WDW week after christmas

[kymmyk13]

Ok how bad is it crowd wise and cost

 

[OKW Lover]

Bad - on both counts. The crowds are about the busiest of the year and since its a busy period, Disney knows people will pay extra to go then.

 

[Beauties n the Beast]

I'll find out first hand - this is the week I've booked for our vacation. I really wanted to be there to experience the holiday magic...but don't want to be away ON Christmas, and this was the only time I can feel OK taking an entire week away, since my kids aren't missing school. I am ready to brave the crowds - we'll be in Disneyworld for pete's sake!

 

[seashoreCM]

Yes, the holiday atmosphere can be most enjoyable. But mixing in aspects of the normal atmosphere, like going on rides, will be severely compromised.

Two or three weeks before Christmas have all the holiday atmosphere and much less crowding although there will still be a lot of waiting in line. Unfortunately the holiday atmosphere fades rapidly after New Years.

 

[goofykb03]

It's pretty bad. I've done it 3 times (only once by choice really... the other 2 were trips with marching band in high school) and I have vowed to never do it again. I date a teacher, so I'm limited to school vacations from now on, but I would pick any other school vacation week before I'd pick the week after Christmas.

To be fair, Disney during the holidays is incredible. I love the park, decorations, events, etc at that time. I'd say if you really want to experience the magic during the holidays, it's worthwhile to do it at least once. But, speaking as a 20-something with no kids, I find the lines to be close to unbearable at times. They are so much longer, and I have never seen so much horrible (or just plain lack of...) parenting and poorly behaved children as a result, as I have seen during that week. I know... I don't sympathize with raising a kid and bringing them on vacation... but still. How hard is it to tell your kid to stop kicking the person in front of you in line?!?

 

[BradyBz12]

If you run a search over on the Theme Parks board there are lots of threads about Christmas crowds and how to best manage them.

Christmas-New Years week is very definitely THE busiest week of the entire year. This past year every park except EP closed to capacity at some point, and MK closed to capacity 4 days of that week at around 11 am. On most days it reopened around 3pm, except for NYE when it didn't reopen until 9pm.

In case it's helpful, the 4 phases of park closure are...

The turnstile master computer at each park keeps track of both entries and exits. When a park capacity closes (which is done in stages) there has to be a certain number of people exiting, with the total "in park" below a certain number, before they start allowing people in again.

I am low enough on the totem pole that I have no idea what these numbers are.

There are four stages to park closing:

Stage 1 - The parking lot entrance is closed. You can only access the park if you are using Disney Transportation.

Stage 2 - The ticket windows are all closed (and the automated Ticket Vending Machines are turned off). Unless you already have a ticket you cannot get in.

Stage 3 - Only people with Annual Passes or current Resort IDs will be allowed in.

Stage 4 - Nobody is allowed in.

Note - having restaurant reservations in a park, even with written proof, will not override a stage closing for you.

Also, if you are staying at a Disney owned and operated Resort and have a ticket, you are guaranteed entry into A park. Not necessarily the one you want (unless you want to go into AK). And if you have entered and left a park and do not have a hopper you may not get into anything.

 

[tdsimcic]

we went to disney the week between christmas and new years in 2008 and if it was my first ever at disney i would never go back

 

[Beauties n the Beast]

I'm ready for the crowds!
Wondering, for those who have been Christmas thru New Year week - which park is the best to go to on NYE? I have my 2 daughters, who will be ages 13 and 9.....

 

[jillybeene71]

Im gonna have to go against everyone here...We were there from Dec 31-Jan 5 staying at POP. The only night I really paid alot for was New Years eve, 145.00 Jan 1st through the 5th I paid 67.00 a night. I was surprised at the price, but yes the discounts started on the 1st. As for the park to go to for NYE...we went to Hollywood studios which was awesome, dont get me wrong it was crowded but not as crowded as Epcot (which you couldnt pay me enough to go there on NYE again) We didnt ride anything, but we did get to see the Osbourne lights and the fireworks (we got there around 9pm)
New Years day at Magic Kingdom was great also...20 minute waits from opening till around lunchtime. I was surprised at that too. I thought as the days went by, crowds would lighten but they got worse. Just use fastpasses and you'll be fine. The decorations are the best reason to go at that time also.