Christmas at WDW?

[amo]

My MIL, DH and two toddler girls are thinking of going at the beginning of Dec 08...are the decorations and theme as great as people say?

 

[wilde_oscar]

it is christmas at the happiest place on earth... the decorations are above avg.

 

[teachingmyown]

Will the first or second week of December resemble July crowds or will they be more like late Sept/early Oct crowds?

I'm assuming everything will be open and running (there isn't an "off-season" per se at Disney, is there?)

This is the latest we've ever considered going, but it's the best our schedule is offering this year.

 

[wilde_oscar]

early december is low crowd, holiday week is high crowd. Picture if you will, everyone you know trying to get in your bath tub at the same time... this is christmas.

 

[snowman1035]

The decorations are wonderful and you will be amazed. I just loved them! However the crowds were crazy. We were there the week of Christmas and we have said that if we do it again that it will be earlier in the month. The year we went they also had a cold spell come in and we were not prepared for that. But all in all it was beautiful and I think everyone should go at least once during Christmas.

 

[teachingmyown]

I have three choices (unless you count, "don't go at all" as a fourth option, which I'm not keen to do) and those are the week of Aug 9-16, Dec 13-20, or Jan 3-10. August is hot & sticky, Dec is the week before Christmas and Jan is cold and wet.

So, considering weather, crowds and whatever other variables are important, which would you choose?

 

[Dimaline312000]

My family and I went to WDW this past Christmas (Christmas 07) It was awesome!! I loved it the decorations are fantastic and it's a great feeling to be there for Christmas. However the crowd is HUGE in all of the parks. If you plan to go for Chirstmas I suggest at least a 12 to 14 day stay; we went for 10 days and still didn't do everything we would have like to have done which is why we are going back in 2010. It's great to be there around and for Christmas but the crowds make it difficult to do very much stuff unless you have the time. It just all depends on if it's worth it to you. Best of luck and enjoy.

 

[Unregistered]

I have three choices (unless you count, "don't go at all" as a fourth option, which I'm not keen to do) and those are the week of Aug 9-16, Dec 13-20, or Jan 3-10. August is hot & sticky, Dec is the week before Christmas and Jan is cold and wet.

So, considering weather, crowds and whatever other variables are important, which would you choose?

I would have to go for Jan--even in chancy weather. The price is lower at resorts and the crowds have gone home! Only early Dec. is low crowds and if the humidity in Aug. doesn't get you the every afternoon storms will!

 

[amo]

that last was me---sorry!

 

[kmvand1]

We LOVE the first week of December for our Disney trips, keep in mind though that most people are catching on to the "low" crowds and beautiful decorations and therefore it is becoming more crowded. However, no COMPARISON to Christmas week!

 

[pepe of ohio]

Decorations in WDW are second to none, whether the parks or the resorts, they are worth seeing. We've been to WDW first week of December a couple of times a bunch of years ago and just returned from a first January 2008 trip. Here's our take, we're from the northeastern part of Ohio and really hate the cold weather and mainly go to Florida for the hot heat and high humidity. The times we were in December were on the chilly side but very nice for touring. Past January was just right, we hit it perfect, weather in 80's and got cold when we were leaving. Crowds either times were manageable, but I think the secret of slack times is out now so no way to judge crowds at so called slow times, its like the weather, luck of the draw.

All in all, I really prefer the October period before Halloween, lesser crowds, again luck of the draw, still the enjoyable heat of Florida, we spend alot of afternoons in and around the pool. Early November is good too before Thanksgiving, decorations for Xmas are up and you get the best of both worlds, decorations and less people. That being said and through these forums, slack times are filling up along with the free dining, WDw just seems to be getting busier on our secret times. Doesn't really matter, there's enough of WDW to go around, just hit the parks early, spend the noon hours at your resort enjoying the amenities and pool and go back to the parks in the evening, thats what we do no matter what month.