Tell me the truth....

[ladyandthetramp2]

Hi All
Huge Disney Fan here, have basically gone once or twice a year for the past 25 years. I have a question though due to work, sports, etc. the times we can go have gotten really limited.

HOW BAD IS AFTER CHRISTMAS WEEK?
Thinking 12/28-1/3-waste of time and money???

Is it just too crowded to even enjoy?

 

[FutureDisneyEventPlanner]

You'll be running into New Year crowds, which are just as bad, if not worse, as Christmas crowds. So it really just depends on whether or not you can handle those crowds.

 

[ladyandthetramp2]

Thanks that's what I was afraid of.....

 

[RocketCityMama]

I went once in Dec 2008, a couple days after Christmas but before New Years, I am glad we did, we saw Osborne Family lights, and decorations but outside that I have no desire to go back. It was crazy busy, lines were insane (this was pre fp+) and we didn't get to do a lot. Some of that was poor planning, it was the first time I had been since the 90's and it was a gift to us, all under FIL's name, so I had no way to plan the adr's and fp's etc. Knowing what I know now, I would still not do it. Just my opinion though

 

[revdon64]

If your favorite mode of transportation is waddling like a penguin, you'll love it! Otherwise...

 

[GADisneyDad14]

 

[GADisneyDad14]

But in all seriousness, we went 12/30-1/3 this past year. Honestly, aside from 12/31, it wasn’t all that bad - not really fundamentally different than it ‘felt’ over Columbus Day weekend, generally speaking. Loved the excitement of it all and had a great time. Some leftover holiday cheer, the prosperity of the new year... it was a fun time to be at WDW.

Room rates hurt a lot worse than the crowds, in my humble opinion.

I mean, sure, it’s crowded - but nothing a good plan and “go with the flow” expectations can’t solve.

 

[soniam]

It's not a waste of time and money, depending upon what you want out of your visit. We did in 2016. If you want to ride as many attractions as possible, then forget it. If you want to experience the parks, the decorations, some rides, and some lesser known attractions or shows, then it's great! The weather can be cold, but it can also be beautiful. I would do it again. However, we are glutens for punishment and go during Spring Break too. On crowd level, most days were definitely 10. NYE at Epcot was an 11 or 12, but it was still cool. Oddly, MK on the 30th wasn't horrifically crowded, maybe because it was kind of cold. But we had the attractions to ourselves at night, mostly (not 7DMT). Most people were at the hub for the shows.

 

[chartle]

Thats not after Xmas week its the end of Xmas week. Also many school districts also have the week after NYE off depending on how it falls on the week.

 

[izzylovesmickey]

We've gone twice the week between Christmas until just after New Years. We've also gone in July. We found the crowds higher than July but for us more bearable since it wasn't as hot. We also felt that although there were certainly plenty of people unhappy about the crowds, overall, people seemed to keep at least some of the holiday spirit. We loved the decorations in the parks and at the resorts, the holiday fireworks and trying the holiday foods. Hope to go that week again some time soon!

 

[CAS239]

It's the busiest time of the year. But it's not a waste

 

[Disneylover99]

It's my favourite time of year to go. Yes, it's crowded, but totally manageable.
And if you've been several times already, You know the in's and out's of the park, so I say go for it!

 

[mickeymom22]

Since you have been before, I say go for it! We have been during this time. We refused to go to a park on New Year's Eve and we had a fun time celebrating at our resort...Port Orleans Riverside. It will be crowded, but since you are seasoned you can make a plan and still have a great time! On one of our trips we went in July and I swore I would never do that again. Way too crowded with lots of sweaty strangers all in my personal space. At least at this time of year the temperatures will be cooler and people will be less sweaty!

The holiday decorations are beautiful and I agree with a remark from above that said he enjoyed the leftover holiday cheer. I felt the same way. We went around and looked at the different resorts and all their decorations. It is a beautiful time to be at Disney!

Have a magical time!

 

[Mkid451]

If you can push it a few days later you may not have to worry so much. I went two years ago about a week after new years and it was amazing. The decorations were still up so my friends and I got to enjoy them, and the crowds were much lighter. Most rides (other than 7dmt) were walk-ons (We hit every ride and show at AK and probably did EE at least 4 or 5 times before the park closed at 6.) MK was a little more crowded, but I still think the longest wait was in line for souvenirs at the end of the night. The only downside is that the weather was amazing during the time we were at our conference (shorts weather, lounging in the pool after our meetings, etc.) and it turned quickly once we hit Disney (jeans and sweatshirt weather, and too cold to even put a bathing suit on, let alone go outside in one.) We were coming from the northeast and returned to negative digits, so when we said it was cold we actually meant it.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We’ve been during your proposed time for 5 or 6 years now. We enjoy the special fireworks, we see MK on the 30th and Epcot’s on the 31st. Once we caught the last Candlelight Processional, December 30 in Epcot because we just wanted to see it again. We always go before Christmas as well.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

I have always enjoyed myself whether I was in the parks on a random lower crowd day in Sept. or the busiest days of the year - New Year’s Eve, Easter, etc.

I have never felt like it was a waste of money during high crowd times, though we don’t measure getting our money’s worth by the number of rides we get on. We go with the flow and do what we can when it’s insanely busy. We do go back every year and a half or so - maybe that makes a difference. Anything we miss we’ll do the next time.

Crowds affect people in different ways. They don’t really bother us.

It will be very very busy when you go. But it doesn’t mean you can’t have a good time. Many people travel at busy times year after year.

ETA: NYE at Epcot is an absolutely beautiful and special experience. One of my favorite days at WDW ever. Many people write NYE off as something they will never do due to crowds and it was truthfully an amazing experience I will never ever forget. When my kids are older
we will do that again.