Hi everyone!
We are seriously thinking of going to WDW the week between Christmas and New Year in 2019. Probably the 26th to the 30th or 31st. Not planning to stay there New Year's Eve. I know it's a crazy stupid busy time, but I am a teacher and my daughter will be in college and that is our only common time to go other than summer. We have been lucky enough to have been several times in the summer but would love to see it at Christmas once. I get that the crowds are huge but we have handled them in the summer and don't feel the need to hit all the rides this time.
So...to the point of this thread....I just would love any tips or suggestions from you all who have experienced Disney at Christmas time and what may have worked for you. Or didn't. Thanks so much!
1. Get there early. And by early I mean about an hour before opening time (especially at MK.) No. Don' t wake up an hour before opening time. Don't hop the bus an hour before opening time. Be at the gate and ready to go an hour before opening time. Let me put it to you this way. It's 11:30 am. The park has pretty much filled up. Would you rather be. Walking by the People Mover saying wow, that's a half hour. Let's go anyway. We've gotten our ride fix in on what we wanted to or Walking by the people mover on your way in saying Dang even the people mover is a half hour. We're hosed. But look on the bright side kids. We were able to stay up and watch Falon instead of going to bed.
2. Think about what you really wish to ride and get to it early. Make a good plan. But But But... I don't want that stress. Oh so long lines and not getting on what you want is relaxing is it? Well ok.
3. Make some reservations. You're going to get tired. You're going to want to sit down. Counters are going to take quite some time. Pre phone app we're talking peaks approaching 2 hours on Christmas and New Years themselves. Even with the phone app, I would anticipate some back up.
4. Stay on site. Resort guests can get in even with level 3 closures. 4th of July itself at the MK can get close. But no other day in summer does come close to the crowds you'll see. December 25, and 31 are special days at MK. Of course they're special days for a lot of people. Those two days well let me just say you've been warned. However, even on those days, if you take my advice above, you can get some things in. Then when it gets crowded, just watch the shows and/or parades. They're very crowded, but fine. And you're going to want to stake out your spot quite early too.
5. Be prepared for almost any weather. It can be warm, it can be cold. It can be dry. It can be wet. So pack some of each kind of gear.
We are also planning a trip this week, specifically Dec 23 - 31. It's interesting seeing so many people talk Park Hoppers, I would have thought doing a single park would be better due to the possibility of parks reaching capacity.
We are planning on doing MK Christmas Day, which pretty much everyone is saying don't do. We assume it's going to be incredibly busy, and are setting our expectations to be as such. We've also scheduled several dining reservations as well as the fireworks dessert party to avoid having to stake out a fireworks spot hours before.
My question would be the days between December 25 - 31, what are the chances of a park closure due to reaching capacity?
When we're talking phased restrictions, we are mostly talking MK, though all four parks have at one point or other in the past reached a level of phased restrictions.
Note that parking lot closures can happen even before phased restrictions start for a park. This is most likely at the studios. But can happen anywhere. In the case of a parking lot closure, (without phased restrictions) you will be diverted to another parking lot.
Phased restrictions
Level 1. People without tickets, 1 day single park tickets, or cast member passes that are also not staying at a resort are turned away at the parking pay plaza. Those riding the bus, resort guests, multi day passes, re entry, hoppers, etc, all get in.
Level 2. The following get in.
Resort guests, hoppers, those re entering, everyone on Disney Transportation and those with reservations and appointments inside the park. Everyone else.... No go. So you can see where if you are not staying at a Disney resort, hoppers can get you in at level 2.
Level 3
The following get in
Resort guests, APs, those with reservations and appointments.
Only MK has reached this level of closure in the past 10 years.
Level 4.
Nobody gets in to either the park or the parking lot.
Only MK has reached this level of closure in the past 10 years. And only once.
Note that these do not include closures for inclement weather or other factors.