How should I map out the parks for Christmas week?

[LeFuj]

I know that Christmas week is one of the busiest weeks of the year at WDW, so I'm not expecting low crowds whatsoever. But I've never been there during that week and was wondering how I could best map out which days to go to which parks based on potential crowd level? I'll be there Sunday, December 22nd until Friday, December 27th, doing one park per day that Monday-Thursday. So far I'm thinking Animal Kingdom on Christmas Day? TIA!

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

I’ve been there the last few Christmas weeks. The days leading up to Christmas tend not to be that bad, and Christmas itself also not ridiculous (although still very crowded). It’s December 26th through 1/1 (maybe a little bit past 1/1 given how it falls this year) that is ridiculously crowded. AK will be the least crowded, but other than that I don’t know that there’s much you can do to “minimize” crowds through park selection. Just go to whichever park you want to on a given day. Go in expecting them all to be very very crowded. You’ll still have a good time, it’s a great time of year. Purchasing LL’s are a must, and they will be very expensive. Using mobile ordering is a must. Eating your meals at slightly off times (or else having reservations) is a must. Trying not to use park transportation at exactly park open or close is a must. Finally, knowing which bathrooms are the less popular ones is a must.

The “less popular” bathrooms at MK in my experience are:

1. Gaston’s Tavern area;
2. POTC store bathrooms;
3. Tiana’s (although this was when Splash was closed, so who knows now);
4. Space Mountain area.

Make sure to place your mobile orders hours in advance (you can always modify the times or cancel them).

 

[NYCgrrl]

AK on Christmas Day sounds like an excellent idea.

Consider buying an itinerary from Touring Plan as it’s money well spent. On crowded days we like to get in and out of the parks early as there’s so much decor to see at the resorts or Disney Springs.
Have fun out there.

 

[leebee]

Just expect it to be more crowded than you could ever imagine. I'm talking shoulder-to-shoulder crowded. DH and I attempted Harry Potter/Diagon Alley on Dec. 26, 2019, and didn't stay. I found the crowds anxiety-inducing. My sister and her kids tried to go to MK on Christmas a few years before the pandemic and left before they got all the way up Main St, it was that crowded- and they are theme park veterans, know how to work it all to the best advantage.

I think I'd recommend taking Disney transportation as traffic to get to the theme parks is daunting. The week we were there in 2019, I opted for Disney buses, and I HATE Disney buses, but the road traffic for private vehicles was on a level of Boston at rush hour.

I don't want to scare you- the theme parks and resorts at Christmas are magical- just go in VERY prepared for the masses of humanity you'll encounter.

 

[LeFuj]

I’ve been there the last few Christmas weeks. The days leading up to Christmas tend not to be that bad, and Christmas itself also not ridiculous (although still very crowded). It’s December 26th through 1/1 (maybe a little bit past 1/1 given how it falls this year) that is ridiculously crowded. AK will be the least crowded, but other than that I don’t know that there’s much you can do to “minimize” crowds through park selection. Just go to whichever park you want to on a given day. Go in expecting them all to be very very crowded. You’ll still have a good time, it’s a great time of year. Purchasing LL’s are a must, and they will be very expensive. Using mobile ordering is a must. Eating your meals at slightly off times (or else having reservations) is a must. Trying not to use park transportation at exactly park open or close is a must. Finally, knowing which bathrooms are the less popular ones is a must.

The “less popular” bathrooms at MK in my experience are:

1. Gaston’s Tavern area;
2. POTC store bathrooms;
3. Tiana’s (although this was when Splash was closed, so who knows now);
4. Space Mountain area.

Make sure to place your mobile orders hours in advance (you can always modify the times or cancel them).

This is exactly the info I needed, thank you!!!

 

[LeFuj]

AK on Christmas Day sounds like an excellent idea.

Consider buying an itinerary from Touring Plan as it’s money well spent. On crowded days we like to get in and out of the parks early as there’s so much decor to see at the resorts or Disney Springs.
Have fun out there.

Ooh okay I will definitely look into getting that itin!