For everyone going or has gone in December

[Not so Dumbo]

We are planning on going the first week of December and have noticed that quite a few others will also be there. I see also that there will be a cheerleading competition during this time. I know that Disney has this time of year listed as a "Low" season. So my question is, how busy do you think or have experienced it being at this time of year?

 

[Otter49]

We are planning on going the first week of December and have noticed that quite a few others will also be there. I see also that there will be a cheerleading competition during this time. I know that Disney has this time of year listed as a "Low" season. So my question is, how busy do you think or have experienced it being at this time of year?

This is always one of the slowest weeks of the year.

 

[Simba22]

It was listed a "low volume" time to visit but the more people that talk about how wonderful it is to go during that time, the more the volume will grow over the years. As far the Pop Warner Cheerleaders, I have been told that since they have competitions during the day, it is rare to see them at the parks. They do make appearance in large #'s in the food courts of the resorts they are staying at (it is listed as ASMo, POR, and I THINK Pop but I'm not sure about that last one) but usually early in the morning (before 7:30am) and late (after dinner time). MGM closes early on Friday of that week so that they have that park all to themselves. Other than that, we aren't expecting anything much different. See you in December!

 

[goofyboyzmom]

We are planning on going the first week of December and have noticed that quite a few others will also be there. I see also that there will be a cheerleading competition during this time. I know that Disney has this time of year listed as a "Low" season. So my question is, how busy do you think or have experienced it being at this time of year?

We have gone this week in December 3 times and it way less crowded then it was when we went last year in October. I am sure that the more people say it is not crowded it will get more crowded, but it is nicer than other seasons.

 

[PrincessV]

I've gone within the first 3 weeks of Dec. every year for 10 years.

The last couple years have definitely been busier that the past, but still one of the slowest times of the year. To put things in perspective:
Back in the late 90's, we literally walked on every ride - the longest wait was 5 minutes.
Last year, the longest wait time I saw at MK was 30 minutes. But we always hit the MK first thing in the AM and we never waited more than 5-10 minutes for anything. Wait times at the other parks were 5-15 minutes any time of day. Actually, the longest wait was for lunch at Beaches & Cream - 45 minutes!

 

[splashmtnman]

We are planning on going the first week of December and have noticed that quite a few others will also be there. I see also that there will be a cheerleading competition during this time. I know that Disney has this time of year listed as a "Low" season. So my question is, how busy do you think or have experienced it being at this time of year?

We are there 11/27-12/6. I know they are filming the parade that first weekend at MK and they have the Pop Warner Group superbowl. I have heard the same that they really don't impact the parks much because of their daily activities. I was freaking out a little when I found out but everyone has put me at ease. It is going to be great!!

 

[gbrogers]

we are going from 11/26 - 12/2 in order to take advantage of Thanksgiving weekend to make the long drive. while pop warner won't affect us, everything i have read and heard says that while value resorts and some of the mods are affected, the parks are only impacted in the late afternoons.

 

[digskat]

Are we going to be over run with the Pop warner kids at POFQ also? I hope not!

 

[Princess Amy]

I went to Disney the first week of December back in 2004. I thought it was crowded, but not overly CRAZY crowded. I do remember that space mountain had a long wait because I never got on it. Which highly upset me. The Osbourne lights at MGM was VERY crowded. More so than the Magic Kingdom. I do know when we went to MVMCP, it was like a ghost town. I hope to go back in the future.

 

[jenjersnap]

We've gone in December the past two years. I don't have much to compare it with other than the first week of February which was REALLY quiet. We've found the first weekend when the parade films is a bit zoo-like and the last weekend before Xmas was very busy. In between was perfect.

 

[northie]

MGM closes early on Friday of that week so that they have that park all to themselves.

Disneyworld.com still has MGM listed as open 9-7 every day the first two weeks of December...where did you see this? Thanks!

Sara

 

[Not so Dumbo]

Does anyone know if MK will have special hours due to the filming of the parade? If so, will they open late, or close early?

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

i went the second week of December and i really loved it. the weather was decent for pants and a t-shirt(a sweatshirt at night) and the ride lines were not long at all. plus all the decorations were really pretty!

 

[handicap18]

We went the week after Thanksgiving last year and I thought it was a great time to go. During the week was very quiet. We used fast pass hardly at all as it wasn't need (Soarin I think was about the only one we used it for, maybe also RnRC). One day it rained in the morning, was clear by 11am and MK was pratically empty. Road Buzz Lightyear 3 times consecutive with NO lines. Longest line that day was about 15 minutes. As it got closer to the first full weekend in December it did get more crowded. We really only saw the Pop Warner kids at MK on Sat night, but I didn't think anything was overly crowded.

MVMCP was AWESOME! I loved the parade (my favorite) and the rare characters that come out for Picture ops and also seeing the regular characters in their holiday outfits. The parades at MGM and AK are also holiday themed and are VERY good. We are currently in the planning stages of going again that same week in '07. Prices are excellent and crowds are very managable (plus we can do MVMCP again and see all the holiday lights!!)

MK was open regular hours for the filming of the holiday parade as I recall. We avoided MK during the day though. To many in our group to bother at that time.

 

[Martindis2006]

Can you tell me how the crowds are at Thanksgiving time?

 

[goofyboyzmom]

Can you tell me how the crowds are at Thanksgiving time?

We haven't been there for Thanksgiving Day itself, but we are going this year!!! Gonna eat some turkey with the Mouse!!!

 

[gbrogers]

I don't think you will be overrun at POFQ; however, I have heard that POR is popular choice with the Pop Warner crowd.

 

[gbrogers]

I haven't been for Thanksgiving either, but according to Mousesavers, the week leading up to Thanksgiving is very busy and weekend is incredibly crowded.

 

[Simba22]

Disneyworld.com still has MGM listed as open 9-7 every day the first two weeks of December...where did you see this? Thanks!

Sara

I was told by another DISer who was there for Pop Warner week last year....I don't remember who it was that told me but here are a couple links:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=782599&referrerid=93883&highlight=Pop+warner

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1203320&referrerid=93883&highlight=Pop+warner

If you do a search for Pop Warner and sort the results by date there are a TON of threads about it.