Is Christmas "too crowded" to enjoy??

[Gary M]

pick a park in the AM and do 2-3 commando style, then spend the afternoon walking around, enjoying Epcot, see a show or two at MGM, and tour hotels--and you'll be fine. Get a park hopper, so you can do MK several days in a row in the AM for 2-3 hours, and then go over to Epcot and do just a few countries each afternoon.
As long as you have reservations for dinner and don't plan to do rides in the afternoon without a fast pass, you'll be finel

This is what we did and it worked out as well as can be expected, with the large crowds. We were at WDW Dec. 25-30, 2005. As many have mentioned, get to the parks at opening and you should have 1 to 2 hours before the masses show up. I have been to WDW nearly 40 times and have never seen crowds like the Christmas trip. I wouldn't do it again, but once was OK.

 

[Kitka]

Anyone know what to expect weather wise at Christmas? Is it at least dry? I am going to plan, plan and plan for this trip so we don't feel like "never again" too. I don't know if planning is a panacea for all the crowds at the holidays but it must at least help a little bit.

Christmas 2004 it was, weatherwise, a situation where we swam only one day because the rest of the days it just didn't feel warm enough to want to.

Mornings and evenings called for light jackets or sweatshirts, but mid-day we were fine without them.

 

[standleyent1]

My DD and I really enjoy the decorations everywhere in the "world" the WL has a 60ft tall tree that is absolutely beautiful. If you can I would try to plan on being there before and during Christmas because the crowds before are minimal and then Christams week they are completely crazy. I don't know when school breaks for the Holidays where you are from but in Arkansas they break on the 20th this year and that would be an idealistic time to go if you can swing it. Just remember its Disney you can have fun but you might have to face the crowds.
Have Fun!!

 

[JESW]

Funny you should ask this as dd8 just asked this morning if we could go one Christmas season! We would go just for the atmosphere and not so much to do a lot of rides and such. We are fortunate to go on a regular basis and the kids (I also have a ds12) have been many times. We have been in November when the trees are decorated and in the resort lobbies and some of the decorations are up in the parks - very nice! I would love to do the "Holidays around the World" at EPCOT.

Maybe we will see you there in 2008!

Jill

 

[WildernessBride]

2008 seems so far away but I now realize that this trip is more for the celebration of Christmas in the "World" and not so much to ride every ride twice. We have been there several times ourselves, we were married at Wilderness Lodge back in 1998, so we know we'll be back and the kids have been there once so they will have an entirely new experience. I love the deco the food and the atmosphere. I am even more excited to get to NEXT Christmas (this year I now want to fly by of course!!!) and see just what Disney does for the holidays

 

[dizneyluv]

agree with the onsite resort stay. We stayed offsite (ignorance and finances) and wished dearly we had somehow figured out how to stay onsite. Since you are staying at WL (how exciting) that's already taken care of!

We definitely did our tours of resorts, etc. in the afternoons. We did not experience any parks shut down and we were staying off site which meant no early entry for us but still there at opening.

I have some pictures of the crowds at the different parks and Christmas dec's that I'll post for you. They are at home.

We wore "layers" meaning in the a.m. a t-shirt under a sweatshirt and then peeled the layers as the day warmed up. Every day was nice except one cold, windy Epcot morning. The layers worked well. Just tied our jackets/sweatshirt around our waist or dumped it in the stroller.

Our children say it was the best vacation ever. The oldest child and I did Cirque de Soleil on this Christmas trip and LOVED IT. It was beautiful. Dh stayed back with the two youngest and did DisneyQuest.

Take Care!

 

[WildernessBride]

Thanks for all of the excellent ideas, the great thing about going to Disney is the fact there are so many options of things to do. I am going to take this great opportunity I have in the amount of time till we go on vacation to plan it out well and possibly avoid some of the biggest crowds. Disney at Christmas seems to be quite the adventure and I am sure the kids will be happy no matter what and I am pretty easy going myself, heck I am just grateful to have the chance to see WL and WDW at the holidays!! I am also glad it will be on the cool side, cause I never sweated so much as I did this year in June at Disney!!! Another plus is my curly thick hair will have half a chance of looking nice, which it never did in June

 

[durango kid]

Christmas at the World is not to be missed! You just need to have your head on straight and go with the proper mind set... yes, it will be crowded. Don't miss the Ozborne Lights at MGM. It's out of this world. The Christmas parade at the MK gives me goosebumps... makes me believe! Honestly, if I could only go to WDW once, I would go for Christmas. Nobody does Christmas like Disney. Fortunately, I live in Celebration, right next door to the main gates and can go whenever I want, but still, if I could only go once, it would be Christmas!

These guides might help your trip go a little smoother...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=220148964197&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=012

 

[TinkOhio]

DH is a teacher also, and we had a great trip during Christmas break of 05. Yes...it was very crowded most days, but with proper planning and lots of ADR's, it was very enjoyable. We saw SO many people trying to obtain walk-
up ressiers! I think that it will be best if you make ADR's for every possible meal, (except breakfast), and cancell the ones you don't end up wanting to keep.

We did what the previous posters did and got to the parks early. This way, we were able to ride every ride that we wanted to. The parks were nuts during mid-day, but the crowds weren't bad at all late at night. The parks stayed open very late during our stay.

Weather can really vary at that time of the year, so be prepared for anything! Our first day in the parks-the 26th- was spent in ski jackets and mittens! It was very windy, raining, and temps were in the 40's. Think major wind chill! The temps climbed steadily after that, and by the end of the week, it was 80! We did get to go swimming! Just bring lots of layers, watch the forecasts before you leave, and have a great time!

 

[WildernessBride]

 

[mickey2000]

yes

 

[canron]

yes....

 

[WildernessBride]

Is it really that bad?????

 

[WildernessBride]

bump

 

[micmacmissy]

I think it really depends on your attitude, and how well your kids can "hang" in that atmosphere.

I personally HATE crowds...I know I would be miserable standing in lines...I have heard rumors that at Christmas time, even the line for the RESTROOM can be up to 30 minutes long (could that be true???). I would never do Christmas there for that reason alone--it stresses me out just thinking about it.

I think it also depends on your kids...are they the type who see a ride and "have" to go on it? Would they be disappointed if they had to skip things, or leave the parks after just a few hours? Are they the type to melt down if they have to wait in line or wait for a meal? All things to consider.

I personally think Disney is too expensive to go when it is hot or crowded. It costs a lot of money, so I want our family to be able to enjoy the parks to the fullest. We go in early December, and we enjoy all the Xmas decorations and the cool weather--not to mention, there aren't lines for anything, the place is practically empty. We love it.

If you have no other option, and can't possibly go at any other time, then you at the very least have to plan like a maniac and have every reservation, etc, in place. A subscription to one of the touring plan services is a must, in this case.

I will say that I am impressed with the great attitudes of the people who battle the most crowded week of the year with good cheer and happy attitudes.

I am curious about the bathroom lines, though! Anyone have hard evidence of this?

 

[WildernessBride]

The bath room line being 30 minutes long actually does scare me, unfortunately we are tied to a school schedule because DH is a high school teacher. We can only go the week of Christmas, I would much rather go before.

 

[JoBird]

Hi~
Yes, it is crowded. Two years ago, we went for one day, the 26th (day after Christmas). We were told by a CM that day that by 1 pm, the Magic Kingdom alone had let in 87,000 people. 87,000!!! That number is staggering.

It was wall to wall. Just breathing gave me a panic attack. Go with the knowledge that it will be uncomfortably crowded. There was a thread once a while back about a man who was having a heart attack on one of the bridges during that time frame and emergency personnel could not get to him because of the crowds. It just takes forever to move an inch.

That being said, I think that everyone should experience Christmas at Disney...at least once. That usually is enough.

Good luck.

Jo

 

[Tink415]

Yes it is crowded! I still like to go then I wouldn't reccomend Christmas week for a once in a lifetime trip tho. If you get up early you can get a lot done by noon. In the afternoon or nightime you have to be willing to leave and go some place else. As long as everyone knows this it should be fine.

 

[Alltiggeredout]

I've had my itinerary and adrs made for ages now,and i am still planning.The plan is to get to the parks for opening and then chill in the afternoons.We will take advantage of am and pm emh's,and with all that in mind we can't wait.

 

[MinnieSummer]

AS you can see from my signature Christmas at WDW is a family tradition. We get there the day after my DD gets off for holiday break and leave the day after Christmas. We've found that spending Christmas Day at AK in the morning and Epcot at night works great. AK is usually empty compared to the other parks on Christmas Day so we get in all of our favorites and then visit Camp Minnie Mickey and listen to the carolers and visit with the Characters. The AK Jingle Jungle Parade is a wonderful holiday parade that we usually catch at least once during our trip. The decorations at AK are really quite beautiful-- even the ones in Dinoland which are at tacky as can be imagined. We head over to Epcot for our Candlelight Processional Package, visit the various country to see their version of Santa, then watch the holiday version of Illuminations. By leaving the day after Christmas we miss the worst of the crowds. We do avoid the "rides" at Epcot on Christmas Day as there is just no way I'm standing in those lines but World Showcase is not too bad.