Quantcast Christmas in WDW
 
INTERCOT: Walt Disney World Vacation Planning Guide Walt Disney World Disney Cruise Line Mousehut Mail WebDisney News INTERCOT: Walt Disney World Vacation Guide
News Discussion Theme Parks Resorts Info Central Shop Interactive Podcast INTERCOT Navigtion
Site Sponsors
  magical journeys travel agency
  INTERCOT shop

INTERCOT Affiliates
  disney magicbands & accessories
  disneystore.com
  disney fathead
  disney check designs
  amazon.com
  priceline.com

News
  site search
  headlines
  past updates
  discussion boards
  email update

INTERCOT Other
  advertising
  sponsors
  link to us
  contact us
     

INTERCOT Ads
 

 
 

Results 1 to 9 of 9
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Northern Illinois
    Posts
    223
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default Christmas in WDW

    Please tell me everything about visiting Disney World over Christmas.
    All Star Sports 1996
    All Star Movies/Dixie1999
    POR/CBR 2001
    Animal Kingdom Lodge/Poly/POR 2003
    Pop,Port Orleans,Wilderness Lodge, Poly 2006
    Caribbean Beach 2007
    Caribbean Beach/Poly 2010 College graduation for DD
    Next Trip--June 2014 AoA Resort
    Girls trip Thanksgiving 2015.Port Orleans!!!

  2.     Please Support INTERCOT's Sponsors:
  3. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Wellington, CO
    Posts
    1,376
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    It is a fun time of year with all the decorations and characters in holiday outfits. But it is also the absolutely busiest times of year. Expect long wait times for everything. The weather can be very nice or cold. We love to see the Gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian and the other gingerbread creations at several of the other resorts. We try to get pictures with all the different Christmas trees. The one at Animal Kingdom Lodge is fantastic. We enjoy the Christmas parade during MVMCP along with the special fireworks. The fireworks displays on New Years Eve are the best. Favorite is Epcot. It can be a great time as long as you prepare yourself for how crazy busy it will be. This was all pre Covid so not sure how this year will look

  4. Likes Jeff liked this post
  5. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 1999
    Location
    Mid Michigan
    Posts
    26,671
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    My family has been to WDW over Christmas many times. I agree with all thatZippy said in the above post.

    My biggest tip is to get to the parks just before they open, and this time often changes last minute so double check the night befor. If you are there early you can get a lot done before the parks get crazy. By 10:30 or so crowds can be absolutely crazy, plan less popular attractions for after 11 then head back to your resort for a rest. Head back to the parks late in the day for night time shows.

    Also, make dinning reservations as soon as you can.
    Jeff

  6. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2019
    Posts
    70
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    It is very busy though never have attended but heard it is busy beynd the norm over for the usually crowded DW. As kids out of schools and parents out of work. So really try to find times that they are not busy indeed.
    April Showers and Easter 2024!!

  7. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 1999
    Posts
    7,114
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    When we lived in Texas, we would go for 2 weeks every other Christmas.

    1. Weather can be anything - hot, cold, wet
    2. Crowds get increasingly heavier as the days towards Christmas come closer
    3. Christmas day Magic Kingdom usually is closed due to max capacity
    4. Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is worth the extra money (to us anyway)
    5. The parks are decorated very very nicely
    6. The monorail resorts can not be missed
    7. Make sure you visit the Gingerbread house in America in EPCOT
    8. Take the time to listen to all the countries Santa's telling the story of Santa in their country
    9. Downtown Disney (yes, I know the real name is Disney Springs) has great Christmas trees
    10. If you see a special Christmas item you like in a store - buy it right then - 9 times out of ten they
    will be sold out when you go back to buy it.
    11. Make sure you have all your dining reservations before you go - they will be next to impossible to obtain while you are there if you do not have them.
    12. Candlelight processional at EPCOT
    13. Jingle Cruise on the jungle cruise ride
    14. Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade
    15. EPCOTS holiday cookie stroll
    16. Visit Fort Wilderness and see how everyone has decorated their home away from home


    Now that the list above has been stated. COVID has changed it all. No more Gingerbread houses, no more resort hopping just to see the Christmas decorations. You must have a park reservation to get into the park - No Very Merry Christmas Party... To be very honest - I would not spend the money right now to go until the mask mandate has been dropped, the character interaction has returned, resort hopping is open, etc. I now live 30 minutes away and the last place I opt to go anymore is any of the parks. I still go to Downtown Disney (Disney Springs) - and I MIGHT hop into a park if I need to pick something up (i.e. Passholder magnet) but to me - it just is not worth it at the moment. Your mileage may vary on this opinion, but it is how I feel.
    Last edited by Imalismom; 03-09-2021 at 03:29 PM.
    Ali's Mom
    Senior Imagineer

  8. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2001
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    40,874
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Right now, it's hard to answer this as the bottom line is that I have no idea what Christmas as Disney will look like this year.
    Linda aka: Faline
    INTERCOT Staff: Vacation Planning,Trip Reports and Disney Camping
    [email protected]

  9. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Blacksburg, VA
    Posts
    2,052
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    My first thought was "Don't".

    If you mean the week of Christmas to New Years, it is absolutely the busiest time of the year for the busiest theme park in the world. The park often closes because it has reached capacity. The decorations are fabulous. The lines are long. The crowds are thick.

    If you mean over the holiday season, then absolutely do. We have gone the week after Thanksgiving many times, and it was wonderful. Not nearly as crowded, but just as festive. The first two weeks of December are great because most people who are planning to go are just planning to go over Christmas. The kids are still in school, but we never had a problem pulling them out. They're never going to miss anything that week that they can't catch up on, but the memories are forever.
    2002 - 2022: 20+ visits (POR, BW, All Stars, VWL, CSR, BLT, BC, SSR, CB, Dolphin, OKW, Poly, offsite x8)
    DL - 1996, 2019
    Next up - January 2023 short trip! We just want to try that 50th Anniversary chocolate monstrosity at Mexico!

  10. Likes PopPhan liked this post
  11. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Huntsville, Alabama
    Posts
    1,374
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    I wouldn't do Christmas week ever again. The parks are so busy it is pretty much dreadful. My advice is pick another time during the Christmas season to visit and see the decorations and parades.

  12. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    296
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    If you do go, pack a hoodie or some other warm top in your park bag. Made the mistake of not on and Epcot day as it was hot but once the sun had gone down, boy, was the breeze across the lake cold. We wanted to stay for Illluminations so DH got me A $40 fleece blanket to "wear".
    POFQ Sept 2012
    POFQ Oct 2014 Hubby's 50th Birthday!
    Wilderness Lodge Nov 2018 My 47th Birthday!

Share This Thread On Social Media:

Share This Thread On Social Media:

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

 
Company
Advertising
Guest Relations
Community
Discussion Boards
Podcast
Newsletter
Shop
Social
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube
Pinterest
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Enter your email address below to receive our newsletter:
INTERCOT Logo PRIVACY STATEMENT / DISCLAIMER | DISCUSSION BOARD RULES
© Since 1997 INTERCOT - a Levelbest Communications Website. This is not an official Disney website.
> Levelbest Network Site