Is It Ridiculously Busy The Week Before Christmas?

[bozzboy]

I was thinking of heading over to DLP for around 5 or 6 days from Monday 15th December - Saturday 20th December.

Everything I've heard about the Christmas season seems to be brilliant apart from one thing, the crowds. Now I don't mind waiting 30, 40 minutes, even for an hour occasionally, but I think queuing an hour plus for every ride every day would get to me a little bit, and more than put me off going. Does anyone know what it's actually like at this time of year?

Also we stayed in the Hotel Ellysee last time and loved the Val d'Europe area (aswell as the hotel), but wouldn't mind trying some other hotel (preferably cheap ) in the Val d'Europe area. Anyone got any ideas of any hotels there? They don't have to be associated with Disney at all.

Any help would be much appreciated guys, you pretty much helped me plan my entire trip last time so I've got confidence in you all

 

[DLPdaft]

Hi,

I haven't been at that time of year, can't help there sorry.
But I'm very seriously considering this hotel in Val d'Europe for our trip next April -

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1943752

 

[Iain Chapman]

We were there for the period December 19th - December 23rd 2006, and I can't say that the queues were overly that bad. The Parks weren't quiet, but things like Pirates were still pretty much a walk on.

This year, like you we are looking at December 15th - December 19th

Regards

Iain

 

[bozzboy]

This was the only other hotel I knew about and indeed it was very cheap, but looked at a pic of the rooms and it seems like they're all made to accommodate for 3 people. The single bunk bed hanging over the double bed would seem a bit strange if it was just me and my girlfriend staying there. Also I don't understand the bathroom situation in the rooms really :S

But yeah the price is superb, so I'm definitely going to look into it a bit more.

 

[Daisy78]

If it helps, our school doesn't break up until Fri 19th Dec.

 

[bozzboy]

We were there for the period December 19th - December 23rd 2006, and I can't say that the queues were overly that bad. The Parks weren't quiet, but things like Pirates were still pretty much a walk on.

This year, like you we are looking at December 15th - December 19th

Regards

Iain

Thanks for that, like I said I don't mind a bit of queuing, but constant hour plus queues does start to get a bit tedious.

Anyone got any other experiences of this time of year?

 

[ema74]

We've been 15-18th of Dec and going back again this year 15-19th of Dec. The crowds were ok and spent most of the time in the parks with DD (then 4) and DD2 (3 months old). It was magical!

 

[SandraVB79]

YES.

i have been once the week before Christmas. NEVER AGAIN will I do that! Really.

 

[leebob]

I've been 3 times on the 19th Dec, usually for 4 nights and I found it to be rather quiet at that time.

 

[SandraVB79]

Wanted to add something: a lot depends on how the French vacation falls and what the weather is like.
E.g.: Christmas is on a SUnday, so chances are high that the week before, the French don't have vacation yet (I mean the schools), so there won't be too much of a crowd. However, if the week before Christmas is during the French school vacation and the weather is nice, the parks will be swarmed by locals.

 

[Ware Bears]

You can check out French school holidays ~ there's a link in The Very Useful Info sticky.

 

[DLPdaft]

As far as Val d'Europe accommodation goes, there is also the Ibis hotel, which is next to the Etap. I think their standard rooms are for 2, and are a bit more upmarket than the Etap.

Ibis hotels have their own website.

 

[manxtatt2]

Wanted to add something: a lot depends on how the French vacation falls and what the weather is like.
E.g.: Christmas is on a SUnday, so chances are high that the week before, the French don't have vacation yet (I mean the schools), so there won't be too much of a crowd. However, if the week before Christmas is during the French school vacation and the weather is nice, the parks will be swarmed by locals.

I thought christmas was a thursday this year lol

 

[SandraVB79]

I haev no clue which day it is, but I don't see any reason to lol because it's on a Thursday...

 

[britchic4]

French school holidays are from the 20th in each of the 3 areas....the day we go so we are expecting mega crowds and not expecting to get that many rides. That's OK. We'll soak up the atmosphere and see Santa!

 

[Sinead]

I was there last December from 18th - 20th inc and will be going this year from 17th - 20th inc.

My experience was that the parks were much less crowded (but far from empty) than summer trips and quite a few rides were walk-on with the longest que maybe 1/2 hour (except perhaps Crush's Coaster mainly due to technical down time)

The atmosphere was amazing!

As mentioned already, Ibis and Etap are in a good location for staying offsite, with the Ibis perhpas having more creature comforts as reflected in the price difference between the 2.

 

[mummyal]

Ahh it's quite reassuring (I think lol) to read that although it's still going to be crowded, it'll not be *that* crowded. We'll be there from 18th-21st Dec, so obviously expecting weekend to be mad but hopefully, 18/19th won't be toooo bad.

 

[shellym]

we went last year from 16-19 dec this year going from 14-18 dec. found it fairly quiet. not too long queues. we loved it however was extremely cold!!! the lake in front of the sequoia hotel was frozen completely!