Week before Christmas?

[aleighc1]

I'm playing around with our trip dates a bit. Currently we are booked for October 21-27th, but we might need to change. My daughters are competitive gymnasts, and my oldest daughter recently suffered some pretty serious injuries. She's going to be on crutches (or possibly a wheelchair, depending on how severe her shoulder and wrist injuries are), for 4-6 weeks. I don't think a trip to Disneyland is the best idea right after she is able to start walking on her own again. I was thinking about moving our trip to the week after Thanksgiving (November 21-December 1st), and being there for our baby daughter's first birthday. I was also thinking possibly doing it the week before Christmas, December 16-22. How bad do you think crowds will be during that week before Christmas? We would be doing the parks Monday through Friday, with Sunday and Saturday being our travel days.

Thanks!

 

[Cinderpamela]

Well according to the Disney Tourist Blog the week before Christmas is listed as moderately busy. So I would say your probably good if you go in with a plan and as an added bonus you will be there when all the Christmas decorations are up.... our absolute favorite time to be there!

 

[aleighc1]

Thanks, Pam. I've booked a room for all three weeks we are considering, so we at least have a little time to research and make a decision.

 

[lurpee]

I pray and hope your daughter heals quickly! I would say wait. In '96 I had a cracked ankle and was in DL for one day. Did not feel good and it sounds like she is in worse shape than I was.
Kerri

 

[CajunMomof3]

Our dates are 12/19-12/24. I hope that the moderate crowd level holds true...
We took my MIL to WDW in a wheelchair (after a surgery) a few years ago. I will just say that It was not a fun trip. I would suggest waiting if it works out to do so.
Maybe we will pass in the parks

 

[Cinderpamela]

I was thinking about moving our trip to the week after Thanksgiving (November 21-December 1st), and being there for our baby daughter's first birthday.

Thanks!

I should add that one of the best weeks to go during the holiday season for lower crowds is the week after Thanksgiving.

That's when we schedule our trip. It is really busy on Thanksgiving Day and then the Friday and Saturday are busy too, but then by Sunday you notice the crowds really start to lighten up and by Tuesday/Wednesday its very pleasant.

Though I will say that on the last few trips that we did during this time frame to us it seemed to be getting a bit busier... perhaps more folks are figuring out our secret...that this is the best time to go?!

 

[gatorfreud]

If you can go the week after Thanksgiving, that would be best. Dec. 16-21 will be pretty crowded I think... although the first few days of it may be ok. We were there the Dec. 19-23 one year and it was WALL TO WALL mid-day.

 

[tajz90]

We were there last December thru Christmas Dy and it wasn't that bad. It was crowded, but quite manageable. We rode and saw everything we wanted as many times as we wanted. The Haunted Mansion line was ridiculously long, but even then, we were able to see The Nightmare Before Christmas several times.

Of course, it was also before the new Carsland

 

[jordansmomma]

We went in 2007 during Christmas week, it wasn't too bad until Christmas Day. This year we are going 12/19-27. With a day for Grinchmas added in. I hope the first few days are not too bad.

 

[CajunMomof3]

We went in 2007 during Christmas week, it wasn't too bad until Christmas Day. This year we are going 12/19-27. With a day for Grinchmas added in. I hope the first few days are not too bad.

What is Grinchmas? We are BIG Grinch fam sin my house, and this sounds intersting...

 

[tajz90]

What is Grinchmas? We are BIG Grinch fam sin my house, and this sounds intersting...

Grinchmas is hosted by Universal Studios

 

[CajunMomof3]

Grinchmas is hosted by Universal Studios

Thanks! We planned on a possible day there. I guess that is a definite day now!!

 

[aleighc1]

Lurpee- thank you for your kind comments. My poor girl is going crazy having to sit around all day! Going from 20 hours a week of conditioning and training down to zero is hard, but she's a trooper.

I think we are pretty much decided to hold off on our trip until November or December. I'm trying to push for the week after Thanksgiving since it sounds like crowds might be better for us. DH wants the week before Christmas because he thinks it would be "more magical" to be there right before the holiday. I guess we'll talk it out and see who wins, lol!

Thank you for all the replies, I appreciate it!

 

[Cinderpamela]

That week after Thanksgiving you get all of the Christmas magic without the crowds! Everything is decked out in Christmas finery, and all the Christmas programs are in full swing but that crowds are not as massive.

One new thing to take into consideration...this year Disneyland is adding a bunch of performances of the Candlelight Processional. Unlike at WDW where there is a theatre specially built for this, at DL they have to set up a stage.

On the last days of our Thanksgiving trip they are beginning to set up the stage for what is usually just a weekend worth of shows. The stage is usually set up in front of the train station on Main Street. I can’t imagine how they are going to manage crowds with the giant stage set up for several weeks rather than the usual weekend bit.

It might be nice to have your trip mostly done before this show goes into production, as I imagine that in the first year of doing this extended version of the Candlelight Processional, there is going to be a large learning curve.

On the otherhand, with all the added performances, it might be easier to get a ticket if your going the week before Christmas.

 

[aleighc1]

It looks like the week after Thanksgiving is a go! My husband talked to his boss yesterday, and his boss said he absolutely could not spare him the week before Christmas, but that end of November would be fine. I think it'll be so fun to celebrate our daughter's first birthday in the park! Now I just need to think of a surprise way to tell the kids about the trip....