Just how bad is Christmas week?

[AngiTN]

If the parks open at 7 do you wnat to be there waiting at 6?
What time do the hotel shuttle sbegin running?

At the bus about 6:00
At least an hour before park opens

 

[DVCcurious]

What defines "rope drop"? If the parks open at 7 do you wnat to be there waiting at 6? What time do the hotel shuttle sbegin running?

If it's EMH then they hold non-resort guests at the TTC until about a half hour before normal (non EMH) opening. For park guests the first bus arrives at your resort about 35 minutes before park opening (6:25 for a 7AM EMH). So it's impossible to be there an hour before park open unless you are at contemporary and can walk to MK. You just want to be on the first bus, so get to the bus stop about 45 minutes before EMH and you'll be fine.

 

[RebelHawk]

My wife and I vowed we would never go to Disney during the peak holiday weeks. We have kept that vow for almost 20 years sticking to the "slower" timeframes. This year we are heading on a DCL sailing for christmas and figured that since we are going to be there we might as well brave the crowds for a couple of days. We have our FPs for the days and dining reservations at night. Other than our booked events I suspect we are just going to wander around the parks and people watch and soak up the christmas spirit.

 

[wisblue]

What defines "rope drop"? If the parks open at 7 do you wnat to be there waiting at 6? What time do the hotel shuttle sbegin running?

I'm going to disagree with a couple of PPs.

If a park opens at 7 AM, there is no reason to be there at 6 AM. The number of people there even at 6:30 isn't enough to make a difference. The last time we were at MK for a 7 AM opening (Easter 2015) they didn't open the bag check until 6:30.

Also, buses start running well before 6:30. We usually try to get to the bus stop at 6 or shortly after in case we have to wait for a bus. We have often had a bus arrive just as we were getting there. When we arrive at MK before 6:30, we could literally count the number of people there (less than 100). While the crowd grows as more buses and monorails arrive, the number of people there when the park opens at 7 is a fraction of the number who would be there for a normal 9 AM, or even 8 AM opening.

My advice. If you want to be at MK for a 7 AM opening, get to the bus stop about 6. Even if your bus doesn't come until 6:20, you will be in great shape. If it comes quickly, you will be treated to seeing the entrance to the MK virtually empty.

 

[neoavatara]

I'll give an example to agree with the above poster.

Last year, we really wanted to do the 7 Dwarves Mine Ride, but couldn't get FP, and the wait all through CHristmas week hovered at 2 hours.

So on our last day, we arrive 10 minutes AFTER rope drop...and still got to the Mine Ride where the wait was about 20 minutes.

So I wouldn't arrive an hour early.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

I'll give an example to agree with the above poster.

Last year, we really wanted to do the 7 Dwarves Mine Ride, but couldn't get FP, and the wait all through CHristmas week hovered at 2 hours.

So on our last day, we arrive 10 minutes AFTER rope drop...and still got to the Mine Ride where the wait was about 20 minutes.

So I wouldn't arrive an hour early.

Yeah last year we DID secure a FP+ for Mine Train on 12/30, but figured we'd try for it on Christmas Day. We arrived around 7:30am and it was already at a 90-minute wait. Fortunately we had a FP+ because we refused to wait that long.

 

[WEDWDW]

I'm going to disagree with a couple of PPs.

If a park opens at 7 AM, there is no reason to be there at 6 AM. The number of people there even at 6:30 isn't enough to make a difference. The last time we were at MK for a 7 AM opening (Easter 2015) they didn't open the bag check until 6:30.

Also, buses start running well before 6:30. We usually try to get to the bus stop at 6 or shortly after in case we have to wait for a bus. We have often had a bus arrive just as we were getting there. When we arrive at MK before 6:30, we could literally count the number of people there (less than 100). While the crowd grows as more buses and monorails arrive, the number of people there when the park opens at 7 is a fraction of the number who would be there for a normal 9 AM, or even 8 AM opening.

My advice. If you want to be at MK for a 7 AM opening, get to the bus stop about 6. Even if your bus doesn't come until 6:20, you will be in great shape. If it comes quickly, you will be treated to seeing the entrance to the MK virtually empty.

Agree with everything.

7:00 AM EMH is MAGICAL!!!!

 

[BCNHF]

Thanks guys. I'm skipping parks that have EMH because I read they're horrendously busy, but it seems MK opens at 7 AM anyways so that park shoudl be fine. The others i'm not too concerned about it.

Although is that a fools plan, skipping EMH? We are staying on Property.

 

[lovndisney12]

While it has been five years since we were at the Mouse for Christmas, I am anticipating the 7 AM EMH to be very pleasant - if you like getting up that early. I believe we were at the bus stop around 6 and caught the first bus. I have pictures of my DH and BIL doing trying their best with a hoola hoop (CM provided) in a very empty waiting area (we weren't even lined up). I would share the photo but they might never talk to me again. If you like to be one of the first then get there by 6:30 - if not - you shouldn't have too much of a crowd if you get there as the park is opening.

 

[thptrek]

We are taking a totally opposite direction. Since we are all adults so we are planning on doing late nights. We have FP for afternoons and expect to stay at the parks till late. For example, Magic Kingdom is open till 3am on Dec 30 so we plan on heading there around 9/10 pm. We are staying at BLT so can just walk over.

 

[5Hfan]

We are taking a totally opposite direction. Since we are all adults so we are planning on doing late nights. We have FP for afternoons and expect to stay at the parks till late. For example, Magic Kingdom is open till 3am on Dec 30 so we plan on heading there around 9/10 pm. We are staying at BLT so can just walk over.

this is a good strategy too, we did this last year Dec 26 until 3 am...but you've got to be able to stay late late, the crowds really thinned after 1 am.

 

[js]

Hi. This thread is from last year, but I am in the planning stages of my December 26-January 1 trip.
We were at Disney two years ago the day after Christmas prior to a cruise and my dd and I were at MK about 45 minutes before
RD. We rode everything twice and headed back to BLT about 11 am where we hung out by the pool the rest of the day. That was December 26.
We left for a cruise the next day.
My family of 4 (all adults) are staying at THVs this year and will have 2-3 park days planned and a WP if the weather is nice.
We plan on spending some of our evenings at DTD. Our expectations are low but want to enjoy some Disney and my kids will be in college and law
school so this will be our one time we can all be together since the rest of our trips also involve friends and family.

We may have our car. If I want to be at MK about 45 minutes before RD, do you suggest we drive to TTC?

For those that were on this thread last year, where did you eat? SSR is close to DTD so I am planning on a few nights there to avoid busses.
*I plan on one evening bowling and dinner at Splitsville
*Villa Napoli in Epoct maybe? We do love it there.
*Maybe massages at SSR?

I wanted to do Hoop DeDoo but my kids vetoed that (they are 18 and 22).

I plan on early RD at MK and maybe a late night or two there/elsewhere.

Thank you all!

 

[sbeets]

Hi. This thread is from last year, but I am in the planning stages of my December 26-January 1 trip.
We were at Disney two years ago the day after Christmas prior to a cruise and my dd and I were at MK about 45 minutes before
RD. We rode everything twice and headed back to BLT about 11 am where we hung out by the pool the rest of the day. That was December 26.
We left for a cruise the next day.
My family of 4 (all adults) are staying at THVs this year and will have 2-3 park days planned and a WP if the weather is nice.
We plan on spending some of our evenings at DTD. Our expectations are low but want to enjoy some Disney and my kids will be in college and law
school so this will be our one time we can all be together since the rest of our trips also involve friends and family.

We may have our car. If I want to be at MK about 45 minutes before RD, do you suggest we drive to TTC?

For those that were on this thread last year, where did you eat? SSR is close to DTD so I am planning on a few nights there to avoid busses.
*I plan on one evening bowling and dinner at Splitsville
*Villa Napoli in Epoct maybe? We do love it there.
*Maybe massages at SSR?

I wanted to do Hoop DeDoo but my kids vetoed that (they are 18 and 22).

I plan on early RD at MK and maybe a late night or two there/elsewhere.

Thank you all!

We had a great Christmas trip last year and only used Disney transportation. We also arrived at rope drop at MK, and had an amazing time from 7 am to 10 am, then it started to fill up. Wow we did everything, and then some. As for meals, everything seemed very "normal", nothing special for Christmas. Pick your favorites. We did ESPN club on the boardwalk on Christmas Eve (yes kind of sad unless you have teenagers who thought it was awesome). Walked right in.

 

[js]

We had a great Christmas trip last year and only used Disney transportation. We also arrived at rope drop at MK, and had an amazing time from 7 am to 10 am, then it started to fill up. Wow we did everything, and then some. As for meals, everything seemed very "normal", nothing special for Christmas. Pick your favorites. We did ESPN club on the boardwalk on Christmas Eve (yes kind of sad unless you have teenagers who thought it was awesome). Walked right in.

Thank you. I was very surprised we got so much done at MK but like I said we did it all twice. We had FP for later that day but we had done everything that
my dd and I decided we would just go resort hopping since we didn't have to go back to MK.
We do really like ESPN and my family wouldn't mind going there. I think now it takes ADRs. I only want to get us to the BW once so
I will have to have my family decide if they want ESPN or Cape May (I do like Cape May better). If we end up flying, I don't think the busses will run as early as I want to leave the resort LOL ESPN was a great choice for you on Christmas Eve, good planning

 

[jkh36619]

The only time I go to DW is Christmas week. Its our tradition. Here is the bottom line. You have to have a plan. Restaurants, FP+ must be booked as soon as your allowed, You really need to stay onsite to take advantage of 60 day FP and EMH. Be at rope drop and knock out priority items. When crowds get bad, head to the hotel and take a break, or tour some resorts. Save FP's for the afternoon evening when you return. I never wait in line for over 90 minutes and that is even rare. It is very doable and very fun at Christmas and New Year. You just cant show up and expect to enjoy it without a plan.

 

[indyannamom]

we went last year from Dec 23-Dec 30 and had a great time! We used rope drop, late EMH and fast passes and never waited in a 2-3 hour long line. I went through and based on photos/time stamps, this was our Christmas Day at MK. Other than getting people up and out the hotel door, we were not running or a commando type pace, but we did have a plan mapped out so no standing around wondering what to do. Our youngest was 5, so we were at his pace.

7am left our room and walked to MK from Contemporary
walked up main st, looked at some store window displays, tried to find a photopass photog but didn't
7:55 we were on Buzz Lightyear according to ride photo
8:04 Space Mt (ride photo time stamp)
8:08 we rode Space Mt again! (ride photo time stamp)
8:10 Astro Orbiter So cool Christmas morning in Santa Hats flying high above the MK!
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8:16 we found a photog and got our Castle picture in the bump out on the bridge to Tomorrowland

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Headed across the park, but Pirates was down.
bathroom break Pirates area, love these!
8:37 rode Big Thunder Mt
normally we wouldn't back track the park like this, but we were trying to get everyone's favorites in that day...
9:05 Space Mt fast pass used (8:30-9:30 window)
Bathroom break outside of Space Mt
9:38 Tried Pirates again but the ride went down again at some point while we were in line, so we left the line at 10:00
10:05 checked in at CRT, met Cindy in the lobby at 10:15, seated upstairs at 10:25, Breakfast at 10:40-after 11
bathroom break at CRT before we left
11:40 Raft to Tom Sawyer Island--we'd never been over there before, kids had a blast running around exploring,
we sat and watched the crowds build in Frontierland, heard and saw the tops of the parade floats.
bathroom break on the Island
12:20 headed back on the raft
12:53 BTM had a 115 min posted wait, used our fastpass for the 12:20-1:20 window. according to a selfie time stamp we were seated on the train at 1:03.
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Splash Mt next. We went there after BTM and used our fast pass for the 1:25-2:25 window.
1:38 is the time stamp on our ride photo for Splash Mt.

We liked the strategy of going towards the end of one fast pass window and then the beginning of the next to get two rides in nearly back to back.
got some popcorn in Frontierland, then headed out of the park. Took a photo of the large Christmas tree at the park front at 2 pm. Walked back to Contemp. Yes it was crowded, but the CMs do a good (militant) job of keeping paths open for movement.

Hung out in our room, had a few presents to open, then had dinner at 630 at the Wave. In hindsight I would have preferred room service or bring QS back to the room rather than a buffet.
Watched Wishes from our balcony at 9.

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Didn't once feel ripped off or think about money, just soaked in the magic of Disney and Christmas! Now that being said, this was a likely once in a lifetime trip for 20th Anniversary, and we had "free" dining which we made the most of, especially with 2 kids that are "adults" at Disney and character meals.

I would be happy to share our actual touring accomplishments on the other days as well if it helps people plan.

Sounds like a magical day! Gives me hope for our Xmas trip next year!!

 

[Karl66]

Was there last December 30th. 3.5 hour wait for Space Mountain. I guessed the crowd level to be an 11 on a scale of 1 to 10.