Xmas @ Disney

[EEYORERULES]

Has anybody gone down to Disney for the xmas holidays? Do I need to buy special tickets to get into the parks or can I just use my hopper passes? Are the parks really crowded? My family is planning on going in 2006 so I am starting my research early. Any info you can give me would be great.

 

[dsneygirl]

You don't need any special passes but traditionally the week of Dec 25-Jan 1 is the busiest of the entire year. Several parks may close due to being at capacity. Also it is peak season at the resorts which is more expensive.

Is there any way you can go earlier in Dec? All the Xmas decorations and activities are on but it's much less crowded.

 

[MikeJ]

We did it once, Christmas 2001 (first Christmas post-911). We went down on the 20th and it was great. No lines, no waits, nothing. We went into Tony's in MK for lunch and other than the CMs we were the only people in the restaurant. Literally.

We took down all our presents, a small tree, and bought a turkey at Winn-Dixie which we cooked in our oven in our room at BWV. When we got home from MK that day you could smell the turkey all the way down the corridor.

Then, on December 27, someone flipped the switch. It was as if everyone said "to heck with the terrorists, let's go to Disney World!" You literally couldn't move in the parks for the next few days. Vehicles were actually lined up and waiting to check into Wilderness Lodge, where we were staying by then. We did virtually no rides the last few days - but that was OK because we'd done everything we wanted to earlier in the week.

It was neat to do it once - but like shingling a roof, once I've done it I'd never want to do it again.

- Mike

 

[CharlesTD]

When my wife was 13 she went to MK on christmas day and she said it was crazy busy there so much so that it wasn't even worth trying to get onto any of the attractions waits were about 3 hours long for most of them.

 

[kellyla]

We were there Christmas 2003.We went to the Magic Kingdom in the morning.By 10am we left there.It was packed.We took the monorail to the Poly.We were seated up front and could see the traffic coming into MK.It was backed up all the way to MGM.The TTC was jammed packed.We took the bus from the Poly to AK where we enjoyed a nice Christmas Day with very little crowds.I am happy we spent some time at MK on Christmas day but I am glad we also left there.
We brought a small tree and decorations(we drove down)and put it up in the window of ASSp.We would leave the lights on it and the housekeepers would pull the drapes open enough to see the tree at night.We found on Boxing Day when we went to EPCOT we were able to walk onto alot of rides.But when the 27th hit be prepared to wait.We had been there for 12 days already and were glad that we were starting for home.We were able to get everything done that we wanted to see before Christmas but it was still fun to spend Christmas there.

 

[Scratch42]

We were there last year!

Ok, it was crowded and have never seen wall to wall people before! I can still see in my mind's eye that sight as we were going over the bridge in Epcot! Nothing but heads!

If you plan it right, you can enjoy it! Just have at least one ADR in place per day and just take it easy! If you can't do something, move on! Check out all the resorts 'cause the decorations are beautiful!

MK will be packed on Christmas Day! Get there early, utilize FastPass! If you are staying until New Year's Day, go to MK then! Last year the place was deserted! Everything was walk on! In comparison, have never seen MK so empty! It was well worth getting up early to go!

Just remember, it is crowded but if you take it easy and are willing to change plans in a heartbeat, then it's a magical time to go!

janet

 

[disneykins]

We're heading back soon for our 5th Christmas at Disney. Like Janet said, go early, do all the rides before the crowds show up and then just do the shows, people watch and head back to your resort to relax away from the crowds. Then you can do MK late when the little ones have mostly gone to bed.

You're right Janet its a Magical time to go.

Mike, wheres your sense of adventure, I did my roof 20 years ago and it needs it again, so if you should change your mind let me know.

Tony

 

[MikeJ]

Mike, wheres your sense of adventure, I did my roof 20 years ago and it needs it again, so if you should change your mind let me know.

I sincerely doubt you could afford me. Unless, of course, lots of was available - but then you probably wouldn't want me on your roof...

- Mike

 

[Scratch42]

I sincerely doubt you could afford me. Unless, of course, lots of was available - but then you probably wouldn't want me on your roof...

- Mike

Mike, I think he's talking about you doing Disney at Christmas! Not his Roof!

janet

 

[mariethecat]

I was there last year from Dec 26th to Jan 2nd and loved it. The parks are open much longer hours so we were at a park every morning at 7 am and MK was open until 12 or 1 am several nights. It is important to have a PS for your main meal of the day. I had made one for each day and we got right in whereas without one it was a wait of at least 1 hour. We went to MK early New Years Day and there was no wait for the rides until about noon time. We went to MGM for New Years Eve as it is the least crowded park. We were able to see the fireworks from Epcot as well as the one at MGM. We also did two back stage tours for the first time so that got us away from the crowds for awhile. The night we went to the Osborne Lights (Dec 26) was cold for Florida so there was no crowds at all. We actually got to see some things we had not seen before such as the Timekeeper and COP as they were not operating on our other trips. My biggest recommedation is to stay at a hotel on Disney property.

 

[riu girl]

Sorry a little off topic, so at what time do the parks start getting busy on Jan 1.
Right now we are planning on being at Epcot for opening and spending the day, but maybe we should switch to MK?
We will only have MYW base tix so hopping is not an option.
Thanks
Suzy V.

 

[Scratch42]

Sorry a little off topic, so at what time do the parks start getting busy on Jan 1.
Right now we are planning on being at Epcot for opening and spending the day, but maybe we should switch to MK?
We will only have MYW base tix so hopping is not an option.
Thanks
Suzy V.

It all depends when the "headaches from the previous night" go away!LOL

There is no guarantee that it will be empty again this year because someone I spoke with at the park never remembered it being that empty before.

janet

 

[mariethecat]

We arrived at MK around 8:30 Jan 1/05 and there were no lineups at all for the main attractions. Most of the logs at Splash Mountain were empty. We went for lunch at Tony's and got in immediately without a reservation. We then watched the parade and the park was filling up then. I can't guarantee it is like that every New Years Day but we did more in that morning than we could have in a full day the rest of the week.