Just how crowded is it over Christmas???

[Iluvthemouse]

We normally go in the Fall or Spring but was thinking this year we would like to go over Christmas-12/20-26. Once we went in June and it was soooooo packed so will it be like that? We are just brainstorming here. TIA

 

[mike80124]

Hi we went christmas 2001 23 thru the 1st and it was packed . wall to wall people it was also cold and rainy . we said we would not go back at this time of year . i hear the week before you are looking to go is empty

 

[jaygatz]

I read somewhere that the average MK crowd at Christmas approaches 90,000 people, and the average crowd in June is 70-80k.

 

[dvc guy]

OK ........Take a deep breath and relax. Before you buy into doom and gloom Christmas a WDW is a lot of fun.
We have been there 4 out of the last 5 years.
Yes it is very crowded, yes you will have long lines,
YES you will have a blast

Planning is key to a good XMAS trip.
SLOW down and enjoy all the little things
You will NOT be able to see everything.
Parks are open early and stay open very late
Use EE if you are on site
Avoid MK on Christmas Day
Make PS for every sit down dinner.

We try to go a few days before the 25th if possible , crowds are a little bit better.

Last year MK was open till Midnight on the 26th are last day we spent WDW. We had a late dinner( added the 26th 2 weeks before we arrived and 9PM was the only dinner PS I could get in MK ) After dinner the park had started to empty out, and DS 6 and I rode a empty SM over and over again.

IMHO go for it....
We are headed down this year 12/26 -1/2. See you there

 

[jaygatz]

We, too, go to Disney every Christmas--usually the 26th-5th of Jan. It is unbelievably fun, but it is on the crowded side. Have fun

 

[Toby]

I would NEVER go again at Christmas time - yes, the hotels and the decorations are beautiful, but the crowds are not to be believed. There was a line for everything - restrooms, buying food, buying souvenirs, - everything. Fast Pass was a joke - they ran out on all the major rides early afternoon - even It's a Small World had a 65 minute wait one time. When you are with two 15yo boys, it's hard not to get frustrated. That being said, it was our own fault for going at such a busy time. People warned us!! We went 12/26 - 1/2. We cut our losses, checked out and went over to Universal Studios for a couple of days. Front of the line passes for hotel guests - no waiting in ridiculous lines, and everyone was much happier. We just felt that after paying all the money to go to DW at this time of year, we just didn't get our money's worth. It was very expensive to just take in the ambience and decorations and be satisfied with that!!

If possible, go earlier in December?? I hear the crowds are pretty low..

 

[Deb & Bill]

I love to go at Christmas time because of the decorations and events. If it gets too crowded, I change my plans. Being a DVC member, I know I will be back in the next six months or so. So I can do the rides I didn't want to wait in line for over Christmas. If I have to wait in line, I don't. Get up early, do the things I want to do, gat Fastpass as often as possible and head back to the hotel to swim or do something else. Then check out the evening shows, rides, etc.

 

[twinz]

If you can go the first two weeks of December, we woudl suggest to go then. . We went 2001, and it was empty, and the best part was the decorations were all out. We got all the Christmas "special" stuff without the crowds.