Should we vist the World for Christmas? Share your thoughts please.

[TW1]

We've always wanted to go the DW for Christmas, but wondered about the crowds, etc. We watched the parade on TV this year and now really want to go for it in '05.

If you've been, please share your experiences (crowds, park hours, special things, new Stitch ride, parades, etc.)

Thanks.

 

[seashoreCM]

You'll see almost all of the festivities and excitement and almost none of the crowds if you go during the period five days after Thanksgiving until five days before Christmas.

What you saw on TV was taped a few weeks in advance. For some of the taping times, the areas being taped were off limits to most regular guests and sometimes decorated in a fashion not seen even during normal holiday operations. Some regular guests may be have been invited into those areas as "extras".

Unless you would rather sightsee and people watch than ride and attend shows, avoid December 24 through January 1 like the plague.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[AladdinsPrincess]

YES YES YES!!! DH and I went for a 3-day weekend the weekend before Christmas (the 18th - 20th) and we just loved it. It will completely put you in the holiday spirit. It was pretty crowded the weekend we went, but if you utilize the fast passes and make your PSs, it's very manageable. There is so much to do - defintiely do the Candlelight Processional (and do the dinner package - it is so much easier this way), Osborne Lights, the special parades, and tour the resorts. We had so much fun, and are planning on making this a new holiday tradition!

 

[ciera321]

We just got back from our first December visit and loved it. I would not be there with the crowds for Christmas day or the following week, but if you can make a trip while the decorations are up, you will LOVE it!!

 

[paigevz]

I agree, it's very nice with the Christmas decorations, music everywhere, lights.........not just the Osbourne, but really, wonderful lights on Main Street and on the walkway to the countries in Epcot, too.............."snow" falling..........it's great. However, we won't go again on Christmas Eve and Day like we did this year. We didn't have too much trouble with crowds, but despite everything going on, it didn't "feel" like Christmas. When we got home yesterday, and sat in front of our tree and opened the presents left behind, then it felt like Christmas.............we did have presents and the kids' stocking there, and a small tree, and had made our Christmas cookies at home and brought them, but it still didn't feel like Christmas..........and the "traditional" dinner we had at LTT was missing some of the best elements of Christmas dinner to us.........all the vegetables and cranberries....................we really did enjoy Disney at Christmastime, but we think it would be nicer earlier in December, too, and then back home for Christmas Eve and Day.

 

[Ilovestitch]

Go towards the beginning of December, the second week would be good. We went Dec. 16-20. Everything was a walk on towards the beginning of our trip, but by Monday the 20th the parks were packed- an hour wait for the Haunted Mansion! It was hard to even walk around the MK- I would be miserable w/crowds that big all week. -Stephanie

 

[Pats Dragon]

Go Christmas. We always go in December and stayed through Christmas day this year. The crowds weren't bad at all. The processional made it seem like Christmas to us. Walk around the Osborne lights and sip the egg nog that they sell. Take a sleigh ride at WL--really fun. Go to MVMCP. We loved it. It snows. Have roasted chestnuts at GF. See all the Christmas lights. Have Christmas wine at Germany. Gingerbread men at epcot.Disney even hangs a Christmas surprise on your door.

 

[CamColt]

We went for Christmas last year. A part of me felt like I sort of missed Christmas because I wasnt with my family and missed all our traditions. However after having another Chritmas at home, Im ready to go back down over the holiday. Im thinking maybe we will go for 2006.
I was also able to go briefly in the beginning of the month. My only park time was a few hours at MK for MVMCP. That was nice of course, but not the same at being there for Christmas Eve/Christmas(and my birthday). It was definitely extra magical then.

 

[8caliace]

We just took our first December trip this year. We went from Dec 4-13 and it was our favorite trip to date. Weather was perfect for 90% of the trip, crowds were light and the Christmas decorations, MVMCP and everything else made it wonderful. It will be hard for us to ever go back at any other time of year.

 

[disneyeveryyear]

We just returned last night from our first ever Christmas trip. We went from 12/20 - 12/26.

Yes, the crowds were very large, however, we used TourGuideMiKE and never spent more than 10 minutes in line anywhere. The decorations were quite nice, we spent Christmas Eve at the Candlelight Processional, Christmas Day was at AK. We did comment that it didn't feel like Christmas Eve (prior to CP), but the Christmas story, as told by Gary Sinese, and the beautiful music put us all in the mood.

I would do it again in a heartbeat. Only downside was poor weather, but that couldn't be helped and was quite unusual.

 

[eeyore45]

We're watching the travel channel's show on WDW at Christmas with Samantha, dd is like "see did you hear that, we HAVE to go"!! OK lets take the money nana gave us and start a savings plan!!

(we went in August for the first time ever - it was tremendously HOT and CROWDED!)

Thank you everyone for posting comments, let me try and see what/when would be a good week to plan!! Keep them coming!!

pretty please!!

 

[DebbieB]

We went in early December 1998 "just this once" to see what it was like during the holiday season. We loved it so much that we have done it every year since (and bought DVC!).

 

[debloco]

We just went from 12/17-12/24 and it was great! The atmosphere is festive, everything is decorated and the crowds are not too bad. I would avoid the 25th through the 1st of January. That is THE busiest time of the year for WDW. The parks usually close to day guests by 10 am on those days. You could exercise your resort guest privlige to enter, but it would be wall-to-wall gridlock. The morning we checked out (the 24th) Disney had slipped a piece of paper under our door suggesting that due to how crowded the parks are this time of year, it's better if your party does not split up!

CLC Tiger Pom Mom

 

[Dreaming of Disney05]

undefined12Going at Christmas is great.. But it depends on what you are looking for. We have gone to Disney at Christmas 2 years ago, and are planning on going for christmas 05. We went the week before and the week of.. It was great. We got to see most of evrything the week before it got busy. The week of christmas, we went to the parks, and took in all the sights and sounds of Disney and Christmas. I wouldn't suggest anyone that hasn't gone before to go at Christmas. I think they would be disappointed because of the crowds. I how ever would rather be at disney, then at home for Christmas. We don't have a big family, pretty much just me, dh and the kids..

 

[flyingenie]

Just got back from 04. LOVED IT and am surprised I had any reservations. Spirits are so high and there is all this great extra stuff that they throw in (decorations, parades, Candlelight processional, etc.) There are lots of people, but try to go before Christmas time. Even on the 24th there were considerably less people in the parks than on the 26th! Get there early and everything should be a breeze with no lineups! We didn't wait for anything longer than 35 minutes on the 24, 25 and 26th! Fastpasses are great (again, get there early!) We did all the "rides" early and then used the rest of the day for big shows/parades, and "sightseeing" like World Showcase or shopping! PM me if you have any questions!!! I had such a great time!!!