trapped in the mob on Xmas Day!

[phamton]

Originally posted by disney4us2002

If anyone knows, my question remains did MK ever reopen?

I am not talking in theory does the MK ever reopen after being closed due to crowds; I mean on this or any past Christmas day did the MK ever reopen?

If you click on this thread you will see that eeyore0062 said MK opened again at 2:00. Safari Steve (a CM) said it was only at a level 2 for 30 minutes.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=483630

 

[Kruuzin]

We just returned from Disney yesterday :-(. We were there for 9 days. The closer it got to Christmas Day, the busier it got. On early opening for MK it was so cold that we were the only ones on Main Street. That has never happened before. After Christmas, we went to MK, it was scary. Too many people!! We went to MGM on Christmas day and one of the cast members there said that when MK got to crowded they sent them to the other parks. It did get busy at MGM. We had a great time anyway.

 

[pewing]

Thanks for all the great info (as always). I appreciate your honesty...and even some positive comments amid the crowds (way to go...enjoy it...no matter what )

But...my DM was considering booking SOG for a family Christmas trip...and I don't think I have the stomach for it I just don't think I could handle the crowds! If I'm going to the World...I want to spend my time (and vacation $) on rides, shows and fun...NOT waiting in lines and wading through crowds. NO offense to anyone who has been (or is going) during a busy time...there are trade offs I suppose.

Just thinking out loud. Actually not out loud...just thinking in type

Happy New Year!

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

All those on this thread that mentioned being at MK Christmas 2002... hey!! You were all there the day we were- and it was our FIRST time ever at WDW.... first park was MK on Christmas day.

What's funny is that as packed as it was- and we were stupid enough to try to go with 5 in our family- one in stroller- towards the front to leave around 3pm I think- whatever time it was.. it was right when the parade was about to start and boy howdy.. we couldn't move an INCH! We were trapped in one spot- literally- for about 20min and then a CM tried to help us out- any way out- and it took another 20min just to get out towards Fantasyland which was the side we were stuck in the crowd! LOL

And what's even funnier now is... being our first time- I really thought that's how WDW/MK was ALLLLL the time. I had no clue it was busier that day! In fact we were there when it opened that morning naively thinking that it would be slow, atleast in the early morning, thinking everyone would be spending time with family for Christmas/opening gifts/etc. HA... joke was on us!

So neat to see how many people I can talk to now on this board were right there at MK at the same time we were- and it was our first time. (I didn't find this board until a few days after we got back from that trip)

We loved our trip (spanning from Christmas thru New Years Day & past a few days) during Christmas- but I'm not sure we'd go during that time again. Maybe a cruise if we like the cruise we have planned... but I think we're kinda spoiled now with KNOWING how truly packed MK is on that day and how packed all the parks are that week. We'd rather go at slower times. I'm so glad we got to experience it once though. I'll never forget that our first trip to WDW (and ofcourse first time in MK) was Christmas Day 2002.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

am not talking in theory does the MK ever reopen after being closed due to crowds; I mean on this or any past Christmas day did the MK ever reopen?

On Christmas day 2002 we left around 5pm- and I didn't even know the park had closed to people earlier! I returned alone around 9pm and sat to wait to see the parade at 10pm- and in talking to those near me I found out the park had closed earlier- but I can't remember the exact time. I *think* they said it closed early afternoon and reopened at 4pm or something like that? But I'm not positive. I just know it didn't close entirely for the rest of the day- that is for sure.. or I wouldn't have been able to get back in.

I bet that *usually* that is what happens on Christmas day. My bet is that it gets to the point they have to close entry at some point before the first parade- and then after the parade a LOT of people probably leave... maybe just there to see the parade, or maybe just had enough of the crowds and once the parade is seen they want OUTTA that park. LOL So I imagine after the parade is over and lots of people leave- then they can start letting more people in again.

 

[CamColt]

Get there early!
We arrived at MK by opening on Christmas Day. We headed straight to adventureland, and hardly anyone was there. We walked on the Jungle Cruise, Aladdin, and POC. These rides were not full. We then went to get a FP for Haunted Mansion and there was no wait there either so we rode it. We finsihed up these 4 rides by 9:00 and headed to the castle for our 9:10 breakfast. After we ate we left and trying to get out was difficult through the mass of people coming in.
We spent the rest of the day exploring a few resorts, with a quick stop at DTD while making a bus transfer, and we played a round of mini golf. We returned to the Poly to grab our jackets before heading to the WL for our sleigh ride. It was a great day!

 

[Miss Mickey Mania]

Just got back yesterday - major jet lag right now as we had been up for 26 hours! Had a good night's sleep though and slept late this morning.

On Christmas Day we ate breakfast at Chef Mickey's - great fun. We monorailed back to MK, took one look at the crowds entering and decided to go to AK instead.

AK was busy but not unbearably so. We fastpassed the safari, so avoiding the 45 minute line. Really, we are just interested in wandering not doing rides, so we weren't stressed at all.

Louise

 

[Buckleybunch]

Originally posted by CamColt
We returned to the Poly to grab our jackets before heading to the WL for our sleigh ride. It was a great day!

A sleigh ride?? That sounds fun.. Please tell.

This is how I feel about MK on Christmas.

If you want to go to WDW and ride all the rides and do everything, then Christmas time isn't the time to go.
If you want to enjoy the holiday season in a very magical place- then go to WDW/MK.

I haven't heard from my sister but I'm curious to see how Universal was this year. She lives in Fl and this year they decided to go to Universal.

 

[CamColt]

Originally posted by Buckleybunch
A sleigh ride?? That sounds fun.. Please tell.

This is how I feel about MK on Christmas.

If you want to go to WDW and ride all the rides and do everything, then Christmas time isn't the time to go.
If you want to enjoy the holiday season in a very magical place- then go to WDW/MK.

A horse drawn sleigh ride was offered from the WL over this holdiay season,but I think it has ended(I could have heard wrong though). It was $30.00 for 30 minutes(more like 25 minutes or even a little less) and it went through the back woods near the WL. We were also briefly taken out by the pool area of the WL. We were able to get drinks at the Territory Lounge to take with us on our ride. The kids got a kick out of the ride, which btw, Santa brought for them.

Also, I totally agree with your feelings on Disney at Christmas. Christmas isnt the time for a once in a lifetime trip.
Although for us, by arriving before the holiday and getting to the parks early, we were able to get done more than we normally do. Dont ask me how, but we did.

 

[Buckleybunch]

Originally posted by CamColt
A horse drawn sleigh ride was offered from the WL over this holdiay season,but I think it has ended(I could have heard wrong though). It was $30.00 for 30 minutes(more like 25 minutes or even a little less) and it went through the back woods near the WL. We were also briefly taken out by the pool area of the WL. We were able to get drinks at the Territory Lounge to take with us on our ride. The kids got a kick out of the ride, which btw, Santa brought for them.

Also, I totally agree with your feelings on Disney at Christmas. Christmas isnt the time for a once in a lifetime trip.
Although for us, by arriving before the holiday and getting to the parks early, we were able to get done more than we normally do. Dont ask me how, but we did.

Was it $30 per family/group? How many people could ride in the sleigh?? We will be back next year for Christmas..

In 2002, we arrived the 12th of Dec, and we took it easy and we also got everything we want to do done before the mast crowds arrived. So Christmas day in MK was mostly about being there..

Next year I'm trying to get my sister that lives in Fl to meet us there for Christmas, or we can just hang out at the resorts. But I will be back for the Christmas Magic..