I know Christmas is crazy crowded but what if one avoids MK?

[MammaMoe48]

So how bad is EPCOT compared to MK during the Christmas holiday? We're going to WDW in August for our "big trip" but will still have enough DVC points leftover to maybe get a room over Christmas so we'd probably do an EPCOT resort and get a 1 or 2 day park pass and just kind of walk around the WS at our own pace, maybe do HS and then really just hang at the hotel or travel around to check out the other hotels. Very calm, very quiet and not rushing or hurrying. Or we thought maybe stay at AKV and do the AK park only then just hang around the hotel. It would only be a 4-5 day stay instead of the typical 8-9 day stay.

Any input or advice would be good. DS will be starting a new school this fall so taking him out in Oct. or Nov. is out of the question.

 

[staceyrhood]

All of Disney is extremely busy the weeks surrounding Christmas. It is doable though, and very pretty to see.

 

[MammaMoe48]

All of Disney is extremely busy the weeks surrounding Christmas. It is doable though, and very pretty to see.

That's what I was thinking - it must be gorgeous to see. Like I said, it would be more of a seeing and relaxing vacation than a doing and hurried vacation. Since we are DVC, we expect to be going back often so it's not like we have to do everything every time we go.

 

[rickym]

All the parks are very busy, but not to the point it's not enjoyable. You just have to expect it. We went last year the week between Christmas and New Year

 

[Klayfish]

It's very busy no matter where you go, but DO NOT let that sway you away from going. We spent both Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day 2015 in WDW, our first time ever doing it. I can promise you it won't be our last. Best. Holidays. Ever. On both holidays, we got to MK at rope drop. Had our FP+ fairly early in the day. Did the things we wanted, saw MK on those special holidays and then left before about 1pm. It was wonderful. We then went to other parks, which were crowded, but still manageable. On Thanksgiving Day, we left WDW by 4pm and went back to our rented townhouse and had a wonderful meal thanks to pre-made from Publix. Stuffed our faces as a family and watched football all night. Sheer bliss. On Xmas Day, we skipped opening presents to make it to MK. Worked out great because it gave the kids something else to be excited about after we left the parks.

 

[hakepb]

Between Christmas and NYE is the only time I've heard of DAK reaching phased closures (a few years ago) ...so it will be quite busy everywhere.

With the right expectations, Christmas can also be a lot of fun! With FP+, you can go into a busy park and know you are guaranteed reasonable waits for those rides.

FYI, you definately don't want to drive to MK, monorail resorts, or EPCOT, unless you arrive before rope drop. TTC usually closes to capacity each day, and then World Drive is a parking lot between EPCOT and TTC...and EPCOT becomes overflow MK parking.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

I used to love HS during Christmas as well. Of course with the osborne lights gone, it's not quite the same.

 

[wilkeliza]

I did holiday around the world at Epcot Christmas Day 2012. I can't remember if I rode any rides or if we were able to do Candle Light or not but I remember outside of CP walking around the world showcase was manageable and we watched all the different stories.

 

[dae3dae3]

Just adjust your expectations and go. We did Magic Kingdom on Christmas day two years ago. I just set up a couple dining reservations and our fastpasses. It was crazy busy but I knew that going in. Just don't expect to go get in the standby line for the big rides and get a lot done unless you do it right at rope drop.

 

[iona]

We stayed at Beach Club Villas last Christmas. On Christmas Day itself we were the first guests through International Gateway (it wasn't planned, we got there at about 7:20 and the cast members were very excited to see us and waved us through). We rode a two-thirds empty Soarin' (everyone was in the front row) having had the safety instructions sung to us, hopped on a couple of other rides, had a Starbucks, shopped (meeting the Epcot VP whilst we were at it) and then headed to Trattoria al Forno on the Boardwalk for a late (10:30) breakfast.

After breakfast we walked along to a very busy DHS where we took advantage of our FP+s (Toy Story, Tower of Terror and Star Tours) and saw The Comedy Warehouse Holiday Special before heading back to the resort for a swim in Stormalong Bay and a break. Dinner that evening was at Flying Fish.

It was weird not being home for Christmas but I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I do think that it helps if you've been before and so you're not desperate to do everything and that sounds like it's very much the case for you!

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

Hey there...

I have a free guide available and I often blog about this topic. You can find info in my sig. But - for now I'll cover it here.

All the parks are crowded during Christmas. I wouldn't recommend skipping MK just because the crowds because you'd really be missing out. Magic Kingdom is the first park we do during our vaca on Christmas morning. We get there for the AM EMH and it doesn't get overwhelmingly crowded till around 10am. This gives us a nice little window to get in a few rides. We ride Space Mountain, followed by Buzz Lightyear and one or two others - depending on the waits. We do breakfast at 10am, watch a show and then our FP+ starts up from 12pm-3pm. By then, the park is super crowded so we go back to the resort to relax.

As far as how packed the parks get - EPCOT is far more spaced out and a bit larger than MK. As a result, it absorbs the crowds much better than MK. MK is much more prone to phased closures than EPCOT. The only time you'll truly see and feel the high crowds at EPCOT is on NYE.

Tailor your expectations and you'll be fine. Take time to explore and enjoy the resorts and stop and smell the gingerbread. It truly is the best time of the year and a truly magical time at WDW.

 

[MammaMoe48]

Thanks all. I absolutely don't expect to see or ride everything like a regular day. I was more interested in what the resorts would be like as far as crowds. I like the idea of just going to EPCOT WS and walking around and if we can do a ride or two at FW we will.

 

[Mainemama]

Sounds perfect! The hardest part may be booking a room. We stayed at YC and Poly over Christmas last year. The only park that bothered me was MK. We typically visit Presidents week and July, so are pretty comfortable with crowded parks. Christmas crowds outside of MK and in the resort's were consistent with those times. We did find some (not all) restaurants were sort of overwhelmed, but we went in with expectations it would be crowded and slow and were overall pleasantly surprised.

 

[ktlm]

It is insane, but it can still be a lot of fun. We where there between Christmas and New Years 1999-2000, and on New Years Eve all the parks were closed to capacity in the afternoon except for AK, which was still open to resort guests (not sure about non-resort guests). Resort guests were guaranteed entry into "A" park, but not which park or a park that stayed open until mid-night and I distinctly remember as we were leaving AK (it was our park of choice that day because we were going to a special Pleasure Island ticketed event that night) people coming into AK complaining loudly about the fact they were directed there and that they felt that the guarantee should apply to a park open to midnight. However, as packed as it was that week, we had a fantastic time! I would certainly at least try to get to MK to see the castle lit up in Holiday lights. It really is spectacular and photos and videos just don't do it justice.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

Thanks all. I absolutely don't expect to see or ride everything like a regular day. I was more interested in what the resorts would be like as far as crowds. I like the idea of just going to EPCOT WS and walking around and if we can do a ride or two at FW we will.

My favorite day is when we go to EPCOt and just your the WS. We usually do it the day after Christmas as after flying on 12/24 and MK on 12/25, we need a slow day.

Through FP+ and proper planning, you can do most of the things you want. Our schedule looks like this (we do 8 night)
12/24: arrival, no parks, dinner
12/25: MK 7:15am-3, explore the monorail resorts, Nice dinner, sleep
12/26: World showcase, Dinner, DHS at night for FP+ and Fantasmic
12/27: sleep in, AK later in the day
12/28: DHS in the day for FP+, relax in the afternoon, dinner and Illuminations at night
12/29: EPCOT for FW, MK for nighttime parades and wishes
12/30: sleep late; MK at night
12/31: relax all day, pack, Disney Springs in the afternoon, Epcot at night.

We move at our own pace. Only 2 or 3 days are we bouncing around and seeing and doing a bunch. The rest were sleeping in and enjoying the resort.

 

[85glht]

We spent NYE once at EPCOT. Very crowded, and many intoxicated people. At least MK is a dry park, if you don't want to deal with the party animals.... Just my $.02

 

[MammaMoe48]

My favorite day is when we go to EPCOt and just your the WS. We usually do it the day after Christmas as after flying on 12/24 and MK on 12/25, we need a slow day.

Through FP+ and proper planning, you can do most of the things you want. Our schedule looks like this (we do 8 night)
12/24: arrival, no parks, dinner
12/25: MK 7:15am-3, explore the monorail resorts, Nice dinner, sleep
12/26: World showcase, Dinner, DHS at night for FP+ and Fantasmic
12/27: sleep in, AK later in the day
12/28: DHS in the day for FP+, relax in the afternoon, dinner and Illuminations at night
12/29: EPCOT for FW, MK for nighttime parades and wishes
12/30: sleep late; MK at night
12/31: relax all day, pack, Disney Springs in the afternoon, Epcot at night.

We move at our own pace. Only 2 or 3 days are we bouncing around and seeing and doing a bunch. The rest were sleeping in and enjoying the resort.

That sounds like a good plan. I have a lot to think about.

 

[MammaMoe48]

We spent NYE once at EPCOT. Very crowded, and many intoxicated people. At least MK is a dry park, if you don't want to deal with the party animals.... Just my $.02

I live in NYC so I know about drunken fools on NYE. We probably would avoid the "booze" parks that night.

 

[Lynne M]

Have you checked DVC availability for that week? It's one of the busiest of the year, I'd be kind of shocked if anything was available at this late date. Most villas were probably booked by the end of January.

If you do see something available, don't wait, grab it right away.

 

[MammaMoe48]

Have you checked DVC availability for that week? It's one of the busiest of the year, I'd be kind of shocked if anything was available at this late date. Most villas were probably booked by the end of January.

If you do see something available, don't wait, grab it right away.

I hadn't thought of that. I might have to wait until next year. I'd still love to do it