December No Longer Quiet Time To Visit

[LarryM]

I took my mom and brother and we were there from 12/3-12/10. I found it to be a little busier than in previous dec's but fine just the same. We knew to stay away from MK on 12/3 because of the xmas parade taping. The longest wait we had all week was in the Orlando airport security line. As an aside Regis must have stayed for the week, he was on are continental flight going home sat night.

 

[NancyIL]

I was there Oct. 9-17 and Nov. 29-Dec. 3, and October was far more crowded. Even though it got pretty chilly at night in early December, I much preferred the cooler weather for touring the parks. I will go back to making the week after Thanksgiving my annual WDW vacation week!

 

[Tricialiv]

We were there Dec 3-8th. I found very light crowds. We used TGM strategy for picking a park but didn't even need to follow touring plans. The MVMCP the 6th was wonderful and we had little or no lines on any rides. The 7th the MK crowd was really picking up by lunch we left for the day. Peter pan line was 40 minutes for example. It was nice weather except for the 8th which poured. We headed for the Wonder and the 3 night. We didn't even see Pop Warner except for a few small groups. We stayed at the Poly except for the first night we were to be in Movies- we were bumped to Music but even there the pool was pretty quiet the 3rd. I am definately going early December again!!

 

[Eljay]

Remember when May & October used to be considered slow? Disney used their marketing smarts and dreamed up the Flower & Garden Show for May and the Food & Wine Festival for October. Now those months are busy!

Disney seems to be promoting the Christmas season more than ever now, encouraging attendance for the weeks leading up to Christmas, with the Travel Channel shows featuring WDW, the Jim Brickman Special from WDW (aired last night on PBS, it was great!) lots of television advertisements, MVMCP, CP w/celebrity narrators, etc.

Those marketing people at Disney are no dummies!

 

[Danthesand]

I will also add that a surprising number of schools are getting out this Friday

Schools are closing on December 16 - over a week before Christmas? And then presumably also staying closed the full week after Christmas?

I haven't heard of any systems doing that.

 

[goofy4tink]

We were there last year from Thanksgiving Day until the following Wednesday. It was chaotic until Monday, then it was wonderful. Then, we went in mid-June (18-26). It was a zoo. Way too many people and way too hot/humid. Again, dd and I went in August (early) and the crowds were still very impressive, as was the heat/humidity. We have been there for the third week in August and the crowds were much better but the weather could be an issue. So, this year I went from Nov 29-Dec 5. I have to say that although a bit on the chilly side for the early part of my stay, it was wonderful. The crowds didn't pick up at the parks until Friday and that was mainly at MK. I'm sure the parade taping had a lot to do with that. I didn't go near MK on Sat for that very reason.
I think it's all relative as far as crowds go. For someone who has gone right after THanksgiving for the most part, it will seem that the crowds are getting larger. Yes, our little secret is out. There are a lot of conventions, and sporting groups going down at this time of year...simply because it is a slower time and Disney can fill those empty rooms.
I have to say that this most recent trip did bring the most troublesome bus service though. I have never had such long waits for buses, to all the different parks. Getting to and from DTD is a nightmare. I can't imagine going there, from say Boardwalk after a night at JellyRolls, in order to catch a bus back to your resort. You could get there at 1 a.m. and have to wait forever for your resort bus to come. I know that I have always had to wait at least 30 minutes for any resort bus from DTD. Of course, maybe I'm staying at the wrong resorts.
But, all in all, this is still my favorite time to go.

 

[carol-lamb]

Just got back last night (12-7 thru 12-12). I have to say I was surprised by the crowds. We usually go in the middle of June when it is very crowded and I didn't notice much of a difference in crowd levels at all. I did notice that the crowds did thin out in the evening and there were hardly any wait times for the attractions. This might have been because it did get quite cool a few of the evenings. My DH and DD just walked on Splash Mountain on 2 different nights. Also had no wait for Space Mountain and Thunder Mountain. I thought all the parks were busy during the day and much nicer at night. Animal Kingdom wasn't very busy when we were there last Thursday, but it did rain lightly that whole day. I was hoping for less crowds, but it wasn't that big of a deal to me because I've never seen Disney any other way than crowded!!!

 

[joestv]

I was there Dec. 2-6, and did find it much busier than my last early December trip back in 2000. The crowds weren't unbearable, but there were some longer waits than I'm used to, and the All-Star resorts were packed with kids. I was glad that I rented a car, which I used the entire trip to go back and forth to the parks.

I always go during the "slow" seasons, and was just there for a week in September, where I practically walked on everything, so this trip I just took my time and didn't feel that I had to do and see everything. I actually took the time to do some shows and attractions that I haven't done in years, like "Beauty and the Beast", which was wonderful.

I saw all the movies in World Showcase, including Norway!
The lines for the Candlelight Procession seemed to stretch for miles , so I ended up watching it from the back, which was still thrilling and emotional. Saturday night, the wait for It's a Small World was 60 minutes!

I really think it's all relative as to what you think is crowded. If you normally go during the crowded summer months, then you would love the lighter crowds, whereas if you are used to the quietest times, then it was a little bit busier for you.

 

[jordancej]

Yea, the secret is definetly out! We stayed at FOFQ from 11/30 - 12/4. Glad we got most of the rides out of the way during the week, but by late Fri, and the weekend.... YIKES! Bookoos of folks! During the week, it was a walk on for most of the rides.... which was cool! Looks like the next trip, i will strickly stick to going during the week, and not staying at WDW during the weekends. Oh, i forgot also some of the Popwarner cheerleadleaders got there Friday i think..... the bus line to go home from WDW on Sat night was a nightmare.... seems that they were overflowing to POR, and the lines were just crazy.... anyway we still had a good time.... just surprised at all the folks we saw.

 

[tink2]

Schools are closing on December 16 - over a week before Christmas? And then presumably also staying closed the full week after Christmas?

I haven't heard of any systems doing that.

I am a teacher in Alabama. We get out this Friday, the 16th, and return to school January 3rd- students come back January 4th. We switched to a longer Christams break about 2 or 3 years ago.

 

[gw_lit]

Schools are closing on December 16 - over a week before Christmas? And then presumably also staying closed the full week after Christmas?

I haven't heard of any systems doing that.

Many of the Arkansas schools (public and private) get out on the 16th and go back on January 3. Must be a southern thing!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Schools are closing on December 16 - over a week before Christmas? And then presumably also staying closed the full week after Christmas?

I haven't heard of any systems doing that.

I also live in the Denver area and our district (Cherry Creek) is finishing out this Friday, the 16th and not returning until January 3. I assumed the other districts in the metro area are doing the same. Otherwise I guess you would go for a couple of days the next week, I have never heard of any district going past the 21st or 22nd.

 

[JenLoy]

We were there Dec 3-10 and Floridian was 100% capacity as well according to the CM that check us in. As far as crowds, I didn't think it was too bad. The longest line we waited in was to check out at the World of Disney store on a rainy day. We were in line 45 minutes. Most of the ride lines were between 10-20 min waits!

 

[Katerbug]

My kids schools in Michigan are also letting out Dec 16 not to return until Jan 3.

 

[madge]

Schools are closing on December 16 - over a week before Christmas? And then presumably also staying closed the full week after Christmas?

I haven't heard of any systems doing that.

My children get out of school on Friday and return Jan 2 or 3.

It's the same in 2006, too. We are taking a trip December 16-21, 2006 and our children won't be missing any school

 

[cmaelltt1]

I think it depends on which parks you visit each day also. I was there Dec 4 - 10 and we thought it was pretty slow. Even my dad who does not do lines well, commented on how quickly we moved with most waits around 10 minutes. Often the signs would say 20 minutes but we would pretty much walk on. We were asked to carry the little red line timing card so often I was wondering if we were marked or something. On Saturday, the 10th, the bigger people went to Epcot while I took the little ones back to MK. I was expecting big crowds for a Saturday, but didn't have any problems. I used FP twice and it worked out that we didn't wait more than 15 minutes for anything but Dumbo. I avoid EMH since we stayed off-site. I think that helped a lot.

 

[WendyMichaelJohn]

I am really beginning to see that crowd size is very subjective! I went from Nov 27 to Dec 4th, and I thought it was wonderful!! The beginning of the week (Nov 28-Dec 1) was so uncrowded wherever I went! Even the weekend wasn't too bad. I even thought the Mon-Thurs was the most uncrowded week I ever seen. I even got the best room at POP - 4th floor 50's with Epcot right out my window! But I also don't do nothing but rides - I love just strolling through the parks (and looking for characters!), and seeing things like the Epcot street shows, and renting motor boats, and eating at cool restaurants, and swimming! But I go three times a year, so that helps spread out the things we like to do.

I totally, totally agree with this. We were there the exact same dates (actually arrived on the 26th) and we thought it was unbelievable. Friday the 2nd was crazy crowded at MGM but from what I hear that was kind of the way at all of the parks. We were amazed at how many times we were walk ons or had waits of 10 minutes or less. Our longest wait was on Sun. Nov. 27 and that was for It's a Small World for 20 minutes. But it was midday. EVERY single time we arrived at opening, we did everything we wanted within 2 hours.

I really found the entire week to be wonderful, but without the valuable information from touringplans.com, I don't think we would have had HALF the great experience we had. The parks seemed crowded, but the waits were nil. That insider info really does help.

ABOVE ALL ELSE: ARRIVE EARLY, ARRIVE EARLY, ARRIVE EARLY! I mean, 30 minutes before opening at the latest. Skip sit-down breakfasts. Eat counter service or muffins or something while you wait for park openings. You'll be done by lunchtime anyway half the time, so you can have a nice bit sit-down lunch.

 

[jeeperwy]

Schools are closing on December 16 - over a week before Christmas? And then presumably also staying closed the full week after Christmas?

I haven't heard of any systems doing that.

We live in Wyoming, and my kids are out the 16th - 1st, and go back on the 2nd.

Kari

 

[Danthesand]

We live in Wyoming, and my kids are out the 16th - 1st, and go back on the 2nd.

Kari

Then presumably, you have no subsequent President's day and/or Easter break? Seems the model emerging here is "give 'em half of the entire month of December off and then little or nothing else for the rest of the school year, or spread the vacation time across late December and mid February and/or sometime in late march to late April." Our local system is the latter style, which I prefer, "blowing most or all of the whole wad" in December makes the rest of the school year very, very long for the kids.

 

[disneymom2one]

Schools are closing on December 16 - over a week before Christmas? And then presumably also staying closed the full week after Christmas?

I haven't heard of any systems doing that.

I'm sorry you haven't but every system I know is closed from about the 16th until January 3rd. Our school system actually is out December 15- January 3. That's relatively normal for here. We start early (first week of August) and are out early (second week of May) with two weeks for Christmas and one week for spring break.