Is Christmas worse than Easter????

[anne60]

Our Thanksgiving trip has now been changed to Christmas week, thanks to the Disney Soccer Showcase. We will be involved in the tournament from the 27th to the 30th (I don't plan on doing much in the parks during that time), and then head on site for the 30th to the 4th.

We have visited during Easter week 2001, and I am wondering how this period of time (the 30th to the 4th) will compare with that.

Any advice on strategy will be appreciated!! We are into the "big" rides, but also like the smaller attractions as well. I am not going to want to be too "commando"...especially since my son will probably be worn out from the tournament.

 

[zurgswife]

My experience last year was...Dec 19 to Dec 24th the parks were moderate....starting Dec 25 until Jan3 the parks were packed...each day the MK and at least one other park were closed to guests ....first outside then resort guests....

We were able to do stuff but we went early in the AM and utilized fast pass....and stayed late at night....from about 11am to 5pm was a zoo...

 

[Raggedy]

i would think they would be packed. With New years around the corner. I went in EAster week a couple of years ago. I will never do that again.

 

[swilphil]

All schools are out during Christmas Week while many spring breaks occur at various times during March and even April, not all fall during Easter Week. Christmas Week is the busiest week of the year at Disney World.

 

[Raggedy]

In 2002 spring break and Easter fell at the same time. Over 2 hour wait for every ride.

 

[crow11ad]

We went this past Easter week on our honeymoon and to be honest it did not start getting busy until Good Friday.

 

[amcnj]

While I like both, I guess I always preferred the toys at Christmas to the candy at Easter!

 

[laceemouse]

Spring Breaks run from March to late April. Ours is always late March, which sometimes coinsides with Easter and sometimes doesn't. I think Christmas to New Year would be worse, but I also think that things would slow down a bit by Jan. 2nd as many would have to go back to work.

 

[CindyAnn]

anne60 - Even based on room prices alone, I'd say that the Christmas week is the worst. If you're planning to check in onsite on December 30th, you might want to try 2 reservations. One would be for the 30th and 31st and the other for the 1st through 4th (which should be much cheaper). The room prices normally drop significantly on January 1st. If you ask for a continuing reservation there is only a very slight chance that you'd actually have to change rooms within the resort - usually it's just a paper check-out at the front desk.

We have found the 1st and onwards to be very light in comparison to the previous few days, especially at MK. In fact MK is such a zoo that it's worth thinking about avoiding it all together until the 1st - 4th.

Have fun!

 

[jmclester]

Went Christmas thru New Year's once....never again!!! MK and MGM were closed to guests by 11:00 am on New Year's day. Impossible to park hop because the buses were locked down on the highway. Total nightmare. You should be fine in the parks on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th though. If you should go on the 30th, 31st my advice (and Disney's too) is to go to a park and stay in it. Good luck!!

 

[sugermouse]

We have been to DW in the past at xmas, and are going again. To us it is all in your mind. Yes it is crowded, but the parks are open very late and you just can't beat the disney spirit at xmas time. The parks are beautiful. Rather then turn it into a contest to see how many times we can ride the attractions, we spent a lot more time just enjoying being in DW for xmas.

 

[anne60]

Thanks for the responses. I am hoping it will be warm enough to spend some time by the pool, and will try to hit the parks early in the day for the rides, then maybe go back in the evening just to hang around.

I am wondering, since the parks are so full and the hours longer, do they have more "wandering" shows....like the folks at MGM that drive around in the cars doing skits in the street? We saw them several times when we were there at Easter time, but have never seen them since. My daughter really enjoyed them.

 

[Lollipop Mom]

the week between Christmas and New Years is THE BUSIEST week of the year at WDW. We did it last year and will be back again this year. I have 3 words for you...TOUR GUIDE MIKE! (www.tourguidemike.com). He publishes a "holiday week survival guide" with information specific to that week that is second to none. All the advice you get for general touring in other guide books or web sites go right out the window for that week. He'll tell you what the least crowded park for each morning and evening will be and give touring advice specific to that time of the year. We followed his advice and even though it was jam packed and at least one, typically two, parks a day closed at least once a day at capacity we did not wait more than 15 minutes for anything. Well, we did wait 20 minutes for the safari ride at AK but we were going at a time he didn't recommend. I know there are people who think you can get the same advice here for free but I respectfully disagree on that one. THE BEST tips are ones that were in direct contradiction to what I saw recommended here.

The good news is that Wishes, Spectro etc. are every night that week. Spectro is actually shown twice a night most nights, Fantasmic up to 3 times per night.

 

[bubba's mom]

Originally posted by zurgswife
....starting Dec 25 until Jan3 the parks were packed...each day the MK and at least one other park were closed to guests ....first outside then resort guests....

Why?? Is it common to close 2 parks at a time ANYtime of the year?? and, why do they do it??

 

[Lollipop Mom]

Why?? Is it common to close 2 parks at a time ANYtime of the year?? and, why do they do it??

It's not common during most of the year but during the very busy times it does happen. They close beacuse they have reached the maximum capacity of guests. It doesn't mean they are closed for good for the day though. When enough people leave they start opening it again but it is NOT a "2 people came out so 2 can go in" situation. They will not let anyone in, even if you've already been in that park that day, untill it reaches a certain percentage of capacity then they open it back up again.

 

[MrShiny]

I was down for a day (on a business trip) around last Easter (the Wednesday before). Magic Kingdom was packed - seemed like a ton of teen groups.

We went around Christmas in 1999 and 2001, and found the parks really empty (especially during the week) until Christmas Day itself.