December Secret is Out!!

[jordancej]

Just got back with my family, trip dates 11/30 - 12/4... lets just say that the secret is out... the parks were so packed... we were so surprised. My sister says that when she went in the summer of 2000, that is what the crowds were compared to. Glad we went to MVMCP on 12/1, that is when we were able to walk on most rides, went back to MK on 12/3 evening, there was over an hour wait for Peter Pan! Anyway, we still had a good time... guess we will be looking for another "secret" time to go....

 

[EjandMD]

When I first went in 1989, I was told that the fall was the best time of the year to go, right up until Thanksgiving. So during the late 90's we were going during that time, but so were all the Brizilians and all the conventions, including that one that's the largest and closes down parks! So I stopped going then and tried for the first week in May...pretty crowded. And now we leave Saturday...I don't think there is a good time to go anymore.

 

[Miniefan]

I thought the same thing during our Oct 2004 trip. I thought we would be going during one of the less crowded times but most of the trip the parks were very crowded. MNSSHP was the only time we were able to do most of the rides at MK. I asked one of the Cast members and she said usually it was not nearly as crowded. I think all of the hurricanes in Fl had something to do with it, people having to change and rearrange their travel dates due to the hurricanes charlie, frances and ivan. We are going this year Feb 10-17. I am really hoping that the parks will not be crowded, but ultimately I guess it doesn't matter because we are going anyway. I don't think Disney really cares about the crowd levels, I guess because crowds = $$ I have noticed in the recent years that Disney has offered some really good deals during times less traveled. That is why I booked in Feb. This will eventually mean that there are no secret travel times or less busy times. Just my thoughts.
Kim

 

[luvmy2sams]

We were in Disney from Thanksgiving day through December 10, 2002. We actually experienced more problems from crowds, etc. AFTER Thanksgiving weekend. DH wants to go back and try again in December 2007, but I'm hoping that our trip next month will convince him that January/February is a better time to go, even though I still prefer late October myself.

 

[michaelwilliammidd]

We were there from 11/27-12/3 and thought the crowds were great. We have previously gone in May,July and the week leading up to Christmas so, this was great. Our longest wait was 20 minutes and we rode many things multiple times including PP 3 times which was a record....we usually only get on once.

 

[Wengino]

EjandMD,

Touringplans would suggest Dec 10th to 17th will have THE lowest crowd levels predicted for the entire year! Rating the crowds from 1 to 10, the lowest rating ANY day of the year gets is a 3, with Christmas, New Years being a 10(for reference). The week of Dec 10th to the 17th is almost all 4's, with the only "3" for the whole year!

http://www.touringplans.com/BestDays.htm

If you combine this with avoiding certain parks on certain days, and start early in the mornings, you've timed it about as well as you possibly could..................I know, because I'll be there the same week! Enjoy!

 

[hockeygirl]

I just returned last night, I was there from 12/2-12/6, I didn't think the crowds were that bad. The only really long line I saw was for Soarin yesterday, it was up to 70 minutes at one point. Otherwise, we didn't wait more than about 20 minutes for anything. I did feel it was more crowded than last year at this time, but it wasn't comparable to the summer crowds by any means.

 

[trampslady]

I agree that folks are traveling more than ever since September 2001--and that's good for everyone. We've been going to WDW for Thanksgiving and the full week after since 2002, and, while it has become increasing more popular to stay after the holiday, we found the crowds to be completely managable after Sunday, November 27. Monday at MK was a virtual ghost town. We never waited in any line at any park or ride more than 20 minutes--even during Thanksgiving!

 

[froggy33]

That week/weekend was supposed to be busier than usual, there was a football/cheerleading thing going on, the filmed the Christmas parade on 12/3 and there was a DIS meet. I don't know for sure, but I bet those had something to do with it. I just hope it isn't too bad next week. I can handle 20 minutes!!

 

[blessedby3]

We were there from 11/25-12/3 and it was dead for us until Friday the 2nd. This was the only busy day and it was at EPCOT! I think it is a great time to go!

 

[beattyfamily]

I was there from Sat, Nov 26 thru Friday, Dec 2. It was great up until Friday, Dec 2. That was a crowded day at MK.

I did always go to MK at open though so we got a lot accomplished. Friday was probably crowded due to EE morning AND the parade shows taping.

Saturdays are always crowded at MK...

 

[tessqt]

We were there 11/27 - 12/5 and I too thought the secret was out. We "discovered" that week probably 15 years ago, we don't go every year but this year was the busiest in all the years we have been going. We too went to MVMCP on 12/1 and did get on rides that we didn't make on Monday, but the lines to get "free" pictures were toooooo long,so we didn't get one done. Forget about the hot chocolate and cookies, I didn't really search them out but I did see long lines where I figured they were.

I was in line waiting to pick up our "free" Disney Visa picture (we lucked out with being first in line to get it taken) and an older cast member was in line too. We talked and she said she didn't think there was a "down" time anymore, it was a busy week. I think we saw evidence of the cheerleaders on Thurs night on, we hadn't eaten at the POR food court for dinner and thought at 8PM on Thurs night it wouldn't be crowded, yea right!!! It was all young girls so I figured Pop Warner had arrived.

May have to check out another time of year, but then there probably isn't any "slow" time anymore.

 

[beattyfamily]

I still think September is slow...because parents don't want to take kids out of school at the beginning of the school year...

I also think January is pretty slow too because of the cold weather.

I'd still rather go in either December for MVMCP and the festivities or October for MNSSHP. The crowds are still manageable enough for me and the weather too!

 

[ms.ojo]

We were there 11/28-12/4 and the only crowded day was Sat 12/3 in the evening at MK. And we expected that! We were only there for Spectro and Wishes so don't know if it was mobbed all day...I expect so. The rest of the week it was walk on for almost everything! Many rides weren't even offering Fastpasses in the beginning of the week. I would go again this time of year in a heartbeat!!!

 

[NeverlandClub23]

We've always gone the second week of December when we go in December but next year we're thinking of going the first week because we'll have AP's that will expire if we went the second week. Has anyone gone both the first and second week and seen a huge difference? Also, is Pop Warner always the first full week of December? I'd have to agree that more and more now there isn't really a "low" attendance season. We went in the middle of last May and it was a lot more crowded than when we went in December. But both were better than going in the middle of July. I know some people don't mind the crowds and plan out every FP, but that's just not us and I hope we never have to go in July again.

 

[BeccaGrace]

We were there 11/30 until 12/6 and heard many people complaining about the crowds...we must have lucked out though because I didn't find it bad at all except for Animal Kingdom on 12/3 (which was our own fault for going on an EMH day)--and even then we got Fast Pass for the safari and could still ride Kali River Rapids multiple times in a row without waiting. The 12/1 MVMCP was awesome...did all of Fantasyland with no waits and did Goofy's Barnstormer over and over without having to get off (DD-4 was in heaven!!!). We also had no wait for cocoa and cookies by Pooh's playground and a 5 minute wait for pictures around 9:45. All in all it looked like there were lots of people around at times but if you timed things right it wasn't as crowded as it appeared. I had an incredible trip and my crowd-hating husband never complained--so we will definitely be back in early December if we can

 

[DisneyKidds]

Just got back with my family, trip dates 11/30 - 12/4... lets just say that the secret is out... the parks were so packed... we were so surprised. My sister says that when she went in the summer of 2000, that is what the crowds were compared to. Glad we went to MVMCP on 12/1, that is when we were able to walk on most rides, went back to MK on 12/3 evening, there was over an hour wait for Peter Pan! Anyway, we still had a good time... guess we will be looking for another "secret" time to go....

Not sure which parks you were in, but it wasn't the same ones we were in. We were at WDW from 11/25 to 12/3. Yes, it was a little crowded on the weekends, especially Thanksgiving weekend, but during the week we encountered no crowds at all. Sure, major rides like Soarin, Test Track, RnR, ToT, etc. had lines, but during the week those were only 40 minutes. Not that I'd wait 40 minutes, but those are short lines for those rides.

All in all I found the crowds this year to be the same as the week after Thanksgiving crowds we've experienced the last 4 years.

Psst.....I applaud your effort to try and scare people off .

 

[disneyfreak71]

We went 12/2-12/6.
On Sat 12/3, we went to Epcot and the only line was for Soarin...40 minutes. We went back to it around 8pm and I walked right on.
SE-5min, Land 15min, TT 20min....not bad at all.

Sun MVMCP...longest line honestly was for th picture...it took 10 minutes.
POC right onto a boat along with SM.

Mon Morning AK Safari was 45min wait posted but took 30...Bugs life right in
MON After MGM Osborne lights were crowdwd and this was the most crowded day of all...20 minute -45 minutes waits for all rides.

In all, I did not think it was that bad.

 

[Diznenut]

We were there nov 27-dec 3

MK was a little busy on the 28th.. line typically 20-30 minutes. Otherwise it was great. Very few lines and wait times. MVMCP on the 1st - we rode everything in frontierland, fantasyland and tomorrowland except for buzz (too tired and too late by the time we got there). Splash mountain twice in a row without getting out of the car.

Saturday Dec 3 was a nightmare. We got there that morning when they were getting ready to start taping the parade. It was wall to wall people packed like sardines in a can. We stood in a line to get one the train, rode to toontown and saw mickey, minnie, goofy and max all in about 30 minutes. Rode barnstormer then got back on the train to the exit and left. It was still packed in mainstreet but toontown wasn't bad at all. Lines were about 15 minutes max.

 

[jonestavern]

25 Nov-4 Dec
we found the crowds to be very light with the possible exception of Saturday, 3 Dec, where we visited all the worlds & still thought the crowds manageable. Saturdays, unless the weather is poor, pretty much are more crowded at any time of year. Now, if you were off tp PI or DTD on Friday/Sat night it was a madhouse at the TTC or driving anywhere around there. Still, we didn't personally experience any hardships.
We did MVMCP on 27 Nov & except for a line for pix, which snaked on but actually only took about 15 minutes to get thru, we just walked up to rides, cookies &, toward the end of the night, there were no lines for other free photo ops. If our APs didn't expire we would be back next year in this time frame. We are now looking at the week before Thanksgiving for 2006.
by the by, we did see a few cheerleaders toward the 2,3 & 4 Dec, but not an awful lot. they were staying at the Values & at PO(FQ? R?) of course, am sure there were other families who opted for other resorts.

Jean