Crowds week before Christmas

[kitner25]

Last visit to WDW was in Sept. and the crowds were minimal. What can we expect for the week before Christmas Dec.16-23?

 

[motofox4]

i'm wondering the same thing. we just got back this past saturday from 9 days and the crowds were very minimal. we're planning a trip for next year and can't decide between going again in september or the week before christmas and were just wondering what the crowds are like the week before christmas.. anyone know??

 

[mickeymousemom]

We went the week before Christmas two years ago, and when we first arrived, it wasn't too bad. The parks weren't dead by any means, but not packed either. As the week went on, however, the crowds picked up and by the 21st, 22nd, it was extremely crowded. This is also exactly what I was expecting, as I had read the exact thing on another Disney Board. Since you're leaving right before Christmas, I think you'll be fine for at least the first half of your trip, if not longer. The crowds will get really big about the same day you're leaving or the day before.

 

[froggy33]

I agree with mickeymousemom. We went last year from Dec 14-21. The 14-17 were amazing! No one was there. I took a picture at MGM just to show that there was no one around us! We could ride a ride and then get back in line with very little wait. Then about the 18th it started getting pretty crazy. I think a lot of kids get out of school around the 15th and then go down. I don't think it is as bad as summer crowds, but there were times I felt like a herd of cattle. I would recommend doing the big ticket rides/events the first few days and then just taking it easy.
Enjoy your trip! We'll be down the 12-17! I can't wait!

 

[yanjan]

we went there dec 12-19 dec last year.

put it this way if you can do space mountain 8 times in a row with nobody getting off then i would say pretty good

took us 5 min for tot only because we had to get out and go back to entrance. safaries in akl was about 5 min waiting only because the line walk was so long.

then on the 17 it started to get packed real quick

going again this year 10-19 just for that having fun without the long lineups.

have a great time

nick

 

[MomofCKJ]

We will be there Dec 15-22 and hoping for a good week. I knew it would get more crowded as the week went on but I hope that we are getting out before the super craziness begins!

Allyson

 

[Karnak]

We have visited WDW several times during the first or second week of December, and found the parks to be not crowded at all. The first week tended to be less crowded than the second, but not by much.

I have planned a trip this year for the week after Thanksgiving, picking that week simply because my annual pass will still be good for the week. But in 2007, with a new annual pass, I will most likely visit WDW during the first or second week of December once again.

Enjoy.

 

[John's Mom]

We were at WDW last year Dec. 17-24. It was very cold. The parks didn't seem to get crowded until Dec. 22. The closer it got until Christmas the more crowded it got. We followed TGM's advice and arrived at the parks as early as possible and did the main attractions before the parks got crowded. We felt the parks were more crowded during Thanksgiving week.

 

[jwfla422]

I guess it's all "relative" but we were there the week before. The first 2 days were ok but by the weekend (the 17th) it was packed, way too busy for me because I kept getting "stressed". We won't return this time again. I think prior to the full week before Christmas the crowds are lighter. If Christmas falls during the middle of the week for lighter crowds I would complete my trip 2 weekends prior.Being that the 17th was just a week away everyone was arriving that weekend for Christmas, so it seemed.

If Christmas falls during the middle of the week for lighter crowds I would complete my trip 2 weekends prior.

 

[Keacc]

We have gone the week before Christmas 3 previous times and will be there from Dec 16th - 23rd. The crowds are manageable. My best advice is get to the parks when they open and go for the most poular attractions early. Use fastpass when it is available. The crowds will build later in the week. We like to visit a lot of the different resorts during the evening hours to check out the Christmas decorations. We enjoy going to the World Showcase in EPCOT during the late afternoon time. We try to see some of the Chritmas traditions in each country. There are also wonderful shows to see such as "Off Kilter", "British Invasion", the street players in England doing their unique version of "A Christmas Carol" and don't forget to see the "Candlelight Processional". Happy Holidays in WDW, where every day is a Holiday.

 

[Gradar1]

The crowds should be lesser at the beginning of the week, but as it gets closer and closer to Christmas Eve, they will definitely grow! Hit the parks as soon as the rope drops, and if possible, make sure you get the parks that are smaller (MK, MGM) in towards the beginning of the week, so that way, at the end of the week, you can just go back and hit the attractions you want to do again, instead of trying to do the whole park with insane-level crowds.