When does Christmas peak crowd start?

[WendyLovesPeter]

Like Dec 23-24.... Or Earlier?

 

[DizneyLizzy]

I think you hit it right on the nose. I was there until the 21st last year and while the crowds definitely built from when I got there on the 16th, they were no worse than March spring break or holiday weekend crowds when we left.

 

[sarahkate60120]

We were there from the 15th - the 19th this past year and Monday the 19th, and it was much more crowded than it had been any of the other days. It was the Monday of Christmas week and I guess the start of vacation for many.

 

[si-am]

We usually go the week before Christmas. Crowds definitely start picking up around the 23rd. Before that date, even when schools have let out earlier, it's never really too bad.

 

[kathy884]

We've done five Christmas trips. Peak crowds are the period between Christmas Eve and New Years just like you were thinking. The closer to Christmas week, the greater the crowds, but we have usually found any day prior to Christmas week considerably less crowded than Christmas week itself. With the way the holidays fall this year, I think the week after New Year's while less crowded than Christmas week will be pretty heavy too.

 

[RMulieri]

Crowds start to pick up around Dec 18-19th.They don't get really busy till December 24-25th

 

[mom2rtk]

Once schools start getting out, that's my cue to scoot on out. ANY time schools are out (even some) crowds start picking up. Last year a lot of schools started releasing on the 16th, and the crowds went right up along with it. They build over that time, getting particularly bad the couple days before Christmas, then peaking between Chistmas and New Years.

So yes, the week before Christmas is less busy than the week after Christmas, but that very last week is indeed pretty busy.

 

[disneydad78]

From what we have seen, every year it gets worse and worse. Probally do to all the talk on forums about Dec. It has become one of the most popular times to go. Now more and more people are arriving early , each year you can push the crowd levels back by 3-5 days. Ive seen the crowd level start to grow around the 15th of Dec. and by christmas,,WOW.

 

[AlohaAnnie]

We went to Disney for Christmas 12/22 - 12/29/2011 and we notice the crowds pick up on 12/24 and from then on the level rose.

 

[AlohaAnnie]

and by christmas,,WOW.

I have to completely agree! Let's just say, we will not return for Christmas unless it is at the beginning of December. We enjoyed our visit but it was wall to wall crowded. I will never forget it. It was worse than any other time we have been to Disney. We have been at Spring Break & for Starwars Weekends. But we loved the decorations