Wow, first week of December is busier then I thought

[kimmikayb]

I was always under the impression that the first week of December was light crowds. I havne't been able to get any of my ADRs that I want. I am so bummed.

 

[atisikitabasket]

I think they were saying there is a big convention or reunion type thing going on the first week of December maybe that is why you are having problems. Sorry I will keep my fingers crossed for you to get the ones you want.

 

[disneygirl29]

But I can tell you I am hoping that the samre reflection of ADR availbilty is true for 12/11-18... I had to change our dates at the last minute from Thanksgiving to mid dec... I had made all my ressie's for nov right at 180 days... so I called to make ressies for mdi dec just last week and thought, no way will I get anything... I got them all-- so I am thinking it might be a slow time when we are ther! yeah!

 

[Pakey]

Pop Warner and Cheer Competition is the first week of December. Days won't be too bad in the parks as most will be at the Sports Complex but evenings, including meals, will be crowded with lots of young people!

 

[tcb2317]

Remember ABC always tapes the Xmas parade around that time too, so I assume alot of people go just for that. I myself usually always go around the second week and the crowds are fairly thin. I hope the same is true this year. But I might mention that we had some trouble booking our ADR's- we had to change a few, and there wasn't much left to choose from. I guess most families book their trips far in advance, and with the dining plan more people are eating at table service places, so they are booking their ADR's as early as possible.

 

[disneygirl29]

Remember ABC always tapes the Xmas parade around that time too, so I assume alot of people go just for that. I myself usually always go around the second week and the crowds are fairly thin. I hope the same is true this year. But I might mention that we had some trouble booking our ADR's- we had to change a few, and there wasn't much left to choose from. I guess most families book their trips far in advance, and with the dining plan more people are eating at table service places, so they are booking their ADR's as early as possible.

I have heard that the parade taping and crowds seem to be contained at MK... so you may want to plan around those dates that they will be taping.

 

[jkcyoung]

Do you know when the parade is being taped this year???

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Also.. it is low point time for DVC members and can get quite busy.....I forgot about the cheerleaders....oh well.

 

[sharibrat]

I was always under the impression that the first week of December was light crowds. I havne't been able to get any of my ADRs that I want. I am so bummed.

Yep, suspecting the same thing here too. we have been going the week before Thanksgiving for the last two years and are quite spoiled by the low crowds. It didn't work out for that week this year and the responses I got here were that the week after Thanksgiving/first week of December were very low crowds also.

I too, have had trouble getting ADR's for the first time ever.........let's keep our fingers crossed. We leave Dec 6th and I was told Pop Warner was after that.....

 

[n2mm]

Don't forget, when the CHristmas taping is going on those folks, camera crews, VIPs, stars and family and entourage, all have to stay too. WHile at AKL in 2005 the resort was sold out that weekend because there were folks from ABC all over the place. Plus Vannessa Williams and family, and staff, were there too. Kelly and Regis and camera crews are there too. The list goes on and on. We found that weekend to be the busiest we've ever seen and swore, never again. However, we were only there Thurs to Mon, so hopefully the weekdays were better, just the weekend was what we experienced. Yes, this is also an extremely popular time for DVC members. THe points are very low and availability hard after the 7 month window.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I think the annual DVC meeting is early December too.

 

[Snurk71]

We didn't make our ADRs for the first week of December until about a week ago. We kind of waited to book our ARDs intentionally because we've been too commando on our food in the past, always hitting the same spots. So we thought if we called later and couldn't get some of our traditionals, we'd be forced into trying something new.

And we did get shut out of a few places/times we would have preferred, though they are some of the expected tougher spots (dinner around MK on a xmas party night, any night for O'hana, 1900 PF dinner with Cinderella, Le Cellier). But we also got a few that I wouldn't have thought waiting until we did (CP dinner at R&C, 8:10 breakfast at CP at MK on a non-EE day). And we had our pickings at the not-as-popular (Cape May dinner, WCC lunch, O'hana breakfast).

The only one that threw me for a loop was the 1st available 1900 PF breakfast was after 10:00 on our departure day. We always hit the 8:00 and the place is desserted - not even full by 9:00. So I wasn't expecting not being able to get anything for the 1st 2 hours. But oh well.

 

[goofy4tink]

Well, the parade taping should be happening on Dec 1, with some taping on Nov 30 as well as on Dec 2...at least that's how it worked a few years ago. Parade on Sat, with shows/acts being taped on Friday and some on Sunday.
Then, you have the PopWarner kids coming in from the 2nd to the 8th, DVC meetings are midweek at the same time as the Pop kids, then MouseFest starts on the 6th until the 10th. Add all those DVCers who come down because it uses fewer points and you have the possibility of larger crowds.
I would think that most that are going down then, already made their ADRs way back when...that's why you will find it difficult to get the more popular spots. I just booked a last minute stay in mid-Jan and was amazed to find I could get all the ADRs I wanted, at the times I wanted them!!

 

[DizneyNutz]

I was always under the impression that the first week of December was light crowds. I havne't been able to get any of my ADRs that I want. I am so bummed.

We normally go the first week of December, last year, we had made NO ADR's and were kinda flying by the seat of our pants, so we thought about some of the places we wanted to eat, and went to the guest services desk at the resort, CSR, and were able to get ressie's for a late lunch at LTT, which was GREAT, our lunch ended just as the afternoon parade was starting, and late dinner ressies at Epcot at Teppanyaki, also delicious---so don't give up, and if you can be flexible with your times (dine later) you just may get in. I'd check every morning if there was somewhere I really wanted to eat.

Good luck!

 

[DisneyLover75]

Then, you have the PopWarner kids coming in from the 2nd to the 8th,

OH noooooooooooooooo! That's when we'll be there!

 

[WillCAD]

Crowds that week are still light to moderate in the parks.

Don't use ADR availability as a judge of what the park crowds will be like! The Disney Dining Plan has changed the ratios quite a bit; overall attendance in the parks is about the same, but a much higher percentage of those Guests are now booking the table-service places, making it hard to get ADRs even in the slowest times of the year, like September.

I've been going to WDW during the 1st/2nd week of December for the last 5 years running. The PW groups are almost non-existant in the parks (though they are quite noticable at some of the resorts and especially on the busses). And crowds in the parks are moderate to light; it's not unusual for many attractions to have waits of 15 minutes or less, with occasional spikes.

 

[Renysmom]

We a going 12/1 - 12/8 and I got every ADR we wanted but I also booked them right at the start date.

We did not notice the Pop Warner kids in the parks at all last year, I think everyone just makes too much out of this event. There are kids in the parks everyday and events which bring lots of kids year round.

Can't wait to be there again

 

[kimmikayb]

Thanks everyone for your comments! We just booked our trip not long ago so I really should expect to do some work for my ADRs

I've decided not to worry about it too much. And I'll keep trying. I did get Narcoosees for our anniversary dinner so I am happy with that.

Taping for the parade is that weekend. I believe it is Nov. 29, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. Did you know they only tape around 4 floats a day? Very interesting.

I would have liked to get a Candlelight Procession dinner package but I don't think that's going to happen.

I guess we'll just have to come back next year!

 

[sharibrat]

Thanks everyone for your comments! We just booked our trip not long ago so I really should expect to do some work for my ADRs

I've decided not to worry about it too much. And I'll keep trying. I did get Narcoosees for our anniversary dinner so I am happy with that.

Taping for the parade is that weekend. I believe it is Nov. 29, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. Did you know they only tape around 4 floats a day? Very interesting.

I would have liked to get a Candlelight Procession dinner package but I don't think that's going to happen.

I guess we'll just have to come back next year!

What do I need to know about the taping of the parade? Should I avoid MK on those days? Is it fun to watch? Do you get 'stuck' in the crowds watching it?

 

[G's mommy]

As far as the Pop Warner, just stay clear of the value resorts and you won't notice them. They do spill over into the mods, POR or CBR but not to the extent that they take over the resort. We used to go in early December before our son started to school and we always had a great time, low crowds in the parks and great weather!