Anyone else getting nervous about early Dec crowds?

[laughinplace199]

We're staying at OKW Dec 2-10. I knew that the DVC resorts would be full due to the low # of points needed to book for early Dec. Just for the heck of it, I checked availability for Disney hotels the week that we'll be there and there's hardly anything left. I checked both the Disney website and Expedia.

I had always heard that early Dec. was a good time to go - great holiday events and low crowds. Is this no longer the case? I'm sure we'll have a great time, no matter what. I just want to be prepared.

Thanks!

 

[TheresaNY]

I am getting nervous too !! Why is everything so booked up ?? EVERYTHING ???

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

I am nervuos too. Now I am more nervous that there is a thread started on low attendance for that week and there are already 3 people in it... lol eeeekkk.

Whats the deal..?? anyone know?

 

[bigbabyblues]

Hotel bookings may have something to do with the Pop Warner thing, it's the 4th to sometime, can't remember for sure how long it goes now, but they probably have a lot of the rooms.

 

[tiggergirlinMI]

First if you are checking availability now? It's within 60 days of the trip and yes rooms will be booked as you are close to Dec. I am not worried, We are going DEC 2-10 and I'm so happy I'm going to be in Disney with my 2 teen sons and this year my mom and dad are driving up from south FL to join us for the week and have early Christmas. Family, Christmas festivities in Disney World???? I'm not worried, I'm so excited! I'm sure all of us going then will be just fine, so relax, don't worry and be happy that we are lucky enough to go to the happiest place on Earth during the best time of the year when all the parks are decked out!

 

[WendyMichaelJohn]

There's also a huge convention that starts Dec. 2nd I think. They booked up almost every room at POFQ, so most people who would normally stay there are elsewhere. I think the convention has about 6000 people.

 

[nursemelis374]

Also remember, they don't always make all the rooms available, so it may seem more crowded.

 

[TheresaNY]

Hotel bookings may have something to do with the Pop Warner thing, it's the 4th to sometime, can't remember for sure how long it goes now, but they probably have a lot of the rooms.

What is the Pop Warner thing ???

 

[DrTomorrow]

What is the Pop Warner thing ???

It's like Little League for football. We were there early last December and did find the PW folks quite annoying. We stayed at SSR (DVC) and many PW folks were using the SSR bus stop as a gateway to DTD, leading to big crowds. Also, there were many times when a group of tween cheerleaders would suddenly start shrieking - either a cheer or in laughter - a bit too loud.

 

[PrincessKitty]

Early December is a very slow time for Disney. I would not worry about booked-up hotels--DH and I stayed at the Dolphin last October because ALL Value and Moderate resorts were completely booked, and WDW turned out to be not very crowded at all. And December has half the crowds of October ("half the crowds" is my Very Unofficial estimate, but having gone to Disney in both Dec 2003 and Dec 2004, I am really not worried!).

Note: Magic Kingdom on a weekend, any weekend, is ALWAYS crowded, IMHO.

 

[TAKitty]

I picked December because I thought the crowds would be light. My husband hated when we went in July (his only time at Disney) and vowed never to go back. This is my last chance to convince him that Disney can be enjoyable! I hope that crowds are not as heavy as the summer months. I am planning a summer trip with my family, but I am hoping that after this trip, my husband will want to join us.

 

[WendyMichaelJohn]

Early December is a very slow time for Disney. I would not worry about booked-up hotels--DH and I stayed at the Dolphin last October because ALL Value and Moderate resorts were completely booked, and WDW turned out to be not very crowded at all. And December has half the crowds of October ("half the crowds" is my Very Unofficial estimate, but having gone to Disney in both Dec 2003 and Dec 2004, I am really not worried!).

Note: Magic Kingdom on a weekend, any weekend, is ALWAYS crowded, IMHO.

That is the best reassurance I've received EVER about this time of year. Thanks!

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

We are going dec 4-14th. I was worried to b/c of the hotels booking up until I called to make dinner reservations yesterday. If it is going to be busy then most people are not bothering to make ADR"s. I got everything I wanted including candelight dinner package, MVMCP LTT, Le Cellier, and Yacthsman with several times to chose from at each location. Even got CRT, but mostly as just darn good luck and the best CM, Enice, in the world. I was at 61 days out. I am feeling a little bit better about it, now.

 

[exwdwcm]

I am not worried about it- i was told by travel agents that disney holds back hotel rooms......and says it is sold out when it really isn't.....some way they do business and different levels of rooms and releases them later on at other rates etc. So why they say they are sold, they really aren't. pop warner has little effect in the parks. it's a great time to go and i would not be worried about. why worry about something you can't change anyways- don't start off your vacation by worrying and being negative. think it will be a great time and it will! we can't wait!

 

[laughinplace199]

I am not worried about it- i was told by travel agents that disney holds back hotel rooms......and says it is sold out when it really isn't.....some way they do business and different levels of rooms and releases them later on at other rates etc. So why they say they are sold, they really aren't. pop warner has little effect in the parks. it's a great time to go and i would not be worried about. why worry about something you can't change anyways- don't start off your vacation by worrying and being negative. think it will be a great time and it will! we can't wait!

Thanks exwdwcm! I didn't know that they would hold back some hotel rooms for a later date. Thanks for the encouragement. I know we will have a great time no matter what. I just wanted to be prepared if there would be long lines since we have two little kids. Plus, my parents are coming with us and for the past year I've been telling them what a great time early Dec. is to go to WDW. I just want everyone to have fun!

 

[vicceja]

Hi!

We will be staying at AKL from Dec 8-14th and I really hope it won't be too bad. . I've been hearing the Value and Moderate hotels will be probably be booked with the Pop Warner group but that will not affect the parks as much as they will be at their sporting events. I'm really hoping this is the case - this will be our first trip during the holidays and I really don't want it to be as crowded as it was in June. Even though we will have a wonderful time!

 

[crazy canuck]

I went February 2005 and thought it would be not crowded. I could not believe the crowds. I booked Dec 2-10 this year to bypass the crowds. I know we will have a great time anyway but it would be nice to have little or no lineups. What effect will Pop Warner crowds have on MVMCP during this week?

 

[MHTeacher]

I'm trying to think optimistically about the crowds. I remember reading that only 1%-2% of the population read the guide books and stay on these dis boards. So while it seems like a lot of people saying that they're going that week, we are just a small percentage of the whole. Does that make sense?
Anyway, last time we went was July5 two years ago. I KNOW it can't be that crowded

May 2001-All Star Sports
July 2003-CSR
Nov./Dec. 2005-WL

 

[grad_dis_nut]

We just got back from a weekend trip, during which we had heard that there was no available hotel rooms onsite. I was nervous, but actually the parks weren't bad. We did MK on Saturday--yes, Saturday--and walked on everything in Frontierland and Adventureland in the first 1.5 hours that the park was open. Even with the F&W Festival in Epcot, it was totally manageable too. So I wouldn't count on onsite hotel availability as a good judge of how crowded the parks will be. Just my two cents!

 

[crazy canuck]

Keep it coming, I am starting to feel a little better