What's Disney like at XMAS?

[disneystlmom]

We have been to WDW three times but never during XMAS. Some of the spring times we've gone -- not everything was open such as in the summer.

Does anyone know the typical hours the week after XMAS to NYear's? Is the weather warm enough to swim? Do you have to wear coats, windbreakers, long sleeves? Is there special holiday stuff ie: parades, displays, etc.

Another forum member indicated it was one of the most expensive times of the year as well. How crowded is it? We made the mistake of trying it July 4th one year. Is that week similarly crowded?

 

[pcottrell]

We went last Christmas and I can not remember the exact operating hours, but they were extended. I can remember getting to the park by 8:00 and I know they were open until at least 10:00, maybe 11:00. I really am not sure when they closed because my kids could not make it that long!! The park was beautiful with all the decorations, but it was packed!! The only way we were able to get much done it because of the fastpass and because we got there when the parks opened each morning. The crowds were less in the early mornings and then by lunch we had to leave because we could not walk anywhere without bumping into people. The more popular rides had 2 hour+ wait times and all fastpasses for the whole day were gone by lunchtime. The day we went to Epcot we wanted to get a fast pass for test track first thing, but it was closed for maintaince. We decided to go to universe of energy and come back and by the time we got back about 20-30 mins. later there were no more fast passes!! There were many things that we just could not do because it was so crowded, but we still had fun because it was my kid's first time at wdw. We are planning to go back next year (not during a holiday week!!) and my dh is not sure because it was his first visit to wdw too and he thinks that this is the norm!!
As for the weather, it was really cold last year, I think that it was unusually cold. I did not bring enough warm clothes for my kids and had to go buy sweatshirts for them. It wound up warming up a little at the end of the week, maybe getting to 70 for a high. Again, I do not think that this was typical wether for Dec. , so it may be warm enough to swim this Dec.

I hope this helps!!
Paige

 

[Memaw2Wm]

We went Christmas week 1992 ... it was PACKED!!! No fast passes back then ... but I was with DH and DS who was 19 so we didn't whine, LOL!

I want to take my g'kids to Disney while the holiday decorations are up, but I'm planning on taking them out of school for a week and go the first week of December ... there's no way I take elementary school age kids to Disney during the Christmas break.

My SIL and her family went 2 Christmases ago ... they HATED Disney ... I think it was due to the crowds and the cold weather.

When we were there in 1992 it was chilly ... we wore lightweight jackets most days. My father, son and nephew went to Typhoon Lagoon to swim, but it was really too chilly.