Heads up on Early Dec Crowd Levels

[ArielsMommy]

We have been going for the last 4 years during the first week of Dec. We go to celebrate our daughter's birthday a little early and it has always seemed to correspond with Pop/Warner and Mousefest. We have noticed that the crowds seem to be getting bigger every year, but they are still WAAAYYY better than going in the summertime. Plus, the weather is nicer.

 

[pjew]

I hope all is true/false.
Meaning that the crowds will be low (true) and all the hype about
it being very crowded is false.

I have been twice before to WDW in March
during spring break - and to me the crowds were
managable - (not low not too crowded)

so does that mean these crowds are better
than spring break?

 

[puffkin]

To keep perspective on things, a crowded day in December would mean waits of 15 minutes for rides instead of being walk ons.

I was surprised at the amount of people in the parks during our December trip in 2003 (much more than I anticipated) but all the rides were 15 minute waits or less. I think once RnR was 30 minutes or so. We got several fast passes that we never ended up using because standby times were so low. Except for the MK on a Saturday (any Sat during the year) attraction waits should be fine.

People just like to fear the worst and get everyone in a panic on these boards!

 

[monty]

And the Best Days calendar still shows that whole time as being really low on crowds. They have greater access to current hotel bookings so I'd trust their estimation.



SHel

I believe a month or so ago the best days calendar was reporting a 5 for crowd levels for Dec 10, now it is a 7.

 

[raven69david]

Well i'm going from 12/11 to 12/17 so i hope it's not as bad as it sounds. Last time i went Dec. 2003 it wasn't too bad at all. It was crowded, but not to the point where it was unpleasant. I hope it's the same this year.

 

[cristit14]

http://www.touringplans.com/BestDays.htm

Hope this helps!

Thank you!

 

[ILuvTinkerbelle]

Ok I am freaking out a bit here. We arrive on the 3rd but won't start touring until the 5th. I got all the ADR I wanted, booking way less then 90 days out, and that includes Le Cellier dinner which I eventually changed to a lunch no problem. We usually go the week after Thanksgiving and it's pretty dead. Last year my friend went the week we are going this year and she said it was dead as well. I THINK we were there during Pop Warner, anyone remember the dates of that for last year or where I can find out?

I hope my panic is for nothing, as someone said it's still great, it's still WAY better then anything in the summer, and we know now never to tour on the weekend.

Thanks for that link going to check that out as well

 

[WendyMichaelJohn]

THe number of people who have viewed this thread. It's a bit higher than usual thread views.

 

[WendyMichaelJohn]

Go to expedia and enter in check-in of 11/26. Check out 12/19. Clearly the week of the 3rd-11th is the busiest week. But on Best Days that week looks great. Anyone able to make sense of the discrepancy? Len, are you here to give us a clue?

Thanks

Shel

 

[wasabi girl]

I've been planning this trip FOREVER (it will be our first time). I chose early December (3-11) 1. because it is cooler 2. Because the Christmas decorations are up. 3. It is less crowded ( I really, really hope) and 4. it is value season. So, It is too late for me to change things now. I'm going to hope for the best and try to remember what my travel agent told me....A bad day at Disney is better than a day at work.

 

[WendyMichaelJohn]

A bad day at Disney is better than a day at work.

What a GREAT thought! I don't know why I'm getting worked up about it. Personally, I like crowds. I enjoy crowded theme parks. I enjoy being there with lots of other happy people. It's my dh that concerns me. I want things to be nice and smooth so that I can start planning our next trip by mid-december.

Shel

 

[wasabi girl]

I'm sending my DH to the golf course...then everybody is happy. And I'm sure I'll be able to talk him into another trip...two PGA tour golf courses in a single resort????

 

[LorlovesStitch]

We are going 11/30-12/6 and aren't really worried. We are attending MVMCP on Dec. 2. We have had those tickets for quite some time. However, 2 friends that decided to meet up with us on this trip were still able to get tickets for that LAST WEEK! So I take it as a pretty good sign that the crowds won't be that bad. We are planning to avoid the MK on the days of the Christmas Parade taping. We did ADRs at the 90 day mark and were able to get what we wanted, including Cindy's. Two days ago I changed 2 ADRs to add 2 more people and was able to do so. We are not worried and VERY EXCITED Doin' the less than 2 week dance!!

 

[ILuvTinkerbelle]

Glad to hear of your experience. I hope that I am worrying for nothing, but I also like to be prepared for the worst and when I get the best I celebrate.

I did check that touring board and the numbers for the week I am there look to be mostly 4 and 5, I think that is not too bad

 

[greg126]

oh nooooo!...just checked the crowd-level calendar and it changed for the times we'll be there upping Sat Dec 10 to 7 (if memory serves it had been 5) and lowering Friday to 4.....I'm thinking I'll have to, if not trash, at least significantly revise my plan and just hope I can get some quality slack time to do so...first trip without the kids and had been hoping to do the start late thing but if that runs me into the 1hr+ waits at peak it ain't going to work.....(and I've seen the postings on the subject but I'm still somewhat skeptical about MK on Saturday)

 

[Belle1997]

Where is this crowd level calander. Could you please post a link. Thanks

 

[ILuvTinkerbelle]

If you go to the top of this page there is a link in the yellow box. The calendar goes day by day through the year and the site tells you how they figure out how the crowds will be.

I am not as worried as I was, I AM going to tweak the tour somewhat, but for the most part we are going to take out chances. I have decided to try and change one ADR over to MGM, instead of MK which is supposed to be high level that day. Wish me luck!

 

[oogie boogie]

DOH!!!!!!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Try not to worry. Everyone said that about October too and we were there Halloween week and I didn't think it was too crowded. I think the free dining plan this past year opened a lot of people's eyes for the need to get ADR's if you really want to eat somewhere.
Just remember you'll be in Disney World! How bad can it be!