So how bad is it the week of Christmas?

[abandcsmom]

We just got back a week ago and are really contemplating going back for a few days at Christmas. We'd arrive on 12/23 and check out on 12/28. I even found a really decent deal at a nice offsite hotel. We don't want to go, though, and be sorry that we aren't doing the traditional family thing at Christmas, KWIM? I think if we go, what I will do as far as dining and all is to call Disney Dining and hopefully get a really good cast member who will work through things with me and help me narrow down where we could even get in this late in the game and sort of plan around that. Before we make concrete plans, though, I want to know, honest to goodness, how bad will it be?

 

[PrincessTiffany]

We just got back a week ago and are really contemplating going back for a few days at Christmas. We'd arrive on 12/23 and check out on 12/28. I even found a really decent deal at a nice offsite hotel. We don't want to go, though, and be sorry that we aren't doing the traditional family thing at Christmas, KWIM? I think if we go, what I will do as far as dining and all is to call Disney Dining and hopefully get a really good cast member who will work through things with me and help me narrow down where we could even get in this late in the game and sort of plan around that. Before we make concrete plans, though, I want to know, honest to goodness, how bad will it be?

Well, in all honesty, those dates are pretty much the busiest of the entire year at WDW. The parks will be jam packed with wall-to-wall people. The parks are known to reach capacity levels by 11:00 a.m. I believe the Magic Kingdom is always shut down due to capacity levels before noon every year. If you are going during those days, you will just have to prepare yourself for the huge crowds. You need to get on the phone with Disney Dining today and just ask if they have ANYTHING available for your dates. Good luck!

 

[EthansMom]

As the previous poster mentioned, that is THE BUSIEST time of year. Parks close to new guests early in the morning and, if you stay offsite, you won't be guaranteed entrance to ANY park. You couldn't pay me enough to go over Christmas vacation.

OTH, I've been the first week of December. The Christmas decorations are up, the holiday music is playing, the crowds are light, and resort prices are cheaper. We loved going the first week of December.

Another time we've gone was the first week or two of January, just AFTER New Year's. Crowds were non-existant. There was an unusual cold snap so weather was iffy. But I think there were less than 50 people waiting for AK to open when we went there one day on our trip.

 

[Deb & Bill]

When the wait time for Small World is 90 minutes or more, it's crowded. And that's what appens during that time of the year.

 

[mareed]

I've been at XMAS twice before and we're going back this year. We've stayed offsite each time and have never been "locked out" because our park for the day was closed to capacity. We do arrive a bit before park opening however which makes for some very early mornings since the parks open at 8:00 every day that week. It can be done, but it's definitely not a time to sleep in and arrive between 10-11 in the morning.

If you're serious about going, I'd subscribe to TourGuideMike and follow the recommendations there about which park to be in each day. As you expect, dining opportunities may be pretty limited, but if you try for lunch instead of dinner you may have better luck. Good luck with your decision!