December: Help me pick a week!

[my2mickeykids]

We are trying to plan our first December family trip! What week would be best?

Dec. 6-10th or 13th-17th? Both are Sun-Thurs

We are debating: I want to be there on my birthday which would be during the first week we are considering, but are pulling the kids out of school and I like the idea of the 2nd week since it is right before their break, making a long holiday vacation. Crowds make a big difference to us, we don't want to go when it will be super busy.

Thanks!!

 

[Jperiod]

Candlelight processional will be 5 & 6 (huge crowds!) and cast member parties will be mon and tues (7 & 8) which means DL closes at 5 or 6. We were there that week last year and are going again this year, but we didn't mind it because we don't stay at the parks last due to our son. We also liked that we didn't have to stay up to see fireworks (they did them early, like at 5:15!). Crowds were pretty light the rest of the week, but entertainment was also light. Things like ELP and F! start up the following week -- so it depends what's important to you.

I honestly don't think you'll see a huge different between crowds for each week. We haven't in years past, not for Sun-Thurs visits.

 

[disneyfan4ever54]

We went from Dec. 3rd-11th last year and the crowds were very low during the weekdays, esp. during the first week. Candlelight Processional should be on the 5th and 6th. We wanted to see it so I chose those dates with that in mind. I guess it would depend on whether or not you wanted to see it or not. The fireworks were held every night which we really enjoyed since we usually go off-season when they are only on weekends. Fantasmic was held on every weekend starting with the first one, so you should be able to catch that on either of your Sunday nights if you wanted to. The ELP doesn't start until mid month, so I'm not sure if your second set of dates would work for that. Someone else should know what weekend they usually start. If you haven't been in Dec. yet, you will love it. It really is a magical time of year to go.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

I'd go the 13-17th. Everything should be up and running and the parks will not close early like on the CM party days. It's better to go right before the holiday madness, and immediately following the CM party and CP madness.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

We also liked that we didn't have to stay up to see fireworks (they did them early, like at 5:15!).

Fireworks last year was at 5:15pm? I don't remember them ever doing fireworks that early even during the slow part of the holiday season. Seriously? Even in early January (the last weekend of holiday layover) they were doing them at 9pm or so. I would be really surprised to see them going off at 5:15pm.

 

[Jperiod]

Fireworks last year was at 5:15pm? I don't remember them ever doing fireworks that early even during the slow part of the holiday season. Seriously? Even in early January (the last weekend of holiday layover) they were doing them at 9pm or so. I would be really surprised to see them going off at 5:15pm.

That was only on the cast member party days. I forget when the park closed, but they basically did them shortly before close and then everyone exited. CA Adventure stays open late for the public on those two nights though.

The rest of the week DL was open until the typical 9 pm or something, which was plenty late for us.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

We visited the 8th-11th last Dec. I enjoyed it, yes our 1st two days were CM party days but that was fine ~ we spent the evenings in DCA ~ we stayed 4 days because of the parties, usually 3 is fine.
I feel the opposite ~ I wouldn't want my kids to miss the week before C~mas break, that'd be a long break and they'd miss the fun stuff at school.

Yes fireworks were super early on the CM party days ~ 5:30 or maybe 5:45.