1st week of Dec. & Crowds - New thoughts

[thaggie]

Last year me, dh & sis took twins for their 3rd bday 9/18 -9/25. It was truly wonderful. No crowds, longest wait was 20 minutes for Pooh, walked on Buzz like 5xs in a row, got to stay on safari as long as we wanted, walked right on Space Mountain. You see what I mean.

My family (me, dh, twin dd4, mil, sil & bil) are going 12/2 - 12/10. Dh and I are celebrating our 10th anniversary and decided not to go to Vegas (until March) and celebrate it with our family at WDW. I thought we were going at another slow time and while it wouldn't be as lucky as last year, it would still be ok. Now from some of the posts I have read, it seems like it might be a little crazed. I spent the last few weeks starting to stress and even not as excited about going. (My dh was not looking forward to last year's trip and got there and LOVED it. My worry was this trip would be so crowded he would hate it and not be anxious to go next Sept.) I even got my tickets in the mail for MVMCP and was not even excited after reading the posts on how crowded it is.

Today I woke up and decided to end my pity party. Why you make ask
My family is lucky enough to go to WDW again for 9 days!
APs so me and twins we are going 5/06 and w/dh too in 9/06
MVMCP tickets and an early seating at LTT
Seeing for the 1st time WDW decorated for Christmas
A wonderful ADR time for Chef Mickey's on our 1st night
CRT breakfast and lunch ADRs
A SUV with Alamo for 9 days including all taxes for $167
ADRs for all of the other places I wanted at decent times


So what do I have to be down about? Nothing. It will be as fun as I make it crowds or no crowds. So if you see someone walking around amidst a million people having the time of her life that would be me!

 

[isyt]

I think you will be fine. Buck up there its still our happy place. My only advice would be to avoid MK that first weekend because thats usually when they film the Christmas Parade. Its nice to see but very crowded. This is the 1st time in 5 years I am not doing Christmas (just back from Halloween-incredible) and it is with out a doubt tyhe best time of year!!! You will love it! Have a great time and soak in the holiday spirit!!!

 

[WaltD4Me]

Don't worry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was in almost the exact same situation as you last year!

We went the first week in December and I thought it would be very light crowds and then reading the boards it seemed like it wouldn't be that way at all and I was stressing too, but it was FINE!!!!!!!!!

Early December may not be as slow as it has been in past years, but it is still very, very manageable and with a little planning the crowds are still light and nothing like you would find in summer or during peak times by any means.

While it was more crowded than I expected, we still never needed to get an FP and the longest we waited for anything, I think was for Test Track (about 25 minutes) but most things (with a little planning) were about a 10 minute wait and we walked right on several ride/attractions. DTD was very crowded at night and so was MGM (mostly because of Pop Warner) but other than that I'd say the crowds were a 3-4 on a scale of 1-10.

I will be honest and say MVMCP was ALOT more crowded than I thought it would be, but I may have been tainted from reading the boards here. The rest of my family loved MVMCP, but I think since I had read here how UN-crowded it was in past years, I was taken by surprise.

 

[tink2]

I agree with WaltD4Me- I was very worried about the first week in Dec. last year after reading these boards. I was pleasantly surprised. We never waited more than 20 minutes for anything, and most things were 5 minute waits or walk ons. We actually waited only 5 minutes for Dumbo at 1:30 in the afternoon- I couldn't believe it! We loved it and are going again next December. Have fun and enjoy it!!! That said, we did not go to a park on a weekend but I did hear MK was packed on the weekends- many locals, Christmas parade taping, etc. Also, avoid MGM Friday afternoon/night- they have a special party for the Pop Warner group the Friday of that week and they arrive early. Other than that, you should be fine. I also agree that MVMCP was more crowded than I expected and much more crowded than the daytime park crowds- but still magical and I will do that again too- just with different expectations.
Relax and have fun!!! WDW is so magical during the Christmas season!!!

 

[WendyMichaelJohn]

A SUV with Alamo for 9 days including all taxes for $167



Oh my! How did you get that?????????

 

[sue1013]

We've been going 1st or 2nd week of December for the past 5 years. The weekends will be more crowded but nothing like Easter. You will see a big difference in the parks during the week. It's a great time to go the decorations are beautiful! Make sure to take a tour of the deluxe resorts.

 

[thaggie]

You Disers are awesome!!!!!! Thanks for all of the positive info! You guys are even making me excited all over again!

Oh how will I ever make it another 5 weeks!

Quote: WENDYMICHAELJOHN A SUV with Alamo for 9 days including all taxes for $167 Oh my! How did you get that?????????

Alamo was having great rates for SUVS about a month ago. I used the Walmart code from Mousesavers and an Entertainment Book 2005 coupon nd got the rate down for the midsize Trailblaizer.

 

[WendyMichaelJohn]

You Disers are awesome!!!!!! Thanks for all of the positive info! You guys are even making me excited all over again!

Oh how will I ever make it another 5 weeks!

Quote: WENDYMICHAELJOHN A SUV with Alamo for 9 days including all taxes for $167 Oh my! How did you get that?????????

Alamo was having great rates for SUVS about a month ago. I used the Walmart code from Mousesavers and an Entertainment Book 2005 coupon nd got the rate down for the midsize Trailblaizer.

Oh lucky you! That's a great rate! PLENTY to be excited about! The crowds are going to be fine. Just remember, you'll not only have lighter crowds than the summer, but you also won't have the killer heat. I think that makes the crowds feel even worse.

Shel

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

I was in the same boat. We usually go in sept (week after labor day) and crowds are nonexistent. We are going Dec 4th -14th this year as I thought it would be so pretty at christmas and suppossedly smaller crowds. After hearing of conventions, pop warner, etc. that was going to be there at the same time I was stressing. I finally decided not to worry, if it is crowded I will stil be at WDW! And we also planned some special non part activities to celebrate our anniversary, so it's going to be an awesome trip no matter what.

And the best part about Dec vs. Sept: I don't have to be glued to the weather channel obessesively tracking hurricaines!

 

[miss missy]

I am going during that week and I hope it wasn't my post for 1st week in DEC roll call that got you rocked. They post grew so fast, I too was like

But I am in WDW, so I don't care about crowds. I am just happy that I am healthy enough to go and walk and just be there. So many can't even walk at all, ya know.

I was there on New Years Eve week, by far busiest day of the year, and I had a blast!!! During that week, EMH Fast Passes were gone for the night in less that a hour, that tells you how crowded it was. I loved it anyway! I dunno, it's just Dis, crowds can't keep this kid down

 

[pjew]

i too think this is he right time to visit -
been there twice during spring break -\\
DH thinks 'BEEN THERE DONE THAT" not very
supportive - doesn't understand that Dec.
is a great time to visit - holiday season -
he will be very surprised = and hopefully think
i did a great job planning this trip at this time\
surprising him with MVMCP night hopefully he will
have fun- but then again i don't care as long as my
4 DD have fun - right?

my DH said he rather sleep in than go to park!
What a jerk?!

 

[DaveH]

I have been doing this time frame for about 8 years now. The crowds will be larger than Sep. That said, most of the time with few exceptions the lines should be no longer than 10 to 20 minutes and often much less. The weekends are more crowded because the locals come and enjoy the holiday stuff. The best MVMCP dates are Sunday, Tuesday and Thursdays. The locals normally don't go to these as much. The Friday ones tend to sell out. If you have the time, go to the resorts and check out thier decorations. We do the MVMCP and Candlelight Processionsl. We are going to be at WDW from Nov 25 and leave on Dec 3. A heavy crowd for this time of year is nothing like a summer day or night. You hear alot on these boards about the crowds because they have a Mega meet of several boards at this time. That means you will see some larger packs of Disney loving folks having a great time and the parks seem not crowded at all. Relax and have a great and special time at WDW.

 

[misslissa]

I think you have absolutely nothing to worry about. I visited last year the week of the 6-10 and it was great. Very similar to what you experienced your last visit. It was absolutely dead. Be excited!

 

[miss missy]

i too think this is he right time to visit -
been there twice during spring break -\\
DH thinks 'BEEN THERE DONE THAT" not very
supportive - doesn't understand that Dec.
is a great time to visit - holiday season -
he will be very surprised = and hopefully think
i did a great job planning this trip at this time\
surprising him with MVMCP night hopefully he will
have fun- but then again i don't care as long as my
4 DD have fun - right?

my DH said he rather sleep in than go to park!
What a jerk?!

My DH has no interest in WDW. Soooo he stays home! I go on mother daughter trips now! We have a blast, we have more $, we have freedom of just us two ... it is the BEST!!!!!! I would hate to drag him on the trip, that stinks... next time, leave him home and take someone who enjoys WDW.

 

[Bronte]

We will be there the 8-11 ... will the pop kids be at MGM that Friday ????
Thanks

 

[Stacy's a freak]

Keep in mind, too, that DISers are "in the know." If you see a lot of DISers going at a specific time, you can bet that it means that it's an opportune time to go (i.e., smaller crowds, special events, etc.). So just because there are a lot of DISers going during your time frame, we are only a small-ish portion of the WDW-goin' population. lol - sometimes I'm afraid to tell too many people about the DIS because I want to keep the secrets to myself

 

[SnoweyWhite]

Dh and I are celebrating our 10th anniversary and decided not to go to Vegas (until March) and celebrate it with our family at WDW. I thought we were going at another slow time and while it wouldn't be as lucky as last year, it would still be ok. Now from some of the posts I have read, it seems like it might be a little crazed. I spent the last few weeks starting to stress and even not as excited about going. (My dh was not looking forward to last year's trip and got there and LOVED it. My worry was this trip would be so crowded he would hate it and not be anxious to go next Sept.) I even got my tickets in the mail for MVMCP and was not even excited after reading the posts on how crowded it is . . . So what do I have to be down about? Nothing. It will be as fun as I make it crowds or no crowds. So if you see someone walking around amidst a million people having the time of her life that would be me!

I wouldn't worry about it. Sure when you are reading the boards it seems like a lot of people are going during that time, but WDW is huge!!!! It's a value season for a specific reason--WDW knows the trends. I don't think there is that much to worry about. Just relax and enjoy the trip!!!!!!

 

[Michelle2]

Yes they will! They have a special hard ticket party that they will be attending that evening.

I am glad from all the reassurances about the beginning of December...I was getting a little worried too, especially since we will only have about 3 days, and it will be on the first weekend. But, I was lucky to even add that on to our cruise, so I will be happy just to be there too!

 

[Bronte]

Posted by Michelle2 ...
"Yes they will! They have a special hard ticket party that they will be attending that evening. "

If we are already there (plan on opening MGM that monring) we can stay for the lights and fireworks correct ... Disney can not ask us to leave before the park closes right ??? According to the calender Dec. 9 the park closes at the reg. time and Fantasmic is at it's reg. time too ...

Bronte

 

[Eeyore2003]

We've gone the last two "first week in December's". I've never gone in September, but it sounds like it's pretty quiet. I agree, I think you'll find it busier than September, but still managable, and Christmas is such a "magical" time. Everyone should go at least one December just for the atmosphere alone. Relax and have a magical time!!!