How busy is it the week before Christmas?

[disfanforlife]

We are tring to decide on our trip for next year. Either December 13-20 or January 10-17 or January 17-24. Our two daughters are in college and will be home then, our son will be in 9th grade and will miss school. It seems that this week has been very slow at school not doing much new things. So, we were thinking it would be a better week for him to miss. But I didn't know how busy it was at WDW?? We normally go during veterans week but our girls can not go then.

 

[bwvBound]

Are you asking if the parks are busy or if the DVC resorts will be busy (difficult to book)?

The Dec period will be very busy with respect to DVC reservations. Park attendance might also be brisk.

The January periods are mostly 'un-busy' for DVC reservations (except around Marathon weekend) and the parks are tame except for Brazilian tour groups.

 

[Happy99]

If you go to the theme park board many people there this week have said that the park crowds were VERY low. Traditionally the week directly prior to Christmas and Thanksgiving are usually lower crowds. Room availability with DVC is a different story though

 

[DisneyDiana]

I am an eighth grade teacher and was just at the park from Dec 13-Dec 18. First, from an educational standpoint he will miss much less important work during this week than he will in January. We really tighten up with the schoolwork after the break. The next few months are probably the most rigorous.
As for the parks, We usually go in June and I found the parks much less crowded than it is then. I have also gone in January and it was definitely more crowded than my January trips.

Hope this helps some.

 

[disfanforlife]

Are you asking if the parks are busy or if the DVC resorts will be busy (difficult to book)?

The Dec period will be very busy with respect to DVC reservations. Park attendance might also be brisk.

The January periods are mostly 'un-busy' for DVC reservations (except around Marathon weekend) and the parks are tame except for Brazilian tour groups.

Both, although I will book 11 months in advance so I am not that concerned with booking.

 

[disfanforlife]

If you go to the theme park board many people there this week have said that the park crowds were VERY low. Traditionally the week directly prior to Christmas and Thanksgiving are usually lower crowds. Room availability with DVC is a different story though

That is nice to know about the low crowds. We will probably book a split stay between our two home resorts then try to change it at 7 months if we can.

 

[wdwlover25]

This past week has been very light at the parks. I really struggled knowing I'd need to take my DS10 out of school the week before break. If at all possible I'd pick this same week again next year! Light crowds and perfect weather.

 

[disfanforlife]

I am an eighth grade teacher and was just at the park from Dec 13-Dec 18. First, from an educational standpoint he will miss much less important work during this week than he will in January. We really tighten up with the schoolwork after the break. The next few months are probably the most rigorous.
As for the parks, We usually go in June and I found the parks much less crowded than it is then. I have also gone in January and it was definitely more crowded than my January trips.

Hope this helps some.

Yes, thank you! That is what I was thinking and you as a teacher confirmed this. One of the reasons we went over Veterans Day was that he only missed three days of school that week. But, our daughters can not go then and we really want to go with all of our kids together! I think that week will be worth a try!

 

[disfanforlife]

This past week has been very light at the parks. I really struggled knowing I'd need to take my DS10 out of school the week before break. If at all possible I'd pick this same week again next year! Light crowds and perfect weather.

Great to hear! I don't struggle with the thought of taking him our of school. I have done it every year for the past 7 years. But, he is an honor roll student, conscientious and rarely misses any school other than our annual trip to WDW. Still if I can pick an easier week for him to miss I would rather do that. Everything became more difficult to plan since our daughters are in college now and they cannot miss school for a trip. We decided to do two trips this year - one we went in November with our son and the other coming up in march with our daughters but we can not swing two trips every year!

 

[bobbiwoz]

DH & I are just getting home. We thought MK & AK were busy this week. At night the Osborne lights were so crowded on Wednesday, we gave up! We had seen them in November, without a crowd!

We'll go again, same time, next year. It gets crazy the closer to Christmas but I do not think it was a slow week!

 

[dianeschlicht]

We usually are here during the first two weeks of Dec, but this year we arrived on the 15th and will depart on the 24th. So far we have felt the crowds were fairly good, but today has been busier than other days, and the closer we get to the holiday week the greater the crowds seem to be. MK was busier than the other parks.

 

[disfanforlife]

DH & I are just getting home. We thought MK & AK were busy this week. At night the Osborne lights were so crowded on Wednesday, we gave up! We had seen them in November, without a crowd!

We'll go again, same time, next year. It gets crazy the closer to Christmas but I do not think it was a slow week!

Thanks for sharing. We will probably try it anyway.

 

[disfanforlife]

We usually are here during the first two weeks of Dec, but this year we arrived on the 15th and will depart on the 24th. So far we have felt the crowds were fairly good, but today has been busier than other days, and the closer we get to the holiday week the greater the crowds seem to be. MK was busier than the other parks.

I would prefer to go the first two weeks in December but for now that is not feasible.

 

[mgrebenc]

We arrived 12/13 and we will leave tomorrow, 12/22. Just lovely, lowest crowds we have experienced in 27 trips. We used to love Sept. for low crowds, but was still quite hot and humid. December is now our new favorite, next year will book 12/6 thru 12/13 to use annual pass.

We got to see the Mr. Banks advanced screening at DHS, we attended the Member Merry Mixer, Welcome Home Wednesday and the Mingle at AKL (no longer offered, I believe), Definitely going in the books as one of our favorite trips.

 

[disfanforlife]

We arrived 12/13 and we will leave tomorrow, 12/22. Just lovely, lowest crowds we have experienced in 27 trips. We used to love Sept. for low crowds, but was still quite hot and humid. December is now our new favorite, next year will book 12/6 thru 12/13 to use annual pass.

We got to see the Mr. Banks advanced screening at DHS, we attended the Member Merry Mixer, Welcome Home Wednesday and the Mingle at AKL (no longer offered, I believe), Definitely going in the books as one of our favorite trips.

That is wonderful to hear! That is one of the reasons I was also thinking about going in January so that we could AP's and then go in December the next year! But it can't be all about the AP right? I think we will plan for December 13-20 and then worry about the next year after that later....

 

[Psychodisney]

What about final exams for your high schooler? My DD14....9th grader had exams this week.. I guess that depends on your school calendar but it might be worth considering.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

We've been here since last Sunday. The parks were very manageable all week. The Christmas party was great Tuesday night. I heard it sold out last night (Friday). It was pretty crowded in magic kingdom tonight.

We chose to go on "best park" days from the easywdw crowd calendars and didn't make any rope drops.

 

[wdwlover25]

We've been here since last Sunday. The parks were very manageable all week. The Christmas party was great Tuesday night. I heard it sold out last night (Friday). It was pretty crowded in magic kingdom tonight. We chose to go on "best park" days from the easywdw crowd calendars and didn't make any rope drops.

I kept telling my little guy to prepare for the crowds since it's been so light all week. We were at the MK last night as well and it was definitely more crowded but still not as bad as I was expecting. Easy front row seats for the special Christmas parade at 3:00 (in Frontierland not Main Street).

However, there was a line for the Peoplemover! A fast line but still a line.

 

[disfanforlife]

What about final exams for your high schooler? My DD14....9th grader had exams this week.. I guess that depends on your school calendar but it might be worth considering.

No final exams until June.

 

[disfanforlife]

We've been here since last Sunday. The parks were very manageable all week. The Christmas party was great Tuesday night. I heard it sold out last night (Friday). It was pretty crowded in magic kingdom tonight.

We chose to go on "best park" days from the easywdw crowd calendars and didn't make any rope drops.

Glad you are enjoying your trip. How long are you staying? We would go for one week. Saturday - Saturday