Just back - 12/12-12/18

[snykymom]

Boy, it was COLD! Spent most of the week completely bundled up - long sleeves, fleece, ski jacket, hats, gloves, the works. (And I'm from New England!) Except Thursday and Friday. And then on Saturday it rained! Too cold for Fantasmic! and for Illuminations; didn't do MVMCP or CP.

Anyway, besides that -

Stayed at CSR, which was lovely; had no issues with it.

However, the parks were much more crowded than I expected. We had to wait for Spaceship Earth, Haunted Mansion, and others that I didn't have to wait for in other "low seasons." Not going to do December again!

There were a lot of breakdowns, probably because of the temperatures, but at least one wasn't bad - we got to ride Space Mountain with the lights on, then right away again with them off! Now that was cool!

And PUSH sang "Happy Birthday" to me! And then we hugged!

Food was better than I had expected at Cosmic Rays - the veggie burger was quite good.

Jiko was terrific, as was Victoria & Albert.

Any questions?

 

[WUVmyDISNEY]

We also arrived on the 12th and got home today. I think you and my DS were on Space the same time because he told us the same thing happened to him.

I know at HS on Tues morning I heard, ToT and RnR were down at the same time. We didn't arrive until a little later, I lasted a half hour and went back to the resort for my gloves and the microfiber lining to my coat because I was just so cold.

We missed the start of Osborne lights because DH was not feeling well and we spent time looking for rest rooms. I made a quick run over there to see some of the lights and then we left.

I just feel that we missed out on a lot because of the cold weather. I was just too uncomfortable to spend so much time outside with those temps and wind. We did watch the high parts of Illuminations from the boardwalk one night and it was just bitterly brutal! The boardwalk looked like a ghost town too.

'08 and '09, the same exact week, the weather was gorgeous both times so I guess 2 out of 3 ain't bad.

I am sure we all made the best of it and I know we did get to see some things that we hadn't seen before.

 

[elainesj]

Thanks for the update - it's really helping as we prep for our January trip!

 

[916chipndale]

i was there december 12-18 also. you thought it was crowded? every ride we went on had a 10 min wait or less. except toy story mania but we got on in 30 min at 9:30. test track and soarin had long lines tho but thats just because epcot has no rides. maybe cuz we always go in the summer but for haunted mansion we got on in 10 minutes, and everytime we walked by it was 10 min.we even walked on expedition everest twice in a row and big thunder, and buzz.

 

[mom2rtk]

We were there 12/11 to 12/19. We hit some crazy busy times and some slow times. I think the biggest issues come at the MK where crowds are really driven by MVMCP and the availability of Wishes and the Main Street Electrical Parade. With MVMCP 4 times over the week, the crowds are driven to that park on non-party days.

Monday the 13th was bitter cold, but during the day it was still crazy busy. We try to go in slower seasons, so I've never been in peak crowds........ but this was the busiest we have seen it. There was a long wait for Haunted Mansion and a line for the Tomorrowland Transit Authority! (OK, not a long one, but we got a giggle out of there being ANY line!)

I think we could have avoided the crowds we saw if we had completely followed the "Best Days" touring advice. We didn't because the 2 nights we attended MVMCP really dictated where we wanted to be those days and the following late start mornings.

 

[TLinden16]

I'm going to move this to our trip report board.

 

[michiml03]

We were there from the 9th - 16th I as well will never go in Dec for a few reasons
1- the weather it was so cold we had to leave MK early on the 13th and didnt get to take advantage of the EMH. I know weather is hard to determine

2- the crowds were crazy we waited 30 mins for HM and IASW there was a 60 min wait for PP

3-Has nothing to do with weather or why I wont go in dec but people are so rude we found a spot for the 3pm parade right in front of Hall Of Pres when a lady pushed my 3 year old out of the way with her stroller when I said something she pretended not to hear so now my husband is livid he goes in front with my kid and puts her on his shoulders made sure she was not blocking any1 and the other husband was cursing at mine who couldn't hear which I'm glad but my DD did and she got mad and came to get me but nothing else said Cursing disgusting I'm not perfect nor is DH but you don't curse in front of other ppls kids.

Then the ECV's tey shpuld have to take a drivers class before being allowed to drive one my DD was almost ran over DH had to push her out of the way to the ground then the old man had the nerve to say something to my husband who at this time lost his mind He dont get upset much but don't mess with his family

So glad to be home

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

We were there around the same time! We didn't do EMH at DHS on 12/12 b/c of the cold so we missed the lights that night, but we made sure we were bundled up for Fantasmic on 12/15.

The weather was testing us and being cold made us tired faster. Don't let it bring you down, I'm sure it will be better next time.

 

[LeafsFanNL]

We were there 12/11 to 12/19. We hit some crazy busy times and some slow times. I think the biggest issues come at the MK where crowds are really driven by MVMCP and the availability of Wishes and the Main Street Electrical Parade. With MVMCP 4 times over the week, the crowds are driven to that park on non-party days..

I think you are dead on with this. Saturday the 11th was a zoo at MK as bad as Easter week. I attribute it to MVMCP on the 9th and 10th

Monday the 13th was bitter cold, but during the day it was still crazy busy. We try to go in slower seasons, so I've never been in peak crowds........ but this was the busiest we have seen it. There was a long wait for Haunted Mansion and a line for the Tomorrowland Transit Authority! (OK, not a long one, but we got a giggle out of there being ANY line!).

Bah, it was warm enough for this Canadian Kid I even swam on the 11th!!

I think we could have avoided the crowds we saw if we had completely followed the "Best Days" touring advice. We didn't because the 2 nights we attended MVMCP really dictated where we wanted to be those days and the following late start mornings.

This is, I think where people get into trouble. We were at the parks on the 9th, 10th, and 11th, where the CC said the crowds would be 2,3, and 6. (the 6 was upped to a 9 on the last day while we were there. I still think you need to be there for rope drop, and I still think if you want to minimize parks, you must choose the park with the lowest per park crowd levels.