Week Between Christmas and New Year..

[Disneymom2266]

My family and I would like to go to WDW between Christmas and New Year this year... Have any on here been that week? How are the crowds? What is it like then. Weather??

 

[Disneypirate85]

Weather can be hit or miss so pack for both. Crowds can be and will be extreme...don't forget to breath and just plan accordingly...But it is a GREAT time to be in the World with all the decorations. Shawn

 

[Disneymom2266]

Well, we have been many times, usually in the summer. Last year we were there on 4th of July. The crowds at MK after fireworks almost made me have a panic attack! So, it`s usually so hot when we are there, I thought it might be nice to walk around in a sweatshirt and jeans for a change. I have never seen the Christmas decorations.. I want to. We watch the Very Merry Christmas Parade every Christmas morning and I get very melancholy. Maybe if we go right after this year... I can be happy when I watch.

 

[Deb & Bill]

One word - ARRRRGGGGGHHHH. The busiest week of the year at WDW. Lines get horridly long - 180-240 minutes. The theme parks close sporatically during the day to guests because they fill.

Never, ever, ever plan on this week for a first time trip to WDW. Never. You will never return and will miss out on a lot of fun at other times.

 

[jekjones1558]

If you are thinking of going this year there are categories of rooms that are already booked. Personally I much prefer going before Christmas. You get to see and do all holiday stuff but without fighting the crowds. If there is any way that your schedule will allow a trip earlier in December, go for it. These DVC dates are also becoming filled up for this year, so if you are thinking of 2009 it would be good to decide soon.

 

[njmeisje]

We went this past Christmas for the first time. The weather was amazing. We were used to WDW in summer, so it was a breath of fresh air to walk around in 80-85 degree weather and no humidity. We loved that. My mom (lives in Orlando) said the weather was the warmest winter in a while, so it was atypical by about 10 degrees or so.

The crowds - are Insane. This is not an exaggeration. I thought I was used to summer crowds.....Uh, NO. The Christmas to NY week is the worst. The decorations made it very special - but I won't do it again. Men were fighting to get on the trams to Epcot....actually fighting. People lose their humanity when crowds get that bad.

I say, do it once - and decide if you enjoyed it enough for the price you pay....

Enjoy

 

[disneystick]

Love the cooler weather and all the holiday decorations...but when it comes to using the restrooms at the theme parks...just to use the ladies room was between 15-30 minutes wait.

We have gone that week now for the past 3 years...and each year we swear never again...but we have been know to change our mind.

 

[Bob Price]

My family and I would like to go to WDW between Christmas and New Year this year... Have any on here been that week? How are the crowds? What is it like then. Weather??

 

[twinklebug]

The key to enjoying WDW at chrsitmas is to EXPECT the crowds, learn to stay out of the way of the crowds and to not anticipate being able to get on any rides if you're unwilling to wait an hour or more due to the crowds. No point in beign frustrated at them, remember, you're one of them. LOL.

I loved being there at Christmas time. Go for the music, the decorations and the memories. If you do get on any rides without a long wait it will most likely be Nemo, Journey into Imagination, etc. These were walk-ons 6pm on NYE, the most crowded time of the year.

The weather is typically cool in late December. Bring lightweight gloves and layer up. It *may* get as warm as 80 during the day, most likely not, but even if it does it can drop down into the 40s again by 10pm.

Oh, and just because I mentioned EPCOT on NYE, it does not mean I recommend it. People everywhere who just stop in the middle of the walkways make it hard to get to any destination at all. However, I will say China had one amazing 'dancefloor' set up

 

[bobbiwoz]

In '08 the last Candlelight Processional was on December 30th. We went then, but it just felt different. Also, although we brought our Santa hats, there were very very few people around with any Christmas wear.

We went to see MK fireworks on the 30th, and then Epcot's on the 31st, and they were fabulous. We fully intend to make a few days between Christmas and New Years part of our yearly visits to WDW. However, we're going to somehow fit in a weekend BEFORE Christmas to do the Christmas things, like a MVMCP and the CP. That time that we go the week after Christmas will be just anticipating the NYE celebration. We are a couple. I will at sometime in the future offer a trip to the greater family, but I'm not encouraging DS and DDiL to bring the DGC during that time. However, it will be up to them of course.

Epcot was very very crowded on NYE. We saw fireworks at 8:30 and then to pass the time until Midnight, (although they began the celebration around 11:40, thank heavens!) we went to France's movie twice, China's and Canada's each once. We waited for the rest rooms longer than you can imagine, but then it was time, and that was GREAT!

We've never had great swimming weather for our December trips, and sometimes it's been very cold.

Bobbi

 

[bringmethathorizon]

its one of those things that everyone needs to do ONCE in there life.been there the week before christmas an it was great.the key is getting out of town by the 23 of dec.this past year we went from dec 27 to jan 3.Actually saw some people with first time buttons on.You can usually pick first timers out by the look on there faces.I spoke to some of them and told them not to hold this experience against disney.come back again at a slower time and it will be completely different.one good thing did happen this year DW finally got her DVC at blt.HAVE A GREAT TIME.

 

[bczang]

We were there that week in 2008 and crowds were HUGE. MK shut down to new visitors for a few hours in the middle of the day due to the park being at capacity. Would not go again during that time. We would rather go in early December to enjoy the decorations but not the crowds!

 

[dblr]

All of the posts are right on the money, nice weather and large crowds. We were there this year @ this time and had a great time, when things got to crowded we took a mid day break and went to some resorts to see the holiday deoratios, it made for a nice break.
We spent NYE in the Mk with 60,000 of our closest friends but still really had a good time, the crowds leaving were crazy, All in all go but plan for crowds and you should be fine.

 

[Kelblum]

We went during this time and it was extremely crowded. Epcot actually closed on New Year's Eve because it was at capacity. It was an awesome party though!! It was the most fun NYE ever.

The Holiday decorations were absolutely beautiful and were worth seeing, but if it were not for fast passes we would have never gotten on a ride.

I would not go during this time again!! Way too crowded.

 

[OurDogCisco]

We went in Dec 2006 from Dec 26 to January 2nd. It was crowded but we found if you go in the morning and take advantage of EMH that helps alot. So, we did more mornings on this trip than evenings. Also, we planned to do other things like Afternoon tea at GF, miniature golfing, and waterparks. Although it was too cold for waterparks so, we didn't get to do that. It is still a great week to go just plan accordingly. We are at a point where that might be the only week we can go. I made a lot of ADRs for lunch & dinner just in case. Go and have fun. TGM was also a great help...

 

[PamOKW]

I agree that everyone should try it once. I've loved my Christmas visits and will have more in my future, I'm sure. But, I can see how some people wouldn't want to deal with the crowds -- especially if you really want to go on the rides and aren't happy just enjoying the extra shows and decorations.

A word about the weather. I think the last few years have been pretty good. However, my first trip is the source of my tag about hats & gloves. It wasn't cool -- it was darn cold!! Had to scrape a film of ice off the windshield cold. With so many of the events at night you really had to be well dressed as temps were in the high 20's low 30's. It was a freak year that the cold lasted for almost a week -- WDW had to wrap the ornamental palms in burlap and blow heaters on them. Just be prepared that you might find 40-50 degree days and 20-30 degree nights. Another year we had terrific weather where it was comfortable all week; even at night and some days were up around 80.

 

[drusba]

You get everything Christmas as decorations are incredible and the Osbourne Lights in the studios are something that must be seen. Outdoor shows go to a Christmas theme. Country Bear goes to a Christmas show. You also get long hours with MK going to midnight. New Years Eve it goes to 1 or later and Epcot the same.

As to crowds, one way to describe it is imagine yourself at the base of Main Street at noon looking down to the castle. You don't see the street, you don't the sidewalks, all you see is a sea of bobbing heads all next to each other. The crowds get so thick that it can take 35 to 40 minutes just to walk from Space Mountain to Splash Mountain. For popular rides, beginning by 9:30 and lasting all day and night you get stand-by lines of 2 to 2 1/2 hours except that Soarin goes to 4 and Test Track 3 1/2. People actually start grabbing prime spots for the daily MK parade up to 2 hours before it begins. Parks, particularly MK (and Epcot on NY Eve) can go to capacity. You have been July 4 so you know how bad crowds can be but during Christmas week every day is somewhat worse than July 4 and NY Eve makes July 4 look like an off-season. Note if you want to eat at any restaurant, you must make ressies far in advance. Even the counter service places get to 45 minute lines. Also note that the parade you see on TV does not occur on Christmas. It is taped weeks before. Weather can be real nice, or real nasty, and many shades in between.

 

[JCLNJ]

We were there last year from Dec 28 to jan 2 and stayed at BCV. We had a good time. On the Sunday went to BB, Monday morning went to MK and had went on all the rides by noon watched the Christmas parade and then went over to Epcot. Had reservations at 2 for Rose and Crown and tickets for the 5 pm Candlelight prosesional. On Tuesday went to see decorations at other resorts. F0r NYE went to AK in the morning and then went back to BCV for a rest before we went to Hollywood Studios. Enjoyed Osborne Lights and brought in the NY. We stayed until 2:30 and got a boat back to BC on the first boat that came. We had a great time and if you plan ahead can enjoy this time of year.