Tell me about being in Disney on Xmas day?

[adisneymama]

So we are contemplating our dates for next year. It will be dh, myself, DD who will be 5 by then and a DS who will be 10 months old. We have decided to stay at WL. So our option of dates are 12/15-22 or 12/19-26. 12/19 will be our 9th anniversary. We don't have a big family so a family gathering at Christmas won't be anything we are missing. So if you had to choose what dates would you choose? Anyone been at Disney on Christmas day? What was it like? Thanks!

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you plan on being in the MK on Christmas Day, you need to be there early. There is a very good chance the park will close to all guests (that is be full) by 10AM. Then they will not let any other guests enter the park until the number of guests in the park decreases. Don't plan on doing rides unless you get there right away and do one or two. Last time we were there for Christmas Day, we didn't even go to the parks on that day.

An ADR will not guarantee you entry into a park if it closed because it is full. You will just have to miss that meal. Often they go ahead and charge your credit card of Christmas and New Year's Day.

 

[S.Poppins]

As much as love Disney at Christmas (as in the week after Thanksgiving), being there Christmas day does not sound fun at all! Do all the parks get that full on Christmas and New Years or just MK?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Mostly MK, but the others might get full, too. And it's not only on Christmas Day and NYE. Many of the days between also get filled up in the morning and again in the afternoon.

 

[adisneymama]

See this is what I was thinking, the crowds. Plus dh would have to take extra time off work to do a WEd - WEd stay. (He would have plenty but don't want to use it if the crowds will be so bad we can't do anything.) We may just stick with Sat to Sat and be home in time to have the newest members 1st Xmas at home. Thanks!

 

[Missec]

If you plan on being in the MK on Christmas Day, you need to be there early. There is a very good chance the park will close to all guests (that is be full) by 10AM. Then they will not let any other guests enter the park until the number of guests in the park decreases. Don't plan on doing rides unless you get there right away and do one or two. Last time we were there for Christmas Day, we didn't even go to the parks on that day.

An ADR will not guarantee you entry into a park if it closed because it is full. You will just have to miss that meal. Often they go ahead and charge your credit card of Christmas and New Year's Day.

I agree with Deb. The parks all of them are full on Christmas Day. Magic Kingdom is first and the Epcot etc. But I will say its the most wonderful experence you will have being there on christmas. The streets of Magic Kingdom is decorated and its snows. Lots of fun times.

 

[adisneymama]

Mostly MK, but the others might get full, too. And it's not only on Christmas Day and NYE. Many of the days between also get filled up in the morning and again in the afternoon.

So do you think we would be ok 12/15 -22? This is when dd will be out of school. As well as the week of Christmas.

 

[Devil_Dog99]

MK on Christmas Day -

That's why DW and I go to Epcot on Christmas Day. The park can handle larger crowds and since everyone else is over at MK, the crowds really aren't that bad. Dinner at the R&C and the CP (dinner package of course) make for a very nice Christmas Day.

We will be leaving on Dec 17 for 12 wonderful days!!!!

 

[Devil_Dog99]

Let me add that the date syou were mentioning (12/19-12/26) are almost perfect. You can get all you want done in the parks while the crowds are still somewhat manageable. Then Christmas Day you won't feel like you HAVE to do something in one of the parks. Try Epcot on Christmas Day. They have the Holidays Around the World, the CP, and a beatutiful archway presentation with lights and Christmas music that just takes your breath away.

DW and I have been going at Christmas the past 8 years. We arrive on or around the 18th and leave on or around the 27th-29th (we keep strecthing the vacation!!! ). The crowds before Christmas are very manageable and we realtively cruise through the parks and can really enjoy them. We do Epcot on Christmas Day and then from then until we leave, we stay away. There is plenty to do besides the parks and since everyone is at the parks, places like DTD and Boardwalk are relatively quiet. last year we had lunch over at the ESPN club at BW, and practically had the entire BW to ourselves!! (or so it seemed)

 

[adisneymama]

Thanks for the idea Devil, but I don't think that will work for us. DD LOVES Disney and knows exactly which park we are in. Epcot is her least favorite. DH has fallen asleep on the couch so I can't relay all of this to him, but I have a feeling he will say stick with the 15-22. Also because we will have the then 10 mo old we might have better luck going prior due to the lack of crowds. Decisions, decisions...it's only taken us a week to figure out where to stay!

 

[HappyCamperToo]

I think you're making the right decision--the week before Christmas will be decorated just as nicely as Christmas Day, and the crowds will be a lot lighter.

 

[kath1210]

We went last year from December 16 - 26. We split our stay between Pop Century and the Contemporary. Overall, we had a great time and the crowds were managable until Christmas Day.

Christmas Day was a bit of a letdown for us. Even though we were staying concierge at the CR on Christmas Day, they did nothing special at all. My kids also complained about not being home on Christmas Day. This year we'll be there from December 17 - 23, and will spend Christmas Day and Christmas Eve at home.

I LOVE Disney at Christmastime, but will not spend Christmas Day there again. We got home and it felt like we missed Christmas!

I think you'll love it if you stay the 15-22.

 

[momof2dizkids]

This will be our first Christmas at WDW. We will be there 12/21 - 12/27. We are actually planning on spending Christmas Day at MK (we have dinner reservations at CP that night). I am also a little nervous about the crowds during that week, but, I think I'm too excited to let it bring me down. We decided on this time frame because the kids (dd-9 and ds-5) will be out of school and it is a slow time for my husband's work. I think just "being there" will be enough for me. We were just there in March, so it's not like any of the rides aren't familiar (except POTC). We usually spend Christmas Day with in-laws and extended family members, but, this year we decided that we wanted our own special Christmas. The kids would always feel so rushed to hurry and open up their presents and then get ready to go to whomever's house. They really didn't get a chance to enjoy what they got. And so, after some consideration, we (dh and myself) decided that this trip would be the kids big Christmas gift (it's also our 10 year anniversary gift and Christmas gift to each other). The memories from this trip will be priceless - and that's all I could ask for.

 

[luvgrumpy]

I'll chime in but it's basically a repeat of what's been said. We love being at WDW at Christmas time. We've never attempted to actually go in a park on Christmas day though. Nothing magical about this We spent Christmas day resort hopping just taking in the magic of the decorations at the different resorts.

 

[Local_Girl]

I think your best plan is the 12/15-12/22 time frame. The crowds won't begin to arrive till the end of your trip, and even then, 12/22-12/24 is still do-able, with good planning. We'll be there the same time next year , though we are planning to stay longer--from 12/15 through the 29th. We do everything we really want to do in the parks during the first week, and then just go with the flow when the crowds arrive. We went at this same time in '03 and had a great time! But of course, any time at WDW is a great time to us!!

 

[elemusing]

I was at the Magic Kingdom on Christmas Day 2 years ago and LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT. Do you know how fun it is to call everyone and wish them a Merry Christmas from DISNEY WORLD?!?!?

Seriously, if you go in with a plan and be there early, you will have a blast. We actually had the best experience watching a parade ever on that day as far as getting a good seat, etc.

I would do it again in a heart beat.

 

[adisneymama]

Where are you staying? That is when we are planning for. 12/15-22 2007 looks like it will be when we will be there.

 

[lindsey]

We have visited twice week before Christmas and twice week of Christmas. Week before is definitely less crowded. Like several other posters, we like to visit the resorts on Christmas Day. The monorail loop is great for resort hopping.