Winter break Florida trip

[Hobbesx2]

OK, I'm going to Florida on winter break and we were going to do Disney and BGA. But we would be there New Years weekend or Christmas weekend. Is it worth it, or should we go later (or to Universal or some other place)?

 

Thanks, HobbesX2

[lil jimmy norton]

Will you be doing all of the Disney parks? If not, which parks will you be going to?

[Scaparri]

I would avoid Disney at Christmas and New Year's at all costs. I've known multiple people who have gone during those times and it's just been a nightmare. One friend went on New Year's Eve and when he got to the parks, the lines were so long that he went back to his hotel to lounge by the pool, and then returned later. When he went back to the parks, he couldn't get into any of them because they were all passed capacity.

 

I don't know when or if you have school to get back to, but I would try and go either earlier in December or later in January. I went in mid-late January a few years ago and walked on everything.

[Hobbesx2]

It would be Magic Kingdom.

 

What about about BGA?

[resonancej]

Let me put it this way, I heard that Christmas day last year Magic Kingdom, MGM and Animal Kingdom all hit capacity. The same thing happens on New Year's day as well, except it's usually Epcot that hits capacity first. Hmmm...3.5 hour wait for Soarin' anyone? The week between christmas and new years is thier busiest week of the year. AVOID IT AT ALL COSTS. Universal will be just as bad. Like scappari said, late Jan everything is a walk on, so you might want to shoot for that. I have no idea what BGA is like christmas and new years but my guess would be it's just as busy.

[Hobbesx2]

hmm. ok.

[crazydaveh]

Stay away from any Florida theme park during Christmas and New Year's! It's insane! Disney is packed and the crowds seem to get larger as the day continues because people want to see the fireworks that night... In recent years, most of the Disney parks have hit capacity by mid-afternoon, meaning you get in when someone leaves!

 

Busch Gardens usually is pretty full by lunch during that time of year.

 

I'd wait a week and come down, there will be hardly anyone in the parks and you can easily enjoy yourself and save a lot of money on a hotel!

[Gav]

I'm actually going to be arriving there on the afternoon of new years day, and will be staying until the 6th. I was planning on just seeing Universal Studios on that first day (probably less likely to be packed), and then Busch and IOA on the next two days, and then saving Disney for the last 3 Days. How insane can I expect it to be in this early January period?

[Hobbesx2]

Damn going back to school. How about probably a weekend around the time of Spring break but not during it? I get a passover break instead of a spring break (same thing) but they have different times. So I could go then instead.

If I did that I could probably also go to Valleyfair! around early October.

[cprocks22]

Ill be arriving there Christmas Day in the afternoon. I've heard quite a few people say that Disney is hell on Christmas day, so I was planning on avoiding the parks that day (maybe downtown Disney).

 

Also I'm going to be at Universal for New Year's, where's a good place to be for the countdown if anyone here's been?

[YoshiFan]

Let me put it this way, I heard that Christmas day last year Magic Kingdom, MGM and Animal Kingdom all hit capacity. The same thing happens on New Year's day as well, except it's usually Epcot that hits capacity first. Hmmm...3.5 hour wait for Soarin' anyone? The week between christmas and new years is thier busiest week of the year. AVOID IT AT ALL COSTS. Universal will be just as bad. Like scappari said, late Jan everything is a walk on, so you might want to shoot for that. I have no idea what BGA is like christmas and new years but my guess would be it's just as busy.

 

Christmas Day at parks besides the Magic Kingdom are not that bad. I was at MGM last year on Christmas day and it was somewhat empty. Rock N Rollercoaster was 30 minutes standby, Great Movie Ride was a walk on, Tower of Terror was a walk on (this was at around 5:00 P.M.), Star Tours was 15 minutes etc.

 

It was the few days after that are ridiculous. On Thursday of that week (the 28th I think), those 3 parks did hit capacity though. It was crazy in the difference a few days made. On the 24th, Everest was 20 - 40 standby, on the 29th, it was 85 - 120 standby.