December travellers

[Mouse-n-Mini]

We plan to go to disney world arriving the 20th of december and departing the 26th. What kind of experiences have you had during this time with 1. crowds, 2. temperature, 3. precipitation? Thank you! It's our first time ever that we're going in the winter and can't wait.

 

[Tinkerbell_Girl]

Me and dbf will be there from Dec 9-12, and I am wondering the same thing.

 

[Mouse-n-Mini]

any responses?

 

[Viki]

I haven't been there THEN yet! But I know from my research that Tinkerbell is going to have lower crowds that Mouse. We're going the first week in Dec so we're going to have the lowest. in other words, crowd size builds the month of December week by week AND day by day from about Dec 10th on, until it peaks around Xmas day. It basically goes from low-moderate to bustin.

 

[rkmassa]

We plan to go to disney world arriving the 20th of december and departing the 26th. What kind of experiences have you had during this time with 1. crowds, 2. temperature, 3. precipitation? Thank you! It's our first time ever that we're going in the winter and can't wait.

Been twice during this time. Crowds build right up until the 25th, and then look out! From the 25th to Jan 1st--very, very, very, crowded. A 10 on the UG scale. The most crowded time. Temperatures were up and down both times. Some days I wore shorts, and some days I wore pants. Pack for both. Nights can be especially cold. Precipitation--never rained on us, but I heard last year it poured I believe on the 25th. We left the 23rd last year. Year before we left the 28th--no rain. It is a great time to go. We watched the Christmas Eve. Parade the year before with hardly any crowd at all. Looked down the streets and saw maybe 50 people. We were not in front of the castle though. The decorations are great. Be sure to check out the resorts. Food was yummy. It has become our favorite time to go. We are going this year the 17th to 27th. Planning on staying away from the parks the 25th to 27th. Just hang out and enjoy our resort. Have a great time.

 

[danny1649]

Crowded but not huge crowds,24th thru 26th you will experience some huge crowds.We have been several times during that time and for the most part not much rain.Temps can vary though seems like low to mid 70's during the day high 50's to low 60's in evening temp's.That said we have been at that time and it was 42º a couple of evenings.Best advice I can give is wear clothing you can layer so you can adjust it to temps by adding jacket or take it off,swaetshirt over t-shirt,etc.Have a magical time,youare going at special time to visit WDW.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

crowds will be so so for the 20-22, after that the Christmas rush seems to start. The weahter can be anywhere from 40-70 in the day & 30-50 at night. You shouldn't get thunderstorms and not much rain, however if it rains, it is real rain...not the summer storms. Our winter rains last all day....but it isn't often that we have rain then... pack things that you can layer...even take your bathing suit it can be warm enough to swim You will still need your sunscreen but shouldn't need your bug spray...

 

[cjsmom5]

We've been at this time when one needed gloves, a muffler and even long underwear. Remember when it is 40 in Orlando ...the humidity makes it feel even colder. Then if there is any wind at all the wind chill has been as low as 25 degrees when we were there. Not every year but it has happened. Then later in the week it was around 80 during the day and we swam. We always bring clothes for both warm weather and cold. If it gets cold there you won't be able to find a pair of gloves, stocking hat or a muffler. They fly off the shelves.

Crowds can be bad the closer you get to Christmas. This year they are even saying that the first two weeks of December will be crowded -- typically a very slow time. Some hotels are even booked full.... so it may be more crowded sooner than in previous years. We found MK on Christmas Day to be a nightmare but the other parks not as bad.

 

[mickeysaver]

The best referrence that I can give you on the days is here.

As for the weather, it's anyone's guess. The temps can be a sunny 80 degrees or it can be a bone chilling 20 degree evening with winds that cut right through you. December is not a particuarly rainy month, but sometimes, it does rain.

We were at WDW from 12/14 to 12/21 of 2003. We had a great time with low crowds until the 19th, which was the Friday before Christmas. That day, the crowds were a little more than what we like to deal with, but we are spoiled by a long history of Value Season trips. The temps were literally in the upper 70's when we arrived and got down to the 20's at night before we left. So, prepare for anything.

We will be there from 12/11 to 12/17 this year. I hope you have as much fun as we do. Maggie

 

[kathie859]

This year we are planning an early Dec. trip (3-10th). We've been to Disney once during this period and enjoyed the Christmas atmosphere without the crowds. It was one of my most favorite trips. This year's trip will include a toddler so we opted for a slower paced time.

Once we went the week between Christmas and New Years. It's a lousy time for a "first timer" due to the crowds; however, for a veteran Disser who enjoys the excitement that comes with a big crowd and who doesn't mind the lines or foregoing some rides, it's a magical time to be there. I guess it just boils down to what you and your tribe prefer. My DH has proclaimed that he'd rather be beat than endure another visit during peak times.