Is December a good time of year for WDW?

[ajjoplin]

I just recently took my DW and 3 kids to WDW...kids for the first time! (DD-6, DS-3, DD-1 1/2) THEY LOVED IT!! We already want to go back! LOL. I was thinking of planning a trip late next year, maybe around Christmas time. But I've heard conflicting stories about crowd levels. I know Christmas Day is insane, but what about the 1st week of December? I'm hoping it works, but want to know what I'm getting into first. Any thoughts? I've never been in December, so any help would be appreciate. Thanks!

 

[Aunt Bee]

I love WDW in December but NOT during the week of Christmas or the week following. Everything we'd heard about the crowds was true plus some. When you have to stand in line to get into the line so you can walk from point to point... Well, that's just a bit much for me as are the loooooong waits for the bathroom, any kind of CS food, transportation, etc.... No fun at all.

WDW really is magical, though, all decorated up for the season and the Epcot Candlelight Processional is so moving...

But if someone offered me a 'free' trip to WDW from December 18 through New Year's day I'd decline. It took 3 trips during that time of the year to convince me, though, so you may be a slow learner like I was.

 

[ajjoplin]

LOLOL! I can understand...Disney at Christmas would be hard to resist. Maybe going BEFORE the rush, like around the 5th, would be better. Thanks so much!

 

[staceyrhood]

The first and second week of December are great ( with the exception of the first Friday and Saturday of the month, that is when they tape the parade at the MK...it is a madhouse there, other parks are great though.) after that....not so much it's beautiful and magical, but as the pp said it is shoulder to shoulder the week of Christmas and the week after.

 

[Kinetic]

We just booked for the first two weeks of December 12/2-12/12.

In just over two months, I can let you know what we thought! We are hoping we made a good decision timing wise and are excited to see the park decorated for Christmas!

Why is the park so busy when they are filming the parade? Is just because people want to watch them film and hopefully be on TV?

Thanks!

 

[staceyrhood]

Why is the park so busy when they are filming the parade? Is just because people want to watch them film and hopefully be on TV? Thanks!

Yep, exactly...and to see the celebrities.

 

[ajjoplin]

Great! Looking forward to seeing how your trip turns out! Hopefully magical....the only thing better than WDW is WDW at Christmastime! (I imagine anyway)

 

[snuggly duckling]

We did 10 days over Christmas last year (12/19-29) and are doing it again this year. It is crazy crowded. But with smart touring plans we had zero problems. We were never in shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, because we were always where the crowds weren't. Rope drop is your friend. Late nights are your friend. The 7 am EMH at MK all week are awesome. As long as you go in with realistic expectations and a solid plan, you'll be fine. It's impossible now, but last year with a combo of legacy fast pass and FP+, we rode Toy Story Mania 6 times on a crowd level 10 day.

 

[mm1971]

I just recently took my DW and 3 kids to WDW...kids for the first time! (DD-6, DS-3, DD-1 1/2) THEY LOVED IT!! We already want to go back! LOL. I was thinking of planning a trip late next year, maybe around Christmas time. But I've heard conflicting stories about crowd levels. I know Christmas Day is insane, but what about the 1st week of December? I'm hoping it works, but want to know what I'm getting into first. Any thoughts? I've never been in December, so any help would be appreciate. Thanks!

The first couple weeks of December are lower crowd levels and we enjoyed visiting to see the decorations and stuff when we went at that time. The closer you get to Christmas, the busier it will get. It was a few years ago we were there, but the lines were pretty short and only the normal long ones had lines more than 15 minutes. I would say go for it and have a great time.

The weather is unpredictable. We were there for 10 days and only had 2 days where swimming was a possibility. It was too cold the other days. Other posters had warmer weather and no issues with swimming. Don't remember any rain or bad weather, just cool temps in the day and got colder most nights. Light jackets and pants are my suggestion.

 

[Kinetic]

Thanks for the info! We're hoping for warm weather but will pack cool and cold weather clothes too!

Do the WDW hotels have a laundry service?

Thanks!

 

[Alesia]

Thanks for the info! We're hoping for warm weather but will pack cool and cold weather clothes too!

Do the WDW hotels have a laundry service?

Thanks!

All of the hotels have self-service coin laundries. There is also valet laundry service, but it is shockingly expensive.

 

[disneyfamilyrep]

We were there December 2-13 in 2012 and it was great! Crowds were low and it was so magical. Check out myfirstvisit.org for a crowd calendar.

 

[pooh4evr]

We used to do the beginning to middle of December when the schools were on a cycle schedule, but they changed to calendar 3 years ago so it took away our perfect vacation time. We LOVED going at that time of year. Our last 2 trips have been in the fall and it just doesn't compare (for us anyway). On our December trips the crowds were great, weather was perfect it was mostly warm, (t shirts shorts ) but we did have a couple chilly nights waiting for fireworks, the Osborne Lights are what we miss most! I wish we could go back at that time- it is our favorite!

 

[ajjoplin]

GREAT STUFF!! I was pretty well convinced before this morning, but after reading all of your posts, I'm definitely looking toward December 2015! Woo Hoo! I already can't wait. Will have to do a Trip Report when the time comes. Thanks to everyone for all of the help!