Let's talk first week of December

[polyfor4]

We returned last week from our big Disney trip for the year- had an awesome time and loved visiting the first week of June. To cure the Disney blues we are planning a long weekend trip December 4th - 7th for my Dad's 50th Birthday!

I have only been during the Christmas holiday's a handful of times but never during this week. Please share your tips and advice! How's the weather? How are the crowds? When is the taping of the parade? Will they extend park hours between now and then?

Also debating staying at POR or the Contemporary??

Any thoughts, memories, or advice from the first week of December would be much appreciated! We are really excited to not only be going back but during Christmas time!

 

[MinnieGirl33]

Crowds the first week of Dec have grown each year. This used to be a set week for us (our anniversary is Dec 7) but, to be perfectly honest, we stopped enjoying it & changed weeks a few years ago.

Is it less crowded than July or an actual holiday week? Yes. Is it low crowds? Absolutely not.

Weather can be unpredictable. We've had weeks in the 70's & weeks in the 50's. Parade taping is typically the first Sat in Dec.

If yoy haven't seen the decorations I would say its worth doing at least once. My personal opinion, they've scaled back considerably but if you have nothing to compare it to

If you are even considering CR I would get something booked ASAP. They tend to fill fast over MNSSHP & MVMCP. (Anything on the monorail line does really but given you can walk from CR/BLT... it's like trying to get BC/BW during F&W))

 

[TowMater92]

The weather can be perfect low/mid 80's upper 70's but it can also be cold. We have always had at least some warm day and we go swimming every trip at night so its never that bad. Crowds are less then other times of year but the weekends can get busy it use to be empty but is getting a little more crowded but still far less then peak times. Parks tend to have shorter days but at least one is usually open later.

 

[boltfan]

We have always loved the first week in December, except when POP Warner football is there. We tend to stay at PO resorts and this was where the overflow of the players and parents would end up. Let's just say they were a little loud and a little rude for our tastes, but other than that, we loved December. We always do the MVMCP and the weather is usually around 60's-70's, but in 2010, it was 30's-40's most of the trip, so go prepared. As to the resort, check to see if any groups will be down there at that time and pick your resort accordingly.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

This has always been one of my favorite times to visit WDW. Is it as "quiet" as it used to be? No. But it still isn't nearly as crowded as a holiday weekend, and you get to enjoy all the decorations and special holiday events.

The parade is typically taped the first weekend in December. I, personally, avoid the MK when the parade taping is going on. Since I've never been I can't report first hand, but everyone has said that Main Street is just a mess, and getting around the park is impeded by the parade taping.

Pop Warner football is often there during this time, too. I think it's mainly an issue if you're staying at the All Star resorts as that's where they mostly stay. I also remember roving groups of unsupervised teenage girls who liked to squeal or do cheers in ride queues. Not something I enjoy. So I would just stand aside and let them and maybe another hundred people pass to put some distance between me and them and I was good.

I love the weather this time of year. It is usually cool by Orlando standards. Highs in the 70s. It can be in the 80s, or as cool as the 50s. So if you're o.k. that you may not want to swim, you should be fine. The pools are heated, but I don't feel like swimming unless the air temp is high. Kids won't care.

 

[nkereina]

We have always loved the first week in December, except when POP Warner football is there. We tend to stay at PO resorts and this was where the overflow of the players and parents would end up. Let's just say they were a little loud and a little rude for our tastes, but other than that, we loved December.

OP - Pop Warner will begin arriving on 12/6 and will be there through 12/13 this year. PP is correct in that they can be a bit of a nightmare. Because they have been changing their resorts over the last few years, I'd recommend staying at the Contemporary to avoid them entirely. They are only a nuisance at the resorts they are staying at, and have no impact on the parks. The good news is that they have yet to be placed at a deluxe resort, so you should be safe at the Contemporary.

Other than that, I would expect crowds to be slightly higher that time of year than it normally would be since we lose a week between Thanksgiving and Christmas, with Thanksgiving falling late. This happened last year and people DID report higher than usual crowds. Also be prepared for intermittent weather. We went the week before Thanksgiving and some days we wore hoodies and others were very warm!

 

[Celesdragon]

I keep hearing people talking about last year having 'larger crowds than usual" during this week, but can anyone give some insight of what that means as far as wait times? How much larger?

I'm curious to know what the standard for this time of year is actually measured as based on the overall crowd? Is the average wait time for this week basically 15 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour, etc for something like, say, Jungle Cruise? So when people say 'larger than usual', does that mean the lines suddenly jumped an extra half hour or do they mean like an hour extra?

 

[dixie368]

Following your thread, since we will be there Nov 30-Dec 6 for our first ever DW trip!
(aka: I need all the tips/tricks/heads-up I can get!)

 

[polyfor4]

Thank you for all of the replies! I didn't even think about POP Warner. We will be at MK that Saturday- wish they taped the parade during the week. I'm going to search last year's threads too but any advice for dealing with the parade?? Is there any way to watch part of it or if you're in the scene are you trapped? Don't think I need to really see any of it unless someone awesome was performing. I'm hoping we can ride a few things but we will be at the Christmas party the night before. It sounds like were definitely staying at CR- I've seen pictures but am hoping it feels more Christmas-y than I'm imagining.

 

[nkereina]

I keep hearing people talking about last year having 'larger crowds than usual" during this week, but can anyone give some insight of what that means as far as wait times? How much larger?

I'm curious to know what the standard for this time of year is actually measured as based on the overall crowd? Is the average wait time for this week basically 15 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour, etc for something like, say, Jungle Cruise? So when people say 'larger than usual', does that mean the lines suddenly jumped an extra half hour or do they mean like an hour extra?

The beginning of December is normally relatively slow - probably 3 or 4 out of a 10 looking at crowd calendars. Last year, it was probably more comparable to a 5 or 6 on the crowd calendar, which is higher than normal and anticipated. I remember the boards attributing it to the shortened time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I'd imagine rides like Jungle Cruise that may normally have a 10 minute wait this time of year would jump to a 20 minute wait. Just a guess.

 

[aimeebarb]

This is when we are going too! We actually switched from a value to share a villa with friends at a deluxe that week - one of the reasons being because of Pop Warner.

Have a great trip!

 

[polyfor4]

One other question about the parade- I've been looking on last year's threads and consistently everyone says to avoid Main Street on a parade filming day. My question is if I wanted to go to starbucks, Casey's or the emporium- would that even be possible? Thank you for everyone's tips so far!

 

[plutotek]

We were there 4 years ago, arriving on the first Sunday in December, so we missed the craziness of the parade. Aside from the temps being quite chilly Mon thru Thurs, we had a good time. The crowds were hardly an issue, as I think we waited, at most, 20 minutes to get on any ride in any park.

 

[LSUfan4444]

One other question about the parade- I've been looking on last year's threads and consistently everyone says to avoid Main Street on a parade filming day. My question is if I wanted to go to starbucks, Casey's or the emporium- would that even be possible? Thank you for everyone's tips so far!

Sure it's possible, but I think the sentiment is to avoid Magic Kingdom if at all possible. If you do go to Magic Kingdom and want to avoid the crowds, avoid Main Street as much as possible. if you do go to Magic Kingdom and go to Main Street on Saturday, expect delays and heavy crowds.

The first week of December is great. It is still a relatively low crowd week (although not as slow as 9/8 - 912), but you get better weather than September. A trade is you will get shorter days, BUT you also get the Candlelight Processional, Very Merry Christmas party and other holiday decorations and events.