MK on Christmas Day from the Contemporary

[ninafeliz]

We just booked the Contemporary from Dec 23-29. We picked the CR specifically because we can walk to the MK, we've always wanted to try it and figured a super busy time of year would be a good time to be in walking distance. I imagine this will be our only Disney trip over Christmas, we go a few times a year and always said we would never do the Holidays, and then on a whim, for multiple reasons, we booked! We've heard it will be terrible, but we plan to do a lot of resort time and enjoy the CL lounge, our room, the view, and the other monorail resorts, so I hope that it will be different, but still great fun!

Since we will be at the CR on Christmas Day, I really wanted to be at the MK on Christmas Day. I don't want to stay all day, but thought we could go over in the morning to just, well, be there on Christmas. I don't know if we would go back to the CR after that, or take the monorail to Epcot. If we did this, how feasible is it? Will we have to go at 7:00 AM to be able to get into the MK and not be like sardines on Main Street? Because I don't think my DH and 2 kids will be OK with getting up at 5 AM on Christmas morning. I don't want to torture them for something I really want to do, and I certainly don't want to goby myself on Christmas morning and leave them in the room. If we go over around 9-10 with 3 FP+ lined up, what will we find? Does the park close to capacity on Christmas Day? If you have an ADR, do you get in if the park is closed to capacity? Then again, would you want to go in if the park is closed to capacity? I know this is opinion, but what does anyone think? Should I give up on the MK on Christmas Day, do what I would prefer in an ideal world, which is go over around 9 or 10 for a few hours, go later in the day (like dinnertime or so), or do I have to suck it up and go at 7:00 to make it reasonable? Thoughts? Opinions? I just thought since we could easily walk over it was the time to go just to say we were there - no transportation involved!

 

[Disneylover99]

I would say, why not? You don't have to be there at 7am, if the rides/attractions are not that important to you. Go at 9 or 10 and use your 3 fp's. I would imagine the lines to go through bagcheck might be a bit crazy on that day from 9-10am and MainStreet will be crowded, but it feels amazing to be there on Christmas Day! Enjoy!

 

[mondragon]

May I ask how much per night you paid. We are also looking there but early nov.

 

[BlizzardBeachGirl]

We love Christmas time at Disney! MK on Christmas is very do-able but in my opinion but a 7:00 AM arrival time is a must. You'll be ready to leave by Noon. If you want to sleep in on Christmas day, consider a different park. Since you'll be staying at Contemporary, you can sneak back for fireworks or late night rides anytime during the week.

 

[illinidp]

If you don't get there until 9 you won't want to do anything other than your three FP+ selections and then leave. If you want to ride other things and watch the street performers you should be there at 6:45. The nice thing about staying next doo is you can always get some riding in late at night.

 

[ninafeliz]

May I ask how much per night you paid. We are also looking there but early nov.

We are paying rack rate, which is .
I never thought I would pay rack rate for a Disney room, or that much for a hotel room, but it's a splurge and from what I understand you won't get a discount over Christmas.

 

[ninafeliz]

Thanks for the advice! I think I'll plan 3 FPs in late AM and play it by ear. or, maybe I'll plan 3 afternoon FPs and give up on the morning, and go for a few hrs in the late afternoon. Then we get a nice leisurely Christmas AM at the CR, and still get the MK on Christmas. I'm liking that plan. Or will the park close for capacity then?

 

[Disneylover99]

Thanks for the advice! I think I'll plan 3 FPs in late AM and play it by ear. or, maybe I'll plan 3 afternoon FPs and give up on the morning, and go for a few hrs in the late afternoon. Then we get a nice leisurely Christmas AM at the CR, and still get the MK on Christmas. I'm liking that plan. Or will the park close for capacity then?

The park may close for capacity in the afternoon. But it will usually reopen later in the day. Maybe make your fp's for early evening.

 

[mondragon]

We are paying rack rate, which is .
I never thought I would pay rack rate for a Disney room, or that much for a hotel room, but it's a splurge and from what I understand you won't get a discount over Christmas.

Yes I am trying to avoid that but I am not traveling xmas. Good luck and have fun.

 

[Liberator]

We are paying rack rate, which is .

wow rack rates at CR are really high in general, especially for the tower rooms..but on Christmas? thats really

I think you will have a very nice trip. If it gets really crowded it is all about attitude to have fun or not. Just enjoy to be there

 

[ninafeliz]

The park may close for capacity in the afternoon. But it will usually reopen later in the day. Maybe make your fp's for early evening.

I was able to get crystal palace at 12:15 on Christmas Day. If I make FPs after that, but the park closes for capacity will we be able to get in because of our ADR to just do those things because it will be too crowded for anything else? Will we be charged as a no show to the ADR if we aren't allowed in?

 

[Disneylover99]

I was able to get crystal palace at 12:15 on Christmas Day. If I make FPs after that, but the park closes for capacity will we be able to get in because of our ADR to just do those things because it will be too crowded for anything else? Will we be charged as a no show to the ADR if we aren't allowed in?

The park closes in phases. So since you are staying onsite and have an ADR, you would be allowed in until the final phase. I can't remember when MK closed last Christmas or if it closed to everyone, but I suppose it's a possibility that you would not be let in if it gets super crowded and I would guess you would be charged a no show if this happens. Since you are staying at the Contemporary, and you can walk over, I really don't think you will have a problem. But I'm not 100% certain.