How are the Crowds December 16-23

[Mickrzy]

We are taking it really easy this time, we are getting 6 day passes and doing the MK and Epcot each 2 days then AK and MGM just one day. I hop this works. I want everyone to enjoy themselves and each other.

 

[griswalds]

We have been there that same week in 2002. 2003 and 2004. We will be going those exact dates this year. The parks are manageable but get more crowded towards the end of the week.
Here are a few tips:
1. Get to the parks when they open and go for the most popular rides early.
2. Avoid parks with early entry until late afternoon.
3. Make good use of fast pass. You can get a fast pass for one ride and go on other rides while waiting for the time.
4. We always bring snacks like breakfast bars, pb&j sandwiches, fruit and water bottles so we snack on the run. You can waste a lot of time trying to get food and a place to sit at counters in the parks.
5. Get ADRs for evening dinners early.
6. Take time to see many of the countries in EPCOT and learn about the way they celebrate Christmas.
Above all, take time to wish people a happy holiday season.

I've heard about the Santas at each country. Are they on a schedule like the characters or can you find them all the time. I would love to get a picture of each Santa.

 

[puddleduck]

Looking at some of the replies above, I am not sure if we were at the same WDW that they were at.

We were there last year from 12/17 thru 12/26. Every ride, except Soarin, in every park, right up to 12/24 was a walk-on or no more than a 5 to 10 minute wait. The only crowds we found the entire week were in MK on Christmas morning, so we left there and later in the day went to MGM. MGM was pretty empty that night. Fantasmic was only 1/3 filled on christmas night.

This is such a great time to be at WDW that we will be there again this year from 12/21 thru 12/25.

We were at the same WDW as you. We were there Dec. 17-22, never got to the parks at opening and were still able to walk on most rides. We even went to the very last MVMCP and everything was a walk on expect Space Mountain. We found the crowds to be great and had planned to go back the same time this year, but the school system changed the Christmas break to where we would have to be their the week of Christmas-NY (dh and I are both teachers). We went to EPCOT on the 22nd and found it to be fairly empty. We would hop to the MK after lunch and still be able to walk on or have very short waits for the rides we wanted to ride on. At the MVMCP, we got to see Mickey, Minnie and Daisy in Toontown after only waiting behind 3 other families. My kids rode Barnstormer 6 times in row w/out getting off. Getting on Splash only took as long as it took to run through the near empty line. Literally no standing still until you got to wear you load the logs. Would definitely do this week again.

 

[NeverBeen2DW]

I just looked at the "Best Days" calendar, and it does show 10's for all week during the week after Christmas. But will the crowds be down from that from December 30 - January 6? That is when we are going, and are still thinking that the crowds will be awful! It shows that on December 30 - January 6, the crowds will be less than a typical day in June. Can that be right??

MM

the link did not work for me. Can someone repost it or send it to me in a PM. When I clicked it it was a www.******** It was blocked out.

 

[HappyCamperToo]

NeverBeen2DW-- Here you go---

http://www.t*ouringplans.com/tp2/UG2_index.php?PageID=14

but delete the * after the t in touring plans. I think they won't let us post the UG website anymore because Tourguide Mike is a sponsor now. Unfair!

(How about passing on the "blessing" in your sig....)

 

[HappyCamperToo]

I just looked over the predictions on the UG best days page, and they've changed once again for our visit's timeframe! I didn't realize they were so dynamic, but I'm glad that the people who create it are keeping on top of things. I'm going to have to match it up with our itinerary again, and see if any more adjustments are needed. Hopefully no big changes which involve ADR's! I was very glad to see the crowd level numbers have gone down. Oh boy, I'm getting excited!!!