Hardly any options for December...

[ElleBelle]

DH and I decided to call last night to get some pricing for our possible trip this December 1st-7th. I started by looking online first... but my options were so limited, I decided to call. No Contemporary or Poly-- WL only has a courtyard-view bunkbed room available. No Coronado, POFQ... no ASMu, ASMo...
Thing is, we've been around this time of year before and it was VERY quiet! Is something going on at this time that we don't know about?? Does Disney possibly have a block of rooms that they haven't released yet??
I did ask about a AAA discount during that time period, and the ONLY resort they had available was the Yacht Club-- standard room for $267/ nt. I had never really wanted to stay at YC/BC... but with everything being so booked, we might just end up!

 

[digman6]

I canonly speak on the value rooms you mentioned as we tried to book those a LONG time ago,like last December! they have a big group booked then and I know its not the cheerleading group its something else.

We were able to get POR then for our trip we are going 12/18-26th. If you would take YC/BC even though its not your first choice I would book it and keep checking or you may end up off property.

I think that is also when they do teh taping of the Xmas parade but thats all I know of then. this is our first trip at Xmas time so I know its crowded but gosh itsn't it always.

Hope you get a room you want in the end!

 

[grannyminnie]

I've noticed the same thing about the first part of December this year...in years past, it's been quiet, but something is different this year. I'm hoping the resort doesn't look so packed, if you know what I mean. This will be my first Poly stay in Dec. and it is showing full up online. I'm wondering how hard or easy it will be to enjoy the resort during non-park times.

 

[digman6]

Last minute thought sorry.... maybe everyone is getting one last trip in before we go through the way they price out rooms!

just a thought

 

[AKLRULZ]

The YC/BC are amazing resorts and in my personal opinion above par over the Contemporary, WL and even the Polynesian.

Hope you're able to find something great!

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

The first week in Dec. is the Pop Warner Football League Super Bowl (National Championships) and Cheerleader competition. The teams and families fill up the Values and then the overflow will go to POR and POFQ. Then the first weekend in Dec. is the taping of the WDW Christmas Parade with Regis and Kelly. We were bumped from POFQ last year to WL because of the Pop Warner. The crowds were not bad in the morning but by afternoon and evening the football games were done for the day and the parks got very crowded. My family decided to change our week to the 2nd week in Dec. this year, much better choices for rooms, we're hoping for less crowds.

 

[NancyIL]

I love the Epcot resort area, so I would choose the Yacht Club over the Poly/Contemporary any day. At holiday time, I spend most of my time at Epcot and MGM - and both are within walking distance of an Epcot resort.

 

[grannyminnie]

Oh, forgot about Pop Warner! Anyone out there have the exact dates of that?

 

[mickey2minnie1]

The first week in Dec. is the Pop Warner Football League Super Bowl (National Championships) and Cheerleader competition. The teams and families fill up the Values and then the overflow will go to POR and POFQ. Then the first weekend in Dec. is the taping of the WDW Christmas Parade with Regis and Kelly. We were bumped from POFQ last year to WL because of the Pop Warner. The crowds were not bad in the morning but by afternoon and evening the football games were done for the day and the parks got very crowded. My family decided to change our week to the 2nd week in Dec. this year, much better choices for rooms, we're hoping for less crowds.

Thanks for sharing such valuable info!

 

[helenabear]

I've found the first week of Dec is not near as tranquil as it used to be. So much so that we changed our reservations last year to the F&WF instead of the 1st week of December. I don't regret it at all as the crowds felt much the same to me. So I am not shocked that you are running into that. Don't forget to also look into the Swan and Dolphin too. I love being in that area if I can.

Pop Warner will be from Dec 1-8
http://disneyworldsports.disney.go....arnerSuperBowlEventInfoEventDetailPage&bhcp=1

 

[raven69david]

I think everyone's catching on to the fact that the first 2 1/2 weeks of December are relatively quiet, in terms of Disney theme park attendance and the rates are considered "value" season. These are the two main reasons we stay there during this time of the year, not to mention that it's the most beautiful & wonderful time of year to go, IMO.

 

[grannyminnie]

ITA that it's the most wonderful time of the year (hehe) to go, with the resort decorations, and Osborne lights, etc. We will definitely avoid MK when they are taping the parade! Been there, done that, and unless I'm sitting up there with Reg and Kelly, it's not worth it!!

 

[KelleyGirl]

I have to admit, I'm one of those people who "caught on" and planned our first trip to Disney at Christmas time, chosing the 2nd week for a long weekend, the 6th-10th. We booked our rooms a while back and didn't have a problem, but I've since had problems getting any dining choice I tried. We got some, but they were all our second choices. We couldn't get: Liberty Tree Tavern, Le Cellier (with or without Candlelight Procession package), Hollywood Brown Derby for Fantasmic.

I was a little discouraged by that, but I'm still hoping the crowds will be calmer than what I've seen in July and August, when we usually go.

Also, I'm pretty sure the Pop Warner dates are Dec 2-8.

 

[imatoad]

We found the same thing through AAA, we originally wanted the Poly for 12/8-11 and no Garden View available, even the TA was surprised as this is typically a slow period. We opted for WL courtyard view and we are very excited as we've never stayed there before. Sounds like there really isn't a slow time at Disney anymore.

 

[cobbler]

Also mousefest is going on at that time too. DVC members really go during that time.

That week after Thanksgiving through the first week of December isn't nearly as quiet as it used to be. And I don't forsee it getting any better.

 

[ElleBelle]

My family decided to change our week to the 2nd week in Dec. this year, much better choices for rooms, we're hoping for less crowds.

Thanks, all for the responses. I had totally forgotten about Pop Warner (ugh...) and the taping of the Xmas parade. Does anyone know exactly when the taping will be??

mom2taylorandemily... I'm thinking we're going to do much of the same thing... maybe we're looking at the 8th-14th instead.

 

[brandijo5]

I know Pop Warner is going on, but also CP singers are put up in the value hotels as well.

 

[YCFAN]

I spent Dec. 10-14 2006 at YC. It was beautiful and I really liked being able to walk into Epcot and see all the beautiful Christmas decorations at night. It was a quick trip over to MGM Studios for the Osbourne Lights too!!

 

[Dis Ohana]

Does anyone know how the crowd level is in the parks around mid December? I wonder if it's just the resorts that are full. I'm pulling the kids out of school a week early just so we could avoid the crowds! I can't imagine that Pop Warner would really affect anyone except a few of the values.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

We must have really lucked out - just last week booked 11/30 - 12/4 (4 ngts) WL Courtyard view at AAA rate through our Disney TA (also available when I called CRO).

We had choice of BWI, BC, AKL, POFQ or POR.

Made loads of ADR's and got every time requested. We were surprised.

Don't forget Mousefest is also happening 12/6 - 12/11. Although do not think it would make a huge dent in room availability, some Disney Travel Agencies hold a block of rooms at discounted rates. These rooms will be released after the booking deadline.

We're seriously considering MVMCP on Sunday, Dec 2 - weekends are usually not a good night to go, but hoping a Sunday will be okay.