Crowds in December

[Antonio]

I'm trying to look up crowd calendars but I'm getting different answers from different sites. Can anyone who's been there around this time advise me on the crowds and temperature the week before Christmas. I'm going December 16-22. Thank you so much.

 

[Bob P]

Hi,

December crowds are generally on the moderate side until the weekend before Christmas, so you will have a few days of moderate and a few days of busy (but not EXTREMELY busy).

Winter weather in Orlando is completely unpredictable. You could have warm days with cool mornings, or you could have mornings near freezing with afternoons in the 40s. Or you could have a little of both! Plug your dates in here to see Orlando weather history for the days you are going, dating back 15 years.

http://www.wunderground.com/history..._state=FL&req_statename=Florida&mode=calendar

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Antonio]

Thanks. I read the crowds that week can be busier than some weeks in the summer. I don't know why.. Kids are still in school.

 

[Sven]

Hi,

December crowds are generally on the moderate side until the weekend before Christmas, so you will have a few days of moderate and a few days of busy (but not EXTREMELY busy).

Winter weather in Orlando is completely unpredictable. You could have warm days with cool mornings, or you could have mornings near freezing with afternoons in the 40s. Or you could have a little of both! Plug your dates in here to see Orlando weather history for the days you are going, dating back 15 years.

http://www.wunderground.com/history..._state=FL&req_statename=Florida&mode=calendar

Enjoy your trip!

this has changed a lot in the past years. december is getting more busy each year. it starts out moderate and gets heavy around the 15th and then it gets crazy around the 19th and beyond

 

[Antonio]

Is it worse than say late august when Florida schools go back?

 

[Sven]

Is it worse than say late august when Florida schools go back?

december is worse unless you go the first week. end of august is good

 

[Antonio]

What would you say a ride like Soarin waiting line can be like? Sorry for all the questions.

 

[BongoFury]

How are the first couple of weeks after Thanksgiving? I look at the crowd calendars and it confuses me because I'm kind of a doofus and I wanted to get the scoop from those who have actually been there at that time.

 

[sharonabe]

As others have said, from the 16th-19th, you'll have moderate crowds. To me, that is a LITTLE less than summer crowds, but still very crowded. Yes, most schools are still in that week, but with year-round schools getting more popular along with homeschooling, AND parents who aren't afraid to take their kids out that last week before Christmas (because not much happens that week education-wise), it is a popular week to go. AND free dining is still in effect, so that draws in some people too.

Now the 20th-22nd will be CRAZY busy as that begins Christmas week. This is the number one busiest week of the entire year.

Just plan on getting as much of your must-dos done the first part of your vacation, and then do some fun stuff on those crazy days.

 

[Sven]

How are the first couple of weeks after Thanksgiving? I look at the crowd calendars and it confuses me because I'm kind of a doofus and I wanted to get the scoop from those who have actually been there at that time.

been there done that. the first two weeks after tgiving is doable, but still more crowded than it used to be. used to be a "secret" that the first 2 weeks of dec were the best time to go but not anymore.

 

[Antonio]

I thought I was outsmarting people by going the week before assuming the crowds aren't that bad lol. I'm sick to my stomach. Hopefully with the new FP system it's not so bad.

 

[sharonabe]

I thought I was outsmarting people by going the week before assuming the crowds aren't that bad lol. I'm sick to my stomach. Hopefully with the new FP system it's not so bad.

If you could move your dates back a couple days so you're leaving WDW on the 18th or 19th, then you'd be in great shape. You would still see crowds building towards the end of your stay, but nothing like that weekend before Christmas will be.

 

[pmaurer74]

We went Dec. 17-23 last year and plan to go during the same time this year. I was surprised about the crowds. the crowd levels were high the first two weeks of December last year but the week before Christmas was great! Lowest crowds I have see in awhile and the temps were unusually warm. We were not prepared for the cold mornings though. We had a lot of fun. If you can leave Sunday morning it would be best. A CM told me that is the largest checkin date of the year. The crowds were still not awful on Monday but were a lot higher than the week before.

 

[michaelj68]

Been to WDW in December 2011 and 2013:

2011: Dec 28 - Jan 3: Massive crowds especially MK although thinned out after New Years. MK reached maximum capacity throughout week. STRESSFUL!

2013: Dec 16 - 20: The week before most US schools close for Christmas Break. Moderate crowds. Much more enjoyable experience. When driving back up north on I-95 on Sat Dec 21, when school holiday just started, massive traffic heading south on I-95 towards Florida.

For this year many schools will be out starting weekend of December 20.

 

[JennyDrake]

this has changed a lot in the past years. december is getting more busy each year. it starts out moderate and gets heavy around the 15th and then it gets crazy around the 19th and beyond

DITTO!

I found the 16th crowds got thicker and increased each day.

As far "school still being in session," most colleges will have let out by then and maybe school systems are now on year round school, therefore nullifying traditional break times.

 

[Checkers]

In 2012 we went the week before Christmas and it was delightful. We are returning again this year because the crowds were manageable and the weather was great. The holiday crowds usually don't start arriving until the weekend before Christmas and we are outta there by that time!

 

[lake queen]

Hoping for moderate crowds on our trip Dec. 13-20.

Does anyone know how they will compare to the 3rd week of Oct.? That's when all of our other trips have been.

However we have been to Disneyland the last week of July, that was really crowded, will it be more like that?

Thanks

 

[3dog2kidmom]

We have been going Christmas week (generally arriving the weekend prior -- this year we fly down on the 20th) every year since 2009.

Crowds are INSANE. EVERYONE STAY AWAY!

Seriously, as long as you hit the park at rope drop, use fastpasses, make advance dining reservations, have a plan of attack, and bring a BIG bag of patience it's doable. Christmas at Disney is truly magical.

 

[Checkers]

Hoping for moderate crowds on our trip Dec. 13-20. Does anyone know how they will compare to the 3rd week of Oct.? That's when all of our other trips have been. However we have been to Disneyland the last week of July, that was really crowded, will it be more like that? Thanks

We go in Oct. and usually the 2nd or 3rd week and in 2012 we bought out someone else's reservation the week before Christmas. We loved it and the crowds were very manageable, much more so than in Oct. This year we have decided to go back the week before Christmas and hoping for the same.