Which day is busier - Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

[Travel Mum]

I'm in the stage of planning a big trip for my family of five to UK/Europe next Dec/Jan (2014/15). It will be our children's first time to UK/Europe. Whilst in Paris, the normal tourist attractions will be our priority but I just can't resist slipping in a day at Disney since we'd be so close! However, the time our Paris stay would fall would be a very busy time at Disney unfortunately.

We'd be there Dec 24-28 and so I'm trying to work out if any of those days are less super busy than the other. Would Christmas Eve day or Christmas Day possibly be less busy than Dec 26-28 due to the locals staying away and spending time with their families?

 

[Travel Mum]

Bump.

Does anyone have any guess about which of these two peak days are busiest?

 

[Jonjo]

There will be fewer people visiting DLP on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day in the parks are very busy.

 

[Ware Bears]

We were there for Christmas in 2005 so quite a few years ago now but hopefully this may help a little. I would pick Christmas Eve as your first choice of day to visit, and Christmas Day as your second. In our experience it started off fairly busy on Christmas Eve but by 4pm the parks were really quiet as this is the day when Europeans have their Christmas meal and I can remember riding POTC in our own boat multiple times. Christmas Day was still very manageable (especially compared to August when we usually visit) but from 26th onwards it got busier and busier so I definitely wouldn't recommend picking 26th, 27th or 28th.

 

[Travel Mum]

There will be fewer people visiting DLP on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day in the parks are very busy.

Thanks for your advice

 

[Travel Mum]

We were there for Christmas in 2005 so quite a few years ago now but hopefully this may help a little. I would pick Christmas Eve as your first choice of day to visit, and Christmas Day as your second. In our experience it started off fairly busy on Christmas Eve but by 4pm the parks were really quiet as this is the day when Europeans have their Christmas meal and I can remember riding POTC in our own boat multiple times. Christmas Day was still very manageable (especially compared to August when we usually visit) but from 26th onwards it got busier and busier so I definitely wouldn't recommend picking 26th, 27th or 28th.

That is very helpful thanks. Sounds like we should aim to go Christmas Eve day but, if not, Christmas Day is an okay choice too compared to the days after Christmas.

 

[gavvy]

I would say both days not bad but avoid boxing day - to new year then it gets bonkers, I've never done new year but I hear its horrible for crowds, - this is at DLP - to the point you almost feel unsafe,

Crowd control in DLP is not as efficient as the usa- its a different culture and way of doing things, but as long as you have lots of patience you be ok!