Im worried...

[SYDNCLAIRESMOM]

Im worried that the lack of codes for Nov/Dec means the parks will be unusually busy this year the week after Thanksgiving. Im even thinking about delaying my trip till March.

Any one have any info as to why this year is busier than usual?

 

[Tink10]

While it's not 100%, a pretty good way to judge the crowds is to check WDW resort occupancy. I'll go to the major booking engines (travelocity & WDW) and see what rooms are available.

For example, I just plugged in 11/28 - 12/5 on Travelocity & found out that they have no rooms at the CR, GF, Y&B, Poly. All rooms except for King rooms are sold out at POFQ. Almost 100% of the time, it jives with the available rooms on Disneyworld.com. It's a pretty good indicator......

I imagine the lack of AP rates is because BR was rolled out.......

 

[tigerlilly]

We were originally going the week of Dec. 2 thru the 11th and I did what Tink did by checking search engines. It seems for some reason the week after Thanksgiving and this first full week of Dec. are very booked. I am sure the Second week is partly because of Pop Warner. Probably weekends are more booked by locals going to the MVMCP especially since they actually get codes (which irritates me I am paying twice as much for a room and having to pay over $1000 to fly to Orlando!! But I digress
Anyway to make a long story short...or a short post long as the case may be. I ended up changing my reservation to Dec 10 to the 19 and there was so much more available in terms of rooms.
My thinking on the whole week after Thanksgiving being more busy is that Thanksgiving is early this year and Christmas Break for most students is late this year (most not getting out till 12/21 for Christmas break). I think people are more likely to take there kids out for a few days after Thanksgiving this winter because they would still have plenty of class time before official Christmas break started....does that make sense?

 

[think tink]

another thing that i think might contribute to no rooms for the first week in december is that is when they do the taping for the christmas parade that comes on tv. blocks of rooms are booked for the production staff.

 

[WEDWay People Mover]

Im even thinking about delaying my trip till March.

MARCH??? What makes you think that March will be less crowded? You will also pay more for a trip in March, as it is Peak season - many schools have spring break in March.

I'll take the first week in December anyday - in fact, I am! I will be at WL Dec 1-5!

-Joe

 

[Jen D]

Sorry, it makes me smile that when there are really good discounts and promotions everyone worries the parks will be too crowded and when there are none at all everyone worries about the same thing.

I'm not saying your concerns aren't valid.... I'm just saying I think sometimes on the Dis we overthink things a bit.

I would definitely not reschedule for March.... Spring Break!!

Good luck with your trip!

 

[SYDNCLAIRESMOM]

MARCH??? What makes you think that March will be less crowded?

More specifically the last week of Feb-1st week of March. I went down 2 years ago during this time period and the weather was beautiful and crowds were low. Easter is 4/16 this year so I seriously doubt there will be many spring breakers there that early.
I think ALOT of people are deciding to do exaclty what tigerlily says this year which is why I'd rather stay away. I'd rather pay a little more and not deal with the crowds. We went during Jersey week last year and nearly lost our minds. Never again!

 

[tigerlilly]

Syd and Clairs mom maybe you should change if you feel strongly about it. The only reason I say this is if you do decide to do Dec and it is not what you hoped you will regret not changing...make sense? We have our plane tickets at this point so I think we are pretty much going Have you thought about changing dates in Dec. I just checked and there is availabilty at most resorts the week we are going except for standard view at WL (which from all I have read is one of the more popular resorts during Christmas...and we have decided to stay there...figures).
Good luck with your decision.

 

[msmayor]

Easter is 4/16 this year so I seriously doubt there will be many spring breakers there that early.
Never again!

Actually, according to a CM I spoke with on our last February trip the 'spring break' period actually begins right around President's Weekend. Many schools have their spring breaks well before Easter, and crowds begin to swell right around mid February before peaking at Easter.

 

[SYDNCLAIRESMOM]

OK, you talked me out of it. Now if you can just lower the airfares for me I'll be set!
Maybe Jen D is right and since there are no GP codes it will deter more people from that week. Wait...Im over thinking again. Sorry, we just HATE crowds, but LOVE WDW!!!!!!

 

[CBear]

Actually, according to a CM I spoke with on our last February trip the 'spring break' period actually begins right around President's Weekend. Many schools have their spring breaks well before Easter, and crowds begin to swell right around mid February before peaking at Easter.

In this part of Canada we have something called "March Break" and it is (not surprisingly) usually around the first or second week of March.

 

[ECurto]

This is what everyone said in May also when we went. And the parks we empty.

"All rooms booked, so parks will be full"

 

[DisneyFreq]

I've been in May SEVERAL times and the crowds have always ranged from empty to managable. I was thinking about a second trip during spring break b/c my kids break is actually the week before the week before Easter (instead of the week before or after Easter). Then I read that alot of other schools stopped using Easter week for Spring break and that b/c of that WDW crowds jump around presidents day....so thats why we'll be doing our second trip in May.

over thinker......yep thats me...everything's an omen!

tigerlily...thanks for the explanation. That makes total since and I'd not heard that some schools weren't getting out till the 21st. I've heard both thanksgiving week and christmas week are pretty bad so I wouldn't choose either of them unless they were my only option. My kids get out on the 16th, so we're leaving in the evening on the 14th that way they only miss two days of school. I have to say, the schools around her are extremely strict on absentes....so even tho "us residents" get all the special discounts...many of those with kids really can't take advantage of them!

 

[tlbwriter]

While it's not 100%, a pretty good way to judge the crowds is to check WDW resort occupancy. I'll go to the major booking engines (travelocity & WDW) and see what rooms are available.

But you have to keep in mind that with the dining package, many people who would have stayed offsite might switch to onsite. So while the resorts might be more crowded, the parks might be the same as they were last year.

 

[Tink10]

Good Point tlbwriter.....

I was basically saying that's how I check occupancy for my own trips. It may not be 100% accurate if there are special promos going on during that timeframe, but I've always found it to be a pretty reliable way of telling how crazy the parks may be.

 

[DisneyFreq]

L@@K! UG has a website that lists crowd blog ratings by the date. On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being body to body and 1 being no wait at main attractions during peak times.....yeah right!) my first day is a 4 and the remainder of my trip is rated a 5 or 6. Not great but at least its no where near a 10!

http://www.touringplans.com/CrowdBlog.html

And I'm comparing my kids spring break (Mar 13-17) vs. when school gets out (May 19th) and according to crowd levels, I may be better off planning the trip for Spring Break....who would have thunk it? Since they regularly update these ratings, I think I'll wait a few months before I make a decision on it tho.

 

[CharlesTD]

In 98 we went for 3 weeks in Feb for our honeymoon and that was insane it was so busy. We always go the first 2 weeks of Dec now.

 

[SYDNCLAIRESMOM]

I am soooo graeful for all your comments!! I realize now I've been a complete schmuck and I need to just go with it. What I quess you guys dont know about me is that I do this before EVERY trip and then I take my chill pill. Lesson learned and you know what, if crowds are bad-crowds are bad. The "World" makes up for it. Sending a little pixie dust everyone's way!!

 

[tigerlilly]

So SynNClairsmom when are you going in December? You will have a wonderful time I am sure!
Disneyfreq I hope you don't think I at all begrudge the Florida resident rates from my post I just wish I lived in Florida BTW we will be in WDW at the same time...we check out 12/19. We are pulling our DD out of school since fortunately for me if they miss 5 days or more they can do independent study and the school gets their money which is all they really care about.

 

[DisneyFreq]

Oh no TigerLillly...I didn't take offense. Just stating that the the dicount is not always what it's cracked up to be. For instance...they offer the values at $49/59 for residents but at weird times...like Sept and Jan/Feb. As good a deal as that is, I just can't see pulling my kids out of school for an extended period to take advantage (I wish WE had independent study...what a great idea!) We live about 8 hours from Orlando so weekend "jaunts" are out of the question. I'm excited about spring break being so early for my kids next year but I'm not sure I can convince hubby of a return trip less than 3 months after our upcoming one!

I think they can handle missing two days right before christmas vacation starts. Have you seen what they do during the last few days? My experience is they clean out there desks/get the room ready for holiday lockup....have a party and do puzzles/games. I'm sure they won't be happy about missing the classroom party but Disney will make up for it ...right?