Disney World in December

[splashmountainjaxson]

My wife and I are annual visitors to the Food & Wine Festival. We have been dicussing the possibility of spending our 2009 visit in the month of December around Christmas. Does anyone have any pros or cons dealing with crowds during this time of year? We tend to enjoy our visits during the F&W Festival, usually between September through early November because of the lack of overcrowding especially within the week. Even though my wife and I eagerly anticipate our first Christmas at Disney, I do not want to wait in long lines for the Monorail or other attractions as if we were in the prime time vacation months of May through August. Can anyone please share their thoughts and experiences?

 

[Stacy's a freak]

Early December is a terrific time to go! If you go just after Thanksgiving through about the 2nd week of December, you will experience very small crowds and minimal waits for attractions (5-10 minutes for E ticket rides). The park hours are a bit less. MK usually closes at 8 on non-MVMCP nights and at 7 on other nights. Epcot closes at about 9:30 ... The weather can be hit or miss (temps CAN range from 80ish during the day to 50ish at night) but thankfully, it is generally a dry month and is certainly not like the rain that can happen in hurricane season. And the holiday decorations are really beautiful. Go and enjoy!

 

[kathie859]

As much as I enjoy the F & W event, I would say that EVERYONE needs to see WDW with it's holiday finery

If you go early (leave before the holiday crowd really starts) you'll have a great time with minimal waits. Be sure to visit the resorts, too. Some of the best decorations are in the Poly, GF, and AKL.

 

[mchllevns]

My DH, DD11 and I went from 1/1-1/8 this year...we caught the end of the Christmas crowd and the Christmas decorations (as well as 2 of the coldest days I've ever experienced in FLA!) The decorations were fantastic...but I could due without the Christmas crowd...I don't know if it was the crowd itself, or the conditions, but there was a lack of Disney cheer.

I do hear, however, that the couple of weeks after Thanksgiving and before Dec 20 are great...limited crowd, Christmas decorations everywhere, and hopefully more cheer!

Good luck!

 

[Charleyann]

The decorations are wonderful at Christmas time. The crowds during Christmas week and New Years are not pleasant. I took my 11 year old son who uses a wheelchair. On New Years eve we had to get a security escort out! People were falling on my son in his wheelchair. They hurt him many times. They didn't watch were they were going and wouldn't move over for you to get through. THERE WAS NO CHRISTMAS CHEER IN THOSE PEOPLE. IT WAS ALL ABOUT THEM. EVEN SECURITY WAS NOT IMPRESSED

Security said people wouldn't even move for the police!!!! I think Disney lets too many people in and it is not safe for small children and people disabled to go on NY's Eve or Christmas! Sad but true.....



Now I am going To Florida from Nov 28th - Dec 28th. WE are Cruising until Dec 5th and then Checking in to Disney on Dec 5th- Dec 18th. Then we are staying offsite for Christmas and doing offsite parks, shopping and relaxation. I really love Florida at Christmas!

The week before Christmas is very nice. Crowds are light and people in good cheers. It is only when you pack them in like sardines do they get crazy


Charleyann

 

[suzimar57]

we've never been during christmas, but we'll finally get to see the decorations and experience the holiday magic this coming december!!!!