When does the crowd start arriving for Christmas?

[dyna]

I'm looking at a visit from Dec 18th -23rd I'm thinking the parks will be fine till about noon on Friday the 23rd then the Christmas crowd will really start arriving.

What do you all think? Anyone out there with past experince on the just before Christmas crowd?

 

[gymnasticscoach TX]

I was there last year, December 17-21. We arrived on Friday, the last day for the MVMCP. This "evening" was very crowded being a Friday and the last party. But the parks were great! I've been in july when crowds were there so I knew what to compare to. I couldn't believe the empty lines on many rides~ Friday, Saturday and Sunday I will say every passing day, the crowds increased. By tuesday(our last day) MK was almost unbearable. Practically shoulder to shoulder. Don't mean to alarm you, just giving you my honest opinion. We left about 3 days before Christmas Eve. I would recommend you research your "MUST DO LIST" and do these things at the begining of your trip and dont waste any time. This allowed us to ride certain attractions multiple times with little or no lines or crowds. The last day was for shopping and sightseeing in the parks. There was no way I was going to fight the crowd for popular attractions! Good luck with your trip, if you have anymore questions I'll be glad to post again. You will really enjoy the first days of you trip with low crowds! That is a wonderfull feeling when you think you have the park to yourself!!! one more nice thing, we arrived POFQ and checked in at value season, so the price of hotel was set for the week, even after the peak season rates started. ~Lynn~

 

[jann1033]

an easy way is to check what the last "value season" day is...the next day...look out! they will be there in droves( at least that has been our experience!)

 

[ksdave]

Last day of "Value Season" this year is 12/19. So, starting 12/20 .

 

[dyna]

Thanks everyone yeah I knew when the last value day was doesn't look like this is gonna work for us anyway it was a thought but not a very good one.

Just so hard to find a time that not crowded to take DD now that she is in high school and we don't do hot weather well.

 

[disney1990]

We've always found the crowds build the day after Christmas. It seems like a lot of people celebrate Christmas at home and then head to Disney.