[princess_aurora]

Well I've taken a couple months off since our Thanksgiving 2009 trip to WDW. This site has a new look - I like it! The kids have started talking about our next trip to WDW. I'm getting over my never-again thoughts after the 2009 trip fiasco and think it might be a good idea to get right back on that horse (a/k/a WDW). DH is on board with another trip too.

So here's what I am contemplating....

DD8 will be starting 4th grade in the fall (middle school) and I have been told by numerous parents that the difference in homework between 3rd and 4th grade is unbelievable - that if I pull DD8 out of school for a week that she will have a very hard time making up the work and recovering. So we're not too keen on taking her out of school during the first week of December (week after T-Day).

DH is also going to have a hard time getting off of work for that week this year too.

Here's the crazy idea on my part - going during Christmas Vacation - flying there on Christmas Day and flying home New Years Day. Crowds will be crazy at WDW, I know....

With the change in ADR's from 90 days to 180 days, my thought is to go with the QS Dining Plan and avoiding all ADRs altogether. I think if we do it this way, we are more flexible and if a park is overly crowded, we can change gears mid-stream and have a cm call to find out if other parks are less crowded. We're not tied down at all. The kids were a little disappointed that we wouldn't do any character meals, but we've done them ALL already. A different type of trip but still WDW. Then everyone was ok with it.

Also, instead of staying at AKL (as in our past trips) we would opt for Pop or a moderate resort (depending on price difference and availability).

IDK.... you tell me, am I absolutely nuts for even thinking about going to WDW during Christmas week????

Oh, the other idea that has been tossed around is taking a 3 night Disney cruise during the beginning of December so I would only be pulling DD8 out of school for a Thursday/Friday. But cost-wise that seemed to be about the same as a week at wdw, a bit pricey for a 3 night cruise imo.

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Counting down to: Our 3rd family trip to WDW!
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[Kylie'smom]

Welcome back! We've missed you!

My first thought was you're not going to be happy because of the crowds, wasn't that part of the problem during Thanksgiving? If you go knowing that the crowds will be aweful will you be more tolerant?

I looked at the calendar and Christmas falls on a Saturday, so that means your kids probably won't have school on friday (or at least a half day) right? If you took them out say Tuesday or Wednesday it might give you day or two without terrible crowds and the kids don't usually do too much the week befor Christmas anyway. Just something to think about!

[princess_aurora]

Hi Patty, thanks for the miss

Thinking back, the crowds on Thanksgiving Day, Friday and Saturday, even Sunday weren't as bad as I expected, but then we avoided all the crowded areas as much as possible. However, we were seated for our adrs early, even on T-Day.

It really was the Monday after T-Day that really still sits very badly with me. MK was way more crowded that day than any of the previous days and the people were soooo rude and everything that could go wrong did go wrong that day - character lines being cut off in front of us multiple times, dd5 being hit by a scooter, the wait at CP being over an hour past our adr... the list goes on and on.... I don't know that I wasn't tolerant so much as just it was a BAD BAD BAD day....

But when I think of that trip, I can't get past that Monday - it's stuck in my head!!!! That's why I think I need a do-over trip. To get that bad memory out of my head....

Our thoughts on traveling on Christmas and New Years Days is b/c historically the flights are usually lighter on those days - most people don't want to be flying on Christmas Day, they want to be where they want to be for Christmas - thus making the days before Christmas worse for flying. And New Years Day - well same thing, plus not to mention the hangover some have so they don't fly that day! lol

IDK - still thinking.....

[Kylie'smom]

That monday really, we were at the MK that day too!

We had a b'fast ADR at crystal palace for 8:05, I couldn't find my key to the world cards at first so we were a little late for the bus. We decided to take a taxi and arrived at the gates about 10 min. early. We were seated in about 15 min., not too bad! After b'fast we pretty much walked on to the major rides in Adventureland and Frontieerland. By the time we got to Fantasyland it was getting crowded so we left and went back to the pool. We headed back to MK around 5:30 and it was more crowded but we didn't think it was too bad. We had dinner at Cosmic Rays then did Buzz, next we headed toward Fantasyland and did the Teacups, Carosel, Dumbo, and Pooh. Peter Pan and Snow White had very long lines so we saved them for later in our trip.

Overall, I didn't find the crowds to be unbearable, we just avoided long lines and took a nice long pool break. I'm sorry you didn't have a similar experience.

I definately think another trip is the perfect cure for any left over bad feelings!

How will your girls feel about leaving behind all their new christmas stuff?

[Moodyzblu]

Hey ... I'm going during spring break this year .. now THATS crazy !! BUT it's what works for us because of school and such .. SO .. we will just be prepared for the crowds and take it all in stride. I say go for it ! One of my Disney dreams is to wake up in Disney Christmas morning and some day I will.
I dont do ADR's .. cant stand the stress of having to be certain places at certain times .. so we just to QS. There are some great QS places in each park and its SO much faster.
One thing I can tell you is that we are late starters in the morning and some days we dont even get to the parks until noon .. and we find the parks tend to wind down in the early evenings because all the early risers get there and get tired and cranky .. although they seem to come out of nowhere when the parades and fireworks start .. lol So, maybe getting a late start each day might alleviate some of the crowd worries ?

[liltink07]

The last time i was in Disney was right after christmas and we left on new years and we had a blast!! we've also been to disney over christmas, which was also fun!

when we were there on new years it was a little more crowded than usual, but ESPECIALLY on new years day. we went on the monorail and as we passed the TTC we saw a swarm of people heading towards the boats and monorail station to go to MK. thankfully we were leaving, so we didnt experience. however, my big piece of advice would be to take full advantage of EMHs! We got to MK at 7:00 am one day and by 11 am had ridden 11 (good) rides (including all mountains, peter pan, and haunted mansion)! The same thing happened on new years when we went to AK for EMHs and rode everest twice, the safari, dinosaur and others by 10:00 with little to no wait. it was so great, and definately helped us get done everything we wanted to get done!

christmas season was a little worse, especially right before xmas. however, xmas day itself wasnt very crowded. other days there were really bad crowds. however, again i would say take advantage of EMHs and you should be fine.

as far as resorts go, im not sure how old your kids are, but my favorite moderate resort is either POFQ or CS. POFQ is more quaint and has beautiful flowers covering its grounds and has adorable buildings. CS is totally different, but still has a very serene feel and its pool is probably a little bigger. however, POFQ is a lot smaller than CS, which is very spread out and a smaller resort can be nice for little ones after a long day at the parks.

hope i helped and have a magical day!

[princess_aurora]

This trip would be their Christmas present so they won't be leaving alot of new stuff at home. I had the thought of wrapping up a couple books for them to open on the plane but I don't think you can take wrapped gifts through security I could probably ship a box with some gifts relating to the trip, i.e. Disney t-shirt, autograph book, etc. for them to open Christmas Day night.

The thought of New Years Eve at WDW sounds really fun too - that would be an experience of a lifetime!!!!

My daughters will be 6 and 9 at Christmastime. DD8 had actually picked out POFQ for our last trip but then with the free dining promotion we were able to upgrade to bunks at AKL. We looked at pics of the both POFQ and Pop and both girls liked the pool at POFQ better b/c it didn't look like there were any slides at the pools at Pop (are there and the pics just didn't show them?) Also I like having a fridge in the room which is offered at POFQ, not Pop. So I think we've decided on POFQ.

Everyone seems to be on board with no TS meals this time and just doing QS and having alot of flexibility in our days/nights. However, we could do a TS meal if we wanted to wait and pay cash - DH really liked the England pub that served fish n' chips.

I also talked to them about the waits for rides may be longer so we will have to do fastpasses and emh's to do the rides we want and we may miss some altogether if we don't want to wait 90 minutes in line, that we probably wouldn't be able to walk right up to Small World and get right on and go 4x in a row, etc.

I think it might be ok...

[princess_aurora]

IDK... I'm still so up in the air as to whether to go during Christmas week. I've read posts and some people say no way, others say it's fine.... I just hate to spend thousands of dollars to end up spending most of our vacation standing a lines....

[Curious Alice]

Personally, I'd avoid Christmas/New Year's week like the plague! I find that overly crowded parks take away a lot from my pleasure.

But if you're determined to go, it's important to really know how to work the Fastpasses! Some 30 minute lines are worse than others.

Also, if you go during a busy time another possibility is to come up with enough non-park activities to do so that if the parks get unbearable, you'll have other options. Like Disney miniature golf, renting a boat from a WDW resort, bike-riding, etc.

As far as hotels go, the Pop is a good place to stay if your main goal is to go to the parks. The moderates aren't too much more money, and POR is gorgeous.

[drcorey]

and nothing is greater than that Holiday Road!

YouTube- LYNDSAY BUCKINGHAM - HOLIDAY ROAD

[Sofia's Dad]

I am dreaming thinking I would be at WDW on Christmas Day. I would love it. Sharing presents with my small family. Instead I usually go to my outlaws, I mean in-laws house on Christmas Eve. If I were at WDW, I would see the wonderful lighted decorations that I hear so much about.

[princess_aurora]

Originally Posted by Curious Alice

Personally, I'd avoid Christmas/New Year's week like the plague! I find that overly crowded parks take away a lot from my pleasure.

But if you're determined to go, it's important to really know how to work the Fastpasses! Some 30 minute lines are worse than others.

Also, if you go during a busy time another possibility is to come up with enough non-park activities to do so that if the parks get unbearable, you'll have other options. Like Disney miniature golf, renting a boat from a WDW resort, bike-riding, etc.

As far as hotels go, the Pop is a good place to stay if your main goal is to go to the parks. The moderates aren't too much more money, and POR is gorgeous.

So I'm Curious, Alice (lol at the play on your name!) if your choice was going during Christmas week or not at all, what would you do?

B/c that's what I'm pretty much faced with. DDs will be 6 and 9 and it will be harder to pull them out of school every year from here on out. We are faced with going to WDW during Christmas or Spring breaks. Christmas works best for DH taking off of work. I don't do well in heat so going during Summer vacation is out!

DH's has 2 new ideas:

1. Pull them out of school for 1 day, 12/23 and go then, dealing with airport chaos (not fly on Christmas Day like we originally thought of doing) and staying until 12/30 (missing New Year's Eve at WDW).

or

2. Waiting and not booking a trip, see how DD8's homework load is in the fall and then book a trip for Jan/Feb. However, the risk here is DH not being able to get off work and then not being able to go at all and DD8's homework load to be to great to be able to take a week off school in Jan/Feb.

Thoughts?

[liltink07]

Originally Posted by princess_aurora

This trip would be their Christmas present so they won't be leaving alot of new stuff at home. I had the thought of wrapping up a couple books for them to open on the plane but I don't think you can take wrapped gifts through security I could probably ship a box with some gifts relating to the trip, i.e. Disney t-shirt, autograph book, etc. for them to open Christmas Day night.

The thought of New Years Eve at WDW sounds really fun too - that would be an experience of a lifetime!!!!

My daughters will be 6 and 9 at Christmastime. DD8 had actually picked out POFQ for our last trip but then with the free dining promotion we were able to upgrade to bunks at AKL. We looked at pics of the both POFQ and Pop and both girls liked the pool at POFQ better b/c it didn't look like there were any slides at the pools at Pop (are there and the pics just didn't show them?) Also I like having a fridge in the room which is offered at POFQ, not Pop. So I think we've decided on POFQ.

Everyone seems to be on board with no TS meals this time and just doing QS and having alot of flexibility in our days/nights. However, we could do a TS meal if we wanted to wait and pay cash - DH really liked the England pub that served fish n' chips.

I also talked to them about the waits for rides may be longer so we will have to do fastpasses and emh's to do the rides we want and we may miss some altogether if we don't want to wait 90 minutes in line, that we probably wouldn't be able to walk right up to Small World and get right on and go 4x in a row, etc.

I think it might be ok...

Oh im so jealous! you guys are gonna have so much fun! POFQ is pretty much my favorite resort, and your girls should have a great time there!

you were right about POP btw, there arent any slides at any value resorts.

When we go to WDW, we dont use the dining plan. We are the type who dont want to much structure, so we just go do and eat whenever we want. The quick service meals are just fine for us, and then we get the occasional TS meal when we feel like it. Its kind of fun just to do whatever you feel like in the moment. About IASM, you should be able to go on it multiple times. it always has a relatively short wait.

and i definately think you should go at this time and not risk not being able to go by booking later. despite the crowds its an extremely fun time to go because of all of the decor. if you use EMHs and fastpasses, you should be okay. and like everyone else said, spend some time doing other non-park things like mini golf or DTD or even visiting other resorts for some R&R.

[princess_aurora]

Well after much discussion and thought, we decided we are not going to WDW this year

[liltink07]

oh no! :/

although it does mean that your next trip, whenever you decide to go, will be all the more memorable because of the longer wait which means more time to get excited!