Thinking holiday Disney trip

**Like2Plan** · 10-26-2010, 05:49 AM

wincrasher,
Going to Disney...Very good decision on your part.

(I just returned from a visit to WDW (10/20-10/24) for the food and wine festival that is currently going on).
Yes. It will be crowded-more crowded than you can imagine. Typically, during the time of the year you are planning to visit--the parks reach maximum occupancy and they shut off admittance to anymore folks coming into that park. Typically, it is the Magic Kingdom that reaches maximum capacity first. They shut down access to the park in stages--first shutting off the parking lot to new guests, then not dropping off any new guests via Disney transportation and so on.
I think you could probably get a reservation in a nice hotel even at this late date (except for maybe NYE night). Do you want to stay on property or off property?
Personally, I prefer to stay on property no matter when I visit and I like to stay in a hotel where I can walk to at least one of the parks. You get extra magic hours if you stay on property and I think this would add to your experience during this busy time frame.
Recommendations for a hotel would depend on your tastes and the ages of your nephews. If they are young, I would stay at the monorail resort for quick access to the Magic Kingdom. The Grand Floridian is the flagship resort at WDW. The Polynesian and the Contemporary are also on the monorail.
On the other hand, there are EPCOT resorts which have fairly easy access to EPCOT and Disney Studios. On my most recent visit, I stayed at the Boardwalk. Walking is certainly not the only option, but to give you an idea as to how far it was to the parks. It was about a 10 min walk to the International Gateway (and entrance to EPCOTs World Showcase) and about a 10-15 min walk to the Disney Studios. The Yacht and Beach Club are closer to EPCOT (about 5min walk to IG at EPCOT and about 20-25min walk to Disney Studios).

I love staying at the Beach Club for New Years Eve. EPCOT is set up as one big party for NYE. If it gets to be too much, you can always come back to the room.

**Like2Plan** · 10-26-2010, 06:06 AM

I would definately recommend getting dining reservations (you may find dining reservations to be a challenge at this pont--they open up the booking window at 180 days prior and you are going at one of the busiest times of the year).

We are planning a visit to WDW over NYE and I noticed a lot of our favorite restaurants were booked up when I was making reservations a couple of months ago. (I don't like making reservations at 180 days out, so we get what is left over.

)

You can book online Here is a link to the restaurants.Disney Dining reservations

**disneysteve** · 10-26-2010, 06:53 AM

Christmas week is the absolute busiest time to visit Disney World by far. As a result, it is also the most expensive time to visit by far. Hotel rates and rental rates shoot up dramatically. Just out of curiosity, I just looked up the rates for a house where we often stay (stayed there in August). A house that is $995/week during the low season is $1,450/week for Christmas, almost a 50% premium.

Of course, certain costs are fixed like park admission, food, souvenirs, etc. It is really only accommodations that cost more. Airfare skyrockets, too, but you are driving so that isn't an issue.

Be prepared for the parks to be packed, and I don't just mean crowded. It is not unusual for the Magic Kingdom to close the gates by 10am and not let anyone else in for a while. The parks do hit crowd capacity.

Personally, I have never gone Christmas week and don't ever plan to. It just isn't fun to us to be there with those conditions. If it is truly the only time you can possibly go, do it and just prepare yourself for the crowds. The best source of information I know of is disboards.com and the parent site wdwinfo.com. That's where you want to go to get all of your questions answered.

**wincrasher** · 10-26-2010, 08:13 AM

For some dumb reason, I was thinking it wouldn't be very busy that week. Don't most folks want to be home for the holidays?

Any knowledge on if I moved it a week one way or another?

Being packed to capacity is a big turn-off.

**disneysteve** · 10-26-2010, 09:00 AM

Originally posted by wincrasher View Post

For some dumb reason, I was thinking it wouldn't be very busy that week. Don't most folks want to be home for the holidays?

Any knowledge on if I moved it a week one way or another?

Being packed to capacity is a big turn-off.

Any week would be better than that week. No, people do not want to be home for the holiday. They want to take vacation when their kids are off from school. This year, Christmas is on Saturday, so the crowds will probably start rolling in by 12/23. New Years Day is also a Saturday, of course, so folks will hang around that weekend but starting 1/2 the crowds should drop off dramatically. As for prices, low season starts again after New Years, so that same house that is $1,450 Christmas week goes back to $995 the first week of January. Hotel rates drop, too.

**laedi** · 10-26-2010, 09:08 AM

I sure as shoot don't want to be home for the holidays. I can't wait until we can afford to vacation during xmas holiday. It won't be to disney, though. =P IIRC, the first half of December is a pretty good time to go. But I don't know from experience, just from what I've read.

**disneysteve** · 10-26-2010, 09:12 AM

Originally posted by laedi View Post

the first half of December is a pretty good time to go. But I don't know from experience, just from what I've read.

Beginning of December is an excellent time to go. Very light crowds and you get to see all the holiday decorations and activities. We've gone down the first week of December and it was great (although it rained every day that particular year but that was very unusual).

**cypher1** · 10-26-2010, 09:50 AM

Originally posted by disneysteve View Post

Beginning of December is an excellent time to go. Very light crowds and you get to see all the holiday decorations and activities. We've gone down the first week of December and it was great (although it rained every day that particular year but that was very unusual).

I was just going say, first time I flew with my parents on a trip, we all went the first week in December to WDW. I was 14 or 15, but awesome weather, and different seeing holiday decorations in perfect summer weather.

**graceful** · 10-26-2010, 10:26 AM

I LOVE between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I think it is the best time to go.

Since this is for your nephews, I'm thinking that you won't have a say in whether you can take them out for school. Check with their parents first about any time besides school holidays.

Now if the week after Christmas is the ONLY time they can go, just be aware that it will be CROWDED and you definitely WON'T get to do much except soak up the atmosphere. Prepare to people watch rather than do rides because the lines will be ginormous.

I would "think" about staying on-site to take advance of some early or late hours and to be able to get that Disney feel without actually having be in the park.

As DS suggests, head over to the disboards.com to help you make up your mind on whether you are up to handling the MOST crowded week at WDW for the entire year.

Other websites to check out are Mousesavers.com and allears.net

Good luck!

**disneysteve** · 10-26-2010, 10:32 AM

Originally posted by graceful View Post

I would "think" about staying on-site to take advance of some early or late hours and to be able to get that Disney feel without actually having be in the park.

The onsite/offsite debate is never-ending over at Disboards. I'm an offsite fan. I would much rather spend a fraction of the price and drive over to Disney property to get that "Disney feel". You can eat, shop, walk around and just generally hang out at any Disney location even if you are staying at the Motel 6.

**graceful** · 10-26-2010, 12:09 PM

Originally posted by disneysteve View Post

The onsite/offsite debate is never-ending over at Disboards. I'm an offsite fan. I would much rather spend a fraction of the price and drive over to Disney property to get that "Disney feel". You can eat, shop, walk around and just generally hang out at any Disney location even if you are staying at the Motel 6.

Very true. Lots of pros and cons to both. OP will have to do own research on which would work better for him.

I'm actually a BIG fan of off-site. There is such a LARGE inventory of places to stay in Orlando. Some places are so nice that some kids don't even want to leave the resort to go to the parks!

I have been traveling to WDW alone with my 2 girls for the last few years though so have gotten use to on-site. Much easier as a single adult with kids. No need to drive and walking out the door is enough entertainment because we are already there.

**wincrasher** · 10-26-2010, 01:14 PM

Well we definately are constrained by the vacation schedule of the boy's school.

I usually don't economize on vacation - I'm willing to spend for the experience or convenience. I'm thinking a vacation for 4 for a week is $3500-$5000. A bit higher is OK if it's worth it.

But I don't think I'd enjoy it if the place is packed. So maybe go somewhere else that week and do Disney maybe at spring break.

Maybe a cruise would be fun? Or another venue in Florida?

**disneysteve** · 10-26-2010, 01:40 PM

Originally posted by wincrasher View Post

Maybe a cruise would be fun?

Cruises are perfect in that regard because ships have a relatively fixed capacity. If it holds 3,000, it holds 3,000 in January, April, September or December. The one thing that does happen during school breaks is that there will be a lot more kids on the ship.

**wincrasher** · 10-26-2010, 01:49 PM

Well, they would be running wild, so I guess a bunch of other kids on board would be good for them.

I'd be in the bar or the casino

Thinking holiday Disney trip