Thanksgiving vs. Christmas

[MinnieGirl33]

Looking for some perspective on a 9 vs. 10 day.

If Thanksgiving week is considered (listed on TP) a 9 & Christmas is a 10, what's the real difference?

Are the crowd levels really that similar of is there no way to descibe just how crowded is is over Christmas?

 

[vicki_c]

Looking for some perspective on a 9 vs. 10 day.

If Thanksgiving week is considered (listed on TP) a 9 & Christmas is a 10, what's the real difference?

Are the crowd levels really that similar of is there no way to descibe just how crowded is is over Christmas?

Those numbers are based on the wait times at the headliner attractions at Magic Kingdom at peak times of the day. Check the touringplans site for a description of the wait times, but I think a 9 is wait times of 81-90 minutes, while a 10 is 91-100 minutes (I might be off by 10 minutes on those, it might be 91-100 and over 100).

There is no number higher than 10. So I'd say T-giving is a 9, but Christmas is really like more than 10. Sometimes much more than 10. I know we saw 240 minute waits for Toy Story Mania and I think that was on our Christmas trip last year.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

I understand how TP calculates their projections. I guess I should've been more clear since ride wait times are not as much of a concern as overall crowds & that "herd of cattle" feeling.

I am trying to get an understanding of the resort as a whole & how different (if at all) things are between those 2 weeks. Resorts, pools, QS lines, restaurants, DTD, just walking the parks, etc.... the overall "feel".

We have typically arrived on Thanksgiving day & spent the week after but trying to still squeeze in 3-4 trips per year & minimize kids time out of school has us shifting dates.

Since we've never been in the world for Christmas day we are wondering if it's worth it or if we should stick with T'giving (knowing that the week of will be drastically different than the week after).

Can it even be quatified as to how many more people we are talking about? Is Christmas worth the added cost/aggravation? It's all subjective, I know but would you do it again?

 

[queensara]

Last year we were there during the week of Thanksgiving and the week after. I expected crowd levels to be bad, but they really weren't too bad. The week after Thanksgiving was def less crowded, but we really didn't have long waits. We took advantage of the fastpasses and planed our day out so that we did the rides with long lines during a parade. we were even told not to go to Magic Kingdom the day they taped the parade, well we did anyway because that fit best in our schedule and it was fine. With a little bit of planning it is def doable!! Good Luck

 

[mom2rtk]

I have a friend who spent Christmas day in the MK one year. The way she described it just didn't sound fun. She said there was one point where they just couldn't even move because there were so many people. They had to leave just to get some breathing room.

I think the ones who enjoy Christmas at Disney are very stragegic. The parks open really early, and they are there for Rope Drop regardless of how early it is. Then they leave late morning as the REAL crowds are pouring in. They have fast passes picked up already for later, then head back for lunch and naps. They then go back and use their stash of fast passes picked up earlier then camp out early for the parade, just soaking up the atmosphere. Heck, I could almost talk myself into giving it a try!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I've never been during Christmas, but I have during Thanksgiving. I noticted that THanksgiving the crowds dropped off quickly on the days surrounding the actualy holiday. I've heard Christmas crowds last all week. (sort of like Easter crowds, which I've also seen.)
But the biggest clincher for me is the difference in price. Christmas is just crazy costwise! I do think the pricing is at least as telling as any crowd-chart.

 

[vicki_c]

I think the ones who enjoy Christmas at Disney are very stragegic. The parks open really early, and they are there for Rope Drop regardless of how early it is. Then they leave late morning as the REAL crowds are pouring in. They have fast passes picked up already for later, then head back for lunch and naps. They then go back and use their stash of fast passes picked up earlier then camp out early for the parade, just soaking up the atmosphere. Heck, I could almost talk myself into giving it a try!

That is very much how we toured last year. I have tons and tons of photos of the parks - EMPTY! We were really afraid to go at Christmas after usually visiting in Jan/Feb most often but it was totally worth it. If we could afford it, price and vacation time wise - I'd do it every year!

To me - it's about being the right place at the right time -- you really don't have to see many crowds if you don't want to.