how crowded dec 11-18

[chrissyb2411]

Title says it. I keep reading to expect heavy crowds the week before christmas, should I assume this means the week leading up to Chirstmas (which is a friday), or the week of dec 11-18 which is the week before christmas week? My oldest is in kindergarten this year and I thought the 11-18 would be fun with all the holday stuff going on. But honestly we are flexible. We could go a week earlier, or wait and go in late Feb like we did before. What do you think? I remember last time I booked I had found a chart that showed peak and off peak sort of visiting times, any such thing still exsist?

 

[shancan911]

That's the exact days my family will be there, on a suggestion from my DSIL. She says it's quite possibly the best week during the holiday season. AND...we should be there when they tape the parade???? I'll be watching this thread for others input as well. Maybe we'll see ya there!

 

[Bete]

except for the 17th and 18th; because, that's when school vacations start for the holiday. It still won't be bad these days, but I would avoid MK for those two days.

If you don't know it yet please be aware you can get free dining this week for your family if you get a Disney package deal (room and at least 2 day park tickets) at full price. That should tell you right there it's not crowded this week or Disney wouldn't have this promo. It's one of the most popular promos around for Disney. If you stay at the values you get the Quick service plan free and if you go moderate or deluxe resorts you can get the deluxe plan for free. You can upgrade to the deluxe dining plan if you go value resort for like $10/adult per day.

We went the last two years at this time and it's great. I haven't decided if we are doing it this year or not yet. We did value resort with the dining upgrade for $10/per adult per day.

 

[starstruck93]

This is by far one of the best weeks to go. We went this same week last year and I was so impressed with the low crowds and the temperature that we're going back this year (your exact same dates too! ) . Pop Warner leaves on the 12th and the "Christmas crowd" starts to arrive around the 20th-21st. You'll have so much fun! We're going to the MVMCP on the 14th. Have a great trip! April

 

[chrissyb2411]

except for the 17th and 18th; because, that's when school vacations start for the holiday. It still won't be bad these days, but I would avoid MK for those two days.

If you don't know it yet please be aware you can get free dining this week for your family if you get a Disney package deal (room and at least 2 day park tickets) at full price. That should tell you right there it's not crowded this week or Disney wouldn't have this promo. It's one of the most popular promos around for Disney. If you stay at the values you get the Quick service plan free and if you go moderate or deluxe resorts you can get the deluxe plan for free. You can upgrade to the deluxe dining plan if you go value resort for like $10/adult per day.

We went the last two years at this time and it's great. I haven't decided if we are doing it this year or not yet. We did value resort with the dining upgrade for $10/per adult per day.

Thank you! You answeared my second question without asking it, lol. We stayed at port orleans riverside last time, but this year DS will be old enough to "count" so to speak, and money is going to be a bit tighter. But we realy enjoyed the dining plan last time. I was going to upgrade to a moderate to get full dining plan, but now maybe not! Thanks!

 

[Disney_Trippin]

I'm going from the 11-17! According to touringplans.com's crowd calendar (which is probably what you are remembering) there are very low crowds during this week. I got the email for the free dining plan which is what solidified it for me! I had never used the dining plan before so let me share what my research revealed...

If you stay at a value resort you get two counter service meals per day. At a moderate resort you get a counter and a sit down per day. The thing is, not everyone wants to schedule a sit down meal every day. Most of the time there needs to be a reservation. If you are really into character dining, then the traditional plan (that you get with a moderate hotel) is better. If not, to save money just go with a value resort and the two counter service meals per day (it also includes 2 snacks per day). And at a deluxe resort you get two sit down meals per day, and almost every review I read said that it was too much food, and took too much time away from parks, so I definitely wouldn't upgrade to the deluxe dining plan.

Just my two cents, maybe i'll see you there

 

[DisneyBill85]

This is the time frame my wife and I are meeting friends there too! Cannot wait. They're in the Vacation club so we are staying with them in OKW. Looking forward to trip with few crowds for once.

 

[g-dad66]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2504497
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2507031
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2509764
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2509723
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2509988

 

[GatorLady]

That's the exact days my family will be there, on a suggestion from my DSIL. She says it's quite possibly the best week during the holiday season. AND...we should be there when they tape the parade???? I'll be watching this thread for others input as well. Maybe we'll see ya there!

We are looking to go the same time as you are as well. But just so you know, historically they tape the parade earlier, usually the first weekend in December. That's one of the reasons I'm not going earlier, I'm actually trying to avoid the parade taping weekend.

 

[wmharley]

The saturday before Chirstmas of that week usually kicks off the high rate season, which this year is the 18th. So if you checkout then, you should be ok, unless the 17th kicks the high season..

However, that week, the 1st full week before the Christmas week is nice. Cool weather, low crowds.

We usually try to escape for a few days at that time. You will still see all the Christmas decorations and the Osborne lights at DHS...

 

[Tina1]

Wonderful week to go. We went last Dec the week before Christmas and loved it. Was there third week of May this year and was much more crowded then Dec. Tina

 

[RMulieri]

We went the 12-19th last year...Low low crowds till about the 18th , than it got busy

 

[chrissyb2411]

Thanks everyone. I really think I want to go this week. We were tentativly going to try to go with sil's family. She says they definatly can't go that week, but maybe would go at the end of march. Now the dilema, do I hold off booking for us and loose free dining on the maybe chance that they will meet us there? Ugh, I really don't want to, but DS was so looking forward to other kids to play with. hmmmm......

 

[snykymom]

That's the exact days my family will be there, on a suggestion from my DSIL. She says it's quite possibly the best week during the holiday season. AND...we should be there when they tape the parade???? I'll be watching this thread for others input as well. Maybe we'll see ya there!

Taping the parade is the week before (Dec. 1-4, I think?).

 

[mom2rtk]

Ssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

Quit telling everyone! This is the BEST week!!!

Still low crowds.... FULL Christmas spirit........... the LULL before the STORM of the true Christmas crowds.

The only down part is that any of the Christmas parties have the potential to sell out.

 

[skier_pete]

We were there that week last year (Dec 12-20). Crowds were moderate, but I wouldn't put them as low as...say...September. In fact, I was surprised it was as busy as it was, but it still was not really bad. A lot of adults only groups by my observations, not as many kids.

The crowds really showed up on the Saturday before Christmas (last year this was December 19th) it was VERY VERY Crowded in MK (not so bad early in the day at AK).

Edited: Temperatures swung from 85 to 35 F, so pack accordingly.

 

[Mamu]

We went about this time a few years. Parks were not that crowded. My only complaint was how cold it was, days 50's nights 30'. Those were the temps back home.

I had checked the 10 day forecast and repacked my luggage, gloves, hat, boots and warm clothing. I never took of my leather coat off during the day and wore my winter coat over my leather in the evening.

We still had a great time and in the evenings the parks were very quite.

 

[wmharley]

Ssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

Quit telling everyone! This is the BEST week!!!

Still low crowds.... FULL Christmas spirit........... the LULL before the STORM of the true Christmas crowds.

The only down part is that any of the Christmas parties have the potential to sell out.

considering most folks at least here, are still in school part of that week, and semester finals for most kids, it still won't get that crwoded.

We were there that week last year (Dec 12-20). Crowds were moderate, but I wouldn't put them as low as...say...September. In fact, I was surprised it was as busy as it was, but it still was not really bad. A lot of adults only groups by my observations, not as many kids.

The crowds really showed up on the Saturday before Christmas (last year this was December 19th) it was VERY VERY Crowded in MK (not so bad early in the day at AK).

Edited: Temperatures swung from 85 to 35 F, so pack accordingly.

Must not go on the same Septembers because in Dec when I go, its usually pretty quiet. this last yr i remember even low times of 20minutes for TSM and other rides.

 

[skier_pete]

Must not go on the same Septembers because in Dec when I go, its usually pretty quiet. this last yr i remember even low times of 20minutes for TSM and other rides.

I cannot compare when you were there, only compare our visits. We went this same week in December 2009, also end of August 2008, end of September 2007. Of the three, the December 2009 crowds were the highest. (Remember they added FD last year at this time.) This is not saying they were terrible mind you, we rarely waited more than 10 minutes for anything. But there were definitely a lot more people around. The AM we did TSM we got on no problem, but did it at rope drop. The night we did the Osborne lights was quite honestly the busiest I've ever seen DHS, though this WAS a Sunday night with EMH. This is the only time I've ever left a park because it was too crowded.

We also were there the end of April this year, and I thought THAT was less crowded than the December trip. Again, I am not saying it was bad (unless we are talking by Saturday the 19th - that was crowded!). I'm comparing non-empirically the crowds as we walk through the park, and there were more people around in December than any of those other trips.

I am not saying this to discourage the OP - I would highly recommend that week as a week to go to enjoy the Christmas festivities. The reason we went was that we could go on the Saturday (the 19th last year, the 18th this year) and see all the Christmas stuff from MVMCP at MK for no extra charge - this is the day they start running the parade, the stage shows, and the fireworks as the REGULAR shows. This is also why it was crowded, but it saved us spending $200 on MVMCP, and we got to see most of the same things.

 

[916chipndale]

im also wondering this. we might be going december 5-11 or december 12-18. probably 12-18 to avoid pop warner especially if we cant afford the WL and stay at POR or All stars so we dont have to deal with themm. sounds like a great time to go compared to mid july like we always go.