December at WDW?

[Zegolfer]

Looking to book a trip for my family - wife, 2 kids ages 3 and 5. What is a typical length of stay? 5 days, 4 nights and assuming it is busier on weekends vs during the week or does it not matter? Interest in first or second week of December. We're open

 

[dachsie]

Two years ago I went that first week of Dec and it was great. I went from the wed after Thanksgiving to the following Wed. I am scheduled to go again but this time I am arriving the Sat after Thanksgiving to the following Sat. I expect that Sat and Sun may be busier but the rest of the week should be great

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

Our first few trips with our kids when they were little were shorter but at that time and point we were in our careers, we couldn’t take that much time off. We now like to do 6 days/5 nights so we have a down day without doing a park. We drive down so we need 6 hours to get to/from WDW. The first week or so in December is a nice time to be there. Great weather and lower attendance than the crowds during thanksgiving and Christmas week.

 

[gharter]

Hard to tell what will happen now. In the past, the 1st 2 weeks of December were really quiet and great to visit. Then Disney started adding more gour events during that time and it got busier. The week before and during Christmas has been crazy busy.
Will it be this year? I suspect much busier than any other week so far.
But, the Christmas decorations are amazing!

 

[Bete]

I don't want to be a Debbie Downer but this Christmas season may not live up to the expectations of years past. Rumors have it that the Christmastime party will not happen or the Candlelight Processional. Other shows like Epcot's Christmas storytellers will probably be cancelled. I doubt if there will be any meet n greets with Santa. It's hard to say right now how much will be cut back for the Christmas season but we will know in a couple of months for sure. Then, I still doubt if there will be any firework shows. All the live entertainment shows like the Lion King are gone for now.

Now, I do expect the parks and resorts to be well decorated for the holidays.

If this lower holiday experience is okay with you then you should be fine.

Considering the ages of your children I would certainly go at a better future time instead. Let everything get more back to normal. I don't think it will ever be 100% again but it will get better than right now.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Not asked, but remember the weather. I have been there, early December, over 20 times. The temperature can vary from high 20's (not often) to low 80's. Prepare for cooler mornings, pleasant middays, cool/cold evenings. Layering of clothing works the best. Don;t forget hats, gloves, warm jackets/coats. Check weather trend a day or two before your trip to get a better idea of what's ahead for a few days.

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

Not asked, but remember the weather. I have been there, early December, over 20 times. The temperature can vary from high 20's (not often) to low 80's. Prepare for cooler mornings, pleasant middays, cool/cold evenings. Layering of clothing works the best. Don;t forget hats, gloves, warm jackets/coats. Check weather trend a day or two before your trip to get a better idea of what's ahead for a few days.

This. Plus this year there will probably be a blizzard (since 2020 and all)

 

[AJKMOM]

This. Plus this year there will probably be a blizzard (since 2020 and all)

Don't forget typhoons, hurricanes and tornados. It IS 2020, after all. :-(

 

[Alynw]

We go for 14 days every year for week of xmas and week of new years, as this is hands down the busiest time of year,, the weather has proven to be perfect for us. Over 12 years straight and we've only had to wear sweater couple times, weather is usually 75-85 the entire trip. I believe it was 2 years ago maybe 3 it got down to 54 for couple days and we wore sweater and pants but 99% of the time its mid 70s to mid 80s with little to no rain. Needless to say, we've been very fortunate with the weather and I hope I didn't jinx this year.

 

[auntlynne]

Congratulations on what appears to be your first WDW trip - or at least with a family. If you are a first-timer, your experience won’t be a comparison trip. And if you go again in the future, it would be different as you travel with different aged children. Go without thinking of what you are missing - this might be what Disneyland felt like when it first started

i looked at a website called Undercover tourist; they have predictions of crowd size in the parks based on previous years’ numbers.

Your chosen time is low season (lots of places are low visitors those first two weeks in December). Especially good (low attendance) for Monday-Thursday, December 7-10. One day per park (currently, the option to pay more and visit more than one park in a day, “Park Hopping,” has been curtailed) would seem reasonable with small children. You might be able to skip EPCOT - I don’t know how children like that park. (There May be a section on this site for visiting with kids).

Unless you know this is a once in a lifetime trip, four days of parks should be plenty - and then expect to go back later and have a different experience with all the parades, character interactions, long lines, fireworks (Magic Kingdom, my favorite) — and tram rides from the parking lot to the gate (make sure you have the stroller). I think I will miss the tram more than anything at the end of a long day on asphalt as I trudge to the car.

I am planning for four or five days in mid September (low season) - a long trip for me; I often do 1-3 days at a time every couple of years or so (usually combined with a Disney Cruise). I am hoping the low crowds and short wait times last at least for the next month.

Hope you have a great trip.

 

[Ricguz]

Looking to book a trip for my family - wife, 2 kids ages 3 and 5. What is a typical length of stay? 5 days, 4 nights and assuming it is busier on weekends vs during the week or does it not matter? Interest in first or second week of December. We're open

It is my favorite time of year to head to Disney. We have done the Christmas time vacation many times. Please be aware that the parades, Candlelight procession, Eats to be beats concerts are not taking place. I’m sure the resorts and parks will have decorations that usually start going up around the first of November after Halloween. Saying all that, Disney at Christmas is very magical. If my children were those ages, and knowing what I know about Disney, I would wait until everything is up and running. It is very expensive and your not getting the most bang for the buck. If you want to still go, a positive would be the crowds may be down, going midweek would be better so you don’t get the weekend crowd, and do a Monday- Friday 5 day- 4 nights. I would stay at an Epcot resort, BC, YC, because of the pool. Weather can be 80’s or 60’s but the last trip the weather was warm during the day and cool at night. First or second week in December is great, resorts will have the decorations up, BC and YC will have train sets villages and gingerbread horse carousel. BW is also nice. You will be in walking distance of Epcot and HS plus you have the boardwalk. At night if they have fireworks, you can see them from the resorts. Bring jackets and sweatshirts for nights, jeans and shorts for days. I hope this helps

 

[virk4]

It is also our favorite time This year we arrive on 12.13. Everything is decorated but it is not bust like later in the month. Great time to go.

 

[bakerworld]

We enjoy the decorations and the low crowds of early December, just remember it can be cold - or not! - so pack appropriately.

 

[Orion Nebula]

Not asked, but remember the weather. I have been there, early December, over 20 times. The temperature can vary from high 20's (not often) to low 80's. Prepare for cooler mornings, pleasant middays, cool/cold evenings. Layering of clothing works the best. Don;t forget hats, gloves, warm jackets/coats. Check weather trend a day or two before your trip to get a better idea of what's ahead for a few days.

Ya I was shocked the last time I went when it dropped into the mid 30s. I will say it added to the holiday feel though.... my family and I were not prepared either, ended up having to go into a store and drop a few hundred on warmer clothes. The crappy thing was it was in the 70s the day after we left... sigh

 

[lynch34]

I’m sure it won’t be like this in 2020 but we went between Christmas and New Years and it was miserable. We legitimately couldn’t walk in the MK. Weather was great but we wouldn’t do it again. Really not good.

 

[Darcy03231]

I've been during the first week of December and thought it was a great time to go. Weather can be iffy so make sure you pack accordingly. We had days that were shorts/t-shirts and swimming and other days that were jeans, sneakers and fleece jackets.

Crowds were light to moderate and we loved seeing all the Christmas decorations. The only downside was that we stayed at one of the value resorts and there was a cheer competition going on that week so our resort was pretty crowded with the cheerleaders. Overall, they were quiet, but there were a couple of early morning/later evening cheer practicing going on.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Regarding the cool/cold weather, I often point this out.

Typically, when you are home and it is cool or cold out, you are not outside, walking around, standing around for extended periods of time. You are going from a home, to office, car, work, restaurant or whatever. Your time outside is generally not a long time.

At WDW, we all know we are outside for extended periods of time. Evening temperatures, without the sun being out, can be bone chilling, even in the 40's and 50's. Those temperatures, even at WDW, can be comfortable during daylight hours with the sun out. Nighttime is a lot different. Additionally, there are a lot of bodies of water and ponds, etc. at WDW. Wind and even light breezes coming across those bodies of water add to the chill effect.

Anyone there in early December, 2010 can attest to cold at Disney. It was COLD! Disney had all the topiaries, floral beds, ground vegetation covered for several days to protect from freezing.

 

[WEDWDW]

This December marks the tenth anniversary of "Disney World-The Siberia Edition".

I have never been as cold before or since as the the night it hit 22 degrees!

Guests were putting on every piece of warm clothing they could find-I think I had on about a dozen layers!lol

 

[Dan Murphy]

This December marks the tenth anniversary of "Disney World-The Siberia Edition".

I have never been as cold before or since as the the night it hit 22 degrees!

Guests were putting on every piece of warm clothing they could find-I think I had on about a dozen layers!lol


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For sure, WED . And if you were home in any of the northern 2/3's of the US, 22 in December would be fine.

 

[Newbie500]

We have gone several times during Christmas week between Christmas Eve and New year's Day (my son is a new year's eve baby). Oh so crowded but we love it so much we're doing it again this year. The holiday spirit, the people, the decorations, the atmosphere, even the weather are all great that time of year in Disney (we're from CT). It even snows (fake) in Disney at Christmas! Don't know how it's going to be this year but if Disney is open, and we don't get into another out of state quarantine again, we'll be there!