Strategies for Christmas week if staying offsite?

[whogirl'smom]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------I posted this on the Theme Parks board, too, and thought I might get some responses over here, also.

There is a possibility that we would have to stay offsite for a trip Dec. 28-Jan. 5 due to extended family's finances (can't find value rooms until Dec. 31st). This really freaks me out. I know that parks close to capacity in one way or another frequently during this time, so what have others' experiences been with getting in/staying in the parks?

Our plan had been to go for a few hours in the morning, take an afternoon break (with my 79 y/o mother and aunt) and then return to the parks in the evening. I'm thinking that will be impossible unless we're staying onsite.

What do you think?

__________________

 

[Metro West]

Unless you're staying onsite during that week, you run the risk of leaving and not being able to get back in later on...there are simply too many people.

 

[connie1042]

I don't think it matters where you are staying. Staying on site does NOT grantee that you will get back into the park later if you leave. If you think the parks is filled to capacity, then I suggest you don"t leave. Find a nice bench and just people watch. I know we are planning on being at MK on the 4th of July. We don't plan on leaving. We do plan on making breakfast and dinner reservations at the park. It will be nice to sit an enjoy the AC.

 

[Brian Noble]

Be there as early as you can. Take the break. Come back later in the evening. Even on days when the parks close, they are typically only closed during the middle of the afternoon---and why would you want to be *in* a park that's so full that no one else can get in?

It would also be worth using either the Unofficial Guide crowd calendar or TourGuideMiKE's recommendations for which parks on which days.

 

[SunniKC]

I agree with the above...if the park closes you aren't getting in regardless of where you stay. Our plan over Christmas (Dec 20-29) is to get to a given park on opening and stay until we are done. We don't want to risk not being allowed back in. We also are skipping the park hopper option. We plan to just take breaks at the park through the day...find a nice place to just sit and relax...people watch for awhile before going onward.

 

[DisneySouvenir]

We go on and off property all the time from an inexpensive rental vacation home. We have extended family and cant afford to pay for onsite accomodations. It gives us privacy and some alone time, and we can make our own meals which also saves us $$$. There are also many backroads which are easy to find, which will get you on and off property without dealing with the traffic congestion.

Harmony Real Estate, Inc has an inexpensive rental that I have stayed at before within 5 minutes of property

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

We stayed offsite lasr December - the crowds didn't get too bad until the 23rd really.

On Christmas Day we went to AK - we had a breakfast reservation at Tusker House with the characters - it wasn't as busy as when we had last been there at Christmas - although by the afternoon the queues were bad

We ate at the GF so didn't have to try to get back into a park later. If you plan on going to MK for the day I expect you will have to stay put.

 

[MrShiny]

Staying off site does give you slightly less chance of getting in (or back in) on a busy day.

There are levels of the parks being closed - one where they let only onsite folks in and one where they let no one in.

We were at MK Christmas day '99, which with the Millennnium stuff was a pretty busy year. The park was completely closed I think twice that day, but it was open later. I went in right before the parade trying to get to Tomorrowland (I don't recall why!). I made it to the end of Main Street, and then the parade ended. It took me about another hour to turn the corner into Tomorrowland!

That evening, we went back and the park was not bad at all!

I would suggest for the busiest days (like Christmas itself), try the parks that are seldom full - Epcot (it's hard to fill that place because it is so big) and AK (which seems to get the least traffic as it is the least "Christmasy").

Avoid Epcot at closing - leaving during Illuminations is a good idea, provided you can find a way out (there's always MY way - oops wrong park).

I would suggest not doing the MK parade on Christmas day unless your heart is set on it - if it is, get there at opening and be prepared to basically only do the parade!

MK will thin out a little after the parade, and much more at dinner time (at least that's what we saw, and I bet that's typical). Again leaving during the fireworks a good idea.

I would also suggest ADR's at resorts around the parks. Will be somewhat less crowded and then you can take Disney transportation back to the parks. Artist Point would make a great relaxing Christmas dinner.

Just don't plan on doing a lot. You may get to do a lot, or you may get stuck in a bottlenexk somewhere. Do it more as an enjoying the place kind of trip than a riding all the rides kind of trip.

 

[whogirl'smom]

It's good to hear that it may be possible to get back into the parks later! We're not arriving till the 28th, so I didn't know if the crowds were as bad all week till after New Year's or not.

You all have been very helpful in letting me know what to expect. We were planning on it being a slower, relaxed trip since my mom will be with us and we're getting her a wheelchair due to her arthritis.