Crowds Dec13-20th

[kikiV]

Pop Warner is Dec 7-13, 2008.

Sorry, I can't help you with Spring, because we haven't been during that time of year yet.

Suzanne

PrincessSuzanne- Have you been to DW during popwarner week? We have gone in Jan. for the past 10 years and now I'm flipping to Dec. 6-13 to see something new. Kids are use to not really waiting in lines and not battling many people. Some folks say that the pop kids aren't in the parks much.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

PrincessSuzanne- Have you been to DW during popwarner week? We have gone in Jan. for the past 10 years and now I'm flipping to Dec. 6-13 to see something new. Kids are use to not really waiting in lines and not battling many people. Some folks say that the pop kids aren't in the parks much.

Yes, we did go during Pop Warner week in December 2006 and the parks weren't really bad during the day, but come afternoon and evening and the parks became a mad house. Now, Mousefest wasn't going on then, they came in a few days after Pop Warner. This year Mousefest is overlapping Pop Warner, so I would expect crowds would be larger.

Suzanne

 

[srgibbs]

Any suggestions of special things to do at Christmas since I now have our Ressie for the 13-20th. I'm sure we will do the Mickey Christmas party and Osborne lights. What about Fantamatasmic do they do anything different with that at Christmas or the Epcot Illuminations. All ideas are welcome as I want to make this a special trip for the family.

 

[MomofCKJ]

In 2006 we went Dec 15-22. It was wonderful in every way! The weather, the decorations and the crowds. I really felt like we were getting out on the 22nd as the masses were arriving. I would do that week again in a heartbeat!

Allyson

 

[ppony]

We were there about that time frame in 2006 and as it got closer to Christmas as you could imagine it started to get more and more busy. As was mentioned afternoons and evenigs got pretty cowded. But one word of warning... if you do MVMCP, do NOT go on a Thursday or Friday. OMG!!!!!!!! There was an hour wait just for Space Mountain the night we went. 1 hour when you only have 5 is insane! And it's not supposed to me that way for a special event IMO. I complained after I got home but I'm sure they laughed. Wall to wall people. It was hard to move! It was the most UNenjoyable experience ever. Now, that same week we went on a Tuesday and it was heaven! Walked on everything and had breathing room. Weekends are NUTS in the parks as well coming up on Christmas. We were there a day AK had to close briefly! Holy cow! Mid Dec.!?!??! I guess they were unprepared for the crowds they got that day is what I overheard. Lucky us. We left on the 18th so that was the 17th that it closed. It all came from going to parks on certain days suggested by some other site. BIG mistake!

Do careful planning and you should be good! The decorations are SOOO wonderful! My favorite part of going at that time of year.

 

[DonnaBoo]

hi
We are also going in December. We too will be there during the dreaded Pop Warner week.
Since it has been posted things get busy in the evening, I am rethinking of my nighttime plans. Maybe DF and I will go to Pleasure Island, Downtown Disney or hang out at the resort.
We'll be in Disney and that's better than being at home, working outside in the cold and wet weather.

 

[wilda]

We were there Dec 13-18 of 07'. The parks seemed more crowded, there were a lot of people there. The lines for the attractions were not that long, no more than 15-20 minutes. It's a great time of year to go!

 

[srgibbs]

Another question as I have not completely sold my husband on going yet. He is ok but I don't want to go unless he really wants to. How often is MVMCP during the week of the 13-20th of Dec? I looked back to last year and it looked like it was offered most of those nights. My problem being that if the MK closes down at 7:00 most of the nights we are there I cannot say I really would enjoy that. MK is by far our favorite park and we love being there at night. We would do MVMCP but would want to be in the park other nights as well. What are the typical park closing at that time of the year along with MK? Thanks so much!

 

[ppony]

I won't be a lot of help here but one thing to remember is it gets dark much earlier at that time of year. You'll be in the dark around 5 I would bet. Or just about. And the parks all close early on the off peak season. I can't speak for last year but in 2006 MVMCP was Tuesdays, Thursdays and Friday's. One downside of going non-peak is shorter park hours but you have the perk of less people. Though IMO, the secret is definitely out and more and more are coming at that time because each time we've been there at that time has gotten progressively more crowded. We're going to try to go very early November next year. No holiday decor but we're hoping for smaller crowds and still some nice warm weather. Something that can be hit or miss in Dec.

 

[meme51]

You guys are starting to scare me about the Christmas crowds!! We will be there Dec 21-26. Any advice on what days to go to what park-or will they all be crazy?!?

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

You guys are starting to scare me about the Christmas crowds!! We will be there Dec 21-26. Any advice on what days to go to what park-or will they all be crazy?!?

Sorry, I can't help you with that. We made sure to get out of dodge before it got that crowded. I have read from several people on here that their Christmas break wouldn't begin until Dec 22 or 23 this year. I wouldn't want to be anywhere near WDW on Dec 24 through Jan 1. It was getting bad when we left on Dec 23, 2007.

 

[ppony]

Though IMO, the secret is definitely out and more and more are coming at that time because each time we've been there at that time has gotten progressively more crowded.

Quoting myself here I should say though it's relative becuase I can't know for sure that the other times of the year aren't increasing as well. In which case, it'd still be far better than most other times. I don't mean to scare you. It all depends on what you are used to. if you are used to summer crowds then it will be (pardon this pun) a walk in the park. During the week especially! I'm NO expert! I only get there every 3 years. Which is probably why I notice the change in crowds. You'll have fun! Just be careful of weekends and near weekends for the MVMCP! I'd plan to be elsewhere then. Go to the beach (that's what we did). Go to *gulp* another theme park. No, I didn't just say that.

 

[srgibbs]

Ok so the parks will close earlier but Dec 13-20th should still have low crowds right? I guess if we do MVMCP and the rest of the nightime emh we should still have time in the parks at night which is our favorite time. When we go in the fall they usually close at 8 or 9 but still have the night time emh which I assume will be the same? If you don't think this is a good time to go someone please say so as it is a ton of money and we don't like large crowds. Thanks.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Ok so the parks will close earlier but Dec 13-20th should still have low crowds right? I guess if we do MVMCP and the rest of the nightime emh we should still have time in the parks at night which is our favorite time. When we go in the fall they usually close at 8 or 9 but still have the night time emh which I assume will be the same? If you don't think this is a good time to go someone please say so as it is a ton of money and we don't like large crowds. Thanks.

I have experienced most of December for the last 2 years and I honestly believe you are going at the best time. The first day or two, may be a little crowded because it is the weekend and Pop Warner will have just ended, but most of those crowds will be better by Monday, Dec 15 and won't really pick up again until about the time you are leaving.

I am going Dec 13-21 and it was a no brainer for me. I wasn't sure until I went this year from Dec 19-23 and by the end of the first day, I was convinced that I had made the right decision and I was backed up by that when I found out the dates for Pop Warner and Mousefest. DHS was getting crowded by noon on Dec 22, but that was a Saturday, so the locals were there and DHS is a smaller park. It could also have been because they were coming out with the HSM thing and the crowd was following them. We went to MK that evening and it was crowded, but by the end of Spectro and Wishes, the park was empty, and I mean really empty.

We went to MVMCP on Tues, Dec 5, 2006 and it was more crowded than I expected it to be, but that was because of Pop Warner. I certainly would avoid MVMCP on a Friday night. I haven't seen any dates for this year, but they should come out around the first of May.

You will get a lot of park time between EMH and MVMCP. We don't utilize Morning EMH, just evening. We found that we didn't take as any breaks during that time of the year, since it really isn't hot. Now that we have been so many time in the last 3 years, we go slowly and it doesn't shorten our days to take a 2 hour break back at the resort. Now, we are not Water Park or Disney Quest people, so we get alot of park time. We do go to DTD several evenings and will also include a visit to the Boardwalk. There is no lack of things to do this time of year.

One more thing, pack for all kinds of weather, because you never know from day to day how it will be.

If anyone would like to PM me with other questions, I will be happy to share my experiences.


Suzanne

 

[srgibbs]

Thanks so much Suzanne! You have made me feel much better about going. I think we will do MVMCP on that Tuesday or towards the beginning of the week when it is offered to avoid the weekends. It sounds like you all do the parks the same way we do. We usually stay at a Moderate but don't spend much time there. Since we will stay at WL we will def. want to spend more time around there. We love the Boardwalk and I know we could go to the other Resorts in the evenings to look at decorations. I saw you had Alabama war eagle listed under your name. We actually live in B'ham, AL so I was curious if you had ties to AL. ALso, one more question, how is the temp. in the pools? Can you swim or is it to cold? Thanks again!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Thanks so much Suzanne! You have made me feel much better about going. I think we will do MVMCP on that Tuesday or towards the beginning of the week when it is offered to avoid the weekends. It sounds like you all do the parks the same way we do. We usually stay at a Moderate but don't spend much time there. Since we will stay at WL we will def. want to spend more time around there. We love the Boardwalk and I know we could go to the other Resorts in the evenings to look at decorations. I saw you had Alabama war eagle listed under your name. We actually live in B'ham, AL so I was curious if you had ties to AL. ALso, one more question, how is the temp. in the pools? Can you swim or is it to cold? Thanks again!

I was born and raised in Phenix City, AL, about 3 hours south of B'ham. I understand my father lives in B'ham, but I don't know where. I have been there once to the Galleria Mall.

On our first Christmas trip in Dec 2006, we stayed in a FW cabin and didn't really spend much time there, we were trying to take in as much time in the parks as possible, but because I have been 3 times since then, I take my trips a little slower and we will be adding the Keys to the Kingdom tour this year for me and mom. DH wants to do the Richard Petty DE Rookie Experience.

That first year it was way too cold to swim. We didn't take time to swim this year, but there was maybe one or two times we probably could have. The only times I have used the resort pools was in the summer. I take my suit just in case.

We will be at the AS Music Family Suites this December and I am looking forward to that. We haven't stayed there yet, only AS Movies. I have to choose carefully, because my mom has to have special accommodations and she and I both use ECV's, so we have to have extra room.

If you have never seen the WL during Christmas, you will definitely want to sit in the lobby a enjoy the scene, it is really beautiful. We stayed there last August for DH's birthday and really enjoyed the resort. Also, don't miss the Gingerbread house at the GF. Poly didn't have anything interesting this year. We stayed at the CR and the decorations are a bit bland, but I love the resort itself. We had a view of Cinderella Castle with the lights and they stayted on all night. We slept with the curtains open, so we could enjoy it.

We love to do alot of TS restaurantrs during our Christmas trip, so we can see some of the other resorts, and we love Character meals (yes, even for 3 adults).

There was no lack of things to do, even if the parks do close at 8 pm. Most nights we didn't make it back to our room until midnight, and we were up and out by 6:00 or 7:00 most mornings.

We will probably do MVMCP on that Tuesday evening as well. I think we will book our KTTK Tour for that morning.

Suzanne

 

[camdensmom]

We went 12/12-12/17/07 and it was the most crowded I have EVER experienced in WDW. I actually lived in Orlando for two years so I went a lot throughout the year (just never in June, July or August).