Would you go Dec 25th to the 29th

[Doctor Who]

HI,
A friend of mine is planning a trip for her husband and daughter. She wants to give her daughter a Disneyland trip on Christmas and go to the airport that day and get on the plane. She has asked me over and over if it will be insane. I told her if she has a plan she will be fine. What do you that have been there think?
Thank You

 

[SMD]

I would only advise someone to go with appropriate expectations for crowd levels and what can realistically be done each day. And off course to be aware of the potential (and highly likely) gate closures.

That being said, no way would I go that week. I have gone in recent years on the 27th and 28th, but as an AP, there is nothing must do that I couldn't go back and do on another day. I still don't find it terribly enjoyable, especially knowing that around the 5th the crowds will all but disappear.

Edited to add: I'd also avoid flying that week if at all possible.

 

[Malcon10t]

Would I go? Of course, I go that week every year. But I also know it is THE busiest week of the year, that turnstile closures happen daily, and lines will be 60-120 mins.

 

[Avery's mom]

Would I go? No way. I have been there for Christmastime most years and we always leave by the 19th-20th as crowds by that point are too intense for me to deal with. We have very good friends who went against our advice to go that week for 3 days. When they got home, I hesitantly asked how it was. They said they never wanted to go again - period - let alone Christmas week. There were many ride breakdowns and with crowds so crazy they had a miserable time. I agree that with the proper mindset, it could be enjoyable, but, my friends had 3 kids who had never seen Carsland and had not been in a few years. So, for them, it was miserable.

Even for me, who goes many times per year, I would not go that week. My time and sanity are worth more than that!

 

[ociana]

We do it regularly and love it - but it's all about expectations. If you have never been or very rarely get to go to the parks I wouldn't recommend it. The crowds are heavy to the point of wall to wall people at times, so it can be overwhelming if you are not prepared for it.

Maybe she could gift the trip on Christmas by offering clues, then actually travel just after New Years? Depending on schedules that can be a great time to go with the crowds decreasing significantly after the first of the year.

 

[Mysteryincorp]

That sounds awful.
How old is her daughter?

 

[theluckyrabbit]

We go every year during that time period and love it. But, we know what to expect and have lots of experience with crowds during that time (the busiest week of the year at DLR). For someone without the experience who may be visiting the parks for the first time, I would highly recommend going during a less hectic, chaotic time so that they have a nice trip and don't end up hating DLR.

 

[Candleshoe]

I was looking at it, too. Dec 26-Jan 3; with some Universal Studios time in there.

WDW vet but never been to DLR.

Is Thanksgiving better? We'd have to stick to just DLR and drop off USH.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Would I go? No way. I have been there for Christmastime most years and we always leave by the 19th-20th as crowds by that point are too intense for me to deal with. We have very good friends who went against our advice to go that week for 3 days. When they got home, I hesitantly asked how it was. They said they never wanted to go again - period - let alone Christmas week. There were many ride breakdowns and with crowds so crazy they had a miserable time. I agree that with the proper mindset, it could be enjoyable, but, my friends had 3 kids who had never seen Carsland and had not been in a few years. So, for them, it was miserable. Even for me, who goes many times per year, I would not go that week. My time and sanity are worth more than that!

So what are the crowds like by 19-20 December? Are we talking busy summer day equivalent?

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

HI,
A friend of mine is planning a trip for her husband and daughter. She wants to give her daughter a Disneyland trip on Christmas and go to the airport that day and get on the plane. She has asked me over and over if it will be insane. I told her if she has a plan she will be fine. What do you that have been there think?
Thank You

We actually are doing it--the 26th to the 30th. I did it once before, from the 22nd (I think) all the way to the 29th. It was crowded but awesome. The parks are beautifully decorated and everyone is in a good mood. If you visit wisely (i.e. rope drop, EMH/EE, Fastpass, single-rider, wide-right, etc.), I think it would be a lot of fun.

 

[GatorChris]

Nope, no way, no how. But my expectation of a Disney Parks trip is short hours and short lines.

 

[5forMickey]

[QUOTEOf course, I go that week every year. But I also know it is THE busiest week of the year, that turnstile closures happen daily, and lines will be 60-120 mins.[/QUOTE]

Hey Malcon10t - Not to highjack this thread but, what are the first few hours/early entry like? Can you still get quite a few rides in before the mid-morning rush? I think I know not to expect riding very many rides after noon, but I'm hoping the first few hours will be better. Can you advise?

 

[KalamityJane]

My friend went Christmas morning last year and said it was claustrophobic there were so many people. Personally, we are going in February to miss more of the crowds but telling the kids on Christmas.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

The week between Christmas and New Years' is typically the busiest, crammed full of bodies week of the year.

No way would I go then.

 

[ClaraOswald]

That sounds like a Christmas gift to give someone you don't like.

Terrible day to travel. Not so much fun day to be in the parks if it's sort of a "once in a lifetime" type of trip (but maybe it wouldn't be for them?)

I don't know...I wouldn't do it at all.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

We're going 12/27 - 12/31. We did it 10 years ago for my birthday and we're doing it again this year. We already have our flights and hotel booked. We know it will be crowded, but we are seasoned park goers and know how to maximize Fastpass and rope drop. We will also have 5-day passes so we don't have to spend full days at the parks. We are purposely flying out at 5:30 p.m. on New Year's Eve so we won't have to deal with the party at midnight. We did it once. It was fun, but we have no desire to do it again.

Going the week after Christmas is totally doable if you have a good strategy and the right expectations.

 

[Dot2Vegas]

HI,
A friend of mine is planning a trip for her husband and daughter. She wants to give her daughter a Disneyland trip on Christmas and go to the airport that day and get on the plane. She has asked me over and over if it will be insane. I told her if she has a plan she will be fine. What do you that have been there think?
Thank You

I would not go. Never been that week but I've never heard much good about it-crowd wise. It might be the only week of the year that I would turn down a Disneyland trip. But, if she is set on that plan, and it is a really neat idea for a surprise, then she just needs to prepare for high crowds and lots of waiting in lines. If she adjusts her expectations she will have fun- its still Disneyland! However, if she is not a crowd person and not a total Disneyland fanatic she might not be very happy.

 

[larina]

I was looking at it, too. Dec 26-Jan 3; with some Universal Studios time in there.

WDW vet but never been to DLR.

Is Thanksgiving better? We'd have to stick to just DLR and drop off USH.

So what are the crowds like by 19-20 December? Are we talking busy summer day equivalent?

Busier! And yes, thanksgiving would be less crowded.

My friend went Christmas morning last year and said it was claustrophobic there were so many people. Personally, we are going in February to miss more of the crowds but telling the kids on Christmas.

Christmas mornie was quite manageable actually. It's what happens after that that gets out of control.

 

[Cheshirecatty]

I have to agree with Larina here!

We have found Christmas morning to be very manageable(afternoon/evening crowds do increase, but we have not found it to be a problem getting around, or being able to do pretty much what we want to---just takes a bit longer).

We also really like the week leading up to Christmas---it's most definitely busier(but not hideously so) than the first two weeks in December, but NOTHING like what happens the week AFTER Christmas!

Still, if that were the only time I could visit, I would have a difficult time staying away---I would just go, knowing what I was in for, and not expect a great deal!

 

[Malcon10t]

My friend went Christmas morning last year and said it was claustrophobic there were so many people. Personally, we are going in February to miss more of the crowds but telling the kids on Christmas.

Christmas mornie was quite manageable actually. It's what happens after that that gets out of control.

Christmas morning is very manageable. It is not until late morning/early afternoon that it gets busy. Then the 26th it will ramp up to the busiest week of the year.

Hey Malcon10t - Not to highjack this thread but, what are the first few hours/early entry like? Can you still get quite a few rides in before the mid-morning rush? I think I know not to expect riding very many rides after noon, but I'm hoping the first few hours will be better. Can you advise?

Yes, from 7am EE til about 11-12 you can get a lot done relative. BUT, it is not as light as 7am-11 in the summer. Be forewarned.