Crowds in mid December

[Capo]

Hey All,

We will be at Disney from December 10-20 of this year. How are crowds typically during this time? I know the week of Christmas is insane, but what about a week or two prior?

Any events going on we should be aware of?

Thanks!

 

[mom2rtk]

Because of the grand opening of Fantasyland, nobody really knows how the crowds will be.

Typically the first 2 weeks of December are not the the "low" crowd times of years gone by, more like a moderate crowd time. But it's been very manageable.

Once schools start releasing for Christmas break though, it builds daily until Christmas week when parks can hit capacity any day.

I'd say this year will be ok through about the 15th, then will probably build over that next week. This year is a little different because there's no clear cutoff of when most schools get out. It's all over the board.

 

[Capo]

Thanks for the info! I completely know there is no hard science to this, but what date would you guess things start to get "bad" from a crowd perspective?

 

[mom2rtk]

Thanks for the info! I completely know there is no hard science to this, but what date would you guess things start to get "bad" from a crowd perspective?

It starts to get bad when schools start releasing for the year. Many years it's pretty uniform. This year it's all over the board, with a handful of schools getting out on the 14th, but the rest are all over the place the next week. So expect crowds to slowly build from the 15th on, with the greatest impact late that next week.

When we went in 08, we checked out on Saturday 12/19. That year most schools had released the day before on the 18th. I was amazed at the insane number of people checking in as we were checking out. This year it will be more of a slower build.

 

[Art 1]

Hey All,

We will be at Disney from December 10-20 of this year. How are crowds typically during this time? I know the week of Christmas is insane, but what about a week or two prior?

Any events going on we should be aware of?

Thanks!

Heavy crowds.

 

[CaliKT]

I agree that you will probably see a huge jump in crowds on Saturday December 15. We were there last year from Monday the 12th to Saturday the 17th, and there was a huge uptick in crowds on that Saturday due to people whose winter breaks started on Friday the 16th.

 

[mom2rtk]

Last year we saw a huge jump in crowds on Saturday the 17th. They told us in the parks that was the last day those with a certain type of AP (maybe a seasonal AP????) could use them. Does anyone know what date that would be this year?

I have a friend who had a trip overlap ours last year. We left the next day Sunday the 18th. She stayed for the next week. She had been with us the 16th and 17th and said the crowds the next week were much larger.

For those going that week of the 15th to the 22nd....... do your MK days on the days they are still having the MVMCP at night. It is the single greatest thing you can do toward getting a smaller crowd level.

 

[jenlov]

This is just a guess for me, but since Christmas and New Year's falls how it does this year and with most schools normally taking 2wks off, ending the day after New Year's Day, most schools will probably not be getting out until the 18th or 19th, in the middle of the week. Our schools start break on the 19th, and I know that our friends in Houston start break the same time. All bc the day they go back falls midweek. So, unless schools are getting a 2.5 wk break or parents take them out of school for a few days, most families won't be coming until mid week around the 18-19th.

Jen

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

In Virginia our schools will dismiss on the 20th, and quite frankly that is close to the norm for the south. We are planning to be there 12/11 thru 12/19 and we anticipate the crowds beginning to increase around the 18th to the 20th. We are hoping for moderate crowds up til the 20th, or at least our fingers are crossed.

 

[krohloff08]

We are going Dec 13 - 17 and am hoping that it isn't too crazy. We are also looking at going next year and debating between Nov 16 - 23 or Dec 7 - 14. I think this trip will determine which one we go with! Lets cross our fingers for not to crazy crowds!

Kim

 

[serene56]

We are going Dec 13 - 17 and am hoping that it isn't too crazy. We are also looking at going next year and debating between Nov 16 - 23 or Dec 7 - 14. I think this trip will determine which one we go with! Lets cross our fingers for not to crazy crowds!

Kim

i am looking at those same dates for dec 2013. But Pop Warner and no chance of discounts being offered scares me.

going the week before-- the airfares will be horrendous because its thanksgiving week. and the week after is prime season.


what to do-- what to do

 

[jenlov]

We're going this Dec 10-20th as well. We're taking our kids out of school for the first time ever in hopes to avoid the REALLY crowded times. We homeschool our middle school and high school kids, so it will just be the little guys missing school. According to some "experts", the week of the 10th is supposed to be a really great week to be there. I sure hope so!!

 

[Capo]

So I was pretty ignorant about the details of the Mickey's Christmas Party. After reading, it looks like the parks close early (at 7pm) and they make you leave early if you don't buy the extra tickets?

So on these nights there is no evening Wishes or parade for "normal" guests?

One of the nights we have a dinner reservation a bit after 7 at liberty tree... I assume we can stay in the park if we have a dinner reservation (until we're done eating)?

 

[siskaren]

1. So I was pretty ignorant about the details of the Mickey's Christmas Party. After reading, it looks like the parks close early (at 7pm) and they make you leave early if you don't buy the extra tickets?

2. So on these nights there is no evening Wishes or parade for "normal" guests?

3. One of the nights we have a dinner reservation a bit after 7 at liberty tree... I assume we can stay in the park if we have a dinner reservation (until we're done eating)?

1. Yes.

2. Correct.

3. I would think that if you don't have tickets to the party that you're not going to be able to do a TS meal where your ADR is after 7:00, even if it's just a little bit. If it's before 7:00, you're OK, they'll actually escort you from the park when you're done.

 

[itutorfortravel]

Oh boy! Reading this I am getting a little nervous...

We haven't been to WDW in a few years and we have only been during the second week of December or mid-January when the crowds are very low...

This year due to DD's extracurricular activities, we can only go December 19-24. I was able to get free dining, so I'm really pleased with the price I got given the time of year.

My concern is whether it's going to be insane in regards to crowds and whethre we are we going to enjoy this or regret it? Anyone ever had the shock of going low season and then being at the parks at capacity?!

I've actually wondered whether we'd be better off spending the same amount on a Disney trip as what we're spending in December, but going in the off-season for fewer days (and flying). Would we be able to do the same amount (or more) if we were there for fewer days but when crowds are low?

Sorry to hijack the thread, OP, but hopefully it relates to the discussion!

 

[mom2rtk]

So I was pretty ignorant about the details of the Mickey's Christmas Party. After reading, it looks like the parks close early (at 7pm) and they make you leave early if you don't buy the extra tickets?

So on these nights there is no evening Wishes or parade for "normal" guests?

One of the nights we have a dinner reservation a bit after 7 at liberty tree... I assume we can stay in the park if we have a dinner reservation (until we're done eating)?

You are correct. No Wishes or MSEP on party nights.

And you'll need to look for another ADR. They will in fact not seat you for an ADR of 6:55 or later without a party ticket. And it's not worth paying for a ticket only to spend that much time cooped up in a restaurant.

 

[bluejasmine]

I think while it may get crowded it will be ok! Just go with a plan! Be at park opening try to eat your meals before the normal crowds and you'll be fine!

Wdw is gorgeous at Christmas plus this yr you'll enjoy two special things this Dec!

Reopening of Test Track, Grand Opening of Fantasyland and in the plus side the Osborne Lights and all the other Christmas decorations!

 

[Capo]

Thanks for the info, all. For those who have been, is the ticket price worth it for the christmas party? It's near the cost of a ticket and i wasn't planning on extra expenses.

Did I read you can get in at 4pm for the Christmas party? What rides, if any, do they keep open past 7pm?

 

[siskaren]

Is 2012 Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party Worth the Cost?