WDW Christmas....New Year's week

[Debbie]

Just how bad is it? Using fastpass and EMH, are you able to get things done? I'm assuming that the hours are extended. Is that right? Also, can teens 18-21 get into Pleasure Island-no drinking of course, just enjoying the clubs?

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Yup, do-able. I've done it. And lived. And I'll do it again!
Just remember, get the parks over and done with by 11 a.m. The hours are extended, but only do things you can get reservations for, like Illuminations cruises or Fantasmic dinner packages or Candlelight Processional packages or Cirque du Soleil. The parks are a zoo, even later, esp. later, at night.
There's so much more to do at DisneyWorld that doesn't involve the parks.
As to PI, afraid I don't have the answer to that one. Anyone?

 

[Kirk]

Just how bad is it? Using fastpass and EMH, are you able to get things done? I'm assuming that the hours are extended. Is that right? Also, can teens 18-21 get into Pleasure Island-no drinking of course, just enjoying the clubs?

Cazy but remember, Patience is a Virtue!!! Teens (even 15) can get into PI but a couple clubs only let 21 YO in like BET and Manaquins!

 

[sugermouse]

Never, ever again!

 

[Connears]

We have been there the past 3 years (OKW, Swan, BCV)and are returning to OKW this year. It is a great time to go with all the holiday activites. We are veterans and just love being there for the special stuff,,,its amazing. We tour using FP but don't often do early entry for that week. We take breaks alot and make sure to make Dining res 90days out for the holidays(they will take a CC# for xmas eve, xmas, NYE NYday). If you go with the expectation of seein everything you will be disappointed..crowds are large, but stop and smell the roses. 2003-4 week we did not go to a park on 2 days..watch football and resort hopped! See Candleight Processional(we used pkge to avoid long lines and standing), see snow on Main street in MK, NYE at MGM and Epcot were also great!(MK closed to all guests includeing resort guest by 10am each year).

 

[toystorymom]

We were there this past Christmas and left on the morning of the 27th. We went to AK early on the 26th, expecting big crowds and it was empty. The Safari, Dinosaur, Primevil Whirl, Tough to be a Bug were all walk-ons. We did all those (some more than once) and saw The Lion King and were back at the hotel before lunch.

That night we went over to MK which wasn't too bad. The lines in Fantasy Land had hour waits so we skipped those and headed over to the mountains just to see what the crowds were like, ZERO minute wait for Splash and Big Thunder. The CM even let DH and DS stay on BTMR for a second and third ride without getting off, and again at Splash they let us do the same thing.

We then went and found a great spot for Wishes, then headed back down Main Street in with the Christmas music and "snow" falling. It was the perfect end to our vacation.

The only downside, it was FREEZING!! But now I have all those water park tickets to save for next time!

 

[luvmy2sams]

DH and I were there last year from December 28th-January 2nd. We were prepared for the worst but were pleasantly surprised by how much we accomplished. We did all 4 parks and were able to do everything we wanted...multiple times. We never had a problem getting into the parks, but we did arrive not too long after opening on most mornings. It was very crowded...especially at the Magic Kingdom on New Year's Eve...but I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Can't wait to do this with the entire family when the kids are a little older.

 

[AJKMOM]

I think a lot depends on the weather. If it's cold by florida standards, that cuts the crowd down. However, you never know until you get there.

 

[Collette]

We were there last year December 29 - January 5. I wouldn't recommend it for first time visitors and this will probably be our only holiday trip, but for this trip (our kids are young adults) it was great. By the time we arrived, the weather was beautiful. Mid-70s every day with no humidity.

For the busiest park days part of our trip, we had a Candlelight Processional package for Thursday night, Keys to the Kingdom tour on Friday (New Years Eve day), and Cirque du Soleil tickets for Saturday night. We also like trying new restaurants so we had quite a few PSs, too.

We are night people, but I did choose to get up early this time to be at the parks when they opened on non-EMH days. On Saturday, January 1, I felt like I was at a private party at Animal Kingdom in those first few hours. The evening EMH hours program didn't start until January 2 and we didn't try any of those. Almost always left the parks for a mid-day break.

If we weren't at a park early, we used fastpass - collecting new ones as soon as the timeframe was open.

New Years Eve, we had a 6:30 dinner at Spoodles. We had no other plans for the evening thinking that the parks would be full to capacity, but on the boat ride to MGM to catch the bus to Pop Century, we decided to stop by to see if we could ride RnRC. The attractions board said - two hour wait, no fastpasses remaining. So that was out - but the rest of the park was empty around 8-8:30. I wanted to see the Osborne Lights and was surprised when we arrived to find very few people there also. We then road the Great Movie Ride and left for the evening.

With the exception of summer, which I will not do, this was the only time that worked out for our kids to go. Now that I have seen WDW during the holidays, I probably won't repeat the experience - which has more to do with my preference for when I go than the crowds.

It was a great trip!! Have fun deciding!!

Collette

 

[scrap4kenzie]

We are planning a trip Dec 29 - Jan 6th of this year. We are expecting the crowds during the first part of our trip, but can we hope for them to lighten up after new year's?

 

[AUTUMN SUN]

We have been there the past 3 years (OKW, Swan, BCV)and are returning to OKW this year. It is a great time to go with all the holiday activites. We are veterans and just love being there for the special stuff,,,its amazing. We tour using FP but don't often do early entry for that week. We take breaks alot and make sure to make Dining res 90days out for the holidays(they will take a CC# for xmas eve, xmas, NYE NYday). If you go with the expectation of seein everything you will be disappointed..crowds are large, but stop and smell the roses. 2003-4 week we did not go to a park on 2 days..watch football and resort hopped! See Candleight Processional(we used pkge to avoid long lines and standing), see snow on Main street in MK, NYE at MGM and Epcot were also great!(MK closed to all guests includeing resort guest by 10am each year).

WE ARRIVE RIGHT AFTER X-MAS. IS IT SAFE TO SAY THAT IT WILL GET A LITTLE BUSIER EACH DAY UP UNTIL NEW YEARS? OR WILL THE CROWDS BE SIMILAR EVERY DAY THE WEEK BETWEEN X-MAS AND NEW YEARS?

 

[Connears]

After Jan 1st (and even the 1st half of New Years Day is very quiet). The year before we stayed until 1/3 and toured MK and MGM on 1/2 with no lines..very pleasant. (park hours will decrease after 1/2 or so)
Connears

 

[zurgswife]

We did Dec 20th to Jan 2 in 2003/2004....while it was very very crowded we had a great time....I would love to do it again...but Christmas away from home is difficult for my kids ages 14, 12, 11, 8...they love the home traditions...maybe in a few years ...

 

[winniedapooh]

Now zurgswife how did we miss you, lol. We were there at the same time! It was so crowded but as others have said if you get there when the parks open and leave and come back at night it is very doable. Some of the greatest parts of our trip were leaving going back and napping and swimming and then going back to the parks around 7ish. We stayed some nights until midnight! DH said never again but as you can see by my counter this is the DCherbus Christmas present this year! We leave Christmas afternoon. I do agree with zurgswife though, it is difficult to be away for the holidays and traditions. But this is the only time we can get away with them all for 13 days! Go and have a blast...take your time...make PS or whatever they are called now, lol, and have a plan!

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Now zurgswife how did we miss you, lol. We were there at the same time! It was so crowded but as others have said if you get there when the parks open and leave and come back at night it is very doable. Some of the greatest parts of our trip were leaving going back and napping and swimming and then going back to the parks around 7ish. We stayed some nights until midnight! DH said never again but as you can see by my counter this is the DCherbus Christmas present this year! We leave Christmas afternoon. I do agree with zurgswife though, it is difficult to be away for the holidays and traditions. But this is the only time we can get away with them all for 13 days! Go and have a blast...take your time...make PS or whatever they are called now, lol, and have a plan!

I fully agree, winniedapooh...so much so that we're doing it again ourselves this year! Hmmm, wonder if we're on the same flight? Are you leaving out of Logan on AA?

 

[UrsulasShadow]

WE ARRIVE RIGHT AFTER X-MAS. IS IT SAFE TO SAY THAT IT WILL GET A LITTLE BUSIER EACH DAY UP UNTIL NEW YEARS? OR WILL THE CROWDS BE SIMILAR EVERY DAY THE WEEK BETWEEN X-MAS AND NEW YEARS?

Well. let's just say that touringplans.com has each and every day from Christmas until New Years Day rated at a 10 for visitation, and when I did Christmas week before, they had MK shut down to new entries by 10:30 a.m. every day. So, I'd say there's really no diff. betwixt one day or another...it's all about getting to the non-EMH park of your choice an hour before scheduled opening, and bailing when the crowds hit.

 

[austinsmommy]

Here are a few pictures that were taken last year during that week...


Sunset Blvd. at MGM..

Frontierland at MK..

Liberty Square..the people down in the front are in line for the Haunted Mansion..

Line for the Haunted Mansion..

This week is SOOOOOO busy but SOOOOOO much fun!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[AUTUMN SUN]

WOW!!! WOW!!!! WOW!!!!! BY THE LOOK OF THOSE PICTIRES WE MAY NOT GET TO RIDE THE RIDES !

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Don't worry, Autumn Sun...make a plan, start early...you'll get to ride.

 

[SueM in MN]

I've been to WDW 3 times for New Years (the last was last year).
I would not recommend it for a first trip or if you really, really want to get things done (unless you plan on going early as some people did).
The pictures that austinsmommy posted are exactly what we found, but I would do it again any time. The atmosphere is great and there are a lot of things to see even if you don't go on a single ride. Just going around to the different resorts to see the decorations is worth it.

We are planning a trip Dec 29 - Jan 6th of this year. We are expecting the crowds during the first part of our trip, but can we hope for them to lighten up after new year's?

By January 2nd, it is like a different world (pun intended). It's like someone closed a gate somewhere and turned off the supply of people. The disadvantage is that the hours decrease, but you will be almost alone in the parks.