Mixed Messages About December

[brooke1]

I'm have ressie's for December 4 thru 10, and really torned on what to do.

I have read all i can read when i search about december half of the dis's say december is not to crowded and and the other half say it was crowded, and i am talking about the first week in december only.

I would like to hear from people that went say last year on the first week of dec and get your thoughts on it.

Thanks
brooke

 

[Quinn222]

I was there first week of December last year and will be again this year. It was fine. Lower crowd levels than when I went in April, maybe a bit more crowded than at the end of January.

 

[BlindTyldak]

I didn't go last year in December, but my experience when I was there during the first week of December sounds pretty typical from everything I've read here. You may see really dead days, and you may see very crowded days. Three out of four days were very slow when we were there at that time, and one day was quite crowded (midweek in MK, MVMCP that night). If you are prepared to park hop I would think it would not be a problem.

 

[Viki]

It's crowded. We were just there Dec 3-10 2005 and, believe me, it's crowded.

But the thing is we all have different definitions of crowded

I think crowded is when I can't walk onto a ride after a maximum wait of 10 minutes. Other folk have wayyyyyy more patience (mine was blown by the age of 14, after ushering the 10th group of northern relatives through the MK in 100 degree heat and 2-hour lines/attraction).

Plus, if you have a strategy you can survive just about any WDW capacity.

But, all that said, will you see lots and lots of people that first week in December? You bet, with some major attractions having 2-hour wait times and some fast passes gone for the day by noon.

 

[always quiet]

I will admit that the first week of Dec is somewhat more crowded than it used to be with the Pop Warner football and the cheerleaders being there, but it is not so bad that I am not going again this year!! You'll notice more people (kids!) there later in the day after the competitions and practices are over. I really only noticed an increase in crowds at MK.

Like I said........we're coming back (so you can add 8 more to the crowds! )

 

[Walt1967]

My DW, DD, and myself will be there Dec. 4 - 10th also !

 

[4mcbjCtr]

We went the first week in December last year. I thought the crowds were very reasonable. I am one of the people who doesn't like to wait longer than 20 minutes for a ride too. I thought the only place that was a nightmare to be was Epcot. Down in the International World, you could barely move around. Everyone was checking out the Candlelight Processional and all the Christmas events going on around the world.

 

[HayGan]

We were there the first week in December last year and will be there the same week again this year. We thought the crowd levels were extremely light and had no problems with the Pop Warner kids. The only time we really noticed an increase in crowd levels was during EMH nights at MK and Epcot.

To each their own but we love the first week in December

 

[handicap18]

We were there 11/30 - 12/5 in 2005. Crowds were very light. Longest wait we had was 15 minutes and that was for Indy Cars. Most rides we walked right onto like Buzz (3 times in a row), Haunted House, IASW, RnRC, even the Safari at AK was less than a 15 minute wait. I think we used FP only once or twice (one time for Sorain, not sure of any others). In fact a lot of times during the week a lot of the Fast Passes weren't even open, there was no need to have it. The weekend got a little more crowded as the Pop Warner kids were around, but still nothing compared to Apr, May and Jun.

 

[brooke1]

thank you all, I'm feeling much better now...

 

[taxmom04]

We were there last year from Nov. 28-Dec.4. I agree with handicap13,
we had very small crowds at the beginning of the week but thought MK was crowded on Fri. and Sat. They were filming the Christmas parade then though. Have a good plan and you'll be fine.

 

[seven dwarfs]

We have been to Disney each Dec since 2002. Last year we were there Thanksgiving day (did not go to park first day) until Dec 16. We stayed at the campground which was the busiest ever. No spots open. It was very busy. The waits were longer then 20 mins for sure. My kids are young so we do a lot of the younger kiddy rides. We did do the mtns with one of my sons a couple of times. It just seems to get worse and worse each year. Downtown Disney was so bad you could not walk. I waited in line at the World of Disney for 1.5 hours. My husband waited outside with the kids because it was so packed. The lines were wrapped all around. The only reason I did this was because they had lots of end of year stuff 50% off. I did not even get my lotion from Basin because we just could not stand all the people. One Sat in MK we did not even stay for the parade. It was so busy that you could not walk. I did not see line waits that were 2 hours except Soarin and turtle talk. But I would say average of 45min+. I love this time of year. I really hope one day it is slow again. Our family is looking for our 'new Dec' and trying Sept. I will say the decorations are so awesome in Dec. It is a great feeling to hear the music and see the lights, but just getting busier and busier each year. Long gone the 10 min waits and low crowds during fireworks. We will sure miss those days. But, I have also heard this about Disney in general, people are traveling more and more.

 

[Wengino]

We've been the first two weeks of Dec. three times in the last 5 years. If you want to find crowds, you can do that. If you want to be at the quietest park on a given day, at rope drop, with a tour plan in hand, you can do that too. If you want to "beat" the crowds, spend 20 bucks, and let Tour Guide Mike show you the light. His tour plans will keep you away from the crowds if that is your goal. For what it's worth, there's a reason we've been to WDW in early December 3 times in 5 years. Goodluck!

 

[mousefansmom]

We were there from Nov 29-Dec 4th, 2005. We thought the crowds were light and we only really had a wait for Soarin'. Everything else was less than 10-15 minutes. Just go, use common sense (like don't stay at an EMH park much past noon if you can help it etc.) and have fun!

mousefansmom

I'm have ressie's for December 4 thru 10, and really torned on what to do.

I have read all i can read when i search about december half of the dis's say december is not to crowded and and the other half say it was crowded, and i am talking about the first week in december only.

I would like to hear from people that went say last year on the first week of dec and get your thoughts on it.

Thanks
brooke

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

December used to be reeeeeeeeeeeeally slow, but in the last few years it has picked up a lot.

To try to explain it, if you devide the crowd levels into low, medium, and crowded, they used to be very low, but now they've moved up to sort of low-medium. Still very slow in the grand scheme of things, but kind of busy for a slow time of year.

Wow, I think I just confused myself more!

 

[vatmark]

Does anyone know how the early dec. crowds compare to end of Oct. beginning of Nov.? I went the end of Oct. through the 1st week in Nov. last year and thought the crowds were fine. Just trying to get an idea what I will be facing in Dec.

Annie

 

[Tigger79]

Our family has gone in 2000,2002,and 2005 the 2nd week of December and that is only time of year I would go. The weather is wonderful and the crowds arent too bad. We didnt wait in line too long and if there was a line we used fastpast. The Christmas Decorations are awesome! Enjoy your trip!

 

[phantom728]

Thanks for all the updates as well. This is our first trip going to WDW over the Holidays and can't wait. We'll be there Dec 1st-9th and are looking forward to all the Holiday adventures.

It's good to hear about others experiences during this time frame.
Everyone enjoy

 

[never_enough_pooh]

We were there last year the first week of December. I don't think we ever waited longer than 20-30 minutes for a ride. It was a great time!!

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

We are going Dec. 2nd thru 9th and we are so excited, I don't think waiting under 30 minutes is too too bad. We have AP for Busch Gardens and there have been times where the wait for some rides was over 2 hours and there are actually people who wait in those lines. Crazy!!! It wouldn't really matter to wait in lines at Disney, because of the excitement of being at Disney.