Our Very First Visit (!): Should we brave the Christmas-week crowds, or wait?

[JillyBean77]

We are planning our very first family trip to Disneyland, hooray!! I have been there once, when I was six years old, which was..... a long time ago DH, DS8, DS7, and DS4 have never been.
We do not live close to our families, and for Christmas my parents & brother traditionally spend the holiday week visiting us in AZ. Unfortunately, this year, they are unable to make it. Instead of spending Christmas alone, we thought it would be fun to pack up the kiddos & head out on our first Disney adventure....
And then I started researching, and reading, and planning, and now I'm close to a nervous breakdown trying to wrap my head around all of the logistics (you should see my 4-tab spreadsheet!) We plan on being at the park Dec 22, 23, 24th, which according to TouringPlans.com are all 10/10 attendance days. Since we've never been to Disney (and therefore will be wandering like lost sheep, even with a plan!), and aren't likely to go again for a VERY long time (and therefore will want to see/experience all the biggies), and my DH is slightly allergic to crowds (and therefore... actually, that one's self-explanatory), I'm starting to think that perhaps a trip on these dates would be more *nightmare* than *magic* for us.
So, my question is, do you experienced DIS-ers think a Christmas trip is too overwhelming for first-timers? We can't go any sooner, due to DS8 & DS7's school schedule. We could go the first week of January, but the Disney Show schedules aren't posted yet and I'm afraid that we'd miss out on all the fun stuff. Plus, the point of the trip is to be gone during Christmas. I'm so conflicted!
Based on the reviews/recommendations I've read on this board, we are booked at HoJo's, I think it's in Building 1. I am at least fairly confident in that portion of the trip
Thanks for your input!

 

[skiingfast]

Is your whole family used to terrible crowds?

If not do you have school or a week before or after, that would be a bit better, but still crowded.

I wouldn't force your family(the allergic to crowds DH) to go during a super busy time if you have any alternative. Any time of the year is less busy.

 

[ArchOwl]

Wow, that is a toughie. I love Disneyland at Christmas time and hate to tell anyone to skip it, just because they go all out with it and it is really special and magical. However, those have to be some of the most crowded days of the entire year. I would hate for someone to go and then they hate it because of the crowds.

If your DH is really sensitive about crowds, it is going to be hard because it will be wall to wall people especially in the afternoon/evening. You could mitigate some of this with a good touring plan and excellent use of FPs, but the fact is that there will still be tons of people to navigate around.

This would definitely not be the time to go to Disneyland to ride a lot of rides. It would be manageable if it were more about enjoying Disneyland during Christmas and seeing all the cool stuff there.

As a side note, the first week of January should still find the Resort in full entertainment mode. It will also still be quite busy, although probably not as busy as your December dates.

 

[momtotwolittleones]

Honestly, I think it sounds like a bad idea. If you had older kids, maybe, but we have a 10 and 7yo and super crowded does not work for us. We were in the park for a week last Aug and most days were okay, but one day was so crowded we could barely move and it was miserable. The kids just wanted to get out of there. The shows are fun, but we like the rides the most.

I would pull my kids out of school to go earlier, but if you don't want to do that I would go after new years.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

The holiday season lasts until Jan 8 this year so you could go after the 1st and still catch the holiday stuff. If the kids don't already know youwant to go, you could surprise them Christmas morning.

 

[JillyBean77]

The holiday season lasts until Jan 8 this year so you could go after the 1st and still catch the holiday stuff. If the kids don't already know youwant to go, you could surprise them Christmas morning.

Arrrgh, that would have been a GREAT idea! But I was so excited when I started planning the trip that I spilled the beans, and now they're excited, too.
And it's good to hear that we could still catch all of the special parades, fireworks, shows, decorations, etc until Jan 8!

I still kinda want to be talked into following through with our original plan, but it's starting to sound like the crowds would just be an exercise in frustration, especially if we're exploring the park for the first time.

I was feeling a bit timid about posting, but I'm thankful for the advice -- keep it coming

 

[MyYearWithTheMouse]

As much as I love Disneyland at Christmas, and believe me, I LOVE Disneyland at Christmas, I too would recommend against those dates for a first-time visit, especially with a reluctant DH.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I think the biggest pitfall to your original plan is that it's only 3 days. Most agree that 3 days is the minimum during regular crowds, but at Christmas itll feel rushed. Christmas is always doable with a lot of planning and the right attitude. Prioritize what you want to see, because with only 3 days it's unlikely you'll get to do all you want to do.

 

[Malcon10t]

Arrrgh, that would have been a GREAT idea! But I was so excited when I started planning the trip that I spilled the beans, and now they're excited, too.
And it's good to hear that we could still catch all of the special parades, fireworks, shows, decorations, etc until Jan 8!

I still kinda want to be talked into following through with our original plan, but it's starting to sound like the crowds would just be an exercise in frustration, especially if we're exploring the park for the first time.

I was feeling a bit timid about posting, but I'm thankful for the advice -- keep it coming

OK, let me offer a different perspective. It will be very crowded. But as most schools will be getting out about the 22nd, and won't be returning until the 8th, I don't think the 22nd-24th will be as bad as in the past. I do think the 24th with be very busy, but it is very magical. We will be there from the 22nd on.

If you go into this expecting crowds and with a plan, I think you will have fun.

 

[jennilouwho]

Could you go for 5 days instead of three? Then you get there first thing in the morning, take a big break when things are just nutso and then go back in the evening time when crowds thin out a little again?? We've been on 10/10 days, but we usually go every other year and I have all the tips and tricks memorized. If it's a once in a lifetime trip, I would either go for longer or try to go at a different time.

 

[Shimmer]

I will start with saying I do not like crowds. Especially at Disneyland because I've been spoiled by going on lower attendance days. I understand your husband because I get very frustrated with being packed in somewhere. I hate people slowly moving along in my way when I want to *hurry* to some place. I get grumpy.

I would highly recommend going the first week of January and consider going for 4 (or more) days. Some reasons:
1. Your kids will move at a slower pace than you'd like so more time is better.
2. You will have lower crowds. This means not only lower lines, but an easier-to-navigate park. This means you can be more relaxed in choosing what you want to do vs having to follow a big plan.
3. You might "miss" some things at that time. However, you can't do it all in 1 trip anyway. You always "miss" something. But, each trip, you always have an old favorite to try again and find something "new". If you keep it in mind that you WON'T do it all, you'll have a much, much better trip.

I'd suggest saving the Christmas trip for another time once you've experienced a calmer Disneyland and know the park better. Then you will know which rides/parades/experiences are must-do and you can better plan for accomplishing those.

We've been in some higher times and it was stressful for me crowd-wise. But, I felt we knew enough about the park and how the crowds typically work to get to enough stuff to have a good time. I know that without that park experience, those days would have been really disappointing.

 

[JillyBean77]

VERY helpful stuff everyone, thanks! I have started shopping hotel rates for January 2-6th (or 7th), and am surprised to find the rates during that time (after Christmas & New Year, mid-week) are actually higher than the rates I recently booked for Christmas week. Could this be due to the extended Holiday Season -- perhaps the hotels are anticipating a big demand during this time? According to the crowd calendar on TouringPlans, this week is listed as 2/10, but maybe that's not taking the extended holidays into consideration this year.

Reading about the enjoyment you all derive from your Disney experiences is really inspiring during these moments when the planning gets overwhelming and the trip seems almost not worth it. Thanks for your words of wisdom!

 

[specialks]

Just throwing this in, it probably doesn't matter, but we go back to school on Jan 3rd. We are in Seattle, but I wonder if others go back then too. It could make those beginning Jan dates a much better option. However, maybe we're just odd up here.

 

[alleycatmom]

We went on Dec. 28 last year. It was our third visit. We have only ever been for one day at a time, so we don't know the "luxury" (for lack of a better word) of stretching it out. So we hit the park HARD. We're there at rope drop and stay till closing. When our kid was 3, 4, and 6.

We had a GREAT time on the 28th. It was same day others were posting here how "horrible" the crowds were. We just don't know any better, I guess We have also never been to California Adventure.

We were able to ride the 6 or 7 rides we had our hearts set on, plus others, and do tons of stuff. We actually did everything we set out to do that day. The only thing we passed on because we knew it would be a mess was Jedi Training.

I think that people who live close to Disneyland have a different perspective; they are probably able to visit at times when crowds are low. We live 10 hours away and are on a very tight budget (stay with friends, etc.) so we take what we can get.

 

[skiingfast]

According to the crowd calendar on TouringPlans, this week is listed as 2/10, but maybe that's not taking the extended holidays into consideration this year.

TP is only ok I wouldn't rely on it.

They mark Fridays in October as the upper end of /10. Why? Fridays like today aren't bad in the AM and not aweful in the afternoon. But the party guests show up after 5 and it gets crowded. So TP give it a high number when it's like that for only 20% of the day.

Since the holiday season didn't extend so long last year they don't have any data to base it on except for last year when it wasn't the holidays and was quite, so they predict it to be a 2 again.

They have these mistakes all of the time because they don't act like they have been in the parks of even know what will happen.

As far as hotel rates, it looks to me that the week after Christmas is a bit more than the week after new years. But neither have off season pricing.

 

[Kittyskyfish]

Here's my take on how crowded DLR can get at Christmas: It's like Macy's on Black Friday when everyone and their distant cousin fills the aisles. Walking through Main Street, Adventureland, New Orleans Square, Tomorrowland...people everywhere, often close enough to bump into each other.

DH and I don't mind crowds. We're deeply committed to Disneyland. But the Christmas crowds eventually got to best of our patience and nerves.

If you had absolutely no options but to do DL on Christmas week, then go for it. But definitely choose January since that option is available. Please, think of your poor husband!!

 

[JillyBean77]

Just throwing this in, it probably doesn't matter, but we go back to school on Jan 3rd. We are in Seattle, but I wonder if others go back then too. It could make those beginning Jan dates a much better option. However, maybe we're just odd up here.

Yes, y'all are just a bunch of oddballs up there. Kidding! I'm from WA, and my parents live in Snohomish (I see your location is South Snoho), so I had to say it. I think that CA & AZ have similar school calendars (very different than the PNW!), and our break doesn't begin until Dec 23rd & lasts through Jan 8th.

I am very un-tech-savvy and would like to include multiple quotes in this reply, but I can't figure out how, so I guess I'll just have to make them separate...

 

[JillyBean77]

Please, think of your poor husband!! [/QUOTE]

Yes, I'm going to take this & similar advice from pp's very seriously! I love big crowds & festivities, but if the Christmas crowds can intimidate even myself & Disney veterans, I think we'll just cool our jets and wait until January.

Skiingfast: you mentioned that TP crowd calendars can't be completely relied upon. Is there another source that you would suggest? Of course, no one has a crystal ball, but perhaps there are other more reliable sources?

I have so many other questions, but I should probably post them separately since they no longer relate to the title of this thread (I try really hard to search the forum before I ask a question, but am I the only one who finds it cumbersome & difficult to navigate?) Now that I have the dates more settled, it's time to decide on a hotel -- yikes!! I'm not liking the rates I'm seeing so far (DH specifically requested convenience, so I've narrowed the search down to the few hotels closest to the Main Entrance).

Thanks again for the great pointers!

 

[cbalad]

Hi there!

My family went to DL from 12/19-12/24 in 2009 and found the crowds to be busy initially and then taper off up to the 24th. We went for 1/2 the day on the 24th and were amazed at how empty the parks were! We actually went on TSMM a total of 4x in a row at park opening because there was no wait. It was truly magical. I can't say that it will be the same this year, but going the week before Christmas is a world of difference than the week after.