Week before Xmas 2004 - HELP!

[AdventurerKat]

I desperately want to spend the holidays at WDW just for the beauty of it and I think my boys would have so much fun! My DH, not so much into the idea. Too worried about crowds. I was going to go myself this year after Xmas but a couple things happened and that just fell by the wayside.

Xmas is on a Saturday next year so my hope was that I could convince him to go the week before and then he could ship off to his family in NJ the day after with the kids if he wants to and then I could stay on for a few days for New Years.

Would your guess be that it will still be pretty empty then? I was thinking maybe most people might arrive on Thursday or Friday, maybe even the day after Xmas if they were coming down for it next year.

I know the only way I will convince him to go is if I can convince him it won't be busy. Anyone have experience at this time of year? Please tell me it won't be so bad.

 

[mickeysaver]

Having just returned Sunday from our stay all the week prior, I can say that the crowds really started taking hold on Friday and Saturday. I don't think that you can convience your hubby that it won't be crowded. Sorry. Now, if you take the week before that one, it should be just about perfect. IMHO Maggie

 

[DemonLlama]

As someone who is going next year about that time, and was there through Christmas a year ago, I can tell you there is no more magical time to be at Disney World. We were not overwhelmed by crowds, but we were willing to get up and be at the parks before the gates opened in order to have the park nearly empty for a while and get many of our rides in early. If that fits with your vacation plans, even going the week before Christmas should not be a problem. (Even Christmas morning in the Magic Kingdom was very nice first thing in the morning. My kids even rode Goofy's Barnstormer (their favorite) many times without getting off in Toontown. This was not, however, on a Saturday.)

 

[SnowWitch]

We try to hit WDW the week before Christmas week. In 2004 we are arriving on Sat the 11th and departing on the 18th or 19th. We have always went during this time in Dec and have found that the crowds start descending on the World the weekend prior to Christmas Day. In years past, the Sat before Christmas the parks start becoming less amanagable for us. Understand anything to us over a 20 minute wait is not acceptable. During our trips the first few weeks of Dec are fabulous and no other time of year can compare, we take our kids who are both in middle school out for a week.

 

[Buckleybunch]

Last year we went Dec 12-26th. I really didn't notice a big change in attendence until the 20th.. Just my opinion.
For 2004, we will be back down at disney. After staying home this year, I would rather be down there with the crowds, then the stress at home. I had to cook, 3 large meals today, by myself, then clean the kitchen 3 times, pick up after my kids and the wrapping paper.. I'll take the disney crowds any time..

So my point is- even though it is busy, you are at disney world.