Disney at Christmas time?

Anyone ever gone around the holidays? Is it jammed because schools are closed?
Also I havent been there in years. Where is a good place to stay? Has anyone stayed off grounds? Is transportation to/from the parks a pain?
TIA!

Re: Disney at Christmas time?

It is fun, but often the parks close because they are at capacity Christmas week. If you can go the week before or the week after (before things are taken down) you will be able to enjoy the park without the enormous crowds. As for places to stay it depends upon your budget.

Re: Disney at Christmas time?

They start decorating and celebrating right after Thanksgiving- so if you go the first week of December its not terrible at all!

I have also gone a couple times the week between Christmas & New Years and yea, its exactly what you'd expect but Disney really is good at moving people through lines, so not awful.

eta- our favorite is the Port Orleans/French Quarters hotel- food court on site, middle of the road price wise... After staying on-site, I'd never stay off- easy bus service, you can get into the park earlier/stay late certain days, they send your packages if you buy anything directly back to your room

Message edited 2/28/2013 1:10:34 PM.

Re: Disney at Christmas time?

I've been there twice at Christmas time, but it was always the second week of December so schools were still in session. We LOVED it! Less crowds, shorter lines, yet we could still enjoy the hoilday theme and feel. Definitely recommend.

Disney at Christmas time?

We always go the week after Thanksgiving - EMPTY! All the kids go back to school that week.
Like a pp stated they decorate the day after Thanksgiving. The last time we were there, we rode splash mountain 3 times in a row, because we could :)

Re: Disney at Christmas time?

I take it you are asking about Christmas week since you are asking. No I would never go then. Unless you go often. Early December is much better.

If you plan to go during this time you really must stay on site, be at the parks at rope drop (opening) and plan to stay all day, make all your adrs at the 180+ window. I would plan, plan, plan.

The problem with this time of the year is that the parks close to capacity, lines are ridiculously long, and parks are a madhouse. They first close to off site, then on site without an adr etc.

Re: Disney at Christmas time?

Early December is an awesome time to go because you get all of the Christmas without the crowds.

If you do during actual Christmas week, that is the most crowded time of the year. You'll definitely want to stay on property and get up very early to use extra magic hours or at least be at rope drop. You have to plan carefully because the parks do close due to capacity.

That said Disney adds MANY activites such as character meet and greets at resorts and of course all of the beautiful resort decor, so you can have an amazing time without depending on getting to ride every ride.

I'm looking to rent my timeshare out that week. It's a Disney hotel and is a 5 minute walk from the Magic Kingdom gate, in case anyone is looking. Lake view studio at Bay Lake Tower.

Re: Disney at Christmas time?

I've gone to Disney more times than I can count and have never seen it as insanely packed the week between Xmas and New Years. I'd avoid that week if at all possible!

Re: Disney at Christmas time?

Just went the week before Thanksgiving.
It was considered off-peak.

We had the best time. Between fast pass and the crowd, we barely had to wait to get on rides. I could not imagine how the parks would be when its crowded. Look at undercover tourist website for more info on best times/days to travel to parks.

Even when we went in Nov, they had Micky/Minny special Christmas holiday event. We didn't have tickets for that but got to experience some of it while leaving magic kingdom. They made it snow

Re: Disney at Christmas time?

Message edited 2/28/2013 3:03:18 PM.

Re: Disney at Christmas time?

The Christmas party and Osbourne Family Spctace of Dancing Lights start in early November, but Holidays Around the World and Candlelight processional at EPCOT don't start until after Thanksgiving and the Magic Kingdom Christmas Tree doesn't go up until after the first weekend of December. For that reason I like to at least go after Thanksgiving. I LOVE Holidays Around the World and Candlelight Processional..oh and of course holiday IllumiNations.

POFQ is my favorite moderate!

Re: Disney at Christmas time?

We would go the week after Thanksgiving or the 1st week in Dec. The parks are all decorated for the holidays but it's not as crowded. We live an hour from Disney and this past year the parks reached capacity most of the days between Christmas Eve and New Years.

We've stayed on and off property. We now own Disney timeshare so usually stay there. We've stayed at a lot of the resorts on property and it all depends on what you would like to spend.