I thought December was ??

[TDC Nala]

Over the past few years, WDW has become more and more crowded the first two weeks of December (also true in early November, which in 2005 will become resort regular season instead of value season). Folks come for Mousefest (which started out as a much smaller gathering and became a mega-meet just last year and seems to be doing nothing if not expanding), the holiday stuff (MVMCP is extremely popular, and so far the only sold out dates are December 10 and 17, well before the Christmas rush) and to take advantage of the value season rates at WDW resorts. Then there's the Pop Warner competition, which seems to get bigger every year (if you're staying at any of the All-Stars or POR while it's going on, you'll see squadrons of kids, but they're going to the competitions and not to the parks). At least the doll and teddy bear convention has moved out of this time of year and will be held in March.

It's still not as bad as summer, but it's no longer time to kick back and hang in the parks with very few other folks. DVC members already know to book their early December reservations 11 months out or they may end up on a waiting list.

 

[Mommaof3]

We have a trip planned for 12/3-12/12 at the Poly and AKL. I decided this morning to add Thurs. 12/2 and arrive a day earlier. I called and there was a Garden View available at the Poly with the AP rate($230 somthing including tax) and rooms at the Pop Century. I took two rooms at Pop (5 of us) and the total price was $109 with tax. I didn't ask about other hotels.

Melissa

 

[Kallison]

We've been twice the week after Thanksgiving or first week in December and both times it was crowded, the most crowded it has ever been on any of our trips. We've also gone last week of August, mid-Sept., mid-Oct. and January. I've done the Christmas decor trip and we will not go during that time of year again. All the guidebooks post it is uncrowded that time of year and it simply is not true anymore.

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

That's disappointing to hear. This will be our third trip this year, so if we don't get to everything that's o.k. We just really wanted to take dd for her birthday this year before she starts "real school" next year and it's harder to take her out. I have a question: has anyone had any luck getting an AP rate at check in? We're booked for WL the 10-13 and plan on paying the remainder of the bill when we arrive. I haven't had any luck calling (have called several times for months) and I thought about asking when we get there. Has anyone done this?

 

[F1Julie]

Kallison, I think all those books are partly to blame for the steady increase in December crowds. The 2005 Unofficial Guide rates early December as a 1. No other month has any other days with a 1 rating. It's kind of like their theory on early entry - don't go to an EE park because everyone will be there. Well, since that's in all the books, a lot of people avoid the EE park. I'm really hoping crowds won't be as bad as I'm expecting at this point. Good luck to all us Dis'ers who are going in early December. May we have great weather and low crowds.

 

[26555]

General trends have the early Dec crowds growing year by year. This year in particular will be even more crowded b/c of the hurricanes. Rescheduled vacations AND the many tickets given away by Disney to hurricane helpers that must be used by Dec 20th. Too bad the ticket didn't extend into the Jan/Feb slow times but it was a very nice thing they did.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/special/specialindex?id=CFLEmergencyWorkerSaluteOfferPage

 

[purplebelle]

Last year I stayed at CBR around Dec. 4th and the resort was booked (after we had made our reservations in Oct). Anyway, booked can just mean they have set aside a certain # of rooms and they'll sell only those. Even though it was "booked" while we were there, it felt very empty to us.

 

[crow11ad]

Depending on when you are going in December will determine the crowds. Yes Pop warner will be there this next week, but they will be competing. So the parks should not be that affected. THe Christmas parade will be filming this weekend at MK. That should be avoided. Mousefest will start coming on the 9th. So if you are going now through the 9th or 10th you should be ok.

 

[purplebelle]

Depending on when you are going in December will determine the crowds. Yes Pop warner will be there this next week, but they will be competing. So the parks should not be that affected. THe Christmas parade will be filming this weekend at MK. That should be avoided. Mousefest will start coming on the 9th. So if you are going now through the 9th or 10th you should be ok.

Yes, avoid MK the day of filming the parade...unless you'd like to be a part of/watch the taping. We made the mistake of going to MK last year when they were filming. Although, is wasn't by choice. Disney inconveniently notified guests with posters inside of the park (after entering) that filming would take place. And they refused to give refunds for the day even after you want to exit immediately. Not cool.

 

[3M's]

The Pop Warner Football and cheerleading are the the 4th - 10th of Dec, and last year we ran into that crowd for the first time. Very busy. This year we have decided to go the 11th - 17th b/c of it. I got on the Pop Warner website to see when their big thing was so that we wouldn't have that to deal with. We thought about the week before Chirstmas coming home on the 23rd, but what was I thinking - no flights on the 23rd or very expensive since it's 2 days before Christmas! Good Luck planning.

 

[disneyfreakjackie]

Much of the crowd during the week of December 4 relates to the Pop Warner Superbowl/National Cheer & Dance competition. The athletes are booked into the All Stars and POR.

YES, they block out a large number of rooms at the all-stars for Pop-Warner.

 

[Danauk]

We will be there over christmas week (from 21st December - 2nd January) and I am very aware that it will be beyond busy!! So I checked availability for our dates and there is availability in a lot of resorts in each category. Perhaps people will be making their bookings for Christmas week nearer the time?

 

[ccw]

Strange but true...check travel sites other than DISNEY for Disney hotels! I just did a quick check on Travelocity for the Dec.8-12 dates and pretty much EVERYTHING showed up as available. Once I called Disney to ask them how it was that online third party people could book Disney rooms for me and Disney couldn't...the answer had something to do with how they re-sell their rooms, inventory, etc. Has happened to me a few times with other travel opportunities, i.e. the hotel chain's own website will not have availability but the third party guys do! Anyway, these are of course rack rates that you will get but at least you will get them! (Careful though as some require prepayment...read the fine print before booking!) Best of luck!

 

[Terk-1]

December 4-10 is the week of the Pop Warner football & cheerleader competitions. From what I've read, they normally stay at the values, as well as a couple of the moderates.

 

[simzac]

I truly believe that there are only 2 seasons at WDW now, crowded and very crowded. If you love Disney, you just deal with it. I know we will. Just enjoy yourself.

 

[lovethattink]

If you can't find a room, just keep calling. Often times people cancel or change their reservations.

 

[tinkermell]

Hey, did you notice when this tread was started? Nov of 2004. So all of you last repliers, I don't know if any of this applies???? Check is out!