Crowds During December??

[iKristin]

I wanna plan a trip during the first week of December for my birthday in 2010. How are the crowds usually during that week? Thanks!

 

[DangerMouse]

The first weekend in December is traditionally the Candlelight Processionals. They make for an extremely crowded weekend. Also, the Monday and Tuesday following the CP is typically the Cast Member holiday parties where DL closes at 6 pm.

Otherwise, midweek is pretty mild crowd-wise and it's a beautiful time to go with the holiday decorations and entertainment in full swing.

 

[Leofoenget]

The first weekend in December is traditionally the Candlelight Processionals. They make for an extremely crowded weekend. Also, the Monday and Tuesday following the CP is typically the Cast Member holiday parties where DL closes at 6 pm.

Otherwise, midweek is pretty mild crowd-wise and it's a beautiful time to go with the holiday decorations and entertainment in full swing.

Do we have those dates yet?

 

[DangerMouse]

Do we have those dates yet?

Not for 2009, and definitely not for 2010. The dates are usually released in the early Fall.

 

[Leofoenget]

Not for 2009, and definitely not for 2010. The dates are usually released in the early Fall.

Thanks I was asking about 2009. 2010 is WAYYY too far in advance.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

We visited DLR 12/8-11 this past Dec. the 8th & 9th were CM party days but that was fine ~ we just spent the evening in DCA. It was a 4 day trip, I'm usually fine with 3 days ~ but I felt 4 days were needed due to the parties. The crowds were very managable, we have a weekend cruise (leaving from San Diego) the 1st weekend of Dec. and I hope to visit DLR either before or after the cruise.

 

[Leofoenget]

I looked at the Dec calendar, and the first Mon & Tues are the 7th & 8th. I would assume these would be the dates. Would they do the cast parties the last day of
Nov 1st of Dec?

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I don't know but I doubt it ~ I assume they'll be the 1st consecutive Mon. & Tues. in Dec.

 

[InLikeSin]

I've mentioned this on a few other threads that we are trying to plan a weekend trip for after thanksgiving and are now considering the first weekend in Dec but I keep reading everywhere here that it is a busy time to go. I had it stuck in my mind that the period after thanksgiving until right before christmas is a slow time? Am I confused about this?

 

[Leofoenget]

I've mentioned this on a few other threads that we are trying to plan a weekend trip for after thanksgiving and are now considering the first weekend in Dec but I keep reading everywhere here that it is a busy time to go. I had it stuck in my mind that the period after thanksgiving until right before christmas is a slow time? Am I confused about this?

No it is nice but that first week of Dec you have either cast parties and the park closes at 6, or the candlelight processional which brings out more crowds. It's not going to be crazy packed but much more busy. I would say the 1-3 should be very nice, assuming the cast parties are the 7th & 8th. The following week, say 9-11 should be almost perfect. I think since the cast parties are the following week and the CP is at the end of the week, I would think Nov 30- Dec 3 would be good.

 

[Sherry E]

I think Thanksgiving weekend itself is one of the busiest times of the year, from what CMs have said, but right after that weekend passes, things calm down a little because everyone goes back to work. Then, right around mid-December, I think things start to slowly get more crowded, and it builds over the next week or two until Christmas. Then immediately after Christmas and on until New Year's is supposedly the busiest or the second busiest time of the entire year and it is jam-packed because a lot of people are off work (and school, of course) between those two holidays.

I agree with Danger Mouse - I think that, other than the CP and CM parties happening in that first week and a half of December, it is probably the best time to be at DLR to get the complete holiday experience - everything is up and running and in full throttle seasonal mode - but with lighter crowds (and usually cheaper rates at the DLR hotels). Once mid-December rolls around, the hotel prices go up as the crowds begin to pour in. Even though I have done the weekend right before Christmas at DLR for the last two years and it was fine and I could handle the crowds all right, I think I would really like to try something different and go on weekdays in early to mid-December this year and see if it is a different experience. I like to be able to really look around and absorb all the details of the holiday decorations and spot things that maybe I missed the year before, and sometimes it is hard to do that when there are all kinds of people in the way. So I am hoping that maybe a mid-week trip in early to mid-December may be less crowded and I can get into all those little nooks and hidden corners of DLR and take everything in.

But.....so many more people have APs this year than they did last year, I think, and the economy has had strange effects on crowds - it is either crazy busy when we think it will be slower or it is is slower when it should be super busy. So there is no telling what things will be like in December 2010...and really, not even in December 2009!