December/When does it get crowded

[debbiepump]

Toying with trying WDW 2009 from about 12/18 to 12/25 or 12/26. When do the crowds get really bad? But then w/the economy the way it's going, may not be too bad at all!

Anyways, thanks!

 

[LVSWL]

Looks like things crank up @the 22nd. Good luck planning, hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[BillPA]

The points change from Choice to premier on Dec 23. I would think there is a reason for that, it's called demand, so expect CROWDS to be very heavy on or by the 23rd.

We will be ther starting the 28th for the first time. I hope I'm not making a big mistake.

 

[PiperMickey]

I just tried to make a ressie for this Dec 3-8 and there was nothing available, anywhere!!

The SM told me that all of December is becoming very popular and that many locations book up as soon as the 11 month window opens.

So, while I am sure it is much more crowded as Christmas approaches, December appears to become very busy throughout.

 

[Spear3909]

We went the week after Christmas two years ago and it was the largest crowd I have ever seen! We stayed through News Years and now I can check that one off the "to do" list. I don't think we would book that week again (of course never say never!) but I do enjoy the holidays in Disney. Maybe before Christmas would be better next time.

 

[wildernessDad]

We went the week before Christmas last year and loved it. This year, we're going down from 12/11 - 12/19. That overlaps some of the Pop Warner stuff so I am curious as how that increases crowd level.

 

[Buckeye Fan]

DH is a teacher, and he and the kids actually had a full week off before Christmas a few years ago. So, we planned a trip and went down 12/16 - 12/22. When we got there, crowds were really light. The day we left, it was starting to look just like Spring Break.

 

[disneynutz]

Last year right around Christmas, WDW closed the parking lot for MK at 10:00 AM. The closer to Christmas and between Christmas and New Years is nuts.

 

[colonialtinker]

We went last year 23 - 27 and I will never go at that time again. Very large crowds even at the pools! Everyone we talked to said the week before was so much nicer. This year we're going the 3 to 7, we're leaving as Pop Warner is coming

 

[DonnaL]

Well, we were there ONCE from 12/29 thru 1/7.......tried to go to the MK on 12/30........by 11:00 a.m. it was shoulder to shoulder ....could not even move comfortably......park was at capacity.....we left shortly after that......and did not return to any park until 1/3 .........never again will I go during the holiday week. To BillPA........I also hope you aren't making a mistake. Don't know what time of year you usually visit, but, unless you like heavy crowd conditions you won't be happy. We love to visit early/mid December......anytime from 12/5 thru 12/17, however, can't usually do that since DH is adjunct faculty at Penn State (that's fall semester exams) and youngest DS is also currently second year student at Penn State (we've consistently had one of our children in college for the past 10 years!!!) so we've been going for several years now during the first week of January (spring semester hasn't started yet) and we also like that very much.......can't see all the Christmas stuff, but, we do get to see some......the resorts are usually still decorated when we get there and we usually see the last night of Osborne Lights at the Studios.......this past January my son stayed up until after 3:00 a.m. in the lobby of WL watching the place get "undecorated" the first night we were there. He said it was amazing.........go figure.......

 

[PNO4TE]

The time from about December 22-January 3 is always busy. It is one of the best times for families to come to WDW because of their extended vacations and the wonderful holiday atmosphere. We always go then!

BUT, we plan on doing any park visiting before Christmas Eve. The rest of our time we might scoot into HS to see the Osborne Lights, or Epcot to see the Candlelight Processional or the MK to gaze at the Castle one more time. We don't go into the parks on Christmas Day, with the exception of a possible quick trip into AK to do anything not completed before that.

If you are planning a holiday trip to WDW to experience the attractions you will be sad, I think. If you are going to experience the festive atmosphere you will love it!

 

[lexis53]

We went two years ago from December 26th-Jan 2nd. I was pregnant and my OB told me due to some joint inflammation that I had to use a wheelchair. If I didn't get to the parks at opening, I wouldn't be able to rent a chair.

We swore to never go at that time again. I agree with PP who mentioned that if you are there for rides, it's not the best time. If you are there for a relaxing time soaking up the trees and parades and decorations, you will love it. We are going the 18th-23rd of December this time. We doing MK and HS before the craziness hits. I don't mind Epcot when it's crowded. We can walk around forever.

I'm spending a lot of time now trying to line up a good reservation for the candlelight processional package. That was one of the best parts of our trip last time. IT's just beautiful. We're also going to visit some of the resorts to see the decorations (I haven't seen the gingerbread house). So if it is crowded while we are there, that is ok. So much to see!!!

 

[drusba]

The build-up of Christmas crowds depends to some degree on when Christmas is. This year it will a Thursday. Schools will be out by the Friday before. Crowds will build quickly starting the Saturday before (12/20) and will be to full Christmas force by Monday or Tuesday. Don't count on the economy making a small Christmas crowd. The usual crowds are so huge at MK during Christmas time that you could lose 30,000 visitors a day and it would still be very crowded.

 

[kerrik]

We have gone the week before Christmas for the past 3 years. We check out on the 23rd as the huge crowds are coming in. This time has always been good for us. We were even able to get a 2 BR at BCV at about 4 months out last year! I guess we have just been lucky! We are not doing the Christmas trip this year, but are looking forward to next year at BLT!

Kerri

 

[Cee]

DH went one year with our two youngest the week between Christmas and
New Years. NEVER AGAIN. He said it was so crowded that he was terrified
the entire time of losing them. At one point in Fantasyland in MK, he said
the crowd was moving him and he had no control over where he was going.
NEVER AGAIN. But hey, if you're up for it.....have a blast!