One day for HS - what day would you go?

[practicallyperfect77]

I am heading to FL the week b/t Christmas and New Years staying on the gulf side. I generally try to stay away from the world during crazy busy times, and had no intention of going this year but I want to see Osborne Lights one last time. Planning to go just 1 day and make it a long crazy day driving from Tampa to WDW and back. Questions are - 1. Is there any difference in crowds at all that week? I am thinking 12/29 or 12/30 would work best. 2. Has HS historically had phased closures that week. I know MK does, but nit sure about the other parks. Reason for asking #2 is that I am contemplating doing a 1 day hopper and visiting MK first as that is my fave park and then just hopping over to HS for the lights at night. Just concerned about not getting in and I'm pretty sure the first folks not let in during phased closure are the 1 day guests. TIA.

 

[philharmagic fan]

Can't speak about trends over time, but a couple of years ago we got into HS at 4pm on New Year's Eve, and crowds weren't really that bad (we were staying on property, though, so we wouldn't have gotten shut out by a phase 1 closure).

 

[amylevan]

According to this site: http://touringplans.com/walt-disney-world/capacity-closures, HS reached Phase 2 closure on December 29, 2009 and December 28, 2011. MK has more often had more closures of various phases, but if you go there first, you should be ok.

I'm pretty sure the whole week is one gigantic crowded mess. Touring plans has the resort level at 10 the entire week, so I don't think there is necessarily one day better than any other.

 

[mom2rtk]

According to this site: http://touringplans.com/walt-disney-world/capacity-closures, HS reached Phase 2 closure on December 29, 2009 and December 28, 2011. MK has more often had more closures of various phases, but if you go there first, you should be ok.

I'm pretty sure the whole week is one gigantic crowded mess. Touring plans has the resort level at 10 the entire week, so I don't think there is necessarily one day better than any other.

I'm very curious to see if that trend continues, or if there are indeed more closures this year as we close in on the lights' final weeks.

 

[sharonabe]

Since your whole reason for going is to see the lights, I would definitely be watching the trend that week before you head out to see what is happening over at HS. You're looking at the very last week for Osborne Lights and that throws an unknown monkey wrench into the whole thing. If HS has any phased closures at the beginning of the week, I would expect it to have them at the end. Just watch to see when the closure happens and when they lift it. Even that will be no guarantee, so going to MK first could mean you miss the lights altogether.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Thanks for the history on the closures...greatly appreciated. Didn't think not watching it earlier in the week...that was an easy one. That will be my plan and I can play it by ear.