Best time in Dec?

[GoofyKidd]

I'm trying my hardest to talk my DH into going back to WDW this Dec. The kids and I are dying to see all of the Christmas decorations. I'm wondering price-wise and crowd level-wise when is the best time in December to go? What about Dec 4-10?

 

[mef78]

You hit the nail on the head. It'll be a bit crowded with mousefesters, but other than that, early December is the BEST time of year to go.

 

[RMulieri]

The few weeks before Christmas are slower but not dead.They used to be very very slow but this has become an increasingly more popular vacation time.I am going Dec 13-18th and hoping for low crowds myself(at least until the 18th when it starts to get crazy)The only thing with the 4th-10th( and I personally think it is no big deal but some do) is that Pop Warner Football Tournament is going on Dec 6-12 this year.

 

[GoofyKidd]

Thanks! I'll keep trying with my DH-eventually I'll wear him down. Not sure if I should wait to book for some promotions later in the year?

 

[RMulieri]

Around AUg/Sept last year we started to see some decent offers for Dec.

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

Disney has done a wonderful job of selling the first two weeks of December as being "low crowd" and in doing so over the past 2 or 3 years has jacked up the attendance during those two weeks. We were there last month from the 10th to the 19th. Once we got to Sunday the 14th, the crowds were very low. The third week of December this year, will most likely follow the same pattern being that Christmas is on Friday of the following week.

The third week of December is the hidden gem.

 

[RMulieri]

Disney has done a wonderful job of selling the first two weeks of December as being "low crowd" and in doing so over the past 2 or 3 years has jacked up the attendance during those two weeks. We were there last month from the 10th to the 19th. Once we got to Sunday the 14th, the crowds were very low. The third week of December this year, will most likely follow the same pattern being that Christmas is on Friday of the following week.

The third week of December is the hidden gem.

Which is what the crowd calendar predicts for this year and why I picked Dec 13-18 to go .

 

[toledo13]

We went last year the 10th through the 14th. By the 13th/14th, it was pretty busy (TGM 7!!) But, the 10th and 11th were GREAT! Walk on for almost every single ride (including soarin, pirates, hm, tot (!)etc.... all the biggies!!)

I would presume that that week would be great to go! Wish I was going!!

 

[carmie3377]

We went the third week in Dec in 2006 and it was wonderful - great weather and low low crowds. Now planning a trip for the 2nd and 3rd weeks of Dec 09!

 

[toledo13]

Disney has done a wonderful job of selling the first two weeks of December as being "low crowd" and in doing so over the past 2 or 3 years has jacked up the attendance during those two weeks. We were there last month from the 10th to the 19th. Once we got to Sunday the 14th, the crowds were very low. The third week of December this year, will most likely follow the same pattern being that Christmas is on Friday of the following week.

The third week of December is the hidden gem.

Weird! We thought the opposite! Granted, we were only there a few days so we didn't get to really REALLY compare-

Good to know maybe we were just a few days too early!

 

[ilandrazdsw]

We were there Dec 23-Jan2. It was great, crowded but very doable, until the 27th-28th...then all the Grumpies came!

 

[dizzneebabe]

We went last year the 10th through the 14th. By the 13th/14th, it was pretty busy (TGM 7!!) But, the 10th and 11th were GREAT! Walk on for almost every single ride (including soarin, pirates, hm, tot (!)etc.... all the biggies!!)

I would presume that that week would be great to go! Wish I was going!!

That's because the 11th was raining in the morning--it was our DS 16th birthday and MK was virtually empty!!!!
I'm not sure where you were on the 10th, but it wasn't walk on for us! Not HORRIBLE, but certainly not what we had anticipated. We had hoped for Sept crowds and that's NOT what we found.

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

We were the 3-10 this past December, and it was wonderful!! Sure, it wasn't as dead as it has been, but that doesn't mean it wasn't extremely pleasant. Weather was nice, waits were short and crowds were decent.

 

[GoofyKidd]

I think Timon's observation is very wise about the 3rd week of Dec and is just the opposite of what I'd thought. I figured the closer to Christmas you get the worse the crowds are.

Well I think I got my DH. This afternoon he offered the kids and I a week in WDW in Dec-my dream come true!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No matter how crowded it is or isn't, I'll just be thrilled to be there with no heat!! Disney and Christmas are my 2 favorite things - you put them together and it's like winning the lottery to me!

I really appreciate everyone's input.

 

[Condorman]

Can anyone comment on the crowds immediately preceding Christmas, i.e. 12/18 to 12/23? When do families begin pulling kids out of school, and when is the noticeable difference between the low tide and tsunami of tourists? I firmly believe the first two weeks of December have been lost to promotions, parade tapings, MouseFest and Pop Warner. The third week may be the new black, but when does it go from wonderful to tolerable to horrible?

 

[danny1649]

Of December and have been each year since 1991 during that time frame and we love it.

 

[RMulieri]

Can anyone comment on the crowds immediately preceding Christmas, i.e. 12/18 to 12/23? When do families begin pulling kids out of school, and when is the noticeable difference between the low tide and tsunami of tourists? I firmly believe the first two weeks of December have been lost to promotions, parade tapings, MouseFest and Pop Warner. The third week may be the new black, but when does it go from wonderful to tolerable to horrible?

crowds start to build around the 18th, and the 18th is a Friday this year so I imagine it will be busy.

 

[brandylouwho]

We were there the 13th to the 24th this year and I thought the crowds were very managable. We are early risers, so we get most of our rides and such done in the morning to early afternoon. The only thing we needed fast pass for was Toy Story Mania. I walked on Space Mountain, Test Track, Soarin was maybe a 20 min wait. By the weekend before Christmas (Sat was the 20th I think) we saw the crowds start building. But we had planned for this and did mostly non-park activities on the 21st -24th (Pirate Cruise for the kids, carriage ride at Ft Wilderness, checked out resort decorations, bead activities at AKL, DTD, that sort of thing).

I would go at that time of the year again. Can't beat the weather! We are gong in August this year and I am not looking forward to sweating to death.

 

[DisneyNDecember]

Disney has done a wonderful job of selling the first two weeks of December as being "low crowd" and in doing so over the past 2 or 3 years has jacked up the attendance during those two weeks. We were there last month from the 10th to the 19th. Once we got to Sunday the 14th, the crowds were very low. The third week of December this year, will most likely follow the same pattern being that Christmas is on Friday of the following week.

The third week of December is the hidden gem.

Sshhhh, don't tell anyone.

Which is what the crowd calendar predicts for this year and why I picked Dec 13-18 to go .

Sshhhhh, let's keep our secret !!!!

 

[DWFan4Life]

We just got there last Christmas holidays and the experience is really wonderful, now we are planning to go back for the next holidays. I'm a little bit excited again.

Have a safe trip everyone.