Disney in Dec.

[yngsj]

I just had to cancel my Aug. trip and I'm thinking about booking a trip in Dec. but have a few questions.

1. How bad will the crowds be Dec. 15-23?

2. Will it be too cold for Typhoon Lagon?

3. As of right now I can't find a reasonable flight for the 23rd so I might have to fly home early on the 24th. I really don't want to pay an extra $150 for a Disney hotel just to sleep until 4:00 am or so. Would it be a pain to check out on the 23rd and stay at a cheap hotel by the airport on the 24th? Could I take ME to the airport on the 23rd and then use a shuttle to get back and forth from the airport for my flight the next day?
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[mister morrow]

the crowds will be better than Christmas week, maybe a little more manageable.
I would say around the 22nd the crowds will pick up.

TL closes 12/25 so you can make it into the waterpark, is it too cold? that's up to you haha. I would stay at the resort pool imo.

I don't think it'll be too bad to do that.

have an awesome trip!

 

[Squirlz]

We went the second week of December in 2014 and it was cold. Last December it was in the 80s. You just never know this far out. Crowds were manageable at that time.

 

[cdnjason]

1. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being most crowded, expect 10s as you get closer towards Christmas. But, manageable if you have a good touring plan.
2. Depends. The weather can vary in Orlando that time of year.
3. Book the Hyatt at Orlando Airport. It's connected to the airport, so you go down stairs and through security to board your plane.

 

[Klayfish]

1. Yes, it will be crowded, but definitely doable if you use FP+ and other generally good practices.
2. Totally depends. We were in WDW last Thanksgiving and Xmas. Christmas Day itself had a high of 87 or 88, it was very warm. But that apparently was near record warmth, typically it's cooler.

 

[sndral]

I've been several times during Dec., three times (going back to 2000) it's been freezing (as in 32F and under.) Other times it's been much warmer - you just can't predict Dec. weather in Orlando IMO.

 

[mickeymom629]

Definitely no guarantee on the weather, but it's a great time to go!

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

Can people speak more to what happens to part crowds with regard to school calendars? With Christmas on a Saturday, many schools have December 16 as their last day. So what do you think will happen on Sat, Dec 17? Will it really not get insane until the 22nd, a Thursday?

 

[ojeight]

I just had to cancel my Aug. trip and I'm thinking about booking a trip in Dec. but have a few questions.

1. How bad will the crowds be Dec. 15-23?

2. Will it be too cold for Typhoon Lagon?

3. As of right now I can't find a reasonable flight for the 23rd so I might have to fly home early on the 24th. I really don't want to pay an extra $150 for a Disney hotel just to sleep until 4:00 am or so. Would it be a pain to check out on the 23rd and stay at a cheap hotel by the airport on the 24th? Could I take ME to the airport on the 23rd and then use a shuttle to get back and forth from the airport for my flight the next day?
Any help would be appreciated.

I went those days last year and the crowds were not bad. Less crowded than when I went in August the year before. I don't go to the water parks but I wore shorts and a t shirt most days.

 

[yngsj]

I went those days last year and the crowds were not bad. Less crowded than when I went in August the year before. I don't go to the water parks but I wore shorts and a t shirt most days.

That makes me feel better! I went ahead and booked it. I'm not a fan of water parks but my DD really wanted to swim with the sharks. She is looking into doing the disney college program so if it works out for her, she will get another chance in not too long. I also coughed up the money for another night at ASM.

 

[Dizjunkieee]

That makes me feel better! I went ahead and booked it. I'm not a fan of water parks but my DD really wanted to swim with the sharks. She is looking into doing the disney college program so if it works out for her, she will get another chance in not too long. I also coughed up the money for another night at ASM.

While I haven't been quite as late as you are going in December, I was there last December (1-9) And the weather was mostly on the cooler side, with highs in the low to mid 70's, but it never got COLD. I would agree with the pp's that the weather in Orlando in Dec. can vary widely. What I will say though is of all the times of year I've been, it was my favorite! Reasonable crowds and temps and all the Christmas goings on were just AWESOME. You will LOVE it! Have a ball!

 

[Poolmanjan]

Can people speak more to what happens to part crowds with regard to school calendars? With Christmas on a Saturday, many schools have December 16 as their last day. So what do you think will happen on Sat, Dec 17? Will it really not get insane until the 22nd, a Thursday?

The week before is very manageable. For our Christmas visit in 2013 Dec 21-30 the crowds didn't get out of control until Christmas Day. The weather is hit or miss however.

 

[merrick]

we went that week in 2014. crowds were very busy the first weekend (arrived sat and went to magic kingdom first day and second day). by the time we got to epcot the monday, things were much more reasonable. nothing else that week matched the weekend crowds at MK.

as for weather i LOVED it. i cannot stand heat and humidity. we wore shorts and t-shirts every day with no issue. i will say we brought hoodies and put them in lockers since the sun still goes down earlier and once it went behind buildings and/or attractions it got cool.

we have booked again for this year, dec 13-21, that is how much i love that time of the year! i have no interest in going any other time, especially when you factor in the christmas magic and all the beautiful decorations.

 

[sharonabe]

Can people speak more to what happens to part crowds with regard to school calendars? With Christmas on a Saturday, many schools have December 16 as their last day. So what do you think will happen on Sat, Dec 17? Will it really not get insane until the 22nd, a Thursday?

There was a thread a couple weeks ago about this. Some were saying their kids were in school through the 23rd. My sis-in-law is a teacher in NC, and theirs get out on the 21st. I was surprised at the number of people who said they were still in school that week. So much so, that that week may end up being pretty good at least through that Thur or so. Now the week between Christmas and New Year's will probably see closures as EVERYONE is definitely out that week.

 

[gtpoohbear]

We will be there almost the same dates. We've gone that week a couple of times before and it's definitely manageable. About the same as a normal summer week, not as bad as spring break, or the week after Christmas.

And maybe we've just been lucky, but the weather has always been glorious, not too hot or too cold.

 

[pmaurer74]

Can people speak more to what happens to part crowds with regard to school calendars? With Christmas on a Saturday, many schools have December 16 as their last day. So what do you think will happen on Sat, Dec 17? Will it really not get insane until the 22nd, a Thursday?

many school are not out until Dec. 23

 

[merrick]

many school are not out until Dec. 23

woo-hoo!!! hoping that bodes well!