How are the crowds NOW!

[Samsma]

Hi! We're planning a trip for exactly one year from today (Dec. 28) to Jan. 4, 2007. How are the crowds this week? Trying to determine if this is a good idea, or should we take the kids out of school the week before Christmas instead. Thanks for any reports!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Resorts are mobbed.
2) Parks are mobbed.
3) Restaurants are mobbed.
4) Rest rooms are mobbed.
5) Parking lots are mobbed.

(Notice a theme her for the historically busiest week of the year?)

 

[caribear]

I can only give examples at Epcot, but it seems that many guests arrived between 12/26-12/27 (spending Christmas at home and then flying out to Disney), so the parks are very crowded. Both Test Track and Soarin' have had 2 hour waits for the last 3 days. It was less crowded the week before Christmas.

 

[Leighannapb]

Take the kids out of school the week before. They can do their makeup work at home during the Christmas holidays. We've done it that way for years.

 

[gottaluvdis]

I have to agree with what everyone else has said. We went to MK for one day one year - Dec 29. That day shall live in infamy - I've never seen it so crowded and would never go during Christmas break again.

 

[k_k_100]

According to a cm who works at Epcot the line for Soarin reached 170 minutes on Monday 12/26

 

[Teacher03]

I am also planning a trip for next December, and I can't decide how long to stay. We will arrive on the 18th or 19th of December,and we were going to stay until the 27th or 28th. But I think after reading this we might come home on Christmas Day. If we do stay, maybe we will go the Sea World or Universal the last two days. Does anyone know what the crowds are like there?

 

[palmtreegirl]

It's crazy!!!

 

[SqueakyMouse]

We just returned this morning and did not find the parks to be as awfully crowded as we feared. Yesterday, the lines to get into MK were huge and the sidewalks were crowded; but, early in the day and late in the evenings, the parks have not been too bad at all. EMH at AK on Monday was fantastic...no waits for anything except Tarzan Rocks (haven't figured that one out yet!!!). Aside from a long wait early in the morning for a bus from MGM to AK, we never waited more than 10 minutes for a bus. Additionally, the resorts were busy but did not seem to be completely full. Chef Mickey's was even taking walk-ups on Christmas morning!!!! We definitely will be returning next year.

 

[Feralpeg]

I went to lunch at DTD today. I had to park on the West Side. There was no parking available any closer to the Marketplace. There were so many people I could barely walk.

 

[froggy33]

We went to Disney Dec 14 Dec 22. The 14th - 17th were wonderful. We had the parks almost to ourselves, lines were so short we got everything we wanted to do done! I think the longest we waited was 10 minutes. Then the 18th everything changed. It was crazy (although I am sure it wasn't as bad as it is now). We saw the Soarin line at 200 min!!! That is absolutely crazy. Because of the experience of the last four days, we will not be going for some time (we have to recoop!) and we will defintely plan even better. So try two weeks before Christmas! It was lovely. I think many schools got out the 18th and the rest on the 21st.

 

[mmeb144]

I went 12/18 - 12/25. It was busy, but not too bad. Definitely plan those ADRs! One thing that I wish we would have done was take an afternoon break. Dealing with a lot of people can be draining. Plan to hit the parks early, then head back to the resort when the parks get bad.

Marie

 

[Otimon]

Epcot was very crowded today (Wed. the 28th) and I'm sure the others were, too. Busiest week of the year.

 

[basas]

Anyone know any of the wait times over the last few days? (or if there have been any closures?) Always interesting to know how the crowds are doing!

 

[LSUwest]

We went to Disney Dec 14 Dec 22. The 14th - 17th were wonderful. We had the parks almost to ourselves, lines were so short we got everything we wanted to do done! I think the longest we waited was 10 minutes. Then the 18th everything changed. It was crazy (although I am sure it wasn't as bad as it is now). We saw the Soarin line at 200 min!!! That is absolutely crazy. Because of the experience of the last four days, we will not be going for some time (we have to recoop!) and we will defintely plan even better. So try two weeks before Christmas! It was lovely. I think many schools got out the 18th and the rest on the 21st.

Froggy,

I agree completely. We went from Dec 11 - 19th and had the exact same experience. Rides with no lines or less than 10 minute lines. It was great. And then Sunday the 18th came. Crowds got bad really quick. We did all of our non ride activities on our last 2 days.

Overall it was great. If you are planning a Dec trip, try to leave WDW on the weekend before Christmas weekend. This was our second time doing it and it was great both times.

 

[SamRoc]

We arrived monday morning. Tried to go to the MK tuesday but it was filled to capacity by noon. so we went to mgm instead, The osborne lights are great! It was chilly this morning but I had everyone up early (they werent too happy with me!) but there are 7 of us so we wanted to be in early. Arrived at 800am and saw basically the whole park by 11! did fast pass for space mountain (which kept breaking down!) and then did a fast pass for peter pans flight. saw the 1230 parade which was great ( I loved the costumes) Ate lunch at the taco place across from POTC ( my favorite in the parks) Crowds were huge by the time we left at about 115 but we took the monorail over to see the Gingerbread house at Grand Floridian. My advice to anyone coming this week, make reservations in advance for dining, and arrive as soon as the park opens. We didn't have more than a 10 minute wait in the early morning and were very lucky! Best part of the day though is my dd lost her new video cell phone in the MK and we found it 2 hours later! With all those people there today that really was surprising.

 

[Samsma]

Tried to talk my DH into Dec. 16-23 for next year, but it isn't working. We always do take advantage of EE and get there at opening time for regular days. Maybe this will work for us next year. Is it staying crowded into the evening and night?

Does it thin out at all after the 1st? Trying to decide if it is worth it to even go. Staying at the Poly at the most expensive time of all, but maybe we should just go and enjoy the parks in the morning and the resort in the afternoon and evening. Keep the reports coming!!!

 

[tysonfamilyof4]

We are going Dec 19th to the 26th '06. Any tips for a December trip?? Any must do or sees that wouldn't have been available when we were there in June?

 

[Franne]

We were in Epcot this morning. Got there at 8 and got everything done by 12 in Future World (We're saving the countries for NYE) We left about 1 and went over to MGM. The crowds at Epcot really started to get bad at about 10-11, otherwise it was great. We waited 10 minutes for TT and MS, hubby got FP for Soaring, so we had all three done within an hour. Worked out real well for us. As we were leaving,there were DROVES of people first coming in, made me glad we were leaving.
When we got to MGM it was MOBBED! We couldn't get much of anything done till about 6, then the lines thinned out due to 6:30 showing of Fantasmic. All the wait times were between 30-100 minutes. We caught the 8:30 Fantasmic, what a zoo getting in there. I can't understand why after all these years disney can't figure out another way to get all those people in there without pushing and shoving. I just don't get it.
After it was over we did Star Tours, 10 minute wait and the Muppets, no wait. Then we left. Now we are deciding if we want to go back tomorrow or Friday....decisions, decisions, decisions

 

[Samsma]

Tysonfamilyof4- You will be there in time to enjoy all the Christmas fun!

Mickey's Magical Christmas Party
Holiday Fireworks
Candlelight Processional at EPCOT
Osbourne Lights at MGM
Resort Decorations
Wilderness Lodge Sleigh Rides
Tree Lighting Ceremonies

But if you manage to get there on the 18th, you would save a ton of money- I believe Holiday season doesn't start until the 19th, and you pay the same rate throughout your vacation as you pay the first night. All that counts is your arrival date. I would check it out if you can do it. Where are you staying?