Why Christmas?

[mshanson3121]

You are right, people take pictures of the crowds because it is interesting. I have pictures of early mornings at DHS, Animal Kingdom and MK with nobody in the area at all.

Care to share them? I'd love to see some empty Christmas photos! lol

 

[Angel Ariel]

Nice that they release your calendars so far in advance. NB only has their calendar for 2015-2016 out, new one won't come out till this spring. But my guess is it will run till the 23rd since that's what they always do here, is run up until the Friday before. Especially since January 1st is Sunday, that means that the statutory holiday will be taken on Monday, January 2nd, which would make a partial week. I can't remember the last time they did that here. But then again you're also in ON? I know they go back quite a bit earlier too, schools don't start here till after Labor Day, so maybe that's the difference, too.

I'm not in Ontario, no (another poster on this thread was though, I believe they posted a while back). My point was that while your schools may not break until the Friday before Christmas, there will be many schools across the US who will be on break as early as the 19th. I would not expect that a Sunday Christmas will lower the crowds between the 19-25th because there will be many schools that have off that entire week.

 

[mshanson3121]

I'm not in Ontario, no (another poster on this thread was though, I believe they posted a while back). My point was that while your schools may not break until the Friday before Christmas, there will be many schools across the US who will be on break as early as the 19th. I would not expect that a Sunday Christmas will lower the crowds between the 19-25th because there will be many schools that have off that entire week.

Gotcha. Sorry, quite sleep deprived the last few days and, I think I was just reading wrong, got it stuck in my head that you were just referring to our schools/Canadian schools. lol.. not even really sure myself!

So... typically which is busiest - the week before Christmas, up to or the week right after up to New Years?

 

[BeerMe]

I would rather poke my eye out with a pencil than go to MK on Christmas Day

 

[Angel Ariel]

Gotcha. Sorry, quite sleep deprived the last few days and, I think I was just reading wrong, got it stuck in my head that you were just referring to our schools/Canadian schools. lol.. not even really sure myself!

So... typically which is busiest - the week before Christmas, up to or the week right after up to New Years?

The week right after up to New Year's, without a doubt. That's when phased closings happen every year.

In 2007, we went from Dec. 13th-19th, and attendance picked up on the 18th/19th. Prior to that it was a ghost town. Now, I know attendance in general has increased a lot since 2007, so I'm not claiming that same time would be a ghost town any more, but I imagine the "pick up" in attendance that we experienced at the tail end of our trip is still there, and still likely around that time.

The week before Christmas will be *less* crowded, but it will still be crowded...the closer you get to Christmas, the more crowded it becomes.

 

[mom2rtk]

Any time between Christmas and New Year's is the worst of it.

 

[pad406]

I would rather poke my eye out with a pencil than go to MK on Christmas Day

I wouldn't quite go that far but thankfully there's lots of other parks and things to do. Have you ever been over Christmas?

 

[Disneylover99]

I would rather poke my eye out with a pencil than go to MK on Christmas Day

Ouch! That's exactly where I love to be on Christmas Day.

 

[UmmYeahOk]

My husbands first trip to WDW was during our honeymoon, early May 2005. Having mostly gone during Xmas, I was surprised at how little we had (if at all) for things. Later that same year, 2005, my mother took us the day after Xmas, and it was awful! I couldn't see anything. I couldn't even cross the street! Not only were there so many people that I couldn't shop, but I couldn't even leave the store!!! I couldn't even call family members to tell them where I was because the network was so busy! To avoid getting split up, we all, grown adults, held hands everywhere. It was the only time I have ever held my brothers hand.

As you can imagine, the rest of the crowd probably hated us for it, but out of all the broken up families, we had all of our members. One family had their child left behind when the commuter boat left the dock. A CM told the family that he could catch the next boat, but when they learned the child was 6, they went back for him.

Anyway, my husband will tell people that if that were his first trip, and never went that May, he would never ever go back. We have since then gone back two more times, three come January, and that doesn't include our trip to EuroDisney. But never again during the holidays

 

[jade1]

Having another sensational Christmas week.

Drove to the beach today, and went to MK tonight. Just back from NYE preview fireworks tonight. Great as usual.

The last week has been perfect weather as well.

Low 80's here, foot of new snow back home.

 

[hippiechicken]

My daughter and I are both off from school for Christmas break. We usually stay from Christmas until New Year's. I love it there because of the time we spend together. It's just special for us. It's different than being at home... This is the first year we didn't go for Christmas since 2007, and now my daughter is going out with friends for NYE instead of hanging out with me!! If we were at WDW, we would be together...
I would rather spend my time with holiday crowds than in the summer heat!! I went last summer for the first time in years and, to me, the heat and humidity are horrible, much worse than crowds. I don't understand why people go in the summer!! I would definitely choose the Holidays over the heat!!

 

[Madame]

But then again you're also in ON? I know they go back quite a bit earlier too, schools don't start here till after Labor Day, so maybe that's the difference, too.

You probably meant me. We go back after labour day as well. When it's really late like this year they throw in a PD day the week before in order to finish by June 30 - by provincial law the school year must be completed between Sept 1 & June 30 with a mandated number of instructional days.

I thought for sure they'd push it back to the Fri before Christmas next year, but apparently not. I've been teaching 12 years & sometimes we start & go back early (like Jan 2) & sometimes late (like the 8th or 9th).

 

[kbelle8995]

I often tell people it's something you can try. But If it's a once in a lifetime trip, I wouldn't suggest it. You can go earlier and get the holiday decorations. There's no uncrowded time at Disney anymore but there are times when you can go and it is much more manageble.

Christmas and New Years is not one of the times. There is something to say I was at MK on Christmas Day.

Disney is usually not crowded in the morning. Let me know how it is about 10:00 am because that's when most guests show up.

 

[mshanson3121]

My daughter and I are both off from school for Christmas break. We usually stay from Christmas until New Year's. I love it there because of the time we spend together. It's just special for us. It's different than being at home... This is the first year we didn't go for Christmas since 2007, and now my daughter is going out with friends for NYE instead of hanging out with me!! If we were at WDW, we would be together...
I would rather spend my time with holiday crowds than in the summer heat!! I went last summer for the first time in years and, to me, the heat and humidity are horrible, much worse than crowds. I don't understand why people go in the summer!! I would definitely choose the Holidays over the heat!!

lol. We went in the summer heat and humidity. It was definitely hot, but it didn't bother us that bad. But we're always used to very high humidity in the summer. But we did have to take afternoon breaks. I think it'd be nice to not have to do that.

 

[DisneyDazed]

We are here now and the crowds are insane. Thankfully the wether is not so it makes it bearable. I would rather go over Christmas and New Years than in June. It's a completely different ball of wax from 15 years ago. More crowds all around for sure.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Phased closings usually happen only in MK, except for New Years Eve when they might happen at HS also moreso this year because of the Osborne Lights...its really rare for Epcot to have any kind of phased closing as it has a huge capacity, and AK doesn't do any fireworks so they don't get the big crowds.

 

[Angel Ariel]

AK doesn't do any fireworks so they don't get the big crowds.

That may change a little next year with rivers of light being open for its first holiday season

 

[bcrook]

Fun image/report from MK last night from the Castle.

https://mobile.twitter.com/disneyconnects/status/682399188135620610

 

[Disneylover99]

Fun image/report from MK last night from the Castle.

https://mobile.twitter.com/disneyconnects/status/682399188135620610

Awesome pic!
Most of the people you see are just CM's directing traffic.

 

[Brian Noble]

So... I'm curious (prompted by the other thread). For those of you who prefer to go over Christmas, why? What is it about Disney at Christmas, that makes it worth those crowds? What is it that you would tell someone, to try and convince them to go at Christmas?

If you celebrate Christmas, it is worth visiting at least once when the Resort is in full holiday swing. And, if you'd rather not pull your kids out of school, that pretty much leaves the holiday break. If you go the week leading up to Christmas it's not quite as insane as the week between Christmas and New Years, but still quite busy. However, even though it is busy if you tour smart and have a plan, you can have a wonderful time.

We went last year on a bucket list trip, spending the 20th through the 25th in the parks. My main reason for going was to see the Processional, but the entire trip was a blast. I wouldn't do it every year, in part because we missed out on a few extended family gatherings back home, but I'm glad I did it, and I could see doing it again some day.