December vacation in WDW

[chitwnfan]

Has anyone visisted WDW after Thanksgiving but before Christmas? Some the guides say this is a great time because the decorations are up and there is less of crowd. What about the weather in December?

 

[Bob P]

Hi and welcome to the DIS!

The crowds are indeed on the light end between the Monday after Thanksgiving and around December 20. Weather is very unpredictable, especaally the deeper you go into December. You could get days in the 80s but you could also get mornings near freezing. And both of those things could happen in the span of a few days!

Bob

 

[Kteacher]

I went last year for a long weekend from Dec. 3-6. I brought light weight fleece jackets and thin knit gloves, and needed them one night of the trip. It was mid 70's during the day. Much more crowded than I was expecting, but less crowds than when we usually go ( school vacations or summer ).

 

[scrap4kenzie]

The crowds are MUCH better that time of year than during christmas. We went 2 years ago the week of Christmas & compared to that, it was night & day. The weather is nice during the day (capris/shorts & short sleeves) but cooler at night - depending on what you're used to. We live in NC, so the whether is still fairly mild compared to our home state of IN. Take a jacket/sweatshirt, and if you have small kids, a blanket for the stroller for the evening. The decorations are fantastic, and really add to the magic. I'm now back in school full time & my finals aren't over until the 16th of December, which would put us there right as the crowds hit, so we're arriving this year on the 29th. Won't catch much of the Christmas spirit, but only 2-3 days of the crowds vs. 8 days.

Have fun!

 

[alohaguy]

As everyone has already said, the weather in December can vary. I went one trip where everyday was 80, and another where it never brok 65. I have to say that December is my absolutely favorite time to be at WDW...the Christmas decorations and the Merry Christmas Party at MK are fantastic. Our family loves it.... usually we get to ride Thunder Mountain twice in a row without getting off because there are no crowds. Strongly recommend going in December. Best to go the first two weeks before the Christmas/New Year's crowds come in at full force.

 

[Disneyfan63]

Hi,

I go in December every year for Mousefest.

Jim

 

[Densgirl]

We did in 2003 and it was fantastic. Almost everything was a walk on and I will NEVER forget the snow on Main St. if I live to be 100. Do MVMCP(Mickey's Christmas Party), it is extremely festive and fun. We stayed at AKL and the decorations were very nice. We visited several other resorts just to see the decorations. BWI was fantastic with a working gingerbread carrosel(SP?????). The Gingerbread house at the GF was incomprable and my favorite was WL. You felt like you just stepped into a Currier and Ives christmas candle.

The weather was warm during the day and cool enough for jackets at night. We are from the NE so it was all relatively warm to us. Just bring some sweatshirts and you'll love it.

 

[babyblues68]

First week of Dec. is the only time I go to Disney. The crowds are low and the decorations are wonderful! They're right about the weather. The temps are unpredictable, but not anything unmanageable.

TC

 

[Tara]

Early December is a great time to go. As you might have heard the weather can be unpredictable. Some days we were in short sleeves, some nights we were in sweatshirts. The crowds are light and the parks and resorts are gorgeous -- awesome time to go.

 

[chitwnfan]

I am so glad to find this forum. Thanks for your replys. It is good to find a place where fans can communicate and share their Disney experiences. Please let me tell you about my gotcha moment. I was well over 40 the first time I went to WDW. I never experienced anything as magical as this then when I was a kid. We were watching the Beauty and the Beast show at the MGM. When the doves were released at the end, my son who was all of 5 at the time said to me, "Daddy I want to come here everyday." My only response was "Me too son. Me too." Four years ago we stayed at my cousins' timeshare at Westgate. We have stayed at the Swan the last 3 years. I am working towards many more visits.

Best wishes to all in your future WDW vacations.

Chitwnfan

 

[Ashley]

Early december is our favorite time to go. The crowds are light, the temperatures are cooler, and the holiday decorations are beautiful. Just make sure you take a jacket or sweatshirt to the parks because even if you are fine during the day, after dark it cools off quite a bit (and I'm a warm-blooded person).

 

[storybookmum]

We love it there at that time of year. We went in 2000 and it was fairly chilly, not awful, but not good swimming weather, that's certain. We went just this past November-December for our biggest trip yet, 8 days spread over POR and AKL, and had the best vacation imaginable. Beautiful, beautiful weather, wonderful times. The extras before Christmas are wonderful, the Christmas Party was terrific, the Christmas Parade is very different and lovely. The decorations are great, everything was beautiful. I'm trying to figure out if we can possibly get there again for a few days this year before our passes expire, and the sad thing is, there's no way I can do it at the same time of year!

Have a wonderful time,

Kris

 

[Ella618]

I am also planning a visit to WDW after Thanksgiving but before Christmas. The weather tips have been very helpful!

What I'd like to know is if anyone has an opinion about the best-decorated resort hotel at WDW? I have heard some good things about the decorations at WL, but what about places like BC or YC, or the Boardwalk?

Thanks!