Should we even consider this ? Christmas 2017

[WDWNext]

Hi all,
We are just talking about making our 2nd WDW visit. The last one was 4 years ago in April end. It was a 10 day trip and there was not a single attraction we did not see (well almost).

Sigh.... now we are staring at Christmas week. 23-29th. Kids are grown, youngest is 6.
We absolutely know its the busiest time of the year.

Main high level concerns.

- Will we be able to get fast passes or is it too late in the game ? This is NEW to us, so do not have much knowledge about this. Is there a way to check before we buy the tickets ?

- Are there any ticketed events in the park like Mickey's VM Christmas party going on in that week, and will we have to leave the park early during that event or is that in a separate area and we can still hang in the park ?

- I have heard people say December is the best time ambiance / decoration wise, do you guys agree with this ?

Thanks everyone in advance,
R.

 

[BriLovesDisney]

We will be there for Christmas week this year. The decorations and ambiance can't be beat.

I checked FPs a few days ago for a random reason and there was still a good selection. Also, day of FPs are not to be underestimated

MVMCP last day is 21 or 22, so it will not be going on when you're there.

 

[deedubb]

I was just looking to modify some of my FP today and it looks like there is still good availability for most rides but you'll have to act fast. There were still some 7DMT available but FOP at AK and FEA at Epcot are almost certainly all booked up. They just extended the hours which is likely the reason there is still lots available.

The 22nd is the last day for the MVMCP.

The biggest problem will be dining. You probably won't find much at any of the popular restaurants and the thought of doing QS meals over Xmas and having to battle the crowds does not sound appealing.

 

[WDWNext]

Thank you very much for the responses.
Can I check FP availability before I book the trip ? Are there cancellations, I mean should I still hope a week before the trip for anything to open up so that I can be on the lookout if I do not have FP's ?

 

[deedubb]

I don't think you can check for FP availability unless you have park tickets attached to your MDE account.

Yes, FP that were unavailable can always suddenly become available, so keep checking.

 

[Shanti]

Hi all,
We are just talking about making our 2nd WDW visit. The last one was 4 years ago in April end. It was a 10 day trip and there was not a single attraction we did not see (well almost).

Sigh.... now we are staring at Christmas week. 23-29th. Kids are grown, youngest is 6.
We absolutely know its the busiest time of the year.

Main high level concerns.

- Will we be able to get fast passes or is it too late in the game ? This is NEW to us, so do not have much knowledge about this. Is there a way to check before we buy the tickets ?

- Are there any ticketed events in the park like Mickey's VM Christmas party going on in that week, and will we have to leave the park early during that event or is that in a separate area and we can still hang in the park ?

- I have heard people say December is the best time ambiance / decoration wise, do you guys agree with this ?

Thanks everyone in advance,
R.

I just made FastPasses yesterday for our one-day, post-cruise Animal Kingdom visit on December 29th. Availability was wide open throughout the day for all rides except Flight of Passage. Didn't look at any other parks, though, as we knew we only wanted AK for this brief visit.

There will not be any hard ticket parties closing the parks during Christmas week. There are just the regular fireworks-type parties. A couple of days ago I read a thread about the MK fireworks party still having ample Christmas week availability, so if you're interested you might want to check that out.

Yesterday I got a Tusker House ADR for our party of 3 using Touring Plans reservation finder (free service from Touring Plans if you have their free "basic access" account). Between searching the Disney website and using TP ressie finder, I've been able to get other ADRs for Dec. 29th that I've since dropped. So there is currently ADR availability if you go after it.

December should have pretty nice weather. Expect crowds, but I recommend going for it. The fact that there is FP and ADR availability is encouraging to me. I recommend booking soon, though.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

OP - will you be staying on site? Just FYI... if you do decide to go and will be staying on site, you might want to go ahead and book it since you’re getting close to the 30 day out mark. At 30 days, guests NOT staying at a Disney resort can make FPs - so that’s everyone staying offsite, local APs, etc. In theory, you’ll see more FP inventory taken away by folks in that camp at the 30 day mark.

Happy planning !

 

[Disneylover99]

We've gone three years in a row over Christmas week. Since you've already been before and done lots, I definitely recommend it.

If your goal is to ride rides. Go early. I mean super early. If the MK opens at 7am, be there before 7am. Ride for a few hours, eat an early counter service lunch, as soon as they open for lunch, usually 10:30am. Stay ahead of the crowds.

Epcot is my favourite park with the Holiday storytellers. I just love walking around there. Lots of fun treats to try.

There are still plenty of places to book ADR's if you are interested. Lots of breakfast, lunch and late dinners. Finding ADR's between 4:30pm - 7:30pm is harder. But we happily eat at counter service locations at off hours.

It will be crowded, but I really love the vibe over Christmas.

 

[Bete]

We are going early December and we love the holidays at Disney; although, we avoid the "week".

If you want to enjoy the decorations and special holiday activities at the parks like The Candlelight Processional and the Storytellers to name a few then you are fine a month away.

If you expect to do a lot of rides, too I'm not sure that's realistic. Main attractions like Flight of Passage will be hard to get as a fastpass, now. I will say if you keep checking everyday you may be able to snatch a few more popular ones. People are changing their minds all the time. I was able to improve our choices by being diligent and checking every day. I'll be doing this until we get there.

You will have longer ride lines. The parks may get at capacity levels and then only Disney resort guests will be allowed in. You have to be prepared for crowded parks.

If you can be flexible with ride choices for fastpasses and not expect the top choices you should do fine. You may have to do a little more backtracking in the parks or accept later times. Morning fastpasses are harder to come by.

The same is true of the restaurants. There will be table service choices available, right now but not the top choices or times.

If you want a perfect schedule then you may be be too late this year. I'm a bit obsessive and I like having the 60 day window on fastpasses and the 180 days plus for table service restaurants.

 

[twinboysandalulu]

We just booked last week for xmas(21st-26th) and so far I have been able to secure every fast pass that we wanted in the times we needed and slowly over the past few days dining, I just snagged chef mickey this am for breakfast. Keep checking, people cancel and switch plans all the time!

 

[Shanti]

If you can be flexible with ride choices for fastpasses and not expect the top choices you should do fine. You may have to do a little more backtracking in the parks or accept later times. Morning fastpasses are harder to come by.

The same is true of the restaurants. There will be table service choices available, right now but not the top choices or times.

If you want a perfect schedule then you may be be too late this year. I'm a bit obsessive and I like having the 60 day window on fastpasses and the 180 days plus for table service restaurants.

It isn't too late to make an almost-perfect FP & ADR schedule for some parks, at least. We just booked a 1-day Animal Kingdom trip yesterday for Dec. 29th, and got every FP at every time we wanted except FOP (the only FP not available- all-day availability was wide open for every other AK attraction). We also got Tusker House at a good time using TP ressie finder (took only 1 day to get it this way). Didn't try the other parks as it's a one-day trip & we wanted AK, but that shows that it isn't as hard to book a great visit with short notice as you might think, even for Christmas week.

 

[disneyvoice]

We did a last minute trip to WDW the week before Christmas a few years ago. I mainly just wanted to be at WDW around Christmas. We had a great time but we also went into it knowing that it would be a very different kind of trip for us compared to what we were used to. There was ZERO availability at the resorts outside of the expensive suites at the Deluxe resorts or the larger rooms at the DVC resorts so we stayed off property. ADRs were booked up for the places we like to get ADRs for so we decided to just do counter service - it ended up that we were able to get some decent ADRs by checking late at night the night before we wanted the ADR or early the next morning. We didn't worry about FPs at all - I don't even remember if we made any before we got there. We did rope every day and stayed away for the EMH parks since we were staying off site. The place is mobbed the closer it gets to Christmas - like CRAZY mobbed. We just mutually decided that when one us was feeling too frustrated with the crowd level we would leave the park and find something else to do - Disney Springs, resort hop, hang out at the resort, etc. By about Dec. 20 or 21 it was unpleasant after about 1:00 or 2:00 in the afternoon. I should add this was a couple only trip, if our son had been with us I'm sure he would have happily braved the crowds and stayed in the parks all day. But when I say the place was mobbed I'm not just talking about long lines for rides. I mean it was literally a nightmare just trying to walk - literally wall to wall people all scrunched together. My DH and I often enjoy just walking around the parks, not even really trying to ride anything but the crowds on that trip precluded being able to even walk around.

We had a GREAT trip though. I think it's entirely possible to enjoy WDW at Christmas as long as you know what to expect and are okay being flexible. I would still choose to return at Christmas, it's such a beautiful place to be at that time of year and even a crowded day ay WDW is better than no day at WDW!

 

[hsmamato2]

It can totally be done...as along as you're realistic about expectations as to crowds,etc. As noted, EARLY park arrival...do as much as you can at rope drop, then use your fp's later on when it gets more crowded. This tip alone can make your trip worthwhile. Eating is never an issue at Disney there is always food somewhere! Personally you can eat in park at oddball times (as noted a 10:30 am lunch) or go outside the park to a nearby resort for dinner etc. It can be done, and I'd also advise avoiding high crowds by trying to tour the opposite of what most people are doing...like MK fireworks, stay FAR away from MAin street,and find someplace elsewhere in the park to view things, don't try to exit the park as soon as fireworks end in a crush of people, there's no point in that...either leave before the show,or hang out and leave later. Lunch at high noon at qs? no thanks.... but early or late? sure why not.

 

[cruiserkaren]

I just booked the 21st-27th and got FP's for everything we wanted and the ADR's we wanted. I'm nervous about the crowds, but I just lost my mom on Oct 5th unexpectedly and couldn't bear the thought of being home for Christmas without her. We're being realistic about the crowds and things we can do. However, just being there at this point is enough.

 

[Bete]

So, WDWnext, what have you decided?

 

[WDWNext]

Hi All, ty for extending your responses, appreciate your help.
We had a long conversation today about this and just feel like we are rushing into this. Also, we feel that we should be able to enjoy the christmas experience when my son might be a bit older. Its his first trip, everyone else has been there. So....... we are now looking ahead to Spring break '18.
Its 4 people less this year at Xmas week, I hope we helped to keep the park open on the 25th !!

 

[halfpintpeggy]

I just booked the 21st-27th and got FP's for everything we wanted and the ADR's we wanted. I'm nervous about the crowds, but I just lost my mom on Oct 5th unexpectedly and couldn't bear the thought of being home for Christmas without her. We're being realistic about the crowds and things we can do. However, just being there at this point is enough.

Condolences on the loss of your Mom, sending you healing thoughts & blessings. Enjoy your trip & take good care of yourself. xxoo

 

[WDWNext]

I just booked the 21st-27th and got FP's for everything we wanted and the ADR's we wanted. I'm nervous about the crowds, but I just lost my mom on Oct 5th unexpectedly and couldn't bear the thought of being home for Christmas without her. We're being realistic about the crowds and things we can do. However, just being there at this point is enough.

Extremely sorry for your loss, I hope your trip makes you feel better.