December crowds

[twinsticks]

Just got back stayed from December 11-23 parks were insanely crowded and no bounce back offer either.. Always go first week after thanksgiving and not to bad .. It looks like it was Brazilian week from what a cast member told us and they gave them big discounts to book.. Still had a great time and finally got to have dinner in the castle after 5 year attempts my girls were extremly excited..
You can really see the progress with the expansion now looks fantastic they were working on it late into the night with lights guess they are behind schedule..

 

[sndral]

We left 12/19 - I didn't run into crowds until 12/16 and that fri. I really noticed an increase in the crowds at the parks, before then it was great. Did hear one group chanting, don't know where they were from. There was a bounceback in our room (YC.) Loved the weather this year, soo much warmer than last!

 

[fla4fun]

Wow - I was there fromt he 6th to the 16th, and my experience was the exact opposite. I didn't see any tour groups at all, and the only super busy day I encountered was Saturday the 10th (I think a lot of locals were there for the Christmas stuff - I know several of my coworkers were).

I will say the first half of my trip, which ironically fell during Pop Warner, was less crowded than the second half. The second half wasn't horrible - more like regular season crowds than value season (except for that one day). But it was noticeably more busy. I am one of those people who is not scared off by Pop Warner, and I have never had a bad trip while they're there (but I don't stay where they stay - that's a big part of it).

I had the bounceback flyer in my room, but as everyone here on the DIS will tell you - if you don't see the flyer, call the number anyway. This is especially true if you are seeing posts here about current bouncebacks being offered. Sometimes the previous guest takes the flyer with them (I am assuming because you can book through the end of your check out day, and they want the info in front of them).

I'm glad you had a good trip in spite of the challenges you were given.

 

[Mattitude]

We were there Dec 18-23. Really didn't think crowds were that bad, keep in mind that I have a 4 yr old DS that isn't tall enough to ride the headliners, he is over 40" but under 48". We had a great time and our only real wait was for Fantasmic on Dec 18th the 8pm show. Outside of that we used FP for any rides over 30-40min wait and most rides were 15 min or less of wait. Had a great time at AK on 19th, EP/MK on 20th, MK on 21st, EP/DHS on 22nd. Already making plans for wife and I to return next Sept for Wine and Food Festival!!!!!!

 

[Bobo912]

We were at WDW last week. Before we left home I got an email saying special offers would be emailed to us during our stay. The day before we checked out, I had a bounceback offer in my email - 30% off if I booked before we checked out. There were no flyers in the room.

 

[kecmouse]

My family stayed at disney world from the 15th to the 24th but only found it busy right before we left. (usually we go in early august where crowds are high and the heat is out of this world hot). So overall we really thought the crowds weren't too bad. On the 23rd my family entered Hollywood Studios earlier than the park opened, and we rode toy story mania in 10 minutes, got fast passes for TSM at 9:30, and walked onto Tower of Terror.