Week of Christmas...am I crazy?

[Reneeaiko]

What do you think about the week of Christmas, specifclly Dec 19-26? Is it crazy nuts? Bearable? I am not too keen on taking the kids out of school and winter break is a good time for us to leave Alaska.

It would be just me and DD(9) and DS(5).

 

[teatime]

I hear its pretty crazy, many people going over christmas vacation and attendance is at an all time high.

 

[teatime]

this site will tell you what its like http://www.scottware.com.au/theme/feature/atend.htm

 

[JadeDarkstar]

nice chart

 

[hollieplus2]

What about the week before Christmas? Specifically during the middle of the week, the week before?

 

[AlabamaPrincesses]

We went to the MK at WDW on December 28th for the day when we were in the Orlando area for Christmas a few years ago. It was miserably crowded. 1 1/2 hour wait to Small World! Luckily we go a lot, so we just walked around. We will never go back Christmas week again. The decorations were nice though. I've heard that Christmay day is the busiest day of the year. Not sure if it's true...

 

[Sherry E]

It is both crowded AND bearable. If you go there with the knowledge that it is going to be crowded and you may have to plan a little more wisely to get things done, you will be fine. You will have a whole week, which is plenty of time to get everything down - crowds or no crowds - and honestly, even though the holidays at DLR are busy anyway, it doesn't really get unbearable or truly uncomfortable until after Christmas ends. So I would say that if you are at DLR from the 19th until the 26th, you will be fine. You will be leaving right before the crowds get hideous. Now if you were planning to be there on New Year's Eve, I would say run for the hills and don't set foot in DLR, but the 19th - 26th is nothing to be scared of. Lots of folks who are on their breaks stay home or with families for Christmas and then once that holiday passes, they all pack into DLR for the remaining vacation week. We were at DLR the last two years right before Christmas and it was very busy, but we managed it fine. It will be fine! You will have a great time - it is beautiful then and very magical!

 

[Judy from Boise]

If it was me i would take my kids out of school in a heartbeat to avoid that time of year.

 

[Reneeaiko]

I love this board. Lots to consider, thanks for all the info and if anyone else wants to throw their 2 cents please do...

 

[teatime]

What do you think about the week of Christmas, specifclly Dec 19-26? Is it crazy nuts? Bearable? I am not too keen on taking the kids out of school and winter break is a good time for us to leave Alaska.

It would be just me and DD(9) and DS(5).

9 and 5 are fine to take out of school, at least in my state. there still in grade school and this work can be made up easily long before they go. I would plan on going first week of December, or a better time. December in disneyland is hell.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I've done Dec. 26-27 and it was miserable. We will never do it again. How about taking them out a few days early and go mid week. I have never been the week before, but it is definitely better than between Xmas and New Yrs.

 

[StitchFanZ]

Can you go earlier in December? They are young enough that the last few days before christmas break they will probably be doing parties and holiday stuff at school, so they wouldn't miss that much if you went the 12th-18th instead. We have also extended our christmas break into January for an extra week and had a wonderful crowd free relaxing time.

 

[Diva of Dragons]

You can barely walk around DTD that time of year! It's the only time of year they "close the gates" due to crowds. That being said, if it's the only time you can go, I say why the heck not. Just plan wisely and plan to move slow.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

Last year, it was practically EMPTY on the 20-23. We had such a great time and did a lot with our girls.

We even hung out with Guy Fieri, as he filmed a special for this coming November....

 

[AlyssaCameronsDad]

I'm curious about this as well. We're going Jan 3-6 2010.

Can anybody confirm that the Sunday is the end of school holidays? Then will it be quieter Monday-Wednesday?

Thanks,
Brian

 

[AlabamaPrincesses]

I'm curious about this as well. We're going Jan 3-6 2010.

Can anybody confirm that the Sunday is the end of school holidays? Then will it be quieter Monday-Wednesday?

Thanks,
Brian

Your assumption that kids will be back in school on the 4th is probably correct for many kids, but school holiday breaks vary from school district to school district in the US.

 

[tholczer]

Alyssa - you'll be good Jan 3-6. Most of the schools down here are off for part of that week, so you may have to deal with all the annual pass holders. But the majority of the vacationers will have gone.

Tracy

 

[Sherry E]

Last year, it was practically EMPTY on the 20-23. We had such a great time and did a lot with our girls.

We even hung out with Guy Fieri, as he filmed a special for this coming November....

Yes, thanks for posting this, Nancy, as this is what I thought and was trying to express in my earlier post. The OP mentioned specifically Dec. 19th - 26th. That week will be okay. I mean, yes, it will be crowded, but DLR is rarely going to be totally empty any time of year, let alone in December. It is a wonderful fluke if it is empty. It is mainly from the 26th on through the beginning of January (depending on school schedules) that things start to get uncomfortably crowded. It is really fine prior to the 26th, and if going during the week of the 19th - 26th means not having to pull the kids from school, I would say do it. Again, as I stated earlier - one whole week is more than enough time to get everything done at DLR. I have never noticed it to be 'hell' in DLR in December, as stated by a PP, other than on December 31st - which really WAS hell. You just have to pan a little better to combat the extra people in the parks. I don't want the OP to get the wrong idea about holiday crowds vs. REALLY AWFUL SCARY crowds. The 19th - 25th will not be REALLY AWFUL SCARY crowds. The 26th will start to get a bit worse, and then on to New Year's will be bad.