December crowds

[4 DZNY NUTZ]

Hi Everyone,

We are planning a trip for the first week of December (2nd-8th) and are taking my mother & father in law (first Disney trip!!). December 2nd is the tuesday after Thanksgiving. We usually go the first week of February when the crowds are light (except for all the cheerleaders) and we love that week. We picked the first week of December because friends told us that it is a light week also. We are looking forward to seeing the Christmas decorations.

Just looking to my fellow DIS'rs for some help. How are the crowds? I dont want it to be too busy for my in-law's first trip. I know nothing can compare to the one and only time we went during Easter break!!

Thanks in advance.

 

[flipflop]

We are going the same week as you. From the research I did and the crowd calendar in UG, I think crowds should be light - I haven't ever been there that time of year before.

 

[chrisw127]

That's really my favorite time of year to go. We just went and it was perfect. For most attractions, there weren't any waits. We also lucked out and MVMCP was not crowded at all the night we went, although we heard that two nights before it was awful. Just find out ahead of time if Pop Warner is that week. I think it's earlier this year. Also, be prepared for any kind of weather--hot, cold, rainy, perfect.

Have a wonderful trip.

 

[DisneyWorldbuff]

I am traveling at the same time and was looking into modifying my reservations, but absolutely everything is booked on Disney property. And I mean everything! I tried Disney, Travelocity, expedia, etc... but there are literally no rooms availble at WDW. Is it crazy crowded at that time? Why the no availability? Does anyone know? Thanks!!!!

 

[chrisw127]

I made a reservation a week ago for Ft. Wilderness cabins for December 09. I know it's early, but that's how I am. Anyway, when I called they actually gave me a reservation for 08 with not trouble accidently, so I'm thinking that the cabins must have some space.

Good luck.

 

[sage10]

We are going that same week also. Pop Warner is the following week (well the Saturday when we leave, I think is when they start. We LOVE that week. Now we are actually arriving on the 26th of November and staying until the 7th of December, and the first weekend we are there is SUPER crowded according to my parents who go every year at that time. Actually this year they are stinkers! They leave tomorrow am for 18 days with my brother and his family (at least for the first 10 days, last 8 it is just my parents) and then they are going with me and my family in November for 12 days. SO JEALOUS!

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

We had the same delema about the pop warner - we knew from someone that goes every year with her daughter (her kid won it the last year or two!) that it was ALWAYS the first week in December - so I made sure to book for the 2nd week (12/9-12/16). Well low and behold they have the audacidy to change it to the 2nd week of December - the week we will be there!!!! ARG!!! I don't think its a big deal though - as long as you ARE NOT staying at their hotels, you will be totally fine! Have a great trip!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mytwinklestar]

I asked about Pop Warner when I booked my reservation and was told that they will be there from Dec. 2-9. I had initially booked from the 9-17 but changed my reservation today to the 14 - 21 to take advantage of the free dining for Disney Visa members. With the initial booking, I exprienced the same as one of the pps, in that there was NO availability in the first two weeks of Dec. - and was told that I was lucky to be able to book mid week to mid week - and that I should snap up the reservation right away. We have stayed at Pop Century during Pop Warner - it wasn't too bad. It was BUSY at the resort but the parks were not overcrowded. We have also purposefully avoided Pop Warner and gone the week after. That was the BEST. We literally had the longest wait time for ANY attraction be twenty minutes. I would suggest doing the MVMCP, as this allowed walk on for all open attractions. We strategically stayed away from Fantasyland until later in that evening, when the smaller kids would tucker out and the small crowds would thin even further. I was suspicious of the NO availability at ANY resort in the first two weeks, too. What is that about? Perhaps Disney publicized the low crowds to their advantage and will have to revamp their "slow" season advertisements. Regardless, it is Disney... and Christmas time at Disney! You are going to have a phenomenal time!

 

[DisneyWorldbuff]

Thanks for everyone's reply. It helps to clear things up. It looks like it is too late to make any res. changes as there is no availability. I am happy to be going and will make the best of any trip to WDW! The suggestion to go to MVMCP is great and I will look into that. My kids are deleriously happy that this is their Christmas gift, so we will enjoy the fact that we are lucky enough to be going. Thanks again for the helpful Pop Warner explanations

 

[DisneyBrat]

We are going to be there Next Thanksgiving thru Dec 7th I CAN'T WAIT! I read somewhere Pop Warner starts the 6th or 7th of 2009. AAA rates are out too. We booked the Poly for 10 nights. I actually wanted Contemporary Bay Lake BUT they were not available on the 27th. If we moved our dates up we could get it. The time frame didn't work for our son They also said to get a bay lake tower room you have to book 10 nights. GRRRRRR We said we would stay at AKL 2 nights then the rest at Contemporary but that wasn't good enough. `10 nights at the Contemporary was what had to be booked. OH WELL maybe next time

Lew

 

[streudel423]

We went the first week of December in 2008 during Pop Warner week. We stayed at CBR. NO PROBLEMS! Best trip ever! The crowds were virtually non existant many days if you do your research to figure out what parks to visit on what days of the week.

I DO NOT recommend MVMCP, IMO. We went and it was wall-to-wall people. You had to get in line for the parade and shows AT LEAST an hour early. We would never do it again. WAY TOO CROWDED!

I would recommend taking advantage of the Evening Extra Magic hours. We did so at AK one night and rode EE THREE times in the front without even getting off! There were NO lines at ANY of the rides.

 

[Karlzmom]

We'll be there too. Made it a split stay, as I have been unable to snag any kinds of discounts [beyond the minimal AAA] from the time I made the ressie in early Feb. With my AP discount, spending two nights at ASMo saves me over $500. I was told that we would be outta there before Pop Warner [I sure hope so].

We did MVMCP in 2006, and it was packed. We decided to give it another go as the last time it was the last party. Hopefully being a Sunday at the early part of the month will make it OK.

It is much tougher getting any ressies for ADRs, tours, boats, etc. than last time. I'm frankly a bit weary of the constant calling [on my nickel] to try and see what may have availability. I'm thinking the last 70+ days I'm just going to relax [as if!] and let it all go.