I keep reading that the candlelight processional thing makes
Disneyland busy that weekend...but how busy would you say it is? We went to Disneyland last June and the crowds were crazy and it was mega busy. All long 40 min waits min at most rides. So does it get summer busy in Dec. on that weekend or less busy than that but just busy for Dec.? I'm getting nervous that we are going to have a summer repeat and I wasn't that fond of the crowds and long waits. lol
I don't even think summer crowds are as bad as the crowds in the week between Christmas and New Year's. Those are notoriously the worst crowds all year long. Scary crowded at times! So consider yourself lucky that you are not going during that period! Believe it or not, supposedly, this past summer's crowds were DOWN! This means that what you experienced was probably lighter than it would have been in another summer when the economy wasn't as bad!!
I don't know about the specific weekend of the Processional, but December tends to be crazy in general, sometimes attracting
more people than in summer because the weather is cooler and more comfortable, and because it is just so magical and special during the holidays at DLR. This year, early October was a madhouse, and that is considered the off-peak season!! It could be that it was busier because of all the discounts and promos DLR offered to lure in visitors who can't afford to go during the peak times like December (Disney's hotel bookings are down). So, perhaps, December won't be AS crowded this year because of the financial crises many people are enduring. It is the peak season - more expensive - and many folks simply may not ba able to afford it. OR, it's possible that - dare I say - December could be even MORE crowded than it usually is because a lot of people who can't afford to fly to other places for Christmas and take longer, costlier trips this year may decide that DLR is the place to be because it is closer and (sort of) less expensive. I know this doesn't help you much, but I tend to
think that December's crowds are going to go one extreme or the other - they will either be significantly lighter than previous years or significantly heavier! It seems like 2008 has been sort of unpredictable and has nto followed the typical patterns. I am really anxious for DIS-ers who go to DLR in the first few days of December to start reporting back on exactly what the crowds are like. (Lots of folks have been getting AP's too. There has been an increase in AP sales, I was told my a DLR Guest Services CM. So that could impact the crowds as well. And the IASW ride is re-opening with the holiday overlay, so that will draw in more people.)
But think of it this way - it is still a trip to DLR during the glorious holiday season. It will still be great if you know what to expect and how to deal with it. You will be mentally prepared that the crowds could be very thick. If they are not, then great. If they are heavy, just make sure you have a solid plan in place. Make an initial list of
everything your group wants to do in the ideal scenario, in order of priority or land or whatever. Then, make a 'just-in-case' list as a back-up, with
only the
main things that your family cannot miss and alternate places you can go in DLR when crowds are thick in another area - and keep that handy in case the crowds are too unbearable for you. I find that if you go in with somewhat of an agenda, and use all the tricks to help get the most out of your trip and spend the least amount of time waiting (like dining PS's and Fast Passes, for example), then you can still deal with crowds because you have a plan. You know where you are headed next and you don't have to spend too much time noticing and being put off by how many people are in your way or in line. Keep in mind, too, that many of those lines that 'say' there is a 40-minute wait will actualy move quite fast. The POTC line, for example, zips along. So don't be too intimidated by the posted wait times at every ride.
Have a great time!!!!
