How are the crowds second week of December?

[FSU Girl]

I just booked a last minute trip for December 11 and 12 a Thursday and Friday. How are the crowds then? It’s been 3 years since I’ve done a trip in December. Planning to go to Animal Kingdom and Hollywood studios on Thursday and Epcot Friday. Also any can’t miss things to do for the holidays would be really helpful! Going with my 2 and 5 year old.

 

[cattycat2]

Hi! I went those dates last year and attended HS on that Thursday---it was very crowded. I actually did the PP only for HS on that day and I'm glad I did. I would switch Epcot to Thursday and HS to Friday--that will be crowded as well, but HS has more rides than Epcot and if you make rope drop with LLMPs it will probably be a better day. That was my experience last year with the same dates.

This year I'm going a week later ---Dec. 14-19--and I'm also worried about the crowds but I'm planning out my strategy-----rope drop....LLMPs, LLSP, going to 2 parties : Jollywood and MVMCP to hopefully have lower crowds. MK would be less crowded on Thursday a.m. and Fri. a.m. HTH

 

[CoachBeard]

My only experience with this week dates back to 2008, and it was very manageable. But we know that was a different time and does not apply now.

 

[mickeymom629]

We will be there this year during the second week. We are hoping to rope-drop most days and not buy any LL except maybe our only day at HS.

 

[Mle8308]

It's busy, I'll be there 12/9 - 12/16, I try and go this time each year to see the Christmas decorations. I'm at Disney on a regular basis so I'm not too worried about crowds. This time of year gets busier each year, it's very popular with DVC owners. DAK shouldn't be too crazy and the kids will probably love the animal puppets (name is escaping me at the moment), there are no Jollywood Nights those days, so that could make DHS more crowded. The MK has the MVMCP on both your nights, that does tend to make the other parks busier. Now it's not the crazy Christmas week crowds, but there are more people there than the summer months! If you can enjoy walking around and seeing the decorations and getting on some less in demand attractions, you will have a great time!

 

[NYCANC]

We did this timeframe almost 2 years ago for my 50th. It was crowded. But my bday present was VIP so that was very nice but it was very busy.

 

[VAtink]

Went that week in 2023 and it wasn't too bad, more crowded than our September trips, but it wasn't horrible. We'll be there that week this year too, and I'm hoping it'll be similar to 2023. I have seen a bunch of posts over on Facebook about lack of hotel availability that week, but I believe it's the week of the Snowball Express which I think take a bunch of rooms, and when we ended up at the same park as them in 2023, we didn't notice a huge impact on wait times (probably because they're in the park pre-opening).

 

[cattycat2]

Went that week in 2023 and it wasn't too bad, more crowded than our September trips, but it wasn't horrible. We'll be there that week this year too, and I'm hoping it'll be similar to 2023. I have seen a bunch of posts over on Facebook about lack of hotel availability that week, but I believe it's the week of the Snowball Express which I think take a bunch of rooms, and when we ended up at the same park as them in 2023, we didn't notice a huge impact on wait times (probably because they're in the park pre-opening).

Hi! What's Snowball Express?

 

[japanese maple]

Was there first two weeks December last year, it was PACKED! We were so surprised.

 

[Dave006]

Hi! What's Snowball Express?

Snowball Express at Walt Disney World is an annual event hosted by the Gary Sinise Foundation that brings families of fallen military heroes to Disney World for a healing retreat. The multi-day, all-expenses-paid trip provides a chance for children and surviving spouses to connect with others who understand their loss and create new, joyful memories.

Dave