WWOHP Christmas Day or another day prior?

[twinsmom44]

I have searched and read posts about Christmas Crowds at US/IOA but can't seem to get a definitive read on which day we should go to US/IOA. We will be staying at Disney and have the 1day/2-park passes with transportation. I was planning to visit US/IOA on Christmas Day thinking that would be the lowest crowd day for WWOHP but after reading some of the posts, I am now wondering if we should do US/IOA an earlier day that week. DH does not want to fork over the Express Pass $$ they are charging for that week. We arrive on Dec. 19th. Thanks!

 

[dpuck1998]

Orlando in general will be less busy (but still busy) before xmas. Once xmas hits, its every man for themselves!!

 

[twinsmom44]

Orlando in general will be less busy (but still busy) before xmas. Once xmas hits, its every man for themselves!!

Thank you for your help. I should have given more details. We are veteran WDW/DVC Christmastime visitors, so are good at avoiding the Christmas week madness by early arrival/early exit strategies at WDW parks, but I can't seem to find clear info on the strategies for avoiding crowds at US/IOA or historical attendance. Never having visited these parks, I would like to have a plan going in if possible to maximize our day. I am also recovering from an ankle injury, so walking to the back of the park for WWOHP is going to be a challenge in and of itself for me and all the more reason to need to visit on the lowest attendance day possible.

Did anyone visit ON Thanksgiving Day this year? What were the crowds like? I'm thinking they would be similar and perhaps T-day was more crowded bec/it's not a religious holiday.

Any US/IOA veterans out there who can help, I will be eternally grateful. Thanks!

 

[dpuck1998]

I've found go early to be a good strategy for US/IOA the same as Disneyworld parks. I think even more so at US/IOA, seems the older crowds (more teens, etc) like to sleep in even more. Sometimes I think the employees like to sleep in too however.

 

[twinsmom44]

I think even more so at US/IOA, seems the older crowds (more teens, etc) like to sleep in even more. Sometimes I think the employees like to sleep in too however.

I agree about the sleeping in, but it's not just the teens! My husband was just complaining this morning about how next week he'll be getting up at the same time or earlier when we're at WDW/U-IOA! They don't seem to complain as much though when they're not standing in line bec/mom kept them to a schedule and touring plan.

thanks for your help. I think we'll stick with the xmas day U-IOA plan. Happy Holidays!

 

[Metro West]

I think we'll stick with the xmas day U-IOA plan. Happy Holidays!

Christmas Day shouldn't be too bad but it will be busy. Try to get there as early as you can and make the most of the empty parks until the crowds start rolling in around 11am.

 

[twinsmom44]

Christmas Day shouldn't be too bad but it will be busy. Try to get there as early as you can and make the most of the empty parks until the crowds start rolling in around 11am.

Thanks for the input! I am thinking we will schedule our Mears transportation for 6:30 to get there no later than 7:15 to get our tix from the kiosk and get close to the front of the line for the 8 a.m. open so we can do WWOHP first thing. I've read that visiting that section at night is a slow time, but I'm thinking that people arriving on xmas day afternoon will head straight there and make it crowded in the p.m. Will post once we're there with a trip update to let everyone know!

 

[mdb78]

Thank you for your help. I should have given more details. We are veteran WDW/DVC Christmastime visitors, so are good at avoiding the Christmas week madness by early arrival/early exit strategies at WDW parks, but I can't seem to find clear info on the strategies for avoiding crowds at US/IOA or historical attendance. Never having visited these parks, I would like to have a plan going in if possible to maximize our day. I am also recovering from an ankle injury, so walking to the back of the park for WWOHP is going to be a challenge in and of itself for me and all the more reason to need to visit on the lowest attendance day possible.

Did anyone visit ON Thanksgiving Day this year? What were the crowds like? I'm thinking they would be similar and perhaps T-day was more crowded bec/it's not a religious holiday.

Any US/IOA veterans out there who can help, I will be eternally grateful. Thanks!

We went to IOA on Thanksgiving Day. It wasn't bad at all. We actually arrived at IOA around 1:30 or 2ish and many people were leaving the park. Many of the rides had 10-30 min. wait. We got into WWOHP around 5ish if I remember correctly. The crowd was very manageable and decreased as the time passed.