Help me! First week of Dec 2015

[Egdisney]

Hello! We are planning a trip for next Dec, right now the dates are Dec 2-8. There are going to be at least 6 of is, probably 7. 3 adults,4 kids. (My husband hated Disney, my dad wasn't too hip on it but is now leaning towards going. He loves photography, how could he resist Disney at Christmas?) So with 7, our options would be 2 rooms or renting points for a 2 bedroom dvc. Does anyone have any idea roughly how much a value is the first week in Dec? I feel like the prices I am pulling are rack. If we rent I am leaning toward Beach Club(least points for the location, AK would be less but I'd rather be closer to a couple parks). We went last Oct, stayed at CBR. Enjoyed it but did not enjoy the distance to food court or the few times we waited forever for bus. Also the bus ride was so long, it made going back and forth a pain. I think if there isn't too much of a price difference with 2 rooms, I can talk my mom into it quicker Thank you!

 

[Marionnette]

Hello! We are planning a trip for next Dec, right now the dates are Dec 2-8. There are going to be at least 6 of is, probably 7. 3 adults,4 kids. (My husband hated Disney, my dad wasn't too hip on it but is now leaning towards going. He loves photography, how could he resist Disney at Christmas?) So with 7, our options would be 2 rooms or renting points for a 2 bedroom dvc. Does anyone have any idea roughly how much a value is the first week in Dec? I feel like the prices I am pulling are rack. If we rent I am leaning toward Beach Club(least points for the location, AK would be less but I'd rather be closer to a couple parks). We went last Oct, stayed at CBR. Enjoyed it but did not enjoy the distance to food court or the few times we waited forever for bus. Also the bus ride was so long, it made going back and forth a pain. I think if there isn't too much of a price difference with 2 rooms, I can talk my mom into it quicker Thank you!

There's no way of knowing what the cost will be for Value Resort rooms in 2015. The discounts for those dates will not be available until mid-summer of next year. You guess at the price is as good as anyone else's. Obviously, the rack rate will be the absolute MOST that you will pay.

What I do know is that early December is a very popular time for DVC members and the EPCOT resorts are among the most sought-after because of their low point costs and their proximity to both DHS and EPCOT. If you want to book at the BCV in early Dec. 2015, you will need to line up a BCV owner in Dec. 2014 so that they can book what you want as soon as the booking window opens up for them in Jan. 2015.

I also want to point out that the first week of December is generally Pop Warner football week. They have a tendency to take over the Value Resorts and they are not always the most courteous bunch. If you value a clean food court and peaceful surroundings, you will not want to be staying at a Value Resort that week. They obviously tend to stay in the ASSp resort but they overflow into the others.

With that many people, it might make more sense to stay in an offsite condo or even a vacation home. The parks are not crazy-crowded at that time of the year, so there's no fear of staged closings. You can still visit each of the Disney resorts to soak up their holiday ambiance. And you can still attend MVMCP and the CP if you're staying offsite.

 

[Egdisney]

There's no way of knowing what the cost will be for Value Resort rooms in 2015. The discounts for those dates will not be available until mid-summer of next year. You guess at the price is as good as anyone else's. Obviously, the rack rate will be the absolute MOST that you will pay. What I do know is that early December is a very popular time for DVC members and the EPCOT resorts are among the most sought-after because of their low point costs and their proximity to both DHS and EPCOT. If you want to book at the BCV in early Dec. 2015, you will need to line up a BCV owner in Dec. 2014 so that they can book what you want as soon as the booking window opens up for them in Jan. 2015. I also want to point out that the first week of December is generally Pop Warner football week. They have a tendency to take over the Value Resorts and they are not always the most courteous bunch. If you value a clean food court and peaceful surroundings, you will not want to be staying at a Value Resort that week. They obviously tend to stay in the ASSp resort but they overflow into the others. With that many people, it might make more sense to stay in an offsite condo or even a vacation home. The parks are not crazy-crowded at that time of the year, so there's no fear of staged closings. You can still visit each of the Disney resorts to soak up their holiday ambiance. And you can still attend MVMCP and the CP if you're staying offsite.

Thanks for the advice! I'm not really interested in staying off site as we will be flying and I really don't want to drive and I know my mom won't drive so I would be stuck if my dad didn't go and mini van rentals are much higher than other car rentals, though I am sure staying off site savings would more than cover that.

 

[Deb & Bill]

That week is very popular with DVC members. So if you decide to rent points, you need to have a member in your pocket, ready to book your stay as soon as the 11 months timeframe opens up. Especially if you are looking at BCV, BLT or GFV. You might not find anything for a week at seven months out.

 

[stsomewhere]

Dec 5, 2015 is the estimated start of a week for Pop Warner football at WDW. The values are pretty crazy.

 

[Bamagirl43]

Hi, we are going around the same time next year. The rack rates are a killer, but we booked anyway. You can check mousesavers for a list of historical discounts. However, there is no guarantee the same discount will be offered. I did notice between Dec. 2013 and Dec. 2014 free dining got blacked out for early Dec. Fingers crossed and good luck.

 

[NinaBella]

If you can afford to avoid a value resort the first week of December I would recommend it. The first week of December is the Pop Warner Cheer and Football Superbowl and they always stay at the values.

Best wishes, and have fun!

 

[kerplop]

We went the first week of December a few times and it was nice, but it's definitely gotten more popular and with Pop Warner still there that first week, it's hard to get a discount. This year they had nothing for free dining the first two weeks and it's a lot of the reason we aren't going.

 

[Egdisney]

Huh. Maybe we should move it up a week. The most important thing is to get to see everything decorated for Christmas. This has been a long time wish for both my mother and myself. Not only the decorations, but the storytellers, etc. If we arrive on Niv 29th and check out the 4th and 5th will we get to experience everything?

 

[Marionnette]

Huh. Maybe we should move it up a week. The most important thing is to get to see everything decorated for Christmas. This has been a long time wish for both my mother and myself. Not only the decorations, but the storytellers, etc. If we arrive on Niv 29th and check out the 4th and 5th will we get to experience everything?

Decorating for the holidays will begin at the start of November. Fall decorations come down and the Christmas stuff goes up. By Thanksgiving, all Christmas decorations will be in place with possibly the exception of the Main Street garlands and the Town Square Christmas Tree. Those interfere with the filming of the Christmas Day Parade, which is done the first Saturday of December. I can't remember whether they put them up and then take them down for filming or if they just wait until after filming to add them.

Osborne Family Lights in HS usually go up in early November. MVMCP starts at the same time, so the castle should definitely be "iced" for your visit in early December. The CP begins after Thanksgiving and runs through Dec. 30. The EPCOT storytellers will be there all during December. There's a gospel group that performs daily in EPCOT near the Fountain. They'll be there from Thanksgiving until Dec. 29.

The only problems that I could see with bumping your trip up a couple of days would be any carryover crowds from Thanksgiving still lingering at the beginning of the week (some PA schools have the Monday after Thanksgiving off for deer season). You may also find that there are only two nights that you can choose for MVMCP, if you were planning to attend.