[JudyS]

A lot of these questions are actively being discussed on the theme parks board.

DH & I are going December 26-31st because he has time off from work, but we will probably spend a lot of time away from the main parks. In fact, we plan to do a lot of non-Disney stuff because I'll probably buy an annual passport once the DVC member discount goes into effect in January. So, I figure this will be the chance to get Sea World, Cypress Gardens, and NASA out of our systems!

I'm not sure that Epcot will close -- I think the worst problems with closing are at MK