Disney in December. Don't g

[Nancyg56]

We're going Dec 9-13. Had no problems getting every dining reservation we wanted, and had not problems with the fastpasses. I really don't mind crowds though. A crowded day at Disney is still better than a day at work.

WE are there 9-13 too! I got every ADR I wanted except BOG dinner, and I was not expecting that one. I thought it would be nice because my DDIL and a friend who is joining us have never had dinner there, but it is no deal breaker for me. FP too, but I am no FP strategist, and honestly we are there for teh holiday events this year.

Have fun!

 

[Jennasis]

The economy is not worse than ever. In fact it's doing very very well, which is part of why attendance is so high.

You can't make a FP at 90 days. You can make them at 60 days.

Your trip will be great!

 

[ErinCat]

I am perplexed as to your difficulties. I am going during the same time period but less days so you would have had an earlier opening date for ADR's and FP+ that I did and yet I got great ADR's and FP+....BOG, pre-park opening ADRs, Minnie Holiday and Dine and FP+ for all major rides at the exact times I wanted.

 

[focusondisney]

My daughter and I went to WDW the first week in December 2011. It was wonderful. Our building in the Alligator Bayou was practically empty. Every attraction were walk ons and we were able to get dining ressies on the same say. My husband and I went in the first week of December 2013 and it was considerably much more crowded. However, the evenings, with the exception of The World Showcase were not crowded. The dining was a problem. At that time I was considering not going in December again. Well, my husband wanted to go this year in December. We discussed the matter and decided that with the economy worse than ever, there was a chance it might be light attendance. I booked us December 6 through the 18 th. 180 days out I was at the computer at 6 am with my planner, disney cup with coffee and Disney music playing in the background. Suffice it to say I felt I was fighting for the last silk blouse on Black Thursday. 90 days out I was again at the computer at 6 am ready to book fast passes. No luck. Most of what we wanted was already closed for fast passes. We decided it was definitly going to be crowded so we should add a few more days to our trip. Nope. No available rooms on Disney property. I called WDW directly and was advised the resorts were filled during our entire stay!!! They are at FULL capacity for Dec 6-18. I asked if there are any events during that time that would fill the resorts yet not the parks. I was told no, no events. I believe with the travel agencies having pod casts and radio shows and books advising people to go in December, people are flocking there in early December. Well, we are trying very hard to stay positive about this trip. We used to go other times of the year that were less crowded also but the crowds eventually caught up with us. I hope this will not be our last trip.

Nope, the resorts aren't all fully booked for your entire stay. We'll be there 12/12-19, split between CR & YC. Just go on the website- there are lots of rooms available during those dates. Maybe not all categories at all resorts or at a discount. But every room on Disney property is not sold out.

Also had very little difficulty getting fastpasses or ADRs. We've got Mine Train, Soarin & Toy Story on 2 days each. Dining at CRT, Narcossee's, le Cellier, Chef's for CP, Wishes dessert party, lunch at BOG twice, Minnie's Holiday dinner & dessert party at Osbourne lights plus several others.

I do intend to book tickets to see the Star Wars movie. Gotta decide on what time for Friday-- I'm thinking that might be our most crowded event!! Don't worry - it will be great!

 

[momto4obkids]

We are going Dec.10-15th and there's still resorts at ll levels available for those dates.

We got the fast passes we wanted.

We got breakfast and lunch at BOG, Ohana for dinner, Wishes dessert party and there's still availability at places like Le Cellier for our dates.

I'm under the impression this will be a good time to go!

 

[DG-12]

Disney crowds, in general, are higher than they have been. There are events going on during that time period- Pop Warner. The first two weeks of December are the busiest DVC weeks of the year. And yes, there are companies with events during that time. However, I just checked your dates. I was able to find availability in every category. Not discounted, but available.
I wouldn't say not to go, but booking now means that you are getting whats available, not your first choice.

 

[mickeyfanachey1999]

We will be there December 7-13. I didn't have any trouble getting FP+ and we don't usually do may adrs but I got the 'Ohana breakfast and the Whispering Canyon Café both on the day and time I wanted after I booked the FP+. As for rooms I can say that my mother is going to be there Dec 6-10 and she wasn't able to get a studio at OKW during those times. She was pretty miffed that we get to stay there and she has to go to SSR.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

In the early 2000's early December was a so slow but news got out and it isn't any longer.

With all due respect, in 2002-2004 even EASTER week was slow!

Then again in (spring) 2006, I saw some of the worst overall crowds I've ever (personally) experienced at WDW.

We used to visit the week right after Thanksgiving for a number of years. The Sunday after Thanksgiving was fairly busy, but crowds petered over the course of the week.

However, the onsite WDW hotels were usually FULL the entire first week of December, but overall crowds were not bad, except Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend, especially at DTD. We quickly learned to go to a park that evening (vs. DTD), even though we only had a few hours.

That was back in the good 'ol days...we'd simply hop on which ever park bus showed up first and not worry about FP's or ADR's....

 

[disneypanda11]

That must be frustrating. We're going the beginning of December as well (6-11) and I have not had any more (or fewer) issues with planning than in any of my prior trips. We were able to make our reservations at 180+ out and had no issues with FP+. Do you have a fairly set schedule? Can you try to be flexible with times/days to get what you're looking for? I'd keep checking, I've rearranged some of our initially set plans this way and had success in snagging a few things I didn't initially book. I'm not worried at all about the crowds. I agree with PP's who encourage the perspective that while it may be busier than years prior, it is by no stretch of the imagination going to be peak crowds. We'll all be fine!

 

[anniebean]

WE are there 9-13 too! I got every ADR I wanted except BOG dinner, and I was not expecting that one. I thought it would be nice because my DDIL and a friend who is joining us have never had dinner there, but it is no deal breaker for me. FP too, but I am no FP strategist, and honestly we are there for teh holiday events this year.

Have fun!

We had specific times we needed for rides because we're hopping around like mad this trip, and we were able to get the times we needed.

Don't fret too much about missing BOG. You can keep checking if your really want to do it, and something could pop up. We've done dinner there twice. We liked it, but nothing that is a must do for us. We got it for pre-park opening breakfast this go around just so we can get into MK before the crowd on our last day there.

Hope y'all have a fantastic trip!

 

[Nancyg56]

We had specific times we needed for rides because we're hopping around like mad this trip, and we were able to get the times we needed.

Don't fret too much about missing BOG. You can keep checking if your really want to do it, and something could pop up. We've done dinner there twice. We liked it, but nothing that is a must do for us. We got it for pre-park opening breakfast this go around just so we can get into MK before the crowd on our last day there.

Hope y'all have a fantastic trip!

We have pre park breakfast too. Which is more important than dinner. The girls would like lunch at LTT if it opens but we have CP do its good. Our last day is back in Epcot with lunch at Vua Napoli. I'm happy we have it so I don't need to think about where to eat.

 

[anniebean]

We have pre park breakfast too. Which is more important than dinner. The girls would like lunch at LTT if it opens but we have CP do its good. Our last day is back in Epcot with lunch at Vua Napoli. I'm happy we have it so I don't need to think about where to eat.

That's funny, cause our last day is MK for breakfast at BOG, then Epcot for lunch at Garden Grill. Again, we're hopping like mad this trip so I'm sure we'll come home exhausted!

 

[gwb]

We are going from Dec. 2 to the 9th. We had absolutely no problems getting all our adrs and fp+'s. We've been going roughlythe same time frame almost every year for almost 20 years. Yes it has been getting increasingly busier but not bad yet. In the past years the combination of the taping of the Christmas parade and the Pop Warner crowds drew in people. My wife calls me obsessive because I continually check about room and dining availability and I did check yesterday and found that many dining is full add ttimes but there were quite a few that had a number of open reservations particularly after Sunday the 6th.
Same thing went for the open rooms. Many resorts were full but there were many that had openings.
As a matter of fact I was able to change some fp+ just a few days ago

 

[DG-12]

I think something that is helpful to think about at this time of year is hopping because special events do impact crowds. For example, popular narrators at Epcot can draw huge crowds but the morning could be less crowded. Or a Christmas Party night at Magic Kingdom the park is dead in the morning, closes early and the other parks could be more crowded.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

OP, I'm sorry you're having such problems, but I can't commiserate with a similar experience. I, too, am going in the first weeks of December. I got all the rooms I wanted (mind you, I booked 11 months out through DVC). Got all the ADRs I wanted (well, except one....Beaches and Cream be tricksy...). Got all the FP+ I wanted. I've had no problems with anything. I even changed some FP+ over a week after the big date and didn't have problems getting good replacement options. Oh, and I was doing all this for 4 different families.

 

[HopperFan]

- The crowds at Disney are very much a result of an improved economy and more disposable income.
- Crowds have been increasing every year for the last 5 years or so and with each visit I wonder if it's ever going to level off.
- Hotels are considered by the industry full at a certain percentage but that doesn't mean all rooms are booked.
- Disney is tightening up on adding/subtracting rooms to reservations to keep them open for longer bookings.
- Goal is no empty room and the algorithm will block some bookings to keep open for others.
- I can sit for hours playing with dates and get what looks like nonsense because they block certain dates to hold for someone who will fill the puzzle pieces.
- Even with these crowds we still are able to get most all ADRs we want, the only ones that take much longer to get (for us) are BOG and Ca Grill. Keep trying.
- Going anytime in December is bound to be crowded with the holiday decor/events plus the last year of Osborne Lights, predicted opening of Launch Bay, the Jan closing of Soarin, Pop Warner, the discounted rooms in early December ............
- Your dates are shared with Free Dining, Room Only Discounts, AP Discounts, FL Resident discounts and SPD Package.
- We have no issues with FP+. We were able to get a few for 7DMT last night for today. It is the hardest but def not impossible.
- Disney's #1 goal is NO SLOW SEASON and they are doing quite well at creating demand during what were their slowest times.

At this point you should book a trip for when you can go, for the rate you want to pay, to coincide with the events you want to do with the weather you like. Slow just really won't factor in as much anymore. Even the "slow" seasons come with negatives .. which is why they were "slow".

 

[cmorris303]

We are going Dec 12-15. It was a last minute trip that we booked at 90 days out. I was able to get BOG and Minnie's Holiday Dine with a bit of persistence. I didn't try and get an A&E fast pass, but I did get 7DMR for two different days and Toy Story at times that worked for us. I hope your luck turns around!

 

[Jaxx]

we may book a trip from Nov 25 to dec 2 and I a surprised I can get rooms with reasonable rates as well as flights with low fares. We have not gone since Dec 2009 but I want to go see Osborn lights if this is really the last year.

 

[Aurora0427]

We went December 2014 from 12/10-12/17. It was awesome. Was it low crowds? No. But we didn't have any trouble getting our fast passes or ADRs. The weather was amazing. My most favorite trip thus far.

 

[BaxterSaysMeoww]

We went last December 12-18th and absolutely enjoyed it. The weather was great, it did seem crowded but we did everything we wanted. This year we are going December 15-21st and I am a bit worried since it's closer to Christmas that it may be more crowded but we did get all the fastpasses we wanted and all the ADR's we wanted. As long as you keep you expectations realistic and don't stress over any crowds you'll have a great time.