When do crowds increase at Christmas?

[Kasmir]

Hi! We are planning our trip to Disney for December 7-20, 2004. I really hate it when it's super crowded... It occurred to me that Saturday, the 18th, it may start to get extremely crowded, since Christmas this year falls on the following Saturday.

In your experience, when have you noticed the holiday crowds really begin to pick up?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

This past year we were at WDW for the two weeks of Christmas and New Year's. It was super crowded on Christmas Day on through New Year's Day. The two most crowded days of all were Christmas and New Year's Eve. On both days they closed some parks to visitors. The few days before Christmas were crowded but nothing like Christmas and after. I think you will notice crowds on the dates you are talking about but less than if you stayed another week.

HBC

 

[Kasmir]

Thank you, Happy Birthday Cat!

A shameless bump for more opinions....

 

[goofy4tink]

We were there in Dec from the 12th to the 17th. The week-end was moderatly busy but the week-days weren't too bad. I'd go then again if it weren't for the chillyness!!

 

[Sally Bradley]

We were there Dec 16-23 this year. Didnt notice the crowds picking up till the 22nd.

 

[kadaten]

Originally posted by Sally Bradley
We were there Dec 16-23 this year. Didnt notice the crowds picking up till the 22nd.

That's a second for that! We were there Dec 17-22, and while the crowds started increasing on the Saturday (the 20th) is was only marginal. Hit the park on the 22nd before leaving and was totally socked in....couldn't move anywhere in FantasyLand! DD had been sick all week we'd been there and was finally well and wanted to ride "Cinderella's Horse" and Small World, so we decided to salvage the trip for her and go back to the parks for a few hours after checking out. Glad we did, but in the time we did those 2 things, we could've done them 3 or 4 times just a day or two before.

Crowds start growing the Saturday before Christmas...the first day the kids are out of school....and keep growing until they reach the peak Christmas Day to New Year's Day....then begin slacking off again.

HTH,
Katie

 

[Kasmir]

Thank you very much for the replies!

I guess our last couple of days there, I'll be prepared for crowds.

 

[Mic]

I'm taking both my sisters and their hubbies and kids with my family (13-14 of us total) to WDW Dec.19-24, hoping it won't be too bad. It will be the second time my sisters have gone, but they were not with me the first time, so who knows what kind of experience they had And they each have children and hubbies that have never been. My plan is to use early entry each day, leave the park after lunch, and go to another park in the evening for parade/fireworks. One sister does not rise early, so this plan may be scrapped after the first day; I plan on discussing the plan before we leave. We have spent several NYE in WDW, and decided after 2001/2002 not to try it last year.People(even CM's) seemed rude. By going the week before I hope to satisfy my need to see the Candlelight Processional and the Christmas decorations at the Boardwalk. Unfortunately, we can't go before the 19th, so I'm jealous. I think you're wise to plan on the last few days of your trip being crowded, but I agree with other posters that nothing compares to Dec.25-Jan.1, except maybe Easter week!

 

[KFISCHER]

that the crowds start picking up about one week before Christmas.
That would be about Dec. 18th.
Up till then, clear sailing.

 

[daystar]

Hi,
We were just there for Christmas, we went from Dec. 23 to Dec. 2.....I found that the parks were not that busy untill the last two days......Any of the other days were barely crowded....We started our day off as soon as the parks open that is when the parks are least crowded.....