Week Before/Of Christmas vs Week between Christmas and NYE

[clemsontyger]

We are planning our first family trip and planning for a December arrival. We have a 4 and 6 year old. We had originally planned to be there the week between CHristmas and New Years, but have read on many blogs this is one of the worst, if not the single worst week to go due to crowd.

Has anyone had experience with that week vs. say the week just before and into the week OF Christmas? We had originally planned 12/25-1/1, but now thinking 12/18-12/24. Does anyone think we will see a noticeable difference in the crowd between those two options? Obviously it's going to be busy either way, but we're hoping maybe a bit less busy the week before.

 

[sheila <3 WDW]

I'm curious to know, also!! I am planning 12/20-12/27. Last year they offered free dining up until 12/23, so I'm hoping the few days before Christmas are less busy, but I don't know.

 

[staceyrhood]

The week before Christmas week will be great. However December 19- January 2nd will be complete insanity...by far the 2 busiest weeks of the year. Very pretty to see, but shoulder to shoulder people.

 

[Alesia]

Almost every school in the country will be out of school from the 19th on. It will start out being extremely busy and will just keep getting worse. The week between Christmas and New Year's Day is busier than you can possibly imagine.

Having said that, it is still possible to have a great trip. Just make sure your expectations are in line with reality.

 

[happypaws]

I stayed at Disney Between Christmas and New Years a number of years ago as part of the Land and Sea package. I don't remember the crowds being much different than spring time, busy but manageable. Plus being on the cruise ship during New Years was pretty magical. I can only imagine how great it would be at Disney world too.

 

[Alesia]

I stayed at Disney Between Christmas and New Years a number of years ago as part of the Land and Sea package. I don't remember the crowds being much different than spring time, busy but manageable. Plus being on the cruise ship during New Years was pretty magical. I can only imagine how great it would be at Disney world too.

I have to ask when that was? There was a time when WDW wasn't as crowded at Christmas as it is now, but that was a while ago.

 

[JFulmer]

My family stayed this past Christmas from the 19th to the 28th.
We found that the days leading up to Christmas Day were busy but not as bad as we were expecting. That being said the rest of the trip (Christmas day and beyond) were INSANE!

We had a wonderful time and are all very glad that we had the opportunity to experience it, however going forward we will be planning trips off the quieter months such as May and September.

 

[happypaws]

I have to ask when that was? There was a time when WDW wasn't as crowded at Christmas as it is now, but that was a while ago.

It was awhile ago, 2004-2005 I think. Maybe predates Very Merry Christmas Party. I'm sure things are a bit busier now.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

There is definitely a noticeable difference between the weeks. You will also probably find some discounts the week before while it is unlikely the week of.

 

[mt mommy]

This is discouraging to me. We really want to do a Christmas surprise trip. Are all of the parks shoulder to shoulder people? Or just MK?

 

[lovewdwdvc]

All of the parks are busy during Christmas week. We have gone twice during that time frame. We get up early, make sure to get fast passes and enjoy lots of the remarkable aspects of Disney that are not part of the theme parks. The parks are very, very crowded. If you like doing things very late at night, that's another option. Great weather, great pools ( if it is warm enough ), great resorts, great activities.

 

[jtobykrauss]

We have gone the last 3 years from around the 12/17-12/26 and have found the parks really not that bad we also go every summer and the summer seems more crowded to me. Things do pick up towards the end of the trip we always do animal kingdom or disney Hollywood studois on Xmas day in the morning the parks are ok but once the shut don MK it gets crazy but that is the only day we found really nuts not sure if it stays that way cause we always leave on the 26 th.

 

[Disneylover99]

We were there Dec. 20-30. We had an amazing time. It was a bit more crowded from Christmas day towards New Years. Just go super early or super late in the day. We also spent a lot of time in World Showcase where it never seemed too busy. Enjoy!

 

[LuvGoofy6]

We went in 2011 from Dec. 17-22 and it wasn't bad at all. In fact, we did the late magic hours at Magic Kingdom and were thrilled that we could ride many rides several times over (after the last parade it seems everyone with little kids had left the park).

 

[mt mommy]

All of the parks are busy during Christmas week. We have gone twice during that time frame. We get up early, make sure to get fast passes and enjoy lots of the remarkable aspects of Disney that are not part of the theme parks. The parks are very, very crowded. If you like doing things very late at night, that's another option. Great weather, great pools ( if it is warm enough ), great resorts, great activities.

I think we will go later and stay until closing, we are coming from the West Coast. Thanks for the advice!

We have gone the last 3 years from around the 12/17-12/26 and have found the parks really not that bad we also go every summer and the summer seems more crowded to me. Things do pick up towards the end of the trip we always do animal kingdom or disney Hollywood studois on Xmas day in the morning the parks are ok but once the shut don MK it gets crazy but that is the only day we found really nuts not sure if it stays that way cause we always leave on the 26 th.

Thanks for the input. I am trying to decide how many days to stay. My DD will be 14 and DS 12. So, the MK isn't as appealing as when they were little. So sad.....

We were there Dec. 20-30. We had an amazing time. It was a bit more crowded from Christmas day towards New Years. Just go super early or super late in the day. We also spent a lot of time in World Showcase where it never seemed too busy. Enjoy!

We will go late in the day! I really want to see the Christmas overlay. I would love to go before Christmas, but Santa will be leaving plane tickets and park tickets under the tree to be opened Christmas morning. Then we will leave Christmas day for Orlando!! So, we will be there when it's more crowded. If I could figure out a way to have "Santa" surprise them earlier I would do it. (MY DS 11, is still on the fence on being a believer of Santa!)

We went in 2011 from Dec. 17-22 and it wasn't bad at all. In fact, we did the late magic hours at Magic Kingdom and were thrilled that we could ride many rides several times over (after the last parade it seems everyone with little kids had left the park).

That is encouraging that if we stay late we might actually ride some rides!! We will be going to Universal too, so I'm trying to decide what 2 WDW parks to go to for 2 days, difficult decision!! Thanks for the input!!

 

[LuvGoofy6]

That is encouraging that if we stay late we might actually ride some rides!! We will be going to Universal too, so I'm trying to decide what 2 WDW parks to go to for 2 days, difficult decision!! Thanks for the input!!

We did the same thing! We left Disney on the 22nd and stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel from the 22-24th. Staying on property at Universal gave us front of the line access and we literally walked on every ride except the Hogwarts part of the park. But staying on property lets you into the park an hour before the general public and we got a lot out of the way at that time. However Hogwarts was very crowded even though it was closed to the general public). I imagine it's because everyone staying on property did the same thing we did.

 

[scoobydooby]

I have visited those two weeks in 2010. Both busy but from Christmas Eve it was insanely busy. We generally visit in August which is also busy but that is nothing compared to Christmas week. The MK opened at 7am all week from Christmas Day to NYE and if you can be there for half an hour before it opens and use a touring plan and FPP wisely you can stay ahead of the crowd until midday as most people can't get up. That said I would definitely not choose that week for my first ever visit personally. Glad to have done Christmas week once but never again. Also you have little kids who will need a break. I advise you to choose a different time for your first visit. It will be shoulder to shoulder people Christmas week and if you don't know your way around that will be tough. For a first trip with younger kids I would choose as quieter time as possible and one when you can be guaranteed it is warm enough to swim. Your kids wil like the hotel pools as much as the parks. They all do when they're little mine still do and they are 13 and 16 and have visited about 10 times each!!!!

 

[LuvGoofy6]

OP, I agree with scoobydooby that it may be too much if you try to go from Christmas to NYE. I think your Dec. 18-24 would be your best bet. As scoobydooby pointed out if you can get their early plus make use of your fast passes, then maybe head back to the resort to give your little ones a rest when the crowd is coming. Or sleep in and utilize the late hours (which is what we do because we have a high school son and college aged daughter). But definitely using either the early or late magic hours will help.