Is Disney really worth going during the holidays?Why? - The DIS Discussion Forums

kawing123 · 12-01-2009, 08:18 AM

Still debating whether to head out to the world for the holidays. Is it really magical or is simply another light display?

GoldieSaysMeep · 12-01-2009, 08:29 AM

There is NO WAY I would go to WDW during the actual week of Christmas and/or New Years. Overpriced & crowded. Yes, it is nice to go during December and see it snow on Main St and see the decorations, but go during the early part of the month, do not go during the actual holiday. You will probably hate it. I'm sure some people like it but... I don't get those people lol.

SalandJeff · 12-01-2009, 08:45 AM

It is magical at Disney during the holiday season. However, as pp said, I would never go during Christmas week. If you can go at the beginning of December, crowds are small, prices are lower, and you still get all the lights, Candlelight Processional, parades, MVMCP, and holiday magic.

DawnM · 12-01-2009, 08:49 AM

Christmas is the busiest time at Disney. We went one year.....NEVER again! It is bedlam.

I still am trying to get a week in during January.....but Christmas? NO WAY!

Dawn

Rm3idm · 12-01-2009, 09:00 AM

We go to Disney at the beginning of December every year. It is truly magical. We've been during summer and spring break, but it is just not the same. Disney itself is a wondeful place, the holiday decorations is an added bonus...

sammi6 · 12-01-2009, 09:15 AM

I agree with previous posters. I absolutely love it during the month of December, I find it to be very magical and my kids love it. The parades are awesome and the snow on Main Street is just great and then the lights are on the castle are really beautiful. I try to go in December as much as possible, but I did make the mistake one year of going during New Years, not a good idea unless you like crowds. I had a good time still but I would never do it again.

Chicago526 · 12-01-2009, 09:30 AM

I'm going to disagree. DH and I went the first week of Dec. in 2004. We had a great time, but I found myself just getting burned out on Christmas "stuff" after a few days. Especially the music. It was all Christmas music, all the time, even at the resorts. I missed the usual "soundtrack" of Disney, where the music changes between lands and each resort had it's own themed music.

I'm no Scroge, I love Christmas! But it was just too much.

The one thing that I did love, and is the ONLY thing that may tempt me back, was the holiday "tag" at the end of Illuminations. That was the most AWESOME fireworks display I've ever seen!!!!

pearlieq · 12-01-2009, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chicago526

We had a great time, but I found myself just getting burned out on Christmas "stuff" after a few days. Especially the music. It was all Christmas music, all the time, even at the resorts. I missed the usual "soundtrack" of Disney, where the music changes between lands and each resort had it's own themed music.

I felt similarly.

I've been in early Dec, mid Dec, and the week between Christmas and New Years.

As for the trip during New Year's Week--NEVER AGAIN! It wasn't my choice to go then (it was the only time my godchildren could go) and it was pretty much as awful as advertised. Crowds were awful and prices were sky-high.

For the early December trip, I wound up feeling a lot like the poster I quoted. We were there a week. It was nice for a couple of days, then it just started feeling like being at the mall. You stop noticing the Christmas decorations and I found myself really missing the themed music. There's not much difference between hearing "Jingle Bells" on Main Street and at Kohl's.

The best trip we ever did was mid-December. We were there for 3 nights to show my Mom the Christmas lights and it was just right. A short enough trip to appreciate everything without going into overload.

Golf4food · 12-01-2009, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldieSaysMeep

There is NO WAY I would go to WDW during the actual week of Christmas and/or New Years. Overpriced & crowded. Yes, it is nice to go during December and see it snow on Main St and see the decorations, but go during the early part of the month, do not go during the actual holiday. You will probably hate it. I'm sure some people like it but... I don't get those people lol.

What they said.

We love WDW during Christmas time, but always go earlier in December to avoid the huge crowds closer to Christmas. We certainly find the World even more magical during the holidays.

BABY_EINSTEIN'S_MOM · 12-01-2009, 10:09 AM

Would anyone that has been during Christmas/New Years week like to say that they enjoyed it...please?? LOL

hanutedmansionmomma · 12-01-2009, 10:13 AM

loved it so much we're going again this year!

BABY_EINSTEIN'S_MOM · 12-01-2009, 10:53 AM

Could anyone share why they did dislike Christmas week so much? Like, please describe the insanity, crowds, ride wait times, etc.! I am also considering Christmas/New Years and have been told "never again" by so many people. I guess I just need a better picture of the craziness of it before I can give up going during that time(the only time during the holidays that we can go). There are other times during the year that we can go, but only during the "crazy" week for the holidays. Tell me your horror stories...or your wonderful ones!!

disneyfan2kids · 12-01-2009, 11:51 AM

Went 3 years for the week b/w Xmas/NYE.... LOVED it!!!! Crowds are fine as long as you don't plan on getting on every ride. We've seen the rides alot, so it was OK if we walked past something with a long line and decided to "skip it."

But the atmosphere can't be beat! And NYE in Disney is pretty much what I imagine Heaven will be like

That said...this year we're going (in a few days!) the 2nd week of December...b/c airfare and DVC points were too expensive to go that same week again.

Can't wait!!!

mrsklamc · 12-01-2009, 12:23 PM

My first visit was one day during Christmas week. I was 14, and literally ALL I remember was standing in line for like 2 hours for Space Mountain.

I suppose it could have its appeal if you go every year or even a couple times a year and like variety, but we prefer to go once every 3-5 years during a time when there are no crowds and we can just walk on and off rides.

MsStinkerBelle · 12-01-2009, 12:37 PM

We've done Disney for Christmas the past 4 years and have LOVED it! The atmosphere is just...so magical. It's almost completely different from the way it is during the rest of the year.

Yes the crowds are ungodly huge. Yes, it is priced very high. Yes, the wait times can be insane if you don't plan (I've seen a 190 minute wait for Soarin'). And this is why if it's your first visit to WDW I strongly suggest NOT going at Christmas. My family has been to WDW so many times that we're not so concerned with getting on the rides as we are experiencing the Christmas atmosphere.

12-01-2009, 08:18 AM	#1
kawing123 Mouseketeer Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 164	Is Disney really worth going during the holidays?Why? Still debating whether to head out to the world for the holidays. Is it really magical or is simply another light display?

12-01-2009, 08:45 AM	#3
SalandJeff Disney Addict x2 Likes a nice hot cup of tea Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Too Far From WDW Posts: 2,382	It is magical at Disney during the holiday season. However, as pp said, I would never go during Christmas week. If you can go at the beginning of December, crowds are small, prices are lower, and you still get all the lights, Candlelight Processional, parades, MVMCP, and holiday magic. __________________ Me DH DD 9

12-01-2009, 08:49 AM	#4
DawnM Dawn Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NC Posts: 11,128	Christmas is the busiest time at Disney. We went one year.....NEVER again! It is bedlam. I still am trying to get a week in during January.....but Christmas? NO WAY! Dawn __________________ Dawn living with 4 boys (dh included)

12-01-2009, 09:15 AM	#6
sammi6 Walt Disney World is One of the Bare Necessities of Life! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 526	I agree with previous posters. I absolutely love it during the month of December, I find it to be very magical and my kids love it. The parades are awesome and the snow on Main Street is just great and then the lights are on the castle are really beautiful. I try to go in December as much as possible, but I did make the mistake one year of going during New Years, not a good idea unless you like crowds. I had a good time still but I would never do it again. __________________ Proof that Miracles Exist

12-01-2009, 09:30 AM	#7
Chicago526 Any dream will do... I have the best NEW HUSBAND ever! Clorox Toliet wands, I love these things! "Hmmm...I have a cookbook." Join Date: May 2003 Location: Elgin, IL Posts: 11,041	I'm going to disagree. DH and I went the first week of Dec. in 2004. We had a great time, but I found myself just getting burned out on Christmas "stuff" after a few days. Especially the music. It was all Christmas music, all the time, even at the resorts. I missed the usual "soundtrack" of Disney, where the music changes between lands and each resort had it's own themed music. I'm no Scroge, I love Christmas! But it was just too much. The one thing that I did love, and is the ONLY thing that may tempt me back, was the holiday "tag" at the end of Illuminations. That was the most AWESOME fireworks display I've ever seen!!!! __________________ Chicago526 Yes, I do know the difference between "there, their, and they're". However, often my fingers while typing do not.

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12-01-2009, 08:29 AM	#2
GoldieSaysMeep DIS Veteran Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1,224	There is NO WAY I would go to WDW during the actual week of Christmas and/or New Years. Overpriced & crowded. Yes, it is nice to go during December and see it snow on Main St and see the decorations, but go during the early part of the month, do not go during the actual holiday. You will probably hate it. I'm sure some people like it but... I don't get those people lol.

12-01-2009, 09:00 AM	#5
Rm3idm Earning My Ears Join Date: May 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 56	We go to Disney at the beginning of December every year. It is truly magical. We've been during summer and spring break, but it is just not the same. Disney itself is a wondeful place, the holiday decorations is an added bonus...

12-01-2009, 10:09 AM	#10
BABY_EINSTEIN'S_MOM DIS Veteran Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kentucky~~ Go Big Blue! Posts: 1,530	Would anyone that has been during Christmas/New Years week like to say that they enjoyed it...please?? LOL __________________ (DH) (ME) (DS17) (DD13) (DS8) Ddog May 1992~High school grad nite WDW trip/Howard Johnson's April 2006~1st family WDW trip/Windsor Hills June 2009~2 week WDW-Cocoa beach extravaganza!/Windsor Hills October 2010~Our 1st WDW MNSSHP/Windsor Hills June 2012~ 2 week WDW(YES program)-Universal-Seaworld-Cocoa beach/Windsor Hills

12-01-2009, 10:13 AM	#11
hanutedmansionmomma DIS Veteran Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,362	loved it so much we're going again this year! __________________ Haunted Mansion Momma...it's been brought to my attention this isn't bad spelling,it's a typo! Thanks stayhomemom77 momma, DH, DD 19, DS 14 12/2008 ASM, 12/2009 CSR, 6/2011 CSR Trolling internet for next vacay...no ticker yet!

12-01-2009, 10:53 AM	#12
BABY_EINSTEIN'S_MOM DIS Veteran Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kentucky~~ Go Big Blue! Posts: 1,530	Could anyone share why they did dislike Christmas week so much? Like, please describe the insanity, crowds, ride wait times, etc.! I am also considering Christmas/New Years and have been told "never again" by so many people. I guess I just need a better picture of the craziness of it before I can give up going during that time(the only time during the holidays that we can go). There are other times during the year that we can go, but only during the "crazy" week for the holidays. Tell me your horror stories...or your wonderful ones!! __________________ (DH) (ME) (DS17) (DD13) (DS8) Ddog May 1992~High school grad nite WDW trip/Howard Johnson's April 2006~1st family WDW trip/Windsor Hills June 2009~2 week WDW-Cocoa beach extravaganza!/Windsor Hills October 2010~Our 1st WDW MNSSHP/Windsor Hills June 2012~ 2 week WDW(YES program)-Universal-Seaworld-Cocoa beach/Windsor Hills

12-01-2009, 11:51 AM	#13
disneyfan2kids DIS Veteran Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: PA Posts: 793	Went 3 years for the week b/w Xmas/NYE.... LOVED it!!!! Crowds are fine as long as you don't plan on getting on every ride. We've seen the rides alot, so it was OK if we walked past something with a long line and decided to "skip it." But the atmosphere can't be beat! And NYE in Disney is pretty much what I imagine Heaven will be like That said...this year we're going (in a few days!) the 2nd week of December...b/c airfare and DVC points were too expensive to go that same week again. Can't wait!!! __________________ Me DH DS(10) DS(7) PeePee Daisy

12-01-2009, 12:23 PM	#14
mrsklamc I apologize in advance, but what is a click clack? Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Husker living in Hoosierland. Posts: 8,376	My first visit was one day during Christmas week. I was 14, and literally ALL I remember was standing in line for like 2 hours for Space Mountain. I suppose it could have its appeal if you go every year or even a couple times a year and like variety, but we prefer to go once every 3-5 years during a time when there are no crowds and we can just walk on and off rides.

12-01-2009, 12:37 PM	#15
MsStinkerBelle Hittin' WDW Since Space Mountain was 'Coming Soon' Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Philly 'burbs Posts: 2,490	We love it! We've done Disney for Christmas the past 4 years and have LOVED it! The atmosphere is just...so magical. It's almost completely different from the way it is during the rest of the year. Yes the crowds are ungodly huge. Yes, it is priced very high. Yes, the wait times can be insane if you don't plan (I've seen a 190 minute wait for Soarin'). And this is why if it's your first visit to WDW I strongly suggest NOT going at Christmas. My family has been to WDW so many times that we're not so concerned with getting on the rides as we are experiencing the Christmas atmosphere. __________________ Proud Disney Company Stockholder Grand Californian/DLR (Oct '10) Grand Floridian (Jun '10) Polynesian (Dec '06, Aug '07, Dec '08) Pop (Apr '07, Aug '08, Dec '08) POFQ (Dec '06, Apr '07) AKL(Dec '07)

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