Hey!! Anyone celebrate Christmas in Disney World?! Just curious as to how crazy it gets. I know Disney is for the most part crowded year around but I usually go in September when it's not too crazy. Also how magical is it?!
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I did, years ago. We went to MK on Christmas Day and it was a madhouse. I would never go then again. Instead I would go early December when the crowds are low but everything is still all decorated for Christmas
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Not Christmas but I went for New Year's Eve a few times when I was in university, and it was nuts. One year we spent four hours on the highway trying to go four miles - literally we took turns getting out of the van, walking to Universal Studios (because the Magic Kingdom was already full), going in and getting a hand stamp, and then walking back to the van to let another group go. It was chaos. The next year we got to the park at 6am and just slept in the van until it actually opened.
It was SUPER magical, though. I have a very vivid memory of walking down a dark street and all of a sudden it started "snowing" (bubbles) and playing Christmas carols, and it was incredible.
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I've gone to DL (not DW) the week between Christmas and New Years and NEVER AGAIN. Complete madhouse. Not fun at all; just insanely busy. No reason to think DW would be any different.
We went to DW in early January thisyear and it wasn't super busy at all and still had all the Christmas decorations up and "snowed" inside of Be Our Guest. It was also pretty cold and nasty outside tho.
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I went in the evening only for the Christmas Spectacular. I believe they sell only a limited amount of tickets so it wasn't too crowded. It was very magical and amazing to see the castle all lit for the holidays.
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We went in early November and it was mostly decked out with Mickey parties and all. It wasn't crowded the way I planned it out.
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can't speak to WDW busyness, but christmastime at DL is absolutely magical. we typically try to go the week after thanksgiving which tends to be less busy but it's still decked out.
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It's a complete madhouse on any major holiday. That said, I've done Christmas and New Years (different years) pre kids and I'm glad I did. But I couldn't imagine going with small children on any big holiday. It's wall to wall people and you have to get there very early in the day because they reach capacity.
We camp at Fort Wilderness the second weekend of December every year with my family and it's pretty busy, but still very magical! I really like the Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party, it's a separately ticketed event, but it's in the evenings in Magic Kingdom, it snows periodically on Main St and there are hot cocoa, egg nog and cookie stations around the park, they do the Christmas parade and fireworks and holiday shows, the characters are dressed up, etc. To me, it's the most magical Christmas celebration.
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@bubblegum what a great thread!
We did WDW last September and did the Halloween thing - it was amazing. The crowds were perfect.Next trip is definitely going to be around Christmas time 2020 (so we get to see Star Wars)
Anyone else plan family vacays ridiculously early?
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@Charm54: That's what I'm thinking now after reading everyone's post. Maybe just in early December is best @erinbaderin: Holy heck!! That's intense!!
@yoursilverlining: The weather wasn't good?! I've never been doing the "winter" I'm an east coast girl so idk if I would think it was cold but you tell me!
@RonjaL7: @808love: @birdofafeather: Thanks for the tips girls!
@MrsRoo: Yikes! Okay so early it is because I have two little ones.@StrawberryShortie: I am dying to do Halloween too! Especially now that the Sanderson sisters are there
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We have family that goes every few years and supposedly it's a madhouse. I've heard that the first week of December is a great time to go if you want to see the Christmas decorations because crowds are a lot lower.
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@StrawberryShortie: We do this also
Our next trip is going to be fall of 2019!
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I don't know about Disney World but in CA Disney Land I just saw on the news September is one of the two least crowded months, for measure. I think they said the holiday weeks were among the MOST crowded times. I've been to DL both times and they were both crowded.
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I would never go on actual Christmas or close to that time (i.e. week prior or week after), definitely not with small kids. I might do it with 2 adults who are "veteran" Disney people and willing to get up super early and do what it takes to see things. I.e. the parks open at 7, you need to be there by 6:30am, etc.
Early December is great! Very magical with the Christmas decorations, special shows, music, characters, etc. Usually crowds are not too bad (although it's more than it used to be). Plus the weather is GREAT!
@yoursilverlining @bubblegum well, I just said above the weather is great, what I should have said is, it's not 100 degrees and usually it's pretty nice
It's definitely unpredictable. It can be in the low 80s and sunny and gorgeous. It can also be humid and in the 40s and windy, which is pretty darn cold when you're sitting outside waiting for fireworks. You have to watch the weather closely and pack accordingly. Actually the coldest I've ever been was about 5 years ago at Epcot over MLK weekend waiting for the fireworks. It was record low temps, low 30s, howling wind and I had on a huge coat, long underwear, etc. and it was miserable. The parks were empty though! -
@MrsADS: @bubblegum: the weather in early January is definitely unpredictable. One day was in the low 70's but the rest of the days were in the low 40's, very windy and rainy. Windy and rainy and cold was MISERABLE for walking around and waiting in lines.
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@2littlepumpkins: September is also one of the lowest crowd months at Disney world too!
@MrsADS: @yoursilverlining: no way!!!!! Cold in Disney!! I don't believe it. I'm an east coast girl so I'm use to cold winter so when I think Christmas in Florida I think high temps!!
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First time I went to Disney World was two Septembers ago and it was amazing!!! First rule of travel...pick your dates well! (Tailor it to what you want to do and weather you want to experience.)
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@bubblegum I don't think it's the norm to be freezing in December, but it's definitely possible and something to be aware of if you go during that time. We still saw kids swimming in the (heated) hotel pools. We figured they were probably from New York or Minnesota or something
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@MrsADS: That would be us! lol we're from the east coast where we're use to walking around with shorts on in 45 degree weather
Our next trip is going to be fall of 2019!
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