Just back-- lower crowds Christmas week 2016

[Mainemama]

We stayed 12/25-12/30 last year and this year and noticed a real difference in crowd levels. We stayed at the Beach Club, and both the resort and parks were overall quieter than last year. We do make use of rope drop, FP, afternoon breaks, and ADRs, so crowd notes are given with those experiences. Bag lines were easy. I never had more than 4 people in front of me. The only longish bag check was the stroller line at Epcot main entrance, as all strollers were limited to one line, and the gentleman checking was very thorough. International gateway entrance was basically empty every time we used it. The pool was also dead, except for a short time on 12/27 in the afternoon. We had beautiful weather, too, so I excpected more swimmers. The longest lines we waited in was the Soaring FP line an hour after park open, and TT SR during EMH. Certainly wait times on big rides were high midday, but we had no problems in first 2 hours of park time riding what we wanted. Last year, rides like the carousel and people Mover had waits. Single rider (test track, EE, and RNRC) were useable. Last year even those waits were too long for us to use. The only time I thought "there are the crowds" was Hollywood Studios at night. That said, we got a same day FP for Toy Story after using our AK ones in the morning. I have not even been able to do that In July trips. In MK, we saw a lot of people entering park midday and on Main Street, but crowd control was smooth and easy to work around. We never had to wait for a second bus or boat due to lines. Last year, we found service at restaurants was slow, both to check in and get our food. This year, that was not the case. We had timely service everywhere. (We ate at GFC twice, Sanaa, Garden Grill, Flying Fish, Mama Melrose.) I don't mean to make it seem that this week was a low crowd week, but with all the posts we see about higher than usual crowds, I lower than last year crowds were worth noting.

 

[MommaBerd]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I have seen several similar reports of lower crowds and occupancy. I know attendance has been lower overall this year. I wonder if demand-based pricing also finally tipped the scales for many people...

ETA: I wonder how much more an average trip costs in value season, or even regular season, vs peak season?

 

[mom2rtk]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I have seen several similar reports of lower crowds and occupancy. I know attendance has been lower overall this year. I wonder if demand-based pricing also finally tipped the scales for many people...

ETA: I wonder how much more an average trip costs in value season, or even regular season, vs peak season?

I have my doubts that the tiered pricing on single day tickets is responsible. If they add that to multi day tickets, then I would expect to see some impact.

It's probably a combination of factors. I've been saying for some time that resort prices that time of year, coupled with the discounts available in the formerly "off" seasons have been shifting attendance. I recall hearing similar stories about less than expected peak crowds over July 4th for some time. And I continue to hear story after story of higher than expected crowds from September through early December.

I think Disney has finally hit a point where non discounted room rates are high enough that offering discounts moves huge blocks of people. It's like shopping at Kohl's. How many people really buy anything there at full regular price?

I think they continue to move closer to having every day be a 7 on the crowd calendar.

 

[Mainemama]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I have seen several similar reports of lower crowds and occupancy. I know attendance has been lower overall this year. I wonder if demand-based pricing also finally tipped the scales for many people...

ETA: I wonder how much more an average trip costs in value season, or even regular season, vs peak season?

I should note that we booked only 20 days prior to our trip. We got a deal through a travel agent, and did not pay rack rate. I am sure low occupancy contributed to us being able to get this discount at short notice. Comparing the rate we paid for December, to a value season bounce back offer we booked for mid July, the cost difference is $40 a night. Tickets cost the same. For a 5 night stay, that is only a $200 difference.

 

[MommaBerd]

I should note that we booked only 20 days prior to our trip. We got a deal through a travel agent, and did not pay rack rate. I am sure low occupancy contributed to us being able to get this discount at short notice. Comparing the rate we paid for December, to a value season bounce back offer we booked for mid July, the cost difference is $40 a night. Tickets cost the same. For a 5 night stay, that is only a $200 difference.

Wow! That is fantastic! Sometimes it pays to be spontaneous!

 

[MommaBerd]

I have my doubts that the tiered pricing on single day tickets is responsible. If they add that to multi day tickets, then I would expect to see some impact.

For some reason I keep forgetting the tiered pricing is only for single day tickets.

 

[Mainemama]

Wow! That is fantastic! Sometimes it pays to be spontaneous!

Seriously. We had been looking at traveling in February, but we found better flight deals last minute. And then, by paying attention to fare adjustment (within 14 days of booking with JetBlue), we ended up with $680 in credits!!!! That will cover the flights we need for a summer trip, as we are driving one way. We ended up only paying $100 each way for direct flights from PVD. We did book 3 tickets 1 way with points, (so if we paid for all. Would have been more like $140 each way), but last minute travel definitely had benefits!

 

[Tink415]

We just got back from a last minute trip too. The crowds were definitely down. No problem getting fp for mk day of and entering park at 4pm. Crowds were manageable. Previous years I've had to leave mk because it was too crowded. Last minute airfare for us out of bdl was expensive!! Just over $1000 each using different airlines down and back to get decent flight times. I couldn't find moderate less than about $300 and no continuous nights, or any deluxe less than $600 but most were available for our 5 nights. So we stayed off site at a beautiful close by hotel with gorgeous grounds and room view for less than $325 night. Turned out to be very relaxed vacation. The biggest crowds we saw were at Disney Springs, super crowded there!

 

[seashell7290]

I'm here also And agree that crowds were not as bad as expected. Wondering if ap blackout dates also have a play in the lower crowds? Or are people avoiding this week for a traditional "low crowd" time of year. Who knows.

 

[Accident]

I should note that we booked only 20 days prior to our trip. We got a deal through a travel agent, and did not pay rack rate. I am sure low occupancy contributed to us being able to get this discount at short notice. Comparing the rate we paid for December, to a value season bounce back offer we booked for mid July, the cost difference is $40 a night. Tickets cost the same. For a 5 night stay, that is only a $200 difference.

this is why I stopped planning disney trips. You can get some amazing deals if your willing to work with the system to come unprepared.. (and it's not hard to do that if you know a couple tricks like get your adrs for the next day near midnight the day before).

 

[kevind2112]

Just adding on to agree. We were there from Dec 23 to Dec 30. The parks were totally manageable. Much better than we were expecting. The only time it truly felt out of control was on the 30th.

We've gone for Thanksgiving a few times over the years, and for Xmas this year we were expecting much worse than even that. The crowds were on par, if not a little lighter, than Thanksgiving week. We were VERY pleasantly surprised!

 

[greenmom2b]

We are just now leaving to come home from trip Dec 26-Jan 1. Last year we were there Dec 31-Jan 3. I had braced myself for Christmas week crowds, but really it was like first week of June crowds. We stayed at AOA in LM rooms and only ever heard a couple other people outside our door passing in the AM or PM. Lots of international families this time. New Year's Eve in MK, we had a castle view of the early wishes and fireworks at 7:00 about a little under an hour ahead of time. We did three additional fastpasses even pirates at 5:00 and Winnie the Pooh at 5:30. Less crowded than last year but the weather was chilly day before so lots of folks in jackets and blankets Dec 30. It did get chilly faster Dec 31. Today has been beautiful weather.

 

[Mainemama]

We just got back from a last minute trip too. The crowds were definitely down. No problem getting fp for mk day of and entering park at 4pm. Crowds were manageable. Previous years I've had to leave mk because it was too crowded. Last minute airfare for us out of bdl was expensive!! Just over $1000 each using different airlines down and back to get decent flight times. I couldn't find moderate less than about $300 and no continuous nights, or any deluxe less than $600 but most were available for our 5 nights. So we stayed off site at a beautiful close by hotel with gorgeous grounds and room view for less than $325 night. Turned out to be very relaxed vacation. The biggest crowds we saw were at Disney Springs, super crowded there!

We booked with a magical agency. They had deluxe for under $400. A heck of a lot better than the $600+ rack rate! It sounds like you found a great off-site hotel. What was it? I am always overwhelmed with where to start when I look at off-site. I had found a room at the Dolphin for a reasonable price, too, for this time period. I was surprised as whenever I look at the Dolphin in summer I can't seem to find decent prices.

 

[stinkpickle]

I wasn't there, but I was casually checking the lines app. The waits didn't look too bad for the days leading up to (and including) Christmas. They jumped up afterwards, though.

 

[Anniefrances]

Chiming in to say that we also thought the crowds were lower than usual for this time of year. Also, at ASMu. there was a flyer offering a special discounted room rate for extending the reservation. It would have brought our preferred room down to around $140/nt. I asked if this type of offer was being given at other resorts and told yes, so I'm guessing this was because of low occupancy rates.

 

[Sabor]

I would respectfully disagree with original poster.
I am DVC member have been to WDW probably over 50 times.
3 other times at Christmas Week and Twice for the Fourth of July.

We stayed at OKW from 12/22 - 12/29.
From 12/24-29 it was the busiest I have ever seen WDW. Even with the expanded space of Disney Springs it was a complete madhouse and you could not touch a dinner anywhere without an ADR.

We do not go to parks on Christmas Day, but we had a breakfast ADR at the Wave at the CR.
We left OKW at 9:15 for our 10:00 ADR and did not get to the Contemporary until 10:20 due to the traffic backed up from the MK parking booths backed up so far to the road before we turn on. We called reservations to let them know and were informed don't worry they will hold your ADR fro 1/2 hour after.

We saw Rogue One at AMC Christmas afternoon and you could barely walk through the West Side.

One example: on 12/28 the stand by line for Kilamanjaro Safari was completely through Harambe, past the turn off to the Lion King Show and on to the bridge entering Africa.

On 12/29 - Mine Train had a 3 hour wait, It's a Small World was backed up to the Carousel and the People Mover had 4 minute wait.

That being said we had a great time because of our experience, planning and realistic expectations of what we could do in a day.

 

[Nancyg56]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I have seen several similar reports of lower crowds and occupancy. I know attendance has been lower overall this year. I wonder if demand-based pricing also finally tipped the scales for many people...

ETA: I wonder how much more an average trip costs in value season, or even regular season, vs peak season?

I can only speak to my experience between December 10 thru 16. I have never had a flyer in my room with discounts available if I wanted to add days, and certainly did not expect one that week. CM's said they were not expecting a full house at the Beach Club. WHAT???? It's Christmas.....

I think that a combination of factors contributed to the seemingly reduced crowds level, with resort and overall ticket pricing playing a big part.

I also think that the pictures and reports of Christmas week trips that have circulated are not helping people to aspire to a Holiday trip.

 

[disdreamer7]

We booked with a magical agency. They had deluxe for under $400. A heck of a lot better than the $600+ rack rate! It sounds like you found a great off-site hotel. What was it? I am always overwhelmed with where to start when I look at off-site. I had found a room at the Dolphin for a reasonable price, too, for this time period. I was surprised as whenever I look at the Dolphin in summer I can't seem to find decent prices.

If you haven't stayed at Wyndham Bonnet Creek, it's on Disney property but doesn't get the perks. The two lazy rivers and multiple pools make it one of our favorites.

 

[Mainemama]

I would respectfully disagree with original poster.
I am DVC member have been to WDW probably over 50 times.
3 other times at Christmas Week and Twice for the Fourth of July.

We stayed at OKW from 12/22 - 12/29.
From 12/24-29 it was the busiest I have ever seen WDW. Even with the expanded space of Disney Springs it was a complete madhouse and you could not touch a dinner anywhere without an ADR.

We do not go to parks on Christmas Day, but we had a breakfast ADR at the Wave at the CR.
We left OKW at 9:15 for our 10:00 ADR and did not get to the Contemporary until 10:20 due to the traffic backed up from the MK parking booths backed up so far to the road before we turn on. We called reservations to let them know and were informed don't worry they will hold your ADR fro 1/2 hour after.

We saw Rogue One at AMC Christmas afternoon and you could barely walk through the West Side.

One example: on 12/28 the stand by line for Kilamanjaro Safari was completely through Harambe, past the turn off to the Lion King Show and on to the bridge entering Africa.

On 12/29 - Mine Train had a 3 hour wait, It's a Small World was backed up to the Carousel and the People Mover had 4 minute wait.

That being said we had a great time because of our experience, planning and realistic expectations of what we could do in a day.

Interesting. I am curious what parks you were in one what days. We were in AK on 12/29, from 8:00-11:00 and it was less crowded than July. We arrived at 7:45, and there was no back up at bag check, I walked directly up to a bag checker and to scan into the park. Note, that we are in and out of parks in first 3 hours, and then don't return until 4 or later. My DH saw Rogue 1 on 12/26 at 6:30 pm (got same day tickets.) He saw Force Awakens on 12/25/15 and had a totally different experience crowd wise. Maybe we got lucky with parks. We did not follow crowd calendar recommendations, as we wanted some EMH. Although our intitial options for dinner ADRs were limited, we prefer lunch ADRs, so it didn't bother us. We ended up finding several last minute, some of which I decided I didn't want anyway (Cape May, Hollywood and Vine, Prime Time Cafe). The only dinners we booked and kept were Flying Fish and Mama Melrose.

 

[Tink415]

We booked with a magical agency. They had deluxe for under $400. A heck of a lot better than the $600+ rack rate! It sounds like you found a great off-site hotel. What was it? I am always overwhelmed with where to start when I look at off-site. I had found a room at the Dolphin for a reasonable price, too, for this time period. I was surprised as whenever I look at the Dolphin in summer I can't seem to find decent prices.

Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress