Would you spontaneously take your family to WDW for $1800 for Christmas?

[Donald Duck888]

I had to respond as I was close to doing something very similar. I am taking my 7 yr old daughter down to Disney in January. All was looking good for the trip and we are both looking forward to it. Then I saw a you tube on the frozen Christmas stuff and started thinking about changing from January to December as my daughter loves the whole frozen thing. I actually started looking at prices to change things but then came to my senses on it. It was not the money for me it was the crowd levels. When we are going in January most of the week has crowd levels of 2-4 vs 8-10 levels around Christmas. Also I am a real winter weather enthusiast and could not imagine Christmas without snow ( we live in NH wHere there is an 81% chance of a white Christmas) So long story short we are sticking with our original plans.

Also I just had to say that the alternate plan you now have for Christmas sounds awesome.

 

[nugov2]

Well....after my holiday hopes were squashed like a sad roasted chestnut on the streets of NYC, I decided to plan an alternative:

Drive up to Asheville, NC....Black Mountain actually....and do the Polar Express. Santa, hot cocoa, Christmas pjs....on a train!

It is also the Black Mt. Christmas Parade - which is totally old school and charming. Picture dancing waffles wearing antlers along-side the Waffle House Float and old-fashioned firetrucks. It is awesome.

The kicker....I asked my girlfriend for advice on inexpensive hotels in the area and she said that she could pull there 1980's totally retro and rockin' camper into the driveway of their cozy little mountain house (that is busting at the seams with kiddos!) and we could stay there. So redneck. And amazing. [insert Christmas Vacation quote here] I may have to buy my DH a fuzzy hat.

So....it's no Disney...but it will be memorable.

I think that sounds great!!!

 

[BigAlsGal]

I'm all about the spontaneous credit card vacation but it would have to be perfection. Unfortunately as much as I love disney I would never choose that time. It's wall to wall people. Lines everywhere. It's just not worth it.

 

[heybravo626]

If you have the $1800 to afford and it's not going to impact future trips, I would say yes.

When I see threads like this, I wonder how many people who offer opinions on Christmas crowds have actually been at WDW at Christmas. Don't get me wrong, the crowds are like no other times, but it is still WDW!!! We have done multiple Christmas trips and have had a great time. You just have to plan smart.

 

[ilovedisneymm]

No.
1 You just went in September.
2 Crazy time to go. You couldn't pay me to go that time of year.

 

[themouseforme]

I would vote "no" on the trip if you would have to put it on a credit card. If you had the disposable income, I would say go for it.

the only sensible answer. it's not about the crowds or the kids' ages etc. etc.

 

[trudyt623]

Disney evokes different emotions for different families. We are going 12/18/-12/25 (last minute plans) and staying offsite. My children are older, 12 & 17 and know that we are going to "experience the magic" of the holiday displays and decorations for the 1st time and when the crowds become too unbearable we will retreat to our quiet empty timeshare and pray for some leftover pizza so that I don't have to cook!

Enjoy your vacation it sounds lovely.

 

[yeheyprincex2]

sounds like a great alternative, we will also get the polar express experience at Sea World, my son loves the movie so I'm looking forward to watching him experience it.
kids make it fun, I really enjoy watching my kids have new experiences and enjoy them selves. Disney will be there next year and you have a whole year to plan, and wait for the 180, 60 ,1 day mark!!
hey might even be there same time as you, join in on the December 2015 happy dance group.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

No.
1 You just went in September.
2 Crazy time to go. You couldn't pay me to go that time of year.

Having been to WDW for multiple Christmas and/or New Years trips, you CAN pay me ! You'll be covering all expenses, right?

 

[Disney_Princess83]

Absolutely!

 

[Minnesota!]

Eh. The crowds wouldn't bother me. The price doesn't bother me (I am one that will gladly charge a vacation when I know I can pay it off over the next few months...the interest is not that much, and the airline miles are worth it, IMO!). What I would not like is the short time frame. Thurs - Sun is not enough. Only 2 "real" days of vacation. And those 2 days are going to be rushed trying to get it all in with the increased crowds. I would do it later in January, when crowds (and prices!!) are less, and you can get more bang for your buck.

 

[Minnesota!]

Well....after my holiday hopes were squashed like a sad roasted chestnut on the streets of NYC, I decided to plan an alternative:

Drive up to Asheville, NC....Black Mountain actually....and do the Polar Express. Santa, hot cocoa, Christmas pjs....on a train!

It is also the Black Mt. Christmas Parade - which is totally old school and charming. Picture dancing waffles wearing antlers along-side the Waffle House Float and old-fashioned firetrucks. It is awesome.

The kicker....I asked my girlfriend for advice on inexpensive hotels in the area and she said that she could pull there 1980's totally retro and rockin' camper into the driveway of their cozy little mountain house (that is busting at the seams with kiddos!) and we could stay there. So redneck. And amazing. [insert Christmas Vacation quote here] I may have to buy my DH a fuzzy hat.

So....it's no Disney...but it will be memorable.

That sounds heavenly, as well! ENJOY!!

 

[PrincessShea]

Christmas is a very magical time, so I would do it. But if it's on a credit card and you can't pay it off immediately, then no I would not do it. And I think sometimes absence makes the heart grow fonder and you were just there in September, so....maybe put the money toward a December trip next year. You could go at the beginning of the month before the insane crowds and still see all the Christmas stuff and you'd be able to save more money to stay longer/do more.

 

[KimK2006]

Nope. Too crowded. Plus, you don't have the money. Save and go a less crowded time, the rooms are cheaper, and you have the money for the trip.

 

[LBIJim]

Absolutely! We are doing exactly that. We just went in August, but booked a mid-December trip at POFQ with 4 day Park Hoppers for just under $2K. Totally worth it just to see the Christmas stuff at MK and DHS.

A mid-December trip is a FAR cry from a Christmas week trip. If the OP could visit in early to mid-December, I'd say go for it. That's an excellent time to visit and see all the Xmas stuff. But a trip starting on Xmas Day? not a chance.

And yes, the crowds will be insane, but a bad day at Disney is exponentially better than a great day anywhere else.

It appears most posters would rather have their fingernails extracted without benefit of anesthesia than experience a crowded bad day at Disney during Xmas week.

I had to chuckle at OP's idea of a "spontaneous" trip. Six weeks in advance is spontaneous? Heck, for me, that's about the norm for a trip planned "far in advance."

 

[OasterP]

I know it's tempting! I totally wouldn't b/c I won't put anything on a credit card that I can't pay back that day, but that's definitely a personal decision.

I know it's tough though! We went in September as well and are still trying to decide if we'll go back in April. Though we will have the money I feel like it could go towards something "more responsible". AND we would have a 15 hour drive....yikes

 

[MakiraMarlena]

If you actually don't have the money, then no. I don't think I'd do it intending to pay it off from taxes later.

If you have the money, are good with paying it, and understand it'll be crowded, then it sounds like fun. I don't think I would mind a crowded day so much if I understood that there would be limited chances to visit attractions unless I was willing to do quite a bit of waiting. Sometimes just being there is fun though.

 

[OasterP]

You are all so smart - like little angels and devils sitting on my shoulders.

It would not be a crazy financial hardship and I would put it on my handy dandy Disney Visa....so that is kinda like saving money too. :

I think it would be magical to see the surprise on their faces on Christmas morning when we told them where we were going - well...my older daughter's face actually...the baby would be like - What? Give me a box and some tissue.

So, as much as the castle looks SOOOOOO pretty with Elsa's lights....I think that this is a surprise that I can plan for in the future.

As a previous poster mentioned...maybe when they are a little older.

So....back to planning our Labor Day 2015 trip!

For now, I will watch this and cry in my Swiss Miss: http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...de-video-series/?CMP=SOC-FBPAGE20141107165901

I think you made a good decision! And at least you have another trip planned! That's helping me as well. And I absolutely love your new plans! I love Christmas (hate the cold though) and am kind of obsessed with the Polar Express, so that sounds great to me! If you are going for whole "Griswald Christmas Vacation" thing....definitely look for a tree b/c it's "all about the experience". FUN!

 

[disneyfantotheend]

For me the crowds alone would turn me off. As for the money thing, if you are okay with charging it, that is fine with me. Plenty of people do it, but way, way, way too crowded!!!!

 

[cgattis]

Nope. A. Its too crowded. B. Its TOO crowded. C. ITS TOO CROWDED.

I'm going to file this post away someplace, so that every time I think "wouldn't it be cool to go at Christmas at least once???" I can remind myself of why I never want to do that!! LOL. (We've been in early December--that was perfect.)