[dizneeluvr]

Hello everyone!

Just wanted to get some input from those who have been brave enough to visit WDW during the week of Christmas and the week after Christmas.

Is is busier the week OF Christmas or the week AFTER Christmas?

I've always read in Birnbaum and other Disney information books to avoid going this time of year like the plague. Do the parks REALLY shut their gates off after a couple hours of opening in the morning because they're so busy?

My daughter is starting JR High this year & we don't want to go again during the 'off' season like we usually do because we don't want her to miss an entire week of school so my husband has this notion that we could go during Christmas.

I feel that this would not be the most opportune time to visit because of the high volume of crowds.

If anyone out there could give me some insight on this I would be very grateful.

Thanks!

[Mstiz]

It depends on what your definition of busy is...

We went last year during that week (spent New Years Eve in the rain watching the B-52's at PI). Now my family's theory of going to the park is to get there early and go until we drop...I never thought it was out of control busy. There were some mighty long lines, but we knew it would be busy and we just dealt with it. We never did make it into the Beauty and the Beast show because of the crowd, but that's another story.

We did know that it would be way to busy for us to deal with the NYE crowds at the park, so we hit Typhoon Lagoon...that was not crowded at all...

Good luck with the decision!!

:)

[LRTJS]

HI, We went Dec. 30 this past year. We went to Disney Quest and Downtown Disney the first night and it was not bad at all. On the 31 we went to Epcot. At 10:30am the parking lot at MK was full. People were going to Epcot and riding over. Epcot was very crowded but since we had just gone in Aug. we really didn't mind. We went to the RocknRoll New Years Eve buffet-fantastic! Jan. 1 we went to the Capitol One Bowl Game. The next day we went to MGM/ Again crowded but thanks to Fast Pass we really didn't have much trouble. Rode everything we wanted to-some twice.Let me add that the Osbourne Lights at MGM are worth the trouble of being there during a very busy time. They are one of the best things I have ever seen at DW I can not discribe how awesome they are!!!:)

[DisneyAnne]

We were at MK on Dec 26th, 2001 and not any of the other parks... Keep in mind I was 7 months pregnant... Keep in mind we had travelled from Tampa on a bus with a bunch of football players... Keep in mind that it was about 90 degrees and all I had brought were sweaters... Keep in mind I was with two other families that had never been and although they thought it was magical, didn't care anything about absorbing the pixie dust... Keep in mind that I had to fly solo on this one with boys 8 and 4 so hubby could breakdown practice tapes...

I will never step foot again in MK during the Christmas weeks as long as I live...There were people everywhere...I have never seen it more packed in the 9 times I have been.

But that was just me....:laugh

[dizneeluvr]

Thanks everyone for their input so far.

We have been to WDW 6 times in as many years and we usually go during the 'off' season.

My husband and I went solo last year the week of Thanksgiving and that was the BUSIEST we had ever seen the parks. If we wouldn't have gone before, we probably wouldn't have had a good time trying to do/see it all.

Our daughter is a character chaser so we spend a lot of time waiting in lines anyway. My daughter is into thrill rides and since there isn't much to do ride wise at Disney, I think that we'd be spending most of our time sight seeing the Christmas stuff and character chasing.

My DH and I saw the Osborne Family lights. They are spectacular. I got tickled hearing people in the parks mention that "Ozzy Osborne had a light show at MGM". Wouldn't that be a hoot? LOL

I have a girlfriend who went the week of Christmas and she told me that after that trip she would NEVER step foot back on Disney property again. She said there were so many people that you couldn't even move.

Keep the input coming, I appreciate all the information/advise!

[Belle's Momma]

As a teacher I understand the problem of scheduling around school holidays. In my opinion, I prefer to deal with crowds when it is cooler and less rain, but that's just me. I can't have fun when I'm hot and wet.
I have gone over Christmas before and will be there this year as well. Try to schedule the week before b/c it is less crowded. If you have to go after, schedule as many days after NYE as possible b/c the crowd is thinner then.:)

[dizneeluvr]

OK...I'm bringing this back out of the closet for some more suggestions.

We've been going back & forth about yes we'll go during week after Christmas, no we won't. We're now back to yes we will.

I REALLY REALLY REALLY need to know if it is true that they shut off the parks about 1 1/2 hours after opening in the mornings during this time of year. Also, if that is true, if you're not staying on property do they completely turn you away?

We've always stayed at the AS resorts in the past & would like to try out the new Pop Century but due to the higher rates during this time of year, will probably be staying off property. I just want to make sure that if we spend the money for the Park Hopper's that we are actually able to get into the parks & use them.

I need input/suggestions for crowd size during this time of year. Keep in mind we've been to WDW 6 times so doing & seeing it all is not high on our priority list. We just don't want to be "miserable" so to speak with the large volume of people and such.

Anymore input you all could give me would be greatly appreciated!



THANX!!

[Park Hopper]

Originally posted by dizneeluvr
I REALLY REALLY REALLY need to know if it is true that they shut off the parks about 1 1/2 hours after opening in the mornings during this time of year. Also, if that is true, if you're not staying on property do they completely turn you away?

Yes, Christmas week is a very, very busy time, and yes, it's possible a park will close at some time during the day. It's impossible to predict at exactly what time a park might close, but when it happens it's because the parking lot has reached capacity; it's not how many people are actually in a park.

If the lots are full, you will be turned away -- though you likely will be allowed to go to a park that isn't full. The only way to guarantee park admittance is if you're staying on property, so you might want to reconsider where to stay.

All this being said, WDW is an even more special place during the Christmas season. All the decorations and special events will make your visit uniquely memorable. Since you've already been to WDW many times and aren't concerned about seeing everything, I would seriously consider putting up with the crowds and switching to an on-site hotel. Also, if you could possibly go earlier in December the crowds would be considerably less.

The Osborne Family Lights, by the way, will not be on display this Christmas season.

Hope this helps.

[Karen Domingue]

Our family usualy goes the week before Christmas, around the 17-23 of Dec. It is perfect. Great weather and no lines.

[_landry]

We've been the week before Christmas with Karen Domingue and like she said it is not very crowded at all. Now, the closer it gets to Christmas, the larger the crowds become. In fact, we arrive on the 17, which is considered to be "value" season!:)