Xmas/NYE week park reservations

[PirateFrank]

We're planning a trip to WDW from basically 12/22 through 1/3 next year. We'll be traveling with 2 other families (total group of 11). Not only will this be our first trip to WDW for the week between Christmas and New Years, this will be our first trip utilizing this new park reservation system and we're all finding it a bit overwhelming. We were looking at the system last night - and noticed that the MK for Oct 1 (the 50th) is already filled up. Since we plan to be in the park for days like Christmas and New Years eve, we're all concerned that we might have to worrying about getting park reservations earlier than we had planned. I realize that this is a very fluid situation, as WDW may expand/limit park capacity depending on how the pandemic is managed as we enter the fall. However, I'm still curious to know if anyone has an opinion regarding this:

How far out do we need to secure park reservations to ensure that we (as a group) get into the parks we want to on days like Christmas eve, Christmas day, New Years eve and New Year's Day?

Thanks for any opinions and guidance anyone is willing to offer!

 

[sbbobe]

You should probably consider making park reservations in the MK and HS as soon as you possibly can. Those two parks will definitely reach capacity first. MK will be extremely busy on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. Being a smaller park HS will be in all likelihood at capacity your entire time frame. Have a great time!

 

[yulilin3]

We're planning a trip to WDW from basically 12/22 through 1/3 next year. We'll be traveling with 2 other families (total group of 11). Not only will this be our first trip to WDW for the week between Christmas and New Years, this will be our first trip utilizing this new park reservation system and we're all finding it a bit overwhelming. We were looking at the system last night - and noticed that the MK for Oct 1 (the 50th) is already filled up. Since we plan to be in the park for days like Christmas and New Years eve, we're all concerned that we might have to worrying about getting park reservations earlier than we had planned. I realize that this is a very fluid situation, as WDW may expand/limit park capacity depending on how the pandemic is managed as we enter the fall. However, I'm still curious to know if anyone has an opinion regarding this:

How far out do we need to secure park reservations to ensure that we (as a group) get into the parks we want to on days like Christmas eve, Christmas day, New Years eve and New Year's Day?

Thanks for any opinions and guidance anyone is willing to offer!

No one is able to pinpoint a specific number of days to book. So the only realistic answer is book as soon as possible

 

[PirateFrank]

No one is able to pinpoint a specific number of days to book. So the only realistic answer is book as soon as possible

Indeed! The only data we might have is what people experienced back in the fall for this past xmas/nye. However, I was hoping to at least get a smattering of opinions to help with the decision process. Thanks!!!

So if there's anyone else that was in the parks during xmas/nye week or tried to get reservations this past November/December....I'd love to hear from you.

 

[lanejudy]

Indeed! The only data we might have is what people experienced back in the fall for this past xmas/nye. However, I was hoping to at least get a smattering of opinions to help with the decision process. Thanks!!!

My recommendation - book park reservations as soon as possible. As long as there is availability, you can make changes as your planning progresses. Keep an eye on the reservations calendar to know if any parks/dates are getting full.

 

[nalacat]

We're planning a trip to WDW from basically 12/22 through 1/3 next year. We'll be traveling with 2 other families (total group of 11). Not only will this be our first trip to WDW for the week between Christmas and New Years, this will be our first trip utilizing this new park reservation system and we're all finding it a bit overwhelming. We were looking at the system last night - and noticed that the MK for Oct 1 (the 50th) is already filled up. Since we plan to be in the park for days like Christmas and New Years eve, we're all concerned that we might have to worrying about getting park reservations earlier than we had planned. I realize that this is a very fluid situation, as WDW may expand/limit park capacity depending on how the pandemic is managed as we enter the fall. However, I'm still curious to know if anyone has an opinion regarding this:

How far out do we need to secure park reservations to ensure that we (as a group) get into the parks we want to on days like Christmas eve, Christmas day, New Years eve and New Year's Day?

Thanks for any opinions and guidance anyone is willing to offer!

I am struggling with this too! We will arrive either very late 12/20 or mid afternoon 12/21 (depending on whether or not there is MVMCP on 12/21) and leaving 12/26. I reserved a resort/ticket package this weekend and just made my best guess in reserving parks. It is stressful having no idea what things will look like at that time and I usually have a very solid plan in place, but I guess I need to be flexible and at minimum I know I have parks reserved. Good luck!

 

[PirateFrank]

I am struggling with this too! We will arrive either very late 12/20 or mid afternoon 12/21 (depending on whether or not there is MVMCP on 12/21) and leaving 12/26. I reserved a resort/ticket package this weekend and just made my best guess in reserving parks. It is stressful having no idea what things will look like at that time and I usually have a very solid plan in place, but I guess I need to be flexible and at minimum I know I have parks reserved. Good luck!

Ahh, so you're farther ahead in the process than I am! I still need to purchase park tickets - in order to secure the reservations. I was hoping to avoid paying for tickets for a few months - but it seems like I'm going to have to do so sooner, in order to plant a flag in certain parks on certain days.

Can you purchase, say a 3 day ticket and add an additional day online? In the past, I seem to recall I had to wait until I got into the parks on the first day and add on a day at guest services. Regardless, in your case, it might make sense to secure reservations in the harder to get parks (is that MK and DHS these days?) and swap them for other parks out when you find out about whether there's a MVMCP date that fits into your time frame. I admit, I haven't thought about the MVMCP as being a factor here. In the past, I looked at the previous 3-5 years of part dates to predict if one was going to be offered on a particular day - however, with the pandemic causing a pause in park parties - who knows if they will revert to former schedules?!


This is all a headache. Prior to this pandemic, I completely despised WDW for forcing me to reserve ADRs 180 days out, because it obliged me to make a decision on what park I was going to be in 6 months out....but at least I was able to modify my park plans based on what ADRs were available to me at the 180 day mark.

Now, I am in a position where I will be forced to secure a park reservation much farther out than 180 days.....and if I cant get the ADRs I want at 60 days within the parks I've reserved, I'm not going to have the flexibility to make a park change. What a terrible system!