How crowded is Disney on Xmas.....

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

I know that it's crowded. But, how crowded is crowded? What are the lines, and walking the parks, like? I'm thinking about going next Xmas with my family. I would also have my mom, in her seventies, with me.

Thanks for any insight!

[IreneLF Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close IreneLF]

IMO don't do it. I'd rather have my eyelashes and nails plucked out one by one.
You can go ANY OTHER time, (even w/ DD in school/ semester break the next month) -- why go when so many families are 'forced' to ?
If you want the holiday look and can go another time in December you will have a much more enjoyable experience.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

I know that it's crowded. But, how crowded is crowded? What are the lines, and walking the parks, like? I'm thinking about going next Xmas with my family. I would also have my mom, in her seventies, with me.

Thanks for any insight!

With Christmas next year on a Thursday - if you could go the week before (a Friday/Sat/Sunday check-in) it would be okay.

Beags had a 12/21 check-in - let's see how she made out.
As for the actual Christmas Day - I think I would make a resie at one of the wonderful restaurants at the Grand Floridian or at Artist Point at Wilderness Lodge and just enjoy the ambiance of WDW.
It is truly 'magical' at Christmas!

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Yesterday, my mom was watching Disney on TV, and she said that she would go there for Xmas........I have been trying to get my family to go away for the holidays, for years. They would never agree. Disney was certainly not my first choice, but I would probably go anywhere, given the opportunity to do so.

I just don't want to exchange one nightmare, for another.

BTW, I have been there the week after Xmas, all the decorations were still up, and the park was empty. It was great. I don't have the option to do that tho, next year. I either have to take them to Disney, or come up with another place that they would go to. My mom hates the beach, and obviously, she doesn't ski. Sigh!

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Pat,

With Christmas next year on a Thursday - if you could go the week before (a Friday/Sat/Sunday check-in) it would be okay.

What if we checked in on Thursday, Xmas day. Had a nice dinner outside of the parks on Xmas, and then went to the parks the following 4 days, or so. The airports would be empty on Xmas. I wonder how crowded the parks are the following days?

[mshatty Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close mshatty]

IMO don't do it. I'd rather have my eyelashes and nails plucked out one by one.
You can go ANY OTHER time, (even w/ DD in school/ semester break the next month) -- why go when so many families are 'forced' to ?
If you want the holiday look and can go another time in December you will have a much more enjoyable experience.

I agree. There are so many people that you cannot take a normal step when you walk.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Another Orlando Christmas Week Thread

We've tried it twice.

The first time was the first year that Universal was open. We got in (Universal) in the AM but the lines were so long we never got to do anything. We left after a couple of hours of walking/shuffling.

We went back mid-afternoon and you couldn't even get in. Cars were parked along the roads leading into the parking lots.

At opening the next day I went to the employees entrance, then to the administration office, where they gave me our money back, with big apologies.
- - - - - -
With time having dulled the pain, we took 11 extended Fam last year (this week)!

For me I would rather beat myself on the head with a hammer for a week. On top of that we were at OLCC in the East Village and the wind was out of the east, so we got the Reedy Creek wastewater treatment plant stink.

Disney Day for us was Thursday, and everyone but me and MIL went. The high was 38 and it poured down rain all day. But they stayed til the last fireworks show, 1 AM I think.

I got a couple or three rounds of golf in, and got to eat at Shells, so it was not a totallywasted week.

When we left OLCC on Saturday the line getting into Disney was backed up on 192 all the way to the OLCC light!!!! All lanes. Once I was able to get onto 192, I took the center shoulder to the first road that leads to Sherburth. Traffic was flowing fine inside Disney, so we took their roads and popped out the east side, where we were trying to get, to meet friends at the airport for a relaxing week of golf with Rapmarks and Conchman in SW FL. Off-days in SW FL were spent on the beach, with no lines or waiting.
- - - - - -
We just had family Christmas last weekend and no mention was made of going to Disney, how much fun we had last year, or begging to do it again.

A special trip to Hawaii came up, with a spattering of interest. Well, except for the nephew who won't get on a plane.

Except for Girls' Week to Nashville, Gris does not intend to do any family trip-planning any more. Speaking of Gris, we continued the family tradition of all watching National Lampoon Christmas Vacation.
- - - - - -
Another small aspect is plane fares to Florida. Whenever you look at airfare charts that show how much it is on specific days to Orlando, it is always lower before or after Christmas and New Years. This year we are flying to Orlando on 1/4 and out on 1/18, for $89 a leg. This was a one-day offer to fly out of Tampa for $15 (about $40 total), in January.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Hmmmm, this is not sounding good.

I need to find a good family location for Christmas.

[timeos2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close timeos2]

No fun. Frustrating. Stay away.

Yesterday at 11AM the Magic Kingdom was closed according to a sign on 192. That means they had so many people in there they wouldn't accept anymore. I pity those who got in as we've done it and it helped sour us on Disney forevermore. It is a terrible experience and should be avoided. Thats without even considering the grid lock on 192 from 6AM to 11 PM daily from 12/-26 to 12/31 each year. A nightmare every way you look at it. Does not make for a fun vacation.

[bnoble Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bnoble]

What if we checked in on Thursday, Xmas day.

For the love of all that is good, don't do this. The week between Christmas and New Years is hands down the busiest week of the year at WDW. Check in sometime the week before, it will be much better, in a still really busy but relatively speaking sort of way.

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

Well, sheeeees back !

Glad to have stayed at DVC and am reporting my experience from there.

I was at the Beach Club Villas for 3-4 days. The front desk people said that all the DVCs were only running at ~60% capacity, however, the parks were another story. They were maxed out.

I did not venture into any of the parks.

My park hopper ticket doesn't expire, so I'd rather use it at the end of September when there's hardly any waiting in line (as experienced by me last week of this past September).
The restaurants were a tad hard to find space. I had to try several-several times to get a decent time for Booma's . There wasn't a problem in being seated for Sunday's NFL game, aka, "Squish The Fish" game at ESPN. The lounges do not accept reservations (FYI).

It was nice just to get some pool time, sun, warmth and green (trees, plants, etc.). Had to recharge my jets.

Back to reality.................... snow, cold, grey skies, drab, heat-your-car, getting out from under the comforter............. you know, New England winter stuff.
Had fun, though.
B

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Angela,

You can go to Orlando and let the people who want to do the parks do the parks, and you can relax, golf, etc...

But for that week i would consider either a resort destination in itself where the people capacity is limited to the resort guests, or something a little off-season, like what Mike did -- Hilton Head or something similar. Maybe Myrtle Beach so DD might have more to do, etc... Would you go back to Palm Springs? How about Ocean Pointe?

[senorak Member Find all posts View Profile Close senorak]

Yikes! My brother and his family are headed to WDW right now (their 6 year old daughter received this trip via "Make a Wish"). They were originally scheduled to go over Thanksgiving break, but due to work/school, rescheduled for Dec. 26th-Jan.1st. My SiL is very "particular", (for lack of a better/kinder word), and is expecting this trip to be "perfect". I have a feeling the crowds and long lines will have her complaining the entire trip. "Make a Wish" is paying for everything....flights, hotel (staying at the "Yacht Club"), tickets to WDW, Universal and Sea World, and giving them $$ for "meal allowance". (My niece was being treated for "Burkitt's lymphoma" for the first 6 months of 2007; she has been "cancer free" since May). I know the kids will have an awesome time no matter what---heck, they will just enjoy the plane ride and hanging out in the hotel pool (assuming it's warm enough to swim).

Deb

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

Hopefully, some/much of the peak crowd has left. From what I gathered in overhearing conversations, many were there for the Christmas Day Parade in the Magic Kingdom.

The Yacht Club is very nice. It's next to the Beach Club and you can stroll to the Boardwalk where there are lots of eateries and things to see & do.
There's a great pub in the Yacht Club called the "Crew's Cup". Recommended for adults.

The weather is lovely, but not exactly beach weather (at least for me). The pools are heated and many were using them.

I think the forecast is for the mid70s-80 this week. (Google Orlando Weather).

I am glad that her Burkitt's is either in remission or cured.

B.

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

Not to get off topic, but this is linked:

You know. I have found the last week of September, barring any hurricanes, worked out great for me. No lines, good weather, good airfares.

The families with kids that I chatted with in Spetmember felt that a couple days away from school was fine. In fact, they just missed about 2 days when linked to a weekend. This, of course, is a personal choice and family matter.

I went this time only because I snagged the Beach Club Villa week on impulse, but would not pick this week again. Fortunately (or unfortunately for us "back east"),
the weather has been so bad that I appreciated the getaway to a nice resort, but did not venture into the packed parks.

B