Scared

[mom0299]

I don't know if this belongs on this board or the resorts board.

We are going to be in WDW Dec. 20-22. I just called to try and add the 19th and 23rd to our package. There is not a single room available on site for those nights, not a value, moderate, or deluxe. I have never been to Disney at Christmas time. I thought we were going at a fairly good time because we'd be leaving before Christmas, but now it sounds like it is going to extremely crowded.
We are only going to the parks on Dec. 21 (MK) and 22 (Epcot).
Help! What should I expect when I get there?

 

[Missec]

I don't know if this belongs on this board or the resorts board.

We are going to be in WDW Dec. 20-22. I just called to try and add the 19th and 23rd to our package. There is not a single room available on site for those nights, not a value, moderate, or deluxe. I have never been to Disney at Christmas time. I thought we were going at a fairly good time because we'd be leaving before Christmas, but now it sounds like it is going to extremely crowded.
We are only going to the parks on Dec. 21 (MK) and 22 (Epcot).
Help! What should I expect when I get there?

Its always busy over the holidays. MK will be the busiest. Epcot will also be busy, but that park is much larger than MK so it wont seem as busy.

Change your eating schedule while there. Don't eat when everyone else does. 12p-2p. 4p-7p Pick off times to eat.
Parks that you go into, go early hit all the large rides that you want to do. and then go see some shows or something.

As far as the Resorts, I would say find an off property place to stay. But then again they might be as full.

Hope this helps.

Have fun on your trip.

 

[cleo]

Christmas/New Years is the busiest season in Orlando and the parks will be packed. If you know that going into things it's easier to handle the crowds and long lines. But yes, it's going to be shoulder-to-shoulder. Still....the decorations are beautiful!

 

[tomandrobin]

PACKED, PACKED, PACKED!

We were there last year thru NYE. Its was crazy crowded, but we had an absolute blast! The resorts and parks are beautiful! If you love Disney and you love Christmas, then this is the right place for you!

By the way, we had such a good time last year that we are going back for NYE this year. Plus we are bringing my brother and his family with us!!!!

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

I just checked disneyworld.com for the 19th for you, and AKL had availability, as did All Star Music. (Those were the only 2 I checked.)

 

[I'mNoPrince]

On-line and calling will come up with different results sometimes. I always check on-line first then call just to make sure.

But this time of the year will be packed and we will be right there with you 18th-22nd.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I would check online, keep calling CRO and check out places like Expedia and Hotels.com Your dates are going to be crowded, but not as crowded as they will be a few days later. The super intense crowds will start to arrive that Saturday the 23rd. Many schools are going clear up until the 22nd. So yes, it won't be slow but if you get to the parks early, maximize fastpass and go with open minds and low expectations you will still have fun. Think of this trip in terms of atmosphere not non stop rides! And good luck getting a room!

 

[mill4023]

I don't know if you have a discounted package and there aren't any more rooms available at that discounted rate, but there are definitely rooms available onsite.

I just tried online with dates of 12/19 - 12/24 and there are rooms available at:
POR
POFQ
CBR
CSR
AKL
BC
YC
GF(Royal Palm Club only)
BWI
CR (suites only)
FW Cabins

From everything I've heard, the week before Christmas won't be bad.
The crowds are supposed to gradually build until the weekend before Christmas, which is when it's supposed to get really crazy.

Here is what the UG folks say:
Tue, 19 Dec - 4
Wed, 20 Dec - 6
Thu, 21 Dec - 4
Fri, 22 Dec - 4
Sat, 23 Dec - 6
Sun, 24 Dec - 10

4 means a peak wait time of 40 minutes at the headliner attractions. Which isn't bad at all.
10 means 100 minutes, so you can see they don't expect it to get crazy until the 24th.

 

[gssmks]

I just checked disneyworld.com for the 19th for you, and AKL had availability, as did All Star Music. (Those were the only 2 I checked.)

I have a room at All Star Music for the 16th-29th. I called over Thanksgiving weekend to try to book another (I thought that my original reservation was messed up, but it ended up fine.), and I was told that there was no way I could get a room at any of the resorts for those days. I was told that if I would agree to move from resort to resort, they probably could do it by giving me a few nights in one resort and then moving me to another that has availability. I was told that they were almost booked full.

 

[mill4023]

I have a room at All Star Music for the 16th-29th. I called over Thanksgiving weekend to try to book another (I thought that my original reservation was messed up, but it ended up fine.), and I was told that there was no way I could get a room at any of the resorts for those days. I was told that if I would agree to move from resort to resort, they probably could do it by giving me a few nights in one resort and then moving me to another that has availability. I was told that they were almost booked full.

I'm sure that's true for the dates between Christmas and New Years, but for the week before Christmas, there are rooms available at ALL the moderate resorts and most of the deluxes.

 

[mom0299]

I don't know if you have a discounted package and there aren't any more rooms available at that discounted rate, but there are definitely rooms available onsite.

I just tried online with dates of 12/19 - 12/24 and there are rooms available at:
POR
POFQ
CBR
CSR
AKL
BC
YC
GF(Royal Palm Club only)
BWI
CR (suites only)
FW Cabins

From everything I've heard, the week before Christmas won't be bad.
The crowds are supposed to gradually build until the weekend before Christmas, which is when it's supposed to get really crazy.

Here is what the UG folks say:
Tue, 19 Dec - 4
Wed, 20 Dec - 6
Thu, 21 Dec - 4
Fri, 22 Dec - 4
Sat, 23 Dec - 6
Sun, 24 Dec - 10

4 means a peak wait time of 40 minutes at the headliner attractions. Which isn't bad at all.
10 means 100 minutes, so you can see they don't expect it to get crazy until the 24th.

Thank you for all of your help. I had seen the UG guide so I hadn't been too worried until I made that phone call. I did look online and find some other rooms.

 

[mom0299]

We decided to fly instead of drive (the first time we've done that). That meant we really needed a room for the night before our original package check-in date. Disney travel had nothing (phone or online). We were able to get a room through at Expedia for the same hotel. Now we have ressies for All-Star Sports on the 19th with Expedia (we got Magical Express) and the 20th-23rd with Disney travel. I plan to call the hotel directly in a couple of days (once I know the ressies have gone through) and see if we can stay in the same room for the entire stay. Does anyone think this will be a problem? I guess the worst that can happen is we have to change rooms after our first night. I'd rather not do that, but we will if we have to.
Also, we've never done Magical Express before. We made our ressies so close to going that we won't have time to get our luggage tags in the mail before we leave. What do we do with our bags when we get to MCO? Do we pick them up at baggage claim and take them to the Disney Welcome Center?
HELP!!!