First Week of December

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

"The best times to go to Walt Disney World are:

Mid-November and mid-December. The weather is usually cool but pleasant, the Christmas decorations are up, special events are running, and the crowds are usually moderate. The first week of December used to be a good time, but various events during that time now cause crowds."

I copied that from the MouseSavers website. What are the "various events during that time now" that causes crowds? I have only gone in summer, when my daughter is out of school, but always wanted to go see the Christmas decorations, etc. I was thinking about going in the first week of December, before it got too crowded. What happens now, that didn't happen before, to cause crowds? What happens that first week of December at all, out of the ordinary? Why are there crowds now, when it used to be a good time to go?

 

[Aunt Michelle]

"The best times to go to Walt Disney World are:

Mid-November and mid-December. The weather is usually cool but pleasant, the Christmas decorations are up, special events are running, and the crowds are usually moderate. The first week of December used to be a good time, but various events during that time now cause crowds."

I copied that from the MouseSavers website. What are the "various events during that time now" that causes crowds? I have only gone in summer, when my daughter is out of school, but always wanted to go see the Christmas decorations, etc. I was thinking about going in the first week of December, before it got too crowded. What happens now, that didn't happen before, to cause crowds? What happens that first week of December at all, out of the ordinary? Why are there crowds now, when it used to be a good time to go?

Pop Warner - http://www.popwarner.com/superbowl/pop.asp

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

Thank you.

 

[DebbieB]

I was there December 1 to 7 (stayed at BWV). I arrived on Dec 1 in the afternoon and went to MK, it was very crowded, probably because the Christmas Parade was taped that day. The rest of the week was not bad, nothing like summer. On Sunday evening, Soarin' still had fastpasses in the late afternoon. On Thursday afternoon, I rode ToT in a half empty car, they didn't even assign seats.

Saw a few of the Pop Warner cheerleaders (you recognize them because they are either doing chants through the parks or doing cartwheels) but it wasn't a big deal.

I think it's a great time to go. Weather can be unpredictable but this year was great (70's/low 80's).

DVC is popular that week, it can be hard to get reservations. I booked my boardwalk view day by day at 11 months.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

I was there December 1 to 7 (stayed at BWV). I arrived on Dec 1 in the afternoon and went to MK, it was very crowded, probably because the Christmas Parade was taped that day. The rest of the week was not bad, nothing like summer. On Sunday evening, Soarin' still had fastpasses in the late afternoon. On Thursday afternoon, I rode ToT in a half empty car, they didn't even assign seats.

Saw a few of the Pop Warner cheerleaders (you recognize them because they are either doing chants through the parks or doing cartwheels) but it wasn't a big deal.

I think it's a great time to go. Weather can be unpredictable but this year was great (70's/low 80's).

DVC is popular that week, it can be hard to get reservations. I booked my boardwalk view day by day at 11 months.

Thank you for your reply. What is ToT?

I have read on this sight about fights and "Pop Warner houligans". Any truth to that?

I am new to DVC. Bought reasle. Have closed, but not received anything from DVC yet. Awaiting info in the mail, so I can read all the complicated rules you all talk about on here. It sounds very complicated and hard to even be able to book a room. As you said, you booked day by day at 11 months, so that obviously means you own there. Wow! It's that hard to book at your home resort?
I bought SSR, but want to try my first stay at AKV SV studio, so have been waiting for the 7 month window, thinking Sept. when I would get the "best bang for my points". Since everyone else is probably thinking the same, maybe I should just go ahead and book SSR studio?
I also REALLY want to go in early Dec. sometime soon, while I am still mobile (getting older and more infirmed you know), to see the Christmas decorations everywhere---parks, resorts, all of it.
I don't care too much for crowds. I guess no one does. But since I am so frequently cold, even in August with all the A/C everywhere at WDW to keep the hot people from having heat stroke, I don't expect to do Dec often. Just want to see all the decorations at least once, expecially now since I have taken the big financial plunge.

 

[DVC Mike]

I am new to DVC...
It sounds very complicated and hard to even be able to book a room. As you said, you booked day by day at 11 months, so that obviously means you own there. Wow! It's that hard to book at your home resort?
I bought SSR, but want to try my first stay at AKV SV studio, so have been waiting for the 7 month window, thinking Sept. when I would get the "best bang for my points". Since everyone else is probably thinking the same, maybe I should just go ahead and book SSR studio?
I also REALLY want to go in early Dec. sometime soon, while I am still mobile (getting older and more infirmed you know), to see the Christmas decorations everywhere---parks, resorts, all of it.

It's actually not that difficult or complicated to book a room -- most of the time. There are a few accomodations that are limited and thus in demand, as well as a few weeks that are in high demand. For these, it may be necessary to book day-by-day, particularly at the 7-mo window.

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

I've been 6 times in the past 12 years, the first week of Dec, and have never seen any problems with/from the pop warner kids. I have read a few posts on here of issues but I have never seen anything personally, that I would call an "issue" or a problem with/from them at the resorts or the parks. I have seen more problems and/or issues from spolied (dvc and non) kids who believe it is their world and we all just happen to be living in it. These are the kids, or I should say parents, that get under my skin - but lets not go there...

This is, IMO, THE best time to go, for many reasons - christmas decorations, weather, crowds, atmostphere, holiday events, etc. Every WDW enthusiast and/or DVC'er should go at least once during this time to experience the holiday seaons there. It is absolutley amazing.

[ ToT = Tower of Terror (@ Disney Studios) ]

 

[chalee94]

ToT=Tower of Terror at MGM

i went the 2nd week of december this year and loved it. even if you're not staying at AKV, make sure you take time to go look at their decorations, eat at jiko and say hi to the animals on the savannah...

for a december reservation, i would go ahead and book the SSR studio ASAP. then see what is available at 7 months and change the reservation then, if possible.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

Thank you for your reply.

Tower of Terror is my favorite ride. But that has nothing to do with this thread. Thought I would just throw that in. Still learning the accronyms.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

By the way, does anyone know what the checkmark on the left side under rating means?

 

[DebbieB]

By the way, does anyone know what the checkmark on the left side under rating means?

It means you subscribed to the thread.

I've gone that week many times and never ran into problems with Pop Warner. But I stayed at BWV. The real problem seems to be if you stay where they are staying, which I believe is mostly All Stars.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

Thanks. I read speculation (on the Disboards here) about them being involved in the incident at Pop Century, but it was only speculation, and someone referred to them as "Pop Warner houligans".

 

[dvcnewgirl]

I LOVE the 1st week of december we try to go every year. We did this year and had a WONDERFUL time. Just stay away from Value resorts this time of year. Good luck and have fun.

 

[granmaz]

We're new too and just about to pay our total for SSR and can then book. We are planning on going from 30th November(have been these last 2 years and love the time).

Do you think for SSR we will need to book daily, or can we wait till 11 months from the end of our planned vacation and get thbe whole amount with no problem?

 

[DebbieB]

We're new too and just about to pay our total for SSR and can then book. We are planning on going from 30th November(have been these last 2 years and love the time).

Do you think for SSR we will need to book daily, or can we wait till 11 months from the end of our planned vacation and get thbe whole amount with no problem?

Only if you are booking a grand villa.

 

[rigsby25]

We usually go in May, October, and/or January. We went the first week of December this year to see the decorations. I didn't go the second week because my high school senior's birthday was that week, and he wasn't coming with us due to school activities. I didn't want to be gone for his birthday. I was really surprised at the crowds. I know I'm seeing on this board about it not being too bad, but completely more than we usually see. The pop warner kids were there, and yes, its funny, you could spot them in lines doing movements to cheers or something. They are not troublesome at all - just kind of annoying. We especially noticed them at Fantasmic doing waves and generally a lot of yelling - the way teenagers do. If you think back to when you were a teenager, it won't bother you that much I guess. The weather was nice and warm. Its the luck of the draw though as far as weather is concerned. We stayed at AKV, but we did not get a savanah view as they weren't available. I've stayed everywhere except Boardwalk so far and I think I actually preferred SSR to AKV. There are animals at Animal Kingdom if you want to see animals. You can go to the hotel for meals - Boma is so wonderful. But I guess I'm one of those who fall in the "condo" as opposed to "hotel" resort. My home resort is OKW.