Need advice from the experts on my plan - TIA

[SJDisneyFanatic]

Hello, this is our first time ever going to the world and I need some advice. I am trying to not completely over analyze things but I am completely obsessive and keep second guessing myself.

Our arrival day is still up in the air due to a show our son is involved in but I have built in some flexibility before and after our trip.

Any feedback from anyone would be greatly appreciated!

We are me, DH, DD (13) and DS (9) - We are staying on site at AKL from 12/15-12/20 and offsite through 12/27.

S - 12/11-12/13 - Arrive in FL, might do beaches or other sights

M 12/14 - TBD no reservation

T 12/15 - Check in day : Tea at GF at 2:10 and will monorail to after for MVMCP - planning to stay as late as possible to maximize lower crowds of MK during the party.

W 12/16 - Animal Kingdom until about 4 and the PH to MK for fireworks and parade (This is one of my problematic days....AK is not recommended because of EMH. I have Tusker House booked for 10:15 but am thinking that because we will be out late we won't make RD. Crowd calendars show this to be a lower crowd day so I am wondering if we should just go to MK again and even though there are EMH, since this is still only listed as a 5/10 day. I could always do AK later in our trip when things get busier in anticipation of MK crowds being crazy.

Th 12/17 - MK until after a dinner at BOG at 4 OR California Grill so we can watch the fireworks from here.....OR head to Epcot for EMH. Need advice here please!

Friday 12/18 - HS RD - Lunch at Sci FI 11:20 and dinner at Holiday and Vine at 5:30. Plan to see the Osbourne lights between dinner and Fantasmic or maybe after.

Saturday 12/19 - either EMH at HS (or will we have seen enough day before?) and then take a long resort break or all Resort Day until Harmony BBS appointment for DS at 4. Dinner at CRT at 5:15.

Sunday 12/20 - Epcot GG 8:00 am ADR but will cancel if does not end up being pre-opening. 1 pm Biergarten CP reservation for 6:45 CP. plan to stay to watch illuminations. This is our check out day and we will be staying at Reunion for a week after this.

Monday 12/21 - AK if we do not go on Wed 12/16 or MK

Tuesday 12/22 - MK ?

Wednesday 12/23 Universal

Thursday 12/24 Universal

Friday 12/25 - Touring WDW resorts to see holiday decorations - 10:20 breakfast at Ohana, 5:30 Carriage ride at FW and then go to Chip and Dale campfire ....plan to watch the water parade down by the water later and then head back to Reunion.

Saturday 12/26 - weather permitting, Typhoon lagoon or AK if we have not gotten to it yet.

Sunday 12/27 - Travel day


Any recommendations or feedback from anyone would be greatly appreciated! We are a highly energetic family and have done Disneyland non stop from almost park open to close for days in a row so we have some pretty good stamina but I understand and respect that this will be entirely different AND I am not sure how long it will take the kids to adjust to EST as we are coming from PST.

Thanks!

 

[SJDisneyFanatic]

Crickets...anyone? Please help

 

[bumbershoot]

For my family, we have learned that:

1. it takes us ages to get acclimated to the time change (somehow DH can do it immediately for work, but not for play)
and
2. it doesn't matter WHAT we do, we all crash by day 3 or 4


Our first trip ended a few days after yours is starting. Every day you get that's closer to Christmas means higher and higher crowds. It seems like you are hanging around with no plans for the time that would have the LIGHTEST crowds.

Having been there as the crowds ramped up, I wouldn't do that. I would try to hit the ground running. Now that FP+ exists, we aren't penalized for missing rope drop. So make the "must dos" at a time you figure you guys can be there...get those Space Mountain, etc, FP+s in starting at around 1pm your first few days. And yes, that means to start your WDW portion earlier. Seeing the "no plan" days on what will be the least crowded days is making me twitch.

When you leave on the 20th, where are you going? I hope hope hope you are going to an onsite deluxe at Universal. I admit I'm a bit pampered when it comes to UO, requiring that we stay onsite-deluxe for ANY trip, but the 23rd and 24th of December? Oh my goodness, I think anyone would need to stay onsite those days for the unlimited EP and the early entrance to one or both Wizarding Worlds. (in case you don't know, staying onsite at Hard Rock Hotel, Royal Pacific Resort, or Portofino Bay Hotel gives you early entrance to Wizarding World every day and unlimited Express Pass from the moment you check in to the park closing the day you check out...EP includes every ride EXCEPT for pteranodon flyers, escape from gringott's, HP forbidden journey, the ollivanders wand shop shows, and maybe the Kang and Kong "twirl and hurl" in Simpsons area)


16th

AK on a day you're leaving at 4, and taking the time at a character meal at 10:15 doesn't compute for me. Tusker House is great, don't get me wrong, though breakfast for us (we're vegetarian) isn't anything special (the interesting things at breakfast are not vegetarian), but that's a decent chunk of time for eating, when you're already leaving early. I don't think I would make that choice (though I just wouldn't leave early).

17th

You've done MK on the 15th for the party, you've left AK early for the parade and fireworks on the 16th, and now you're doing MK *again*, with plans on what to do for the fireworks? I'd change one or two of those things, personally. (but I don't care for Wishes...the old DL Halloween fireworks and the fireworks just from last year normally at DL destroyed Wishes for my family, and we leave before them. Backs turned to it, we don't care. )

19th

You almost certainly will have seen enough of HS. Unless you guys are HUGE TOT fans and end up loving rnrc madly, that is. TSMM at DCA has a decent line and you've likely ridden it often. TSMM at DHS is the same, except for the horribly loud, chaotic, noise-bouncing-off-walls, queue. TOT's line is different and there are random sequences of drops. And you don't "turn blue then into a skeleton and die" as my son thought until he was 9 or so. Most people say that Fantasmic at DL is infinitely superior than the one at DHS. I can't speak to it as we haven't seen the one at DHS and haven't made time for it at DL in a few years.



The one thing we screwed up ROYALLY on for our first visit was WEATHER. With a long trip, as we had and you're having, combined with the utter lack of predictable FL weather caused us to freeze. DH doesn't even change from shorts to pants until it's below 32 at home. He was nearly in tears at Epcot on a night in the 40s, because there is water everywhere, and you get a cold breeze pulling water up and you can get chilled to the bone. We were SO cold on that trip. Being cold saps you just as badly as being overly hot. So plan for ANY weather. Do not assume you'll be going to a beach or Typhoon Lagoon. Bring long underwear and a few pairs of WARM socks. Bring at least one pair of shoes that won't let air through. Gloves, hats, scarves. Just have those things. Also pack other stuff! Swimsuits, shorts, flipflops, etc. Plus in between. Have options available to you.


I worry that not wanting to obsess is causing you to not obsess in the right places (you're leaving AK until maybe the end? you have MK three days in a row? you don't seem to be onsite just before Christmas at UO?) but *feel* like you're obsessing. I worry about this because I did it, too.

What site are you using for crowd questions? Many here like easywdw, if that's not what you're using. He seems to be right on.


At WDW, in case you don't know, morning EMH is OK if you're there for EMH and have hoppers to *leave*. But you do need to be there for the EMH for that strategy to work.

 

[simonmunro]

It looks like you've thought through so many things that a lot of people might miss. I am doing the very same thing second guessing and I've been a couple dozen times with varied family groups.

 

[sharonabe]

When will you have your arrival day penned down? I agree with PP. The 11th-17th will be so much less crowded than any day after, that I would use those days for the parks. The week of Christmas, MK will open EVERY day at 7 am for early EMH, and you will no longer have EMH privileges.

The 16th after a night at MVMCP. I think I would do MK this day. It will be crowded because there is no party. Plan some late mornings FP+, so you can sleep in a bit if you need. Plan BoG or CG for this day. You have late EMH on this day, so you can stay late again if you want.

17th AK or EP. Depending on what you want to get done at AK, you could do a later start here and stay through until they close at 6, and get most of the park done without doing rope drop. Since you have rope drop planned for the next day, an early evening would be a good idea after two late nights.

18th HS as planned
19th resort day until barbershop and CRT

20th EP as planned

That's my two cents.

 

[SJDisneyFanatic]

For my family, we have learned that:

1. it takes us ages to get acclimated to the time change (somehow DH can do it immediately for work, but not for play)
and
2. it doesn't matter WHAT we do, we all crash by day 3 or 4


Our first trip ended a few days after yours is starting. Every day you get that's closer to Christmas means higher and higher crowds. It seems like you are hanging around with no plans for the time that would have the LIGHTEST crowds.

Having been there as the crowds ramped up, I wouldn't do that. I would try to hit the ground running. Now that FP+ exists, we aren't penalized for missing rope drop. So make the "must dos" at a time you figure you guys can be there...get those Space Mountain, etc, FP+s in starting at around 1pm your first few days. And yes, that means to start your WDW portion earlier. Seeing the "no plan" days on what will be the least crowded days is making me twitch.

When you leave on the 20th, where are you going? I hope hope hope you are going to an onsite deluxe at Universal. I admit I'm a bit pampered when it comes to UO, requiring that we stay onsite-deluxe for ANY trip, but the 23rd and 24th of December? Oh my goodness, I think anyone would need to stay onsite those days for the unlimited EP and the early entrance to one or both Wizarding Worlds. (in case you don't know, staying onsite at Hard Rock Hotel, Royal Pacific Resort, or Portofino Bay Hotel gives you early entrance to Wizarding World every day and unlimited Express Pass from the moment you check in to the park closing the day you check out...EP includes every ride EXCEPT for pteranodon flyers, escape from gringott's, HP forbidden journey, the ollivanders wand shop shows, and maybe the Kang and Kong "twirl and hurl" in Simpsons area)


16th

AK on a day you're leaving at 4, and taking the time at a character meal at 10:15 doesn't compute for me. Tusker House is great, don't get me wrong, though breakfast for us (we're vegetarian) isn't anything special (the interesting things at breakfast are not vegetarian), but that's a decent chunk of time for eating, when you're already leaving early. I don't think I would make that choice (though I just wouldn't leave early).

17th

You've done MK on the 15th for the party, you've left AK early for the parade and fireworks on the 16th, and now you're doing MK *again*, with plans on what to do for the fireworks? I'd change one or two of those things, personally. (but I don't care for Wishes...the old DL Halloween fireworks and the fireworks just from last year normally at DL destroyed Wishes for my family, and we leave before them. Backs turned to it, we don't care. )

19th

You almost certainly will have seen enough of HS. Unless you guys are HUGE TOT fans and end up loving rnrc madly, that is. TSMM at DCA has a decent line and you've likely ridden it often. TSMM at DHS is the same, except for the horribly loud, chaotic, noise-bouncing-off-walls, queue. TOT's line is different and there are random sequences of drops. And you don't "turn blue then into a skeleton and die" as my son thought until he was 9 or so. Most people say that Fantasmic at DL is infinitely superior than the one at DHS. I can't speak to it as we haven't seen the one at DHS and haven't made time for it at DL in a few years.



The one thing we screwed up ROYALLY on for our first visit was WEATHER. With a long trip, as we had and you're having, combined with the utter lack of predictable FL weather caused us to freeze. DH doesn't even change from shorts to pants until it's below 32 at home. He was nearly in tears at Epcot on a night in the 40s, because there is water everywhere, and you get a cold breeze pulling water up and you can get chilled to the bone. We were SO cold on that trip. Being cold saps you just as badly as being overly hot. So plan for ANY weather. Do not assume you'll be going to a beach or Typhoon Lagoon. Bring long underwear and a few pairs of WARM socks. Bring at least one pair of shoes that won't let air through. Gloves, hats, scarves. Just have those things. Also pack other stuff! Swimsuits, shorts, flipflops, etc. Plus in between. Have options available to you.


I worry that not wanting to obsess is causing you to not obsess in the right places (you're leaving AK until maybe the end? you have MK three days in a row? you don't seem to be onsite just before Christmas at UO?) but *feel* like you're obsessing. I worry about this because I did it, too.

What site are you using for crowd questions? Many here like easywdw, if that's not what you're using. He seems to be right on.


At WDW, in case you don't know, morning EMH is OK if you're there for EMH and have hoppers to *leave*. But you do need to be there for the EMH for that strategy to work.

Thank you!!! I definitely needed to hear exactly what you are saying. My DH sounds just like yours and imagine that we will encounter the weather issue, so good to know! I think I will definitely consider dropping the Tusker House breakfast and just grab something quick. I keep hearing that people feel like there is not enough to do at AK but since it is our first time we might not feel that way. We don't have dinner reservations at MK until almost 8 so we could stay at AK longer.

Thanks for validation on my concerns around timing and increasing crowds. We do have a lot of MK time so I guess I need to cut some of that down. I am planning to eliminate some of the duplicates (like TSM) of Disneyland because we were just there in May and plan to go back in the spring so maybe that will make it easier to get through faster. It is also good to hear about the fireworks. I was afraid we would be really missing something spectacular but we have seen many, many DL displays including Halloween (agree with you it is AMAZING) I won't make that as big a priority as I had been. We had not been planning to stay onsite at UO....but might be able to squeeze that into the plan...I will have to check that out.

Thank you so much for your feedback!

 

[beachie_keen]

I would also keep in mind travel times. If you are using Disney transportation then keep in mind that 1. Animal Kingdom has dedicated bus and only goes to the two resorts there and the parks and 2. The time it takes to get to AK is 5 minutes where to get to MK is closer to 15-20 if you are lucky. When we were there in mid-February we got tired of waiting on a bus to MK and thought we would take the bus to EPCOT and hop on the Monorail to MK. The monorail was closed for maintenance and we had to take a bus. It was not fun!
Also due to the MVMCP you may need to check times of the fireworks for the night. Usually MK fireworks are at a different time than EPCOT (whose are at 9 and I personally think that EPCOT is a do not miss). I would maybe not plan a RD after a late fireworks night.
I would really recommend using the FastPast+ system. Also know that you can sign up for more fast passes once all of yours have expired. I am sure you can find a ton of info on how to do that.
We did the Tusker House breakfast but we got a time before opening and we were able to have breakfast and then walk right on the safari ride first thing in morning.
I just checked the MK calendar and the fireworks are at 9:45 on Wednesday (16th) and it closes on Thursday (17th) for the MVMCP at 7:00.

I hope you have a great trip and that I helped a little!!

 

[SJDisneyFanatic]

I would also keep in mind travel times. If you are using Disney transportation then keep in mind that 1. Animal Kingdom has dedicated bus and only goes to the two resorts there and the parks and 2. The time it takes to get to AK is 5 minutes where to get to MK is closer to 15-20 if you are lucky. When we were there in mid-February we got tired of waiting on a bus to MK and thought we would take the bus to EPCOT and hop on the Monorail to MK. The monorail was closed for maintenance and we had to take a bus. It was not fun!
Also due to the MVMCP you may need to check times of the fireworks for the night. Usually MK fireworks are at a different time than EPCOT (whose are at 9 and I personally think that EPCOT is a do not miss). I would maybe not plan a RD after a late fireworks night.
I would really recommend using the FastPast+ system. Also know that you can sign up for more fast passes once all of yours have expired. I am sure you can find a ton of info on how to do that.
We did the Tusker House breakfast but we got a time before opening and we were able to have breakfast and then walk right on the safari ride first thing in morning.
I just checked the MK calendar and the fireworks are at 9:45 on Wednesday (16th) and it closes on Thursday (17th) for the MVMCP at 7:00.

I hope you have a great trip and that I helped a little!!

Thank you!! Yes, you did help! I sincerely appreciate it! Where did you get info about the fireworks? They keep moving around and make it so hard to plan ADRs! The "official" WDW travel calendar says 10 pm on 12/16 but since they recently moved all the later in the month fireworks to 8 pm, I have no confidence that they will stay put on any night! Do they always move these things around constantly like this??? Crazy! Thank you again!!

 

[Nancyg56]

I think that you need to keep inmind that as soon as the Friday before Christmas you will be seeing increased crowds and that means increased travel times. If it is at all possible, I would use the days prior to get as mauch of your must do attractions done. I would skip TH in the AK and enjoy a CS meal. You have that meal scheduled smack dab in teh middle of your planned time, and that will take time.

I also agree that you need to think about weather. 3 years ago we arived teh last week in November and stayed until the 5th of December. WE are from North Central CT so we handle cold pretty well. We were freezing! EPcot was a frigid nightmare, with the cold air blowing off the lake. WE spent a fortune to stay at the BC so the kiddo could swim in SAB. Well that was a big ol miss! In order to swim you needed to keep under water, it was cold!

When you plan on Wishes outside of the MK, keep in mind that WIshes us usually at 9:30 on Party nights, IIRC. IF you cannot book CG for a night you want to watch, consider Narcoossees at the Grand. The vantage point is different but the view is lovely from the veranda.

I also agree that you need to consider your RD plans after late nights. We just returned and for the most part we never made it til the end, even with a break. It was hot, and that had a lot to do with it, and we are not troopers, so we cut out when there were storms, (not rain....HOLY rain!) but between early mornings and weather related issues, the kids were exhausted.

 

[beachie_keen]

I just went to the Walt Disney website and looked at the park calendar there. One thing I have learned is that you can't do it all and you will make yourself crazy and have a horrible time if you try to. I like to book one lunch or early dinner reservation and then check menus before leaving for other places and have an idea for the other meals. Also your kids may like one park more than the others and want more time there. One thing to look into at AK is the Wilderness Explorers if you are a fan of the movie UP. I agree with the weather, but I have been in December and in February and have never needed more than jeans and a hoodie. It will get cooler in the evenings so you will need some type of jacket or hoodie. Remember to be flexible and have fun. It is the happiest place on Earth, but I may or may not have broke down crying during a trip with my whole family after they had no interest in the schedule I had planned.

 

[Nancyg56]

It is the happiest place on Earth, but I may or may not have broke down crying during a trip with my whole family after they had no interest in the schedule I had planned.

Oh yes! I had the little family down the street with us, and lets just say there was a bit of a culture shock. Mom had had no interest in even learning about Disney, so her memory of the MK when she was a kid was her only bit of Disney knowledge. She was exhausted when we got in Sunday night, and let me tell you , we scaled back A LOT!! No....this is not a beach/camping trip....get your carcass out of bed! I can't lie, I was pretty disappointed by the time we got home because there was so much we paid for and then really could not do. WE voted to leave Mom home next time and everyone agreed.....even her! LOL!

 

[Happy_2_B]

I am going at exactly the same time as you are. Our first day- check in day- is exactly the same as yours- and our check out day is the 23rd. We are also at AKL. I see a glaring mistake or two. You have never been there, and there is a lot to experience. I have been to WDW several times between Thanksgiving and Christmas- and you need a plan- especially closer to Christmas. On your first four or five full days- if you want to see as many attractions as possible- be at the park about 30- 45 minutes before rope drop. Forget sleeping in- forget the late at night stuff for now. You absolutely HAVE to get to all 4 parks and be at rope drop. If you do not have the 2016 Unofficial Guide- get one. Then sign up for the touringplans.com online package. For people that have the book- it is like 10 bucks I think.

On that first day- check in day- scrap the tea. Be at rope drop at the MK that day. You have a day outside the parks before you check in at WDW (we have 2). The night before you check in- get to bed early. Make sure you check in online well in advance. The first day is going to be one of the toughest, as you have to get up very early, get to your hotel to finish check in (call to let them know this is the plan- should go quick because almost no one will be at the front desk checking in) and get your parking pass to avoid paying 17 dollars- then get to the MK for rope drop. Stay through the afternoon parade, then go back to your hotel and relax until MVMCP starts. You can arrive at MVMCP a little later- it is much more crowded earlier than later.

I would tell you to scrap MVMCP as well- but those tix are non-refundable. The nighttime entertainment (other than characters and hot chocolate and cookies) changes at the MK the night after the last MVMCP (on the 19th this year). It then becomes identical to what you experience at the party. I have done MVMCP- and find it to be a waste of money, but I am not into characters as much as some- and WDW sells enough tickets to the event that the entertainment feels just as crowded as if you were in the park on a regular night. The only draw for characters at MVMCP is that there are some rare ones there, and meeting them isn't worth the hour in queue on those nights IMHO.

Getting up the second day will be very hard since the party goes so late- but you either do it, or plan to stand in longer lines later in your trip. I would personally pick the AK on the 16th since it will be an earlier end to the day- and it looks like that is what you did. You can do Fantasmic on the day you do HS- the 18th- you won't need more than one day there. The AK will only take one of the days as well.

On the 17th you should do a second day early in the MK, then get out after BOG and end your day. I wouldn't have picked the MK on that day- but your BOG ressie is priceless. Since you haven't seen the regular nighttime entertainment due to MVMCP- this is the day to do that if you can handle going back at night. You could also do it after the AK, and that is probably the better option since you are staying at AKL- but then you are looking at a lot of VERY long days in a row. You want to see both if possible before it changes over on the 19th.

On the 19th, get to Epcot at rope drop and do the attractions. You could do Illuminations, but we are going to wait 20th or later for that- the lagoon is huge and even though the park will be full a good spot can be locked down 30-45 minutes beforehand. We are actually saving most of Epcot until the 19th and after because it is a larger park and can absorb the hoards of people much easier than the other three. I would recommend ending early at Epcot that first day you go there (midafternoonish) and relax the rest of the day. You can sleep in a day and come back and do Illuminations and the World Showcase later in the trip.

All the parks will be at 8/9/10 starting on the 19th- but if you are at rope drop you can still see a lot. Starting on that Saturday crowds will begin to swell more and more until you get to absolute gridlock on Christmas Eve and through the New Year. That said, they will be slightly lower on the 19th and 20th- but not much less. You won't even notice it being less since you check out before the truly insane crowd levels begin. Even though it isn't noticeable- for attraction purposes the lines will be slightly shorter. What we do when that starts is catch up on our sleep, and plan to relax and see the nighttime entertainment, the street performances during the day, and soak in the ambiance. If the mood hits us we will get up early and hit a park at rope drop, then get out at lunch and break until late afternoon/evening. Plan your rest time AFTER the crowds arrive- not during those first 4-5 days.

Your focus at the MK especially should be attractions early on in that week. You can always see the nighttime entertainment at the parks once it gets busy- finding a spot for that is much less stress than standing in long lines for attractions. Hope this helps.

 

[SJDisneyFanatic]

I am going at exactly the same time as you are. Our first day- check in day- is exactly the same as yours- and our check out day is the 23rd. We are also at AKL. I see a glaring mistake or two. You have never been there, and there is a lot to experience. I have been to WDW several times between Thanksgiving and Christmas- and you need a plan- especially closer to Christmas. On your first four or five full days- if you want to see as many attractions as possible- be at the park about 30- 45 minutes before rope drop. Forget sleeping in- forget the late at night stuff for now. You absolutely HAVE to get to all 4 parks and be at rope drop. If you do not have the 2016 Unofficial Guide- get one. Then sign up for the touringplans.com online package. For people that have the book- it is like 10 bucks I think.

On that first day- check in day- scrap the tea. Be at rope drop at the MK that day. You have a day outside the parks before you check in at WDW (we have 2). The night before you check in- get to bed early. Make sure you check in online well in advance. The first day is going to be one of the toughest, as you have to get up very early, get to your hotel to finish check in (call to let them know this is the plan- should go quick because almost no one will be at the front desk checking in) and get your parking pass to avoid paying 17 dollars- then get to the MK for rope drop. Stay through the afternoon parade, then go back to your hotel and relax until MVMCP starts. You can arrive at MVMCP a little later- it is much more crowded earlier than later.

I would tell you to scrap MVMCP as well- but those tix are non-refundable. The nighttime entertainment (other than characters and hot chocolate and cookies) changes at the MK the night after the last MVMCP (on the 19th this year). It then becomes identical to what you experience at the party. I have done MVMCP- and find it to be a waste of money, but I am not into characters as much as some- and WDW sells enough tickets to the event that the entertainment feels just as crowded as if you were in the park on a regular night. The only draw for characters at MVMCP is that there are some rare ones there, and meeting them isn't worth the hour in queue on those nights IMHO.

Getting up the second day will be very hard since the party goes so late- but you either do it, or plan to stand in longer lines later in your trip. I would personally pick the AK on the 16th since it will be an earlier end to the day- and it looks like that is what you did. You can do Fantasmic on the day you do HS- the 18th- you won't need more than one day there. The AK will only take one of the days as well.

On the 17th you should do a second day early in the MK, then get out after BOG and end your day. I wouldn't have picked the MK on that day- but your BOG ressie is priceless. Since you haven't seen the regular nighttime entertainment due to MVMCP- this is the day to do that if you can handle going back at night. You could also do it after the AK, and that is probably the better option since you are staying at AKL- but then you are looking at a lot of VERY long days in a row. You want to see both if possible before it changes over on the 19th.

On the 19th, get to Epcot at rope drop and do the attractions. You could do Illuminations, but we are going to wait 20th or later for that- the lagoon is huge and even though the park will be full a good spot can be locked down 30-45 minutes beforehand. We are actually saving most of Epcot until the 19th and after because it is a larger park and can absorb the hoards of people much easier than the other three. I would recommend ending early at Epcot that first day you go there (midafternoonish) and relax the rest of the day. You can sleep in a day and come back and do Illuminations and the World Showcase later in the trip.

All the parks will be at 8/9/10 starting on the 19th- but if you are at rope drop you can still see a lot. Starting on that Saturday crowds will begin to swell more and more until you get to absolute gridlock on Christmas Eve and through the New Year. That said, they will be slightly lower on the 19th and 20th- but not much less. You won't even notice it being less since you check out before the truly insane crowd levels begin. Even though it isn't noticeable- for attraction purposes the lines will be slightly shorter. What we do when that starts is catch up on our sleep, and plan to relax and see the nighttime entertainment, the street performances during the day, and soak in the ambiance. If the mood hits us we will get up early and hit a park at rope drop, then get out at lunch and break until late afternoon/evening. Plan your rest time AFTER the crowds arrive- not during those first 4-5 days.

Your focus at the MK especially should be attractions early on in that week. You can always see the nighttime entertainment at the parks once it gets busy- finding a spot for that is much less stress than standing in long lines for attractions. Hope this helps.

Helps A LOT!! Thank you so much!

 

[Happy_2_B]

Helps A LOT!! Thank you so much!

You are welcome. A couple of other thoughts. Two of the years we have been there at this time of year- it was brutally cold on a couple of the evenings- one of them being an MVMCP night. We actually went the Disney Store in DD and bought sweatshirts, gloves and hats the day of the party because it was so cold. I lived in PA then, and was used to the cold- and those nights were pretty close to typical temps during the day in the north east.

Most of the times we have been there at this time of year it has been great- with moderate temps and during the day warm enough to do a water park- and cool but pleasant evenings. Sometimes, though, it does get very cold there- so plan accordingly. We will be taking a sweatshirt, gloves, a light coat to layer, and a hat just to be on the safe side. I tend to learn from my mistakes