Crowds causing crowds effect - 3rd week in December?

[KalamityJane]

How bad is the 3rd week in December for crowds? It's the last week of the blockouts, and I'm debating going then (Dec 12-18) or slightly earlier. Mainly wondering if people trying to go when there are less crowds means the first 2 weeks in December would be more crowded and the 3rd week not as bad.

How was 2014 in that regard? I know the 60th anniversary adds crowds too.

 

[figment_jii]

I've haven't gone in consecutive weeks, but I felt like there was a noticeable difference in crowds right before the blockout goes into effect. On that last weekend before the blockout went into effect, that Sunday felt far busier than the weekdays leading up to it. The weekdays didn't seem all that different between early December and mid-December (pre-blockout), but the crowds seemed much higher on weekends the later into the month you got.

 

[Sherry E]

I've gone during your time frame before. It was fine. Not empty by any means, and not slow, but not packed. There are going to be crowds for the holidays, in December, during the 60th anniversary year, but probably not the crazy levels of crowds such as those between Christmas and New Year's.

While it has been reported that some of the previously less crowded times became more crowded and the previously more crowded times became less so, I think that once mid-December hits it doesn't matter too, too much about blockouts because people are suddenly getting out of work and school for Christmas break. That's why the first 2 weeks of December are always recommended, even if they have gotten busier in the last 2 years -- even if some APs are not yet blocked in early December, there are still lots of people stuck at work and school. Once the third week of December rolls around, a lot of people will either be out of school/work or just about to get out, and many of them will head to DLR.

 

[KalamityJane]

Oh, that's a good point about people getting off of work and such. Hrm.

 

[KalamityJane]

Talked to the hubs, he said he doesn't mind the crowds as much as long as we are able to stay at the Grand. So here's to planning a Christmas trip! We will be hitting the MNSHHP at WDW this year since DL doesn't seem to want to get their details out.

 

[RemainSeatedPlease]

I have been in the first, second, and third weeks of December (during different years). The first two weeks were pretty good in terms of crowds, and the third week was definitely more crowded but not unbearable. To compare, I was at DLR this past week, and on Thursday I remarked that the crowds were much lighter than the Thursday we had spent in the parks last December 18th. This past Friday's crowds felt comparable to the late December weekday crowds. And this past Saturday was much more crowded than the weekday crowds at the end of December.

So, basically, as long as you avoid the weekends, any time you go in the first three weeks of December shouldn't be too bad, though the first two weeks will be better. You may also want to avoid the Candlelight Processional.

 

[KalamityJane]

We have deluxe APs, so would fly in Saturday and go to the parks Sun-Thur (I think Fri is a blackout day). Sunday will be hairy but hopefully the weekdays aren't too horrible.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

We are going the first week and looks like our last two days will have Candlelight Processional. We know that will make it a little more crowded and may plan one of those nights as a woc night so we are not in DL for it. However I have also heard if you are past main street you can have some good ride times because every one is watching the candlelight, or they are trying to avoid it.