Here now, a few observations

[wdwrich]

DW and have been here at OKW (rented points) since Tuesday, and here are some items to note:

1. Magic bands worked as expected, even with the straight to the room option, which also worked flawlessly.

2. All parks except MK have been opening the gates a half hour prior to published opening time. On a couple of occasions, attractions were also open at that time.

3. Parks are moderately crowded. Rope drop is your friend.

4. We were not given a paper parking pass for our rental car. All parks and resorts we visited scanned our magic bands for access.

5. Though we have been to WDW many times, this is our first visit during December. Decorations are beautiful, and the Candlelight Processional was awesome. We did the CP package and are very glad to have done so.

6. Park buses do indeed start running at 6:30 am. Was out for a run early this morning and saw a MK bus pull up to the bus stop at the OKW hospitality house at 6:32.

More to come...

 

[Dan Murphy]

Thanks for the feedback, should be helpful for others planning to be there soon.

Enjoy the days ahead.

 

[lovethattink]

That's good to hear about the magic band scan for parking. That's what we were told at check-in in June, but that wasn't the practice at the parks. Good to know it is now. Enjoy the rest of your vacation!

 

[matheke]

We just left OKW Friday and we had the paper parking pass for the 7 days we were there. It may have to do with the CM you get at check in.

 

[Disney Khi]

I've been here this past week staying at BW, and we were given a paper parking pass at the gate when we got here. The guard told us to show it for free parking at the parks, but we didn't drive to any parks. Good old Disney consistency.

 

[cgattis]

Wonder if you didn't get the pass because you went straight to room, I.e. no chance to ask if you had a car? Although "typical Disney consistency" is just as likely

 

[larryz]

Wonder if you didn't get the pass because you went straight to room, I.e. no chance to ask if you had a car? Although "typical Disney consistency" is just as likely

Like a PP, we've been given paper passes at the guard shack, and again at the desk (in our Early Check-in packet). Came in handy, as we were in two cars...

 

[Accident]

Some have mentioned if you get a txt to go to your room the packet is waiting for you in the room but I never got one in august when I was there.

 

[*MomTo2Princesses*]

We are leaving today and have been here for over a week. We were not given parking passes either and stayed at AKL and SSR and did not do straight to room option. We checked in at lobby.

 

[Dawn68PA]

We were told at check in yesterday that the are "phasing out" the paper parking passes. Magic bands will be used to access parking.

 

[lovndisney12]

DW and have been here at OKW (rented points) since Tuesday, and here are some items to note:

1. Magic bands worked as expected, even with the straight to the room option, which also worked flawlessly.

2. All parks except MK have been opening the gates a half hour prior to published opening time. On a couple of occasions, attractions were also open at that time.

3. Parks are moderately crowded. Rope drop is your friend.

4. We were not given a paper parking pass for our rental car. All parks and resorts we visited scanned our magic bands for access.

5. Though we have been to WDW many times, this is our first visit during December. Decorations are beautiful, and the Candlelight Processional was awesome. We did the CP package and are very glad to have done so.

6. Park buses do indeed start running at 6:30 am. Was out for a run early this morning and saw a MK bus pull up to the bus stop at the OKW hospitality house at 6:32.

More to come...

How early did you line up for CP? We will be going the 23rd and have the dinner package but understand we should probably plan on getting in line 30-45 minutes in advance.

 

[tmoo]

Just got back. We had parking passes. One rope drop at MK they opened at 9, the other 8:45. We stepped into a Mine Train car at 9:02.

 

[thetallone101]

How are you finding crowds this week? We go this time of year for lower crowds but see the trend is busier crowds. Planning on going this time next year, but if crowd levels are no longer 4-5 then I may rethink it and go at the time of year that works with the kids breaks if it's long lines regardless

 

[bc7ate9]

How are you finding crowds this week? We go this time of year for lower crowds but see the trend is busier crowds. Planning on going this time next year, but if crowd levels are no longer 4-5 then I may rethink it and go at the time of year that works with the kids breaks if it's long lines regardless

We are leaving tonight after being here since last Wednesday. I thought the crowds were very manageable. Things like Candlelight Processional and the Osborne lights were crowded, but no surprise there. We didn't really wait in any lines for rides, which I do attribute to good planning, but the low-ish crowds made it easy to stick to our plan. I will be back again this time next year.

 

[nkereina]

Some have mentioned if you get a txt to go to your room the packet is waiting for you in the room but I never got one in august when I was there.

We did the direct to room thing back in October at AKV and had nothing waiting for us in the room when we arrived. No welcome packet, no resort map, no parking info, and no "Happy Anniversary" buttons even though it was noted on our reservation that we were celebrating. None of it was a big deal, but I had expected it since others have reported receiving it in their room before they arrived.

 

[CynBeth]

At Poly a few week ago we got the paper parking pass at the gatehouse the day we were checking in but when we switched over to AKL we did not get one.

 

[thetallone101]

We are leaving tonight after being here since last Wednesday. I thought the crowds were very manageable. Things like Candlelight Processional and the Osborne lights were crowded, but no surprise there. We didn't really wait in any lines for rides, which I do attribute to good planning, but the low-ish crowds made it easy to stick to our plan. I will be back again this time next year.

Thanks! We've never gone to MVMCP so next year we will do that once and hit the park late, but the other 2 MK days we will do will be opposite to those days and we try to do opposite of the party days

 

[sweetie1996]

We didn't get a paper pass on our most recent trip, we used our magic bands at the resort gates and park entrance.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

How early did you line up for CP? We will be going the 23rd and have the dinner package but understand we should probably plan on getting in line 30-45 minutes in advance.

We were at the CP ON December 1. We did the CP lunch package and had tickets for the 5:00 show. People were lined up at 3:30! DH held our places in line while intimate kids on Soaring. They started letting people in around 4

 

[csmith041177]

Thanks for the update. Boy, I remember a few years ago when the first week of December was the best time of the year to go to the parks. Rope drop was not necessary as all of the parks were clear. Times have changed!