We are current passholders and usually take 2-3 Disney vacations a year. I am now thinking of surprising the kids with a disney trip for Christmas (it would actually be a few days after Christmas and through New Years) After all the toys that invaded my house this Christmas I am ready for to try something new!! I wanted to get opinions on the pros and cons of this time of the year such as crowds ,transportation, dining etc. I know that we won't be able to do everything we never do, just love being at Disney. Also if anyone has any must sees during this time. Thanks

The week between Christmas and New Years's is the busiest of the year. It's terrible! The week before Christmas isn't bad at all, but that week...OYE!

We've done New Year's a few times and we decided last month that we will not be doing it again. WAY too crowded and the hotel rates are the most expensive of the year.

On a similar thought, how are crowds early December (first couple of weeks/weekends) and/or early January?

On a similar thought, how are crowds early December (first couple of weeks/weekends) and/or early January?

Much better than between Christmas and New Years.

There is the Pop Warner tournament in early December - which can cause some crowds once the team is eliminated - but that's also the time of MouseFest, which can be fun to do (at least the Mega Mouse Meet - so you can meet authors and other fans and such).

Early January, especially not Marathon Weekend, isn't supposed to be too bad, either. Basically, if school is in session, you have a much better shot of smaller crowds!

The advantage to early December vs early January is that all the holiday stuff is going full swing. Including the Holiday Tag to Illuminations, Storytellers in all the countries, decorations, Osborne lights, Lights of Winter (not quite as impressive), Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, decorations and decorations. (I'm probably forgetting something!)

...Osborne lights, Lights of Winter (not quite as impressive...

Hey, don't be dissin' my Lights of Winter! Actually, you're right in that by comparison the Osborne lights are pretty spectacular. But there's something to be said about standing under that big white archway, watching all the blinking lights coordinated with a fountain show. Very Christmas-y!

Hey, don't be dissin' my Lights of Winter! Actually, you're right in that by comparison the Osborne lights are pretty spectacular. But there's something to be said about standing under that big white archway, watching all the blinking lights coordinated with a fountain show. Very Christmas-y!
Dude, we totally agree - I REALLY like them! :)

I've never been during the Christmas/NY week, but I have read many stories about how crowded it is. I am a firm believer in pulling the kids out of school to avoid those crowds. We have gone twice in early December and are going the second week of December this year. With the benefit of all the Christmas decorations and special events without the crowds and additional costs - definitely a much better choice.

The advantage to early December vs early January is that all the holiday stuff is going full swing. Including the Holiday Tag to Illuminations, Storytellers in all the countries, decorations, Osborne lights, Lights of Winter (not quite as impressive), Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, decorations and decorations. (I'm probably forgetting something!)

Yeah, I checked and it looks like the decorations come down pretty quickly after the new year, so we're looking at early December for a short vacation. And airfares seem pretty reasonable for the first half of the month.

...but that's also the time of MouseFest, which can be fun to do (at least the Mega Mouse Meet - so you can meet authors and other fans and such).

A conversation without a three-hour response time? It boggles the mind. :D

ETA: Congrats, mc06367!

We went the first week of December in '99 and it was nice. Parks weren't too crowded and it really got the entire family in the mood for Christmas! It was tons of fun - and I was 22! :)

We went December '07. First day in parks was the 20th. We got to the parks at opening or very shortly after (critical if you want to get on the favorites as many times as you care to and collect Fastpasses for later). MK on the morning of the 24th was surprisingly dead. By around 3:00 you could hardly move there were so many people in the park. We did Epcot on the 25th and it wasn't terrible until MK closed to capacity. We checked out on the 26th having read that the parks are extremely crowded after Christmas and went to Universal and then over to Cape Canaveral. I also followed the recommendations in the Unofficial Guide for what day to go to which park with the exception of MK on the 24th and it worked well for us. We rode everything we wanted multiple times and had a great time.

we have gone over Christmas/New years the past two years and have enjoyed it. You are pass holders and go frequently so you should have no problem going around crowds and just enjoying the things you can and avoiding those things that have to long of a line.

My kids are a little older, have been multiple times and are very easy going, so if something is too crowded we just come back to it later or next trip. The best advice is about meal planning, if you want any type of TS book early and check your ressie a few times before you leave and always have your confirmation number! It is amazing how often the "computer" loses confirmation numbers!:|

Decorations are great, parades are great, fireworks are great at Christmas, haven't been to a special christmas party or candlelight processional for many years so can't comment on those.

Go and enjoy, just remember you will have to pace yourself.

Early Dec is definitely better unless you really want to do New Years there. There are ways to circumvent the worst of the crowds. Rule number one: Don't go to MK on Christmas Day or New Year's Eve! Last year, I went to Animal Kingdom on Christmas Day, and the year before I was at Epcot. Still a bit crowded, but manageable. I have done Epcot on NYE the last two years, and it is great. If you want to see the New Year fireworks at MK, they show them the night before, when it is much less crowded. Also, don't expect to do a lot of rides unless you want to wait in major lines.

But if you want to avoid crowds altogether, go earlier in Dec for sure!

we've been down a few times around Christmas, and it's all about planing. Your best bet most of the time is to stay out of the parks that are opening early. This is where everyone is going to go. Last time we went it was raining one morning, we were all set to go into MK that day. We walked onto every ride in FL some 2X's in an hour and a half and met 6 or 7 characters. My brother and sister walked on all three mts. and a few other rides in the same time period. As long as you realize that you will have to wait for rides it is not that bad.

Also the decorations and overall feel of the parks is so great! Just walking around checking out all of the festive decorations makes you forget that there are so many people there.

we've been down a few times around Christmas, and it's all about planing.

Gee, I would have thought that with a trip to WDW, the plane would only be a small part of it.





Sorry, it's a sickness . . .

Gee, I would have thought that with a trip to WDW, the plane would only be a small part of it.





Sorry, it's a sickness . . .

Dan Young you quack me up. :D

It's a gift as well as a sickness . . .

It's a gift as well as a sickness . . .

Indeed

We went for New Years 2005/2006. We arrived 12/30. Our first day in the park was New Years Eve. We arrived at MK for EE at 7 am. It was really nice until about 10:30 and then you couldn't move. We left and went to Epcot. New Years Day was spent at AK. The crowds werent' bad at all. As the week progressed they got better until we hit Friday the 6th then the marathon crowds started. The decorations finally came down on the 6th.