MVMCP week after Thanksgiving?

[yankeefan46]

Hello everyone! My family usually visits Disney the first FULL week in December. This past year we decided NOT to go at this time anymore, but to move our trip up a week. We want to arrive the Saturday after Thanksgiving and are wondering, to those that have visited at this time, which days do you find it the least crowded at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party? Will the Sunday be packed? Should we wait for Tuesday or Thursday? Just wondering what your experiences were like. Have a magical day!

 

[Cmbar]

I would love to know this as well!!

 

[DisGal520]

We attended the 12/02/08 MVMCP which if my memory is correct was the first party of the season.

In any event that day was a Tuesday. We did not get to the park until about 4 PM and the party crowd was coming in. I'd say it was fairly crowded, but not as much as the previous year when we were there on 12/21. Perhaps the closer it gets to Christmas the more crowded it can be.


Remember Disney sells a certain # of tkts for the event and that is a number less than park capacity. We were there for the parade, shopping, cookies and extra character photo ops. Not there for the rides.

 

[princessmom29]

We went Sunday Nov 30th 2008 which was the 1st party after thanksgiving and it rained on us! It was our first trip to WDW so we stayed and caught the parade and fireworks. It was magical for up anyway. We ended up under an awning on main street with another family chatting and having cookies and hot chocolate. Had a pretty good time considering, and the rain stopped long enough for the fireworks. It was not that crowded at all, but the rain probably effected that.

 

[DonnaBoo]

We went on Dec 4th/08, a Thursday and had a great time. It wasn't that crowded and getting on the attractions took no time at all.
We are hoping we will be able to go back at this time of year.
Hope you have a great time.

 

[BradyBz12]

We've had good luck with both Sunday and Tuesday parties the week or 2 after Thanksgiving (FWIW the first party last year was 11/10). Last year we went 12/7 and crowds weren't bad, although they seemed to be a bit higher than last year.

That said, reports here on the DIS said that a few other parties that first week of Dec were insanely busy.

Agreed with PP that the closer you get to Christmas, the busier they tend to get (and the greater the risk they'll sell out).

 

[yankeefan46]

Thanks so much for ALL your help! The first full week just got so packed because of Pop Warner football, we wanted to try a different week. Guide books and most websites don't give much advice about MVMCP, so I really appreciate your answers.

 

[Tabcans]

Hello everyone! My family usually visits Disney the first FULL week in December. This past year we decided NOT to go at this time anymore, but to move our trip up a week. We want to arrive the Saturday after Thanksgiving and are wondering, to those that have visited at this time, which days do you find it the least crowded at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party? Will the Sunday be packed? Should we wait for Tuesday or Thursday? Just wondering what your experiences were like. Have a magical day!

Like you, I normally would go the first full week of December but last year we went on the day after Thanksgiving. I don't know what your reason is, but for me it was having our trip disrupted by the arrival of the "popwarner" gangs of kids. In any event, it may be possible for you to wait until you are there to buy last minute tickets to the Christmas parties, in all the years I have gone at that time of year there has always been available tickets to join right in even if it was right then and there while in the park on any day it was scheduled. I would hate to see you go on my word alone, but you may want to inquire some more about that so you can insure that the day you choose to go is weather perfect.

 

[Cheatham27330]

Our last three trips have been during the first week of December, but we haven't been since '05. These trips have always had very low crowds. After reading some comments about the pop warner hoards on this week I am feeling a bit better about our planned trip this year being for the 2nd week of December. Anybody go to WDW during the second week of December 08 that can give us some reasonable expectations of crowd levels?

Many Thanks!

 

[yankeefan46]

Cheatham, that's when my family went to Disney last year. We arrived on Friday, December 5th and stayed until the 13th. The week started out nicely, low crowds at Epcot and Animal Kingdom. The only line at Disney Studios that was unbearable was Toy Story Mania. We went when the Christmas Parade was being taped, but we avoided the Magic Kingdom on those days (the first Saturday and Sunday) and were fine. We went to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party on Tuesday the 9th, and it was crowded. Both parades were packed, shows were hard to get into, but the plus was the children didn't mind because the ride lines weren't that bad. Wednesday and Thursday were perfect, no huge crowds, no big lines. We stayed at Coronado Springs, where the Pop Warner coaches stayed, and they told us to expect the parks to get crowded once teams were eliminated from the competition, and boy were they right! Epcot on Friday was a disaster... you couldn't get near the water for Illuminations, even trying to get a seat forty minutes before. Yes, I know it was an EMH night, but Illuminations is our "last night" tradition. The last day at Magic Kingdom (December 13th) was a nightmare. Pop Warner kids and an All Ears meet. Thank God we had reservations for Liberty Tree Tavern for lunch! After a few rides, we gave up and drove home. If you are definitely going the second week in December, remember the beginning of the week is GREAT, just stay away from Epcot on Friday and Magic Kingdom on Saturday. If crowds get too big during the week, break for your hotel or Downtown Disney. And make reservations for meals. That is the BEST advice I can give you. Oh, and have fun!

 

[blueshog2001]

What about the firsy week in December? My family and I are thinking about going up the Sunday after Thanksgivng and staying a week.

 

[sskem96]

We went to MVMCP the first week of Dec. 2007 on a Tuesday night, and it was a sold out crowd. We're heading down on Thanksgiving day this year, and we're skipping the party. Since the kids will both be "adults" for the first time this trip, it would cost quite a bit to go to the party, so we decided we'd rather put the money towards trying something new instead of doing the party again. If I knew the party would have low attendance, I wouldn't hesitate to go, but we just didn't have a good time last time because it was so crowded.

 

[sskem96]

We went to MVMCP the first week of Dec. 2007 on a Tuesday night, and it was a sold out crowd. We're heading down on Thanksgiving day this year, and we're skipping the party. Since the kids will both be "adults" for the first time this trip, it would cost quite a bit to go to the party, so we decided we'd rather put the money towards trying something new instead of doing the party again. If I knew the party would have low attendance, I wouldn't hesitate to go, but we just didn't have a good time last time because it was so crowded.