Right before Xmas or just after New Years?

[NewbieMouse]

We're really looking at this Spring trip as a trial of the new system and whether or not we'll go at all in December on our usual California holiday road trip. But if we were to decide to do so, I'm debating between two time periods:

• 3 days leading up to Christmas - December 23, 24, 25, OR
• 3 days in January after new Years - January 3, 4, 5

Crowd calendars seem to be inconsistent on which would have lower crowds - although I'm aware it will be crowded no matter what. Any thoughts on which would be better?

 

[MonocularVision]

It really is impossible to say either way. I would have guessed the days in January would be less busy but from our trips the absolutely busiest we have ever experienced was that time. In fact, it was a few days after that… around the 5th-9th. I can’t begin to describe how busy it was.

Out last few visits (including last year) have been in the week before Christmas and it wasn’t too bad.

 

[Pluto468]

Both of those times can be pretty busy. I think if you want to avoid crowds the earlier in December would be better, or later in January. I think you can have a good trip even on busy days if you rope drop, use genie+ etc.

 

[gelatoni fan]

Typically, the park gets steadily busier and then peaks sometime between Christmas and New Years. Then it drops off very quickly as people return to school. I would predict January 4-6 to have lighter crowds because some schools will have already started even though many have not.

Some years, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day actually have lighter crowds for part of the day than the rest of the Christmas season. If Disney continues the current strategy of prioritizing Magic Key reservations, then I could see this happening. But if they do what they did last year, it'll be chaos on those days.

 

[foolish_mortals]

Having been during both of those periods
the last year under reservations, I would say that they were about the same. I imagine that they set the reservation cap the same for both of those days and reservations were sold out. So I would pick the days that are most convenient for you.

The Imagine key is blocked out on the December dates but not your January dates the other keys except Dream are completely blocked for your days. Could mean that Disney expects more single ticket holders in December and then want SOME but not all Magic key holders to fill in the attendance gaps in January which would then make it crowded. Bottom line they will optimize it to be as busy as possible either way. So I would pick the days that are most convenient for you.

 

[shosh1530]

Given the way the holidays fall in December 2022/January 2023, my local school district has classes going almost all the way up until Christmas Eve (Dec 23) and then that first full week in January off (starting back January 9). This is the first time I've ever seen a full week off after New Year's. I imagine if other districts have a similar schedule this might lead to lots of travel that first week in January, especially since holiday decorations are still up.

 

[Kender]

The Imagine key is blocked out on the December dates but not your January dates the other keys except Dream are completely blocked for your days.

Imagine key is blocked the January dates the OP listed too.

Imagine is blocked through January 8.
Enchant is blocked through January 5.
Believe is blocked through January 1.

So Dream and Believe would both be valid for the January dates. Only Dream would be valid for the December dates.

 

[foolish_mortals]

Imagine key is blocked the January dates the OP listed too.

Imagine is blocked through January 8.
Enchant is blocked through January 5.
Believe is blocked through January 1.

So Dream and Believe would both be valid for the January dates. Only Dream would be valid for the December dates.

You’re right I was thinking of Believe not Imagine. The new naming scheme is not intuitive and I get them confused half the time lol

 

[Chickinvic]

I think both will be busy since it is still Christmas break for schools in the January week. So, I don't know if one will be better than the other.

 

[katyringo]

I think your going to have better luck in January. Christmas is on Sunday with New Years being the following Saturday. Because of this most schools will go back Monday the 2nd. Just my take.

 

[tink89]

Ok we have gone over various times in dec/jan.
12/18-12/23. It was pretty busy. Manageable. Nights were packed.
12/26-31. It was very very busy. Very packed. Never going back during that time.
12/21-12-25. It was busy obviously but not as bad as all the other times. much more manageable surprisingly.

January after New Year is less busy, but to me, it just doesn't feel Christmasy after Christmas and New Year have passed.

those calendars are not working too well for the last few years. Days that used to not be packed were packed and days that used to be packed were "empty". I always just go with a plan and have our must-do rides and let the day work itself out. Any day at Disneyland is better than a day at work for us. Packed or not.