How busy is December?

[bunkkinsmom]

Hi All! I had a tentatively planned 9 day trip with our last day being December 13. Now with the FD promo, I'm thinking of changing dates to our ARRIVAL being the 12th. FD will save us A TON with 2 adults and 2 kids over 10, and one 8 year old. Question is, how much busier is the week before Christmas compared to two weeks before Christmas. For reference, we normally go the last week of January (and that has gotten busier as of late). I want to be able to see the Christmas decorations and the Candlelight Processional, because we have never done that, and my birthday is the 13th....

Thoughts?

 

[Marionnette]

Hi All! I had a tentatively planned 9 day trip with our last day being December 13. Now with the FD promo, I'm thinking of changing dates to our ARRIVAL being the 12th. FD will save us A TON with 2 adults and 2 kids over 10, and one 8 year old. Question is, how much busier is the week before Christmas compared to two weeks before Christmas. For reference, we normally go the last week of January (and that has gotten busier as of late). I want to be able to see the Christmas decorations and the Candlelight Processional, because we have never done that, and my birthday is the 13th....

Thoughts?

The closer that you get to Christmas, the busier it gets. Early December used to be the best time to go if you wanted to see the holiday decorations. Now, it can be pretty busy. The second week of December is the "new" secret season.

If you're used to January crowds, I think that you will see that the 3rd week of December is even more busy. The last week of January is generally 3's and 4's on the crowd calendar. The 3rd week of December runs in the range of 5-6 on a scale of 10.

 

[DawnM]

EasyWDW lists the first two week of Dec. as being low. The first week as a 4 and the second week as a 4-5.

We are hoping this is still true. We plan to go the 2nd week of Dec. this year.

Dawn

 

[disfanforlife]

The closer that you get to Christmas, the busier it gets. Early December used to be the best time to go if you wanted to see the holiday decorations. Now, it can be pretty busy. The second week of December is the "new" secret season.

If you're used to January crowds, I think that you will see that the 3rd week of December is even more busy. The last week of January is generally 3's and 4's on the crowd calendar. The 3rd week of December runs in the range of 5-6 on a scale of 10.

5-6 doesn't seem bad to me, we are going 12/13-12/20. When we were there in November it had the same 5-6 rating and was fine.

 

[Marionnette]

5-6 doesn't seem bad to me, we are going 12/13-12/20. When we were there in November it had the same 5-6 rating and was fine.

Yes, but the OP is accustomed to 3's and 4's. It is a noticeable increase in crowd volume when you go from a 3 to a 6.

 

[bunkkinsmom]

Thanks everyone! Please keep the suggestions coming! We had planned to do 2-3 days at Universal, and we are now contemplating arriving in Orlando on the 10, staying offsite to go to Universal 10 and 11, and checking in on the 12 for 6 nights. I'll check easy wdw and see what it says, thanks for the tip, and more suggestions are appreciated!

 

[disfanforlife]

Yes, but the OP is accustomed to 3's and 4's. It is a noticeable increase in crowd volume when you go from a 3 to a 6.

You are absolutely right, I should have said it didn't seem bad to me because those were the crowds I was used to from when I went before. I am anticipating that it might be busier - but one thing I have learned is that you never know. I was anticipating it to be much busier than it actually was when we went in March this year. I think we got lucky and were there during one of the less busy spring break weeks. Would love to go back that time of year again in the future.

 

[Brittmarie04]

Hi All! I had a tentatively planned 9 day trip with our last day being December 13. Now with the FD promo, I'm thinking of changing dates to our ARRIVAL being the 12th. FD will save us A TON with 2 adults and 2 kids over 10, and one 8 year old. Question is, how much busier is the week before Christmas compared to two weeks before Christmas. For reference, we normally go the last week of January (and that has gotten busier as of late). I want to be able to see the Christmas decorations and the Candlelight Processional, because we have never done that, and my birthday is the 13th.... Thoughts?

I always go the last week of Jan too, usually around the 23rd DDs birthday. But this year I want to see Christmas decor. I have a tentative date of dec 16-22 planned. I checked dad's crowd calendar and it's yellow which means moderate. So prob 5-6 like stated above

 

[firecracker725]

Hi All! I had a tentatively planned 9 day trip with our last day being December 13. Now with the FD promo, I'm thinking of changing dates to our ARRIVAL being the 12th. FD will save us A TON with 2 adults and 2 kids over 10, and one 8 year old. Question is, how much busier is the week before Christmas compared to two weeks before Christmas. For reference, we normally go the last week of January (and that has gotten busier as of late). I want to be able to see the Christmas decorations and the Candlelight Processional, because we have never done that, and my birthday is the 13th....

Thoughts?

We went this past December 14th-20th, and it was the absolute perfect time to go. The weather was awesome, and crowds were low. We rope-dropped every day except one and followed Josh's recommendations (www.easywdw.com) and had a fantastic trip. We did everything we set out to do.

 

[MarlaSingersLaundry]

We have been to WDW for each of the three weeks over the past three years. In 2011, we went Dec 16-23, or the third week. The parks were noticeably busier each day. The last two days were miserably busy. I wouldn't recommend the third week of December.

In 2012, we were at WDW Dec 9-15, or the second week. This week was great!!! Very little lines to wait in and the parks were not busy at all. We choose the second week because traditionally you can count on school football and cheer competitions I think. There are more high school kids there for the competitions during the first week.

In 2013, we were at WDW Nov 30-Dec 7. Because Thanksgiving was late last year, the football competitions were held in the second week of December. While it wasn't really busy, it felt just a little busier than the second week of Dec in 2012. But it was still a great time to go. We didn't wait very long for rides.

Based on our experience, first and second week of Dec are the best time to go. In factoring the free dinning, consider that you will pay full room rate in exchange. Just compare if the discounted rate would save you more. I think every family is different in this respect, just based on family size, eating preferences, and the resort you intend to stay. I haven't looked at the numbers for this, but I would guess a family of four staying at a value resort would realize savings with free dinning more than a family of 2 or 3 staying at a Deluxe.

 

[pigletto]

We were there last year from the 13th to 23rd. It was a fabulous trip and I only felt the crowds and had enough on the last two days. On the other hand, there were MANY threads last year on the Theme Parks board complaining of crowds, waits, lines and disappointment for the first two weeks of December last year.

I think so many people said for so many years that early December was a great time to go, that eventually it became way more popular.

Last year I didn't feel crowded or packed in at all for most of our trip. It was moderate crowds for the most part. It hit 9's on the last day or two.

 

[bunkkinsmom]

We have been to WDW for each of the three weeks over the past three years. In 2011, we went Dec 16-23, or the third week. The parks were noticeably busier each day. The last two days were miserably busy. I wouldn't recommend the third week of December.

In 2012, we were at WDW Dec 9-15, or the second week. This week was great!!! Very little lines to wait in and the parks were not busy at all. We choose the second week because traditionally you can count on school football and cheer competitions I think. There are more high school kids there for the competitions during the first week.

In 2013, we were at WDW Nov 30-Dec 7. Because Thanksgiving was late last year, the football competitions were held in the second week of December. While it wasn't really busy, it felt just a little busier than the second week of Dec in 2012. But it was still a great time to go. We didn't wait very long for rides.

Based on our experience, first and second week of Dec are the best time to go. In factoring the free dinning, consider that you will pay full room rate in exchange. Just compare if the discounted rate would save you more. I think every family is different in this respect, just based on family size, eating preferences, and the resort you intend to stay. I haven't looked at the numbers for this, but I would guess a family of four staying at a value resort would realize savings with free dinning more than a family of 2 or 3 staying at a Deluxe.

Thanks! We are 5 (4 DIS adults and one child) and we really miss OKW. Rack rate for OKW 1BR with free dining is probably the way we would go. It's about 1000 cheaper in November than December. POR is not valid for the card holder discount and I am assuming it will be the same for GP. and we haven't been to OKW in 3 years, we miss it terribly!!! Last year we did CSR and frankly it just made me miss OKW even more...