2nd week of December, will it be crowded?

[michelleiada]

We have always visited in May and it has been very manageable. We are here now and it's OMG crowded! Our next trip is scheduled for December, second week. For all of you that have visited during this time in the past, tell me what to expect for crowds.

 

[bochnikm]

The second week of December will be a world of difference. In past years crowd levels for mid June during the week are 6 to 8 (higher Fri - Sun) whereas 2nd week of December is 1-3.

 

[SnowWhite2]

Looked at undercover tourist today and their crowd calendar was 3-4 for early week and 6-7 late that week. I was surprised. We're going the 11th - 17th and expected lower crowds. I'm a bit concerned now.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

We have watched December crowds continue to steadily increase as the years go by (our anniversary is 12/7 & we are typically in WDW). I would expect similar to what you have now.

 

[AmyB2006]

2nd of week of December compared to 2nd week of June? You will feel like you're the only ones there LOL. Well maybe not that far, but it will be significantly less crowded. We always go in December either the first or second week. And although, yes the crowds have increased, it's nothing like summer, IMO. It will be more crowded on the weekends than during the week, always.

 

[disneynutz]

Disney is doing everything possible to fill the parks and resorts. Their 1 billion dollar NextGen project is evidence of their commitment to increase sales.

Slower periods will become non-existent in the future and booking DVC will also become harder as Disney pushes to increase attendance and as additional DVC owners are added.

Bill

 

[michelleiada]

I'm talking about 2 our waits for most popular attractions at every parks...it's awful now!

 

[luckyman_apd]

Disney is doing everything possible to fill the parks and resorts. Their 1 billion dollar NextGen project is evidence of their commitment to increase sales.

Slower periods will become non-existent in the future and booking DVC will also become harder as Disney pushes to increase attendance and as additional DVC owners are added.

Bill

I've got to disagree a bit about DVC being harder to book. DVC runs on capacity. They can only add members if space allows it. As they add DVC buildings, they will certainly add members, but those members also only can join because more space was added.

As far as booking specific resorts at specific times???? Yes then I agree that would get more difficult as more members in the system, smaller resorts will be even more difficult to book as there is a larger pool trying to transfer in.

 

[JWG]

I've got to disagree a bit about DVC being harder to book. DVC runs on capacity. They can only add members if space allows it. As they add DVC buildings, they will certainly add members, but those members also only can join because more space was added.

As far as booking specific resorts at specific times???? Yes then I agree that would get more difficult as more members in the system, smaller resorts will be even more difficult to book as there is a larger pool trying to transfer in.

Well, yes...
7-month bookings will continue to become more challenging at desired resorts. And, if DVC expands more outside of WDW, then that will create some capacity issue as well. If Aulani folks decide WDW in December is the place to be, it will put some additional pressue on capacity.

I think DVC's long-term sales success is based on their ability to build the network outside of WDW. There's only so many resorts that can be build at WDW.

 

[com_op_2000]

DW and I have gone every year since '93 the second week of Dec.
The crowds have grown over the years.
We have learnt to take it easy, spend more time enjoying the resorts and Christmas decorations. In the parks, if we do any, we choose 2 -3 rides/shows to see and enjoy the decorations for the rest of the day. At EPCOT, listening to the Christmas CMs talks from the countries are most intresting to us. CP at EPCOT and Osbourne Family of Lights at DHS in the evenings are great.
At DHS Osbourne Lights, unless you have to be there for the count down, be somewhere else and catch those ride/shows at that time - no lines. Then about 30 minutes later head over to the lights, by that time most of the crowds have thinned out and you can enjoy them without being shouldered out of the way.

 

[AmyB2006]

At DHS Osbourne Lights, unless you have to be there for the count down, be somewhere else and catch those ride/shows at that time - no lines. Then about 30 minutes later head over to the lights, by that time most of the crowds have thinned out and you can enjoy them without be shouldered out of the way.

OMG, we learned our lesson the hard way 2 years ago. We showed up on a Saturday night, still second week of December, to see the lights. It wasn't for countdown or anything, but it was about 8:00ish.

It was like a herd of cattle being shuffled through the gates. Never again. You couldn't move. Now, we go on a weeknight, never on the weekend, and we try to pick a EMH late night at DHS. It's literally dead. You can walk in at your own pace stand around, take pictures, no rush to go anywhere. There's a handful of people there. Never again on a weekend.

 

[CarolMN]

Thanksgiving is late this year. So this year, we have 3 weeks worth of guests trying to squeeze into two weeks of availability.

When Thanksgiving is earlier, like last year, the week after Thanksgiving is still November, but it has all the Holiday activities so many people stay that week. This year, the week after Thanksgiving is the first week of December.

I think that means the first half of December will be more crowded this year than last. Also, the parks in general are more crowded this year. But IMO, the parks will still be a lot less crowded than summer time, spring break weeks and of course, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's weeks.

 

[JaneSparrow]

We will be at BLT 11/29 to 12/7. When I saw last year how low the fare was and feedback that the parks are less crowded, we decided to go same week this year. Didn't realize its week after Thanksgiving - oh well! I think it will still be less crowded.

 

[dsneygirl]

Just tried to book either 2 studios or a 2 bedroom for Sat Dec 7th my choices were "No studios" and a 2 bedroom at OKW. The next morning there was also a 2 bedroom at SSR. DVC will be full, the parks not too bad.

We also once did the Osbourne lights on Saturday. We drove to DHS that night and every single spot was filled. I have never seen anything like it.

 

[michelleiada]

I'm bringing first timers on this vacation in December and two of them are senior citizens. I want this to be a magical experience for them and not a crowded miserable experience! The crowds we dealt with this past,week were awful and were enough to turn even the most dedicated Disney fanatic away! YIKES!

 

[myzel]

That will be POP Warner week, hit the parks in the morning. In my experience the students start to show up in the parks after lunch. Enjoy the afternoon at the resorts then if desired back to the parks later in the evening. We will be showing up the 3rd week this year, but it will no doubt still be crowded.

 

[DonnaL]

I agree with above poster who stated the parks have increasingly become more crowded in December over the years. I also believe a lot depends on when Thanksgiving falls....as another poster said...if Thanksgiving is earlier in November that allows another week. We have found that when Thanksgiving is earlier in the month, usually the 4th or 5th of December until at least the 14th are a pretty good bet that the crowd levels will be very manageable before the dreaded "Christmas crowds" start arriving!

 

[Conan the Librarian]

That will be POP Warner week, hit the parks in the morning. In my experience the students start to show up in the parks after lunch. Enjoy the afternoon at the resorts then if desired back to the parks later in the evening. We will be showing up the 3rd week this year, but it will no doubt still be crowded.

Same here (Sunday thru Friday), but, we will be camping at FtW. You can't camp in Florida in the summer!

Many of the Pop Warner folks camp at the Fort. Last time we did, we checked in at about 10am on Sunday. The campground was packed! We set up, went to a park, came back and we were the only folks on the loop, for two days we were alone.