How are crowds in early Dec?

[disneymom0104]

I am thinking of changing our hotel dates from the end of Oct. to early Dec. We would lose the Retro rate at the Hojo, but it is really only about $50 more total (over 7 nights) to not pay the Retro rate but get the 15% discount with the Ent. card. After reading BTMR, Indiana Jones, maybe Alice in Wonderland, likely IASW (we might get it one day before they close it) will be closed I am thinking we should go at a different time. If nothing else, we would get IASW in early Dec. We were there last year for Halloween, so I would love to see the Christmas decorations (that was actually my original plan until I saw those Hojo Retro rates!) I know nothing is set in stone with the rehabs- but just curious to know how crowd levels typically are the first week in Dec.?

I am still a member of Touring plans, which I did not find to be very accurate last year- but they are saying 1's, 2's and 3's for the end of Oct. and 5's and 6's for the first week in Dec.

Only downside is having to wait 5 more weeks to go! (and I guess a larger chance of bad weather since we would be driving from CO)

 

[llump41]

I think it is the best time to go. Crowds in the past have been very manageable. If you've already done Halloween the do Christmas. The earlier in Dec. The better!

 

[Liat]

We went this last December, well actually two days in November and then until the 4th of December.

We had a great time. The weekend crowds sucked, but the rest of the time was really manageable. (We actually got stuck on main street just before the fireworks on a weekend. Like couldn't move at all stuck)

All the decorations were up and Santa was about and the Christmas music was really cool to listen to.

We are planning a trip for the same time next year as we had such a good time. That and the closures tend to be much lighter just before a busy time (like Christmas).

 

[Eeee-va]

I think it's likely that weekday crowds will be pretty good (compared to a summer visit I found weekday crowds amazingly small!). I think weekend crowds will probably be oppressive, unless it rains like it did when we went in 2009. I believe there are Cast Member parties on a Monday and Tuesday in this period (either the 3rd and 4th or 10th and 11th, I think?)--Disneyland park will close early those days.

Have a great trip!

 

[Poohs100AcreWood]

Crowds are manageable. My birthday is Dec. 3 and I go every year. The only thing is the Candlelight Processional, which is usually the first weekend of Dec. every year, and the CM parties, which is a Monday and Tuesday.

 

[8timesblessed]

We went Dec 8-12 and it was busy but manageable. It was nice because the park was open til midnight everynight we were there. Sunday night things weren't as crowded. Were taking all our kids this year at the beginning of December for 8 days!

 

[disneymom0104]

Thanks for the info! We would likely be in the parks for 6 days- from a Sun-Fri so we would get some of the lower crowds. I still haven't decided for sure, but I am definitely leaning towards it.

 

[Geemo]

We've been right after New Years. The decorations were still up and the crowds didn't clear until mid week. It was BUSY!

 

[Rainasunshine]

We went the 13-17th and the park was pretty much deserted. So deserted for those days we were able to go on rides over and over and over again with most wait times being 5 min or less. I kid you not And the only time we ever used FP was for Soarin' and Screaming, which we really did not end up needing since we rode that 3 times in a row with no wait The only busy day was the 17th which happened to be a saturday so it was expected. By going that week we missed the CP and only had to leave early for the CM party the first night, which was fine since we got to watch WOC and visit all of the hotels and DTD shops

 

[BeckWhy]

After reading BTMR, Indiana Jones, maybe Alice in Wonderland, likely IASW (we might get it one day before they close it) will be closed I am thinking we should go at a different time.

Where did you see that these attractions will be closed? If this is the case, I need to start planning my trip for another time!

 

[disneymom0104]

Where did you see that these attractions will be closed? If this is the case, I need to start planning my trip for another time!

Nothing is set in stone, and no exact dates have been released yet, but this article talks about what will likely be down in the fall:
http://miceage.micechat.com/allutz/al022112a.htm

IASW always goes down at the end of Oct. for a few weeks to get the Christmas makeover

 

[C&B Young]

Thanks for the info! We would likely be in the parks for 6 days- from a Sun-Fri so we would get some of the lower crowds. I still haven't decided for sure, but I am definitely leaning towards it.

We're planning the same, Sun-Fri the 2nd week in December. Opted for the 2nd week over the first because historically the park hours expand, more WOC & Fantasmic showings, etc.

 

[BeckWhy]

Nothing is set in stone, and no exact dates have been released yet, but this article talks about what will likely be down in the fall:
http://miceage.micechat.com/allutz/al022112a.htm

IASW always goes down at the end of Oct. for a few weeks to get the Christmas makeover

I knew about the It's A Small World at the end of October. We'd be there early enough to just miss it. But Alice in Wonderland and Indiana Jones? I don't know if I can handle that! They don't have those in WDW! HA

Essentially I'm going for Cars Land. I never even considered going to Disneyland until they announced it. But after doing some research, the beginning of December does look decent. I mean, in previous years, no closures. We are going to be there for five days, so plenty of time to do a lot, if it's busier.

I guess there are several things that pointed me to go during October (one being I work in retail, and they won't let me have time off after Thanksgiving).



How about this? What's the weather like in December? Is it cold?

 

[BeckWhy]

I finally just read the article. Sounds like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Alice are going to be out for a long time. Maybe I should plan my trip to Universal Orlando this year and Disneyland next.