1st week in December

[dvcnewgirl]

I go every year at this time. I know DVC is booked but the parks in the past years have not been very crowded. I could not go this year because I took a teaching job. I planned to go back next year at this time. My sisters friend went this year and said the crowds were worse than summer! Were you there the 1st week of December 2008? How bad was it. My husband does not do crowds and I am trying to plan for my 11 month window that is coming up.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

I went 11/29-12/6 and I must say that I tend to side with your sister's friend. We tend to go the first or second week of Dec every year too and I'm thinking "never again". I'm sure I will change my tune when it comes time to book next year but I was very disappointed with the crowd levels this year.

Crowd levels tend to be very subjective but with VERY few exceptions, I never saw major rides/attractions < 45-60 for stand-by and I never saw TSM < 85 (we still have never ridden it). It was unbelievable. I have NEVER seen crowd levels like that in early December. If there's a recession, it wasn't happening in Orlando 2 weeks ago.

Maybe these folks had these trips booked 6 months+ and decided to "blow it out" despite the economy. Regardless, that means they were booked so it truly looks like "Disney's best kept secret" is really out.

I'm really disillusioned with December right now. Even MVMCP on 12-2 was an absolute ZOO. Very disappointing indeed.

 

[Disney_Mousketeers]

We are at Disney right now and will be leaving later today after arriving a week ago yesterday. The crowd levels have been consistently higher than they were during any of our other stays.....the most recent was the first week of May this year.

This is our first Christmas trip and we were surprised by how busy it has been. I am sure that we will come back to do Christmas again. But based on this trip, December will not be our first choice of times for all future trips.

 

[jekjones1558]

My trip was Dec. 2 - 9. I have gone the first full week after Thanksgiving for a few years. I thought the crowds were about the same as previous years. The only rides that had significant lines were Toy Story and Soarin'. I do think that Candlelight Processional, MVMCP and Osborne Lights have become very popular over the past few years, so there were definitely crowds for these, as I expected. I love this time of year at WDW. If I could pick only one time to go to WDW it would be the beginning of Dec.

 

[PatsMom]

I went 11/29-12/6 and I must say that I tend to side with your sister's friend. We tend to go the first or second week of Dec every year too and I'm thinking "never again". I'm sure I will change my tune when it comes time to book next year but I was very disappointed with the crowd levels this year.

Crowd levels tend to be very subjective but with VERY few exceptions, I never saw major rides/attractions < 45-60 for stand-by and I never saw TSM < 85 (we still have never ridden it). It was unbelievable. I have NEVER seen crowd levels like that in early December. If there's a recession, it wasn't happening in Orlando 2 weeks ago.

Maybe these folks had these trips booked 6 months+ and decided to "blow it out" despite the economy. Regardless, that means they were booked so it truly looks like "Disney's best kept secret" is really out.

I'm really disillusioned with December right now. Even MVMCP on 12-2 was an absolute ZOO. Very disappointing indeed.

We have been several times the first week of December/week after Thanksgiving. We were there the same time this year and I have to agree that the crowds were bigger than usual. We managed not to wait too long for attractions by using Fastpass and arriving early at the parks. But it definitely seemed more crowded than usual. We'll still go at this time just because we enjoy the Christmas decorations but I don't think that there really is an "off season" anymore. People have discovered that early December is a great time to visit.

 

[Chuck S]

Just returned from a Dec 3 to 12 trip. The first week seemed very crowded compared to the same time-frame in previous years, and the number of Children out of school was surprising this year. Lots of wheelchairs and ECVs is normal for early December, but we had to wait a couple pf busses sometimes because they were already at W/C capacity. Crowds thinned out some in the second week, but still seemed busier than normal for this time of year. I think we'll switch to early January next year.

People are going to the parks, but don't seem to spending as much $$ once inside the parks. There was plenty of seating available at Brown Derby and Chefs de France (two of our favorites), and the stores didn't seem particularly busy. As always, saw some pretty unruly children, along with some very well behaved children. Pop Warner Cheerleaders were abundant the 2nd week.

 

[dd08]

Was there 12/3 to 12/10.

Except for the weekend - esp Saturday at MK as the Christmas Parade was taped that day - I thought the lines and/or crowd weren't bad at all.

Had almost zero trouble getting on rides, seeing things, etc. except (as previously mentioned) Soarin' and Toy Story at HS.

One thing that helps me though as that all coasters I got to go on the single rider line as DW doesn't do them.

 

[thesupersmartguy]

We were there from Nov 29-Dec 7 and it did not seem bad. 80 minutes for TSM, walk on for Pirates and HM.

 

[Perdie]

We were there from Thanksgiving to Dec 8th and we were expecting big crowds over T-Day weekend but lower crowds after. I have to say, I didn't see the difference that much. We went to the MVMCP on a Tuesday night (dec 2) and it was INSANELY crowded-to the point where if we had not spent 50 bucks we would have left!

I think the second week in December might be better-crowds got a little better before we left-but Studios always had a crowd and so did MK.

It was doable but we had a better experience with crowds when we went first week of February (although no Xmas decor which is of course the best part!)

I would still go but maybe go the second week of December instead.

 

[dvcnewgirl]

Thanks for the info so far. I think I will be changing my week.

 

[Inkmahm]

My trip was Dec. 2 - 9. I have gone the first full week after Thanksgiving for a few years. I thought the crowds were about the same as previous years. The only rides that had significant lines were Toy Story and Soarin'. I do think that Candlelight Processional, MVMCP and Osborne Lights have become very popular over the past few years, so there were definitely crowds for these, as I expected. I love this time of year at WDW. If I could pick only one time to go to WDW it would be the beginning of Dec.

Same here. We were there Dec 2-8 and the crowds weren't horrible. Certainly better than when we were there March 15-20. There are always lines at Soarin, Toy Story, Test Track, etc. Lines at TTT were great and even Expedition Everest lines weren't bad. We go about the same time every year in early December and it's still much better than spring break time.

 

[wulfekamp]

went down early june and the crowd was very light. We arive MK at 10 am and walked on every ride. never seen WDW so slow I loved it. I would love to go down for chrismas again they really capture the spirit.