Need advice re: December dates

[ToodlesTime]

My family and I (myself, husband, 4-yr-old daughter and infant son) are planning a December trip to WDW. I would prefer to go Dec. 3-7 but there are no discounts offered then. We can also go Dec. 17-21 and get FD but I am very concerned about the crowds then. We went last year right before Thanksgiving and crowds were light and manageable. I see the crowds are predicted to be 6-10 during the Dec. 17-21 time and that frightens me. Can y'all give me some advice or insight? The FD would definitely help us do a lot of character dining we wouldn't otherwise do, but I'm wondering if there's a possibility for a RO discount during Dec. 3-7?

 

[buteraa]

We are going from the 13th to the 20th and we have gone before around this same time. Crowds have been pretty good. Most of the crowds will come in right before Christmas and stay through the new year. I would take the free dining!

 

[AmyB2006]

I would go the 3rd through the 7th, but that's me.

I don't think the 17th through the 19th will be that bad as far as crowds, but once that weekend hits, crowds will pick up considerably.

 

[heybravo626]

I agree with Amy. Should be fine until Sat, 12/20. That's when the crowds will grow.

 

[buteraa]

I went on touring plans and found the crowds to be pretty good for your timeframe. On the 20th, when MK is at a 7, the other parks were 3-5. Hope this helps you.


Magic Kingdom 4 (17th)
Magic Kingdom 3 (18th)
Magic Kingdom 4 (19th)
Magic Kingdom 7 (20th)
Magic Kingdom 5 (21st)

 

[panixx]

We were there this past year the week before Christmas and the crowds were not bad.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

We are going from the 13th to the 20th and we have gone before around this same time. Crowds have been pretty good. Most of the crowds will come in right before Christmas and stay through the new year. I would take the free dining!

These are our dates as well, and I specifically picked them because of all the "OMG THERE ARE NO PEOPLE HERE" posts from that week last year!

 

[disneyerin]

We were there from Dec 16th to Dec 22nd last year (2013). The crowds were surprisingly (and wonderfully) low. MVMCP (Dec 17th)felt almost empty at times.This may have been a fluke.....I would go back and read the posts from last December. If I can recall there were many complaints about how bad the crowds were during the first two weeks of the month.

I guess what I'm saying is that it's possible that there are no more guaranteed slow days between Thanksgiving and Christmas anymore. I would just pick a time that works out best for your family.

You will have a great time no matter what! We did!!

 

[littsbanwuke]

That's when the crowds will grow.

 

[ToodlesTime]

Thanks, all, especially buteraa for the touring plans info. Undercovertourist's predictions scare me, but I can handle the crowds touring plans predicts! Those dates work better for our family schedule, so it looks like that's when we're going!

 

[saskdw]

This year will be our 6th December trip in 7 yrs. So we are quite experienced with the crowds at this time of year. This year we will be there 12th-26th. The 12th-19th the parks will be half empty. Very pleasant, especially if you pick the slow park to go to each day. 20th-22nd you will notice each day it gets a little busier. On the 23rd you will notice that your resort is now completely full. The 24th is a manageable day at the parks if you pick the slow park and have a plan. The 25th is a day to goto AK. Everyone else is trying to jam themselves into MK and EPCOT. From the 26th on its packed everywhere, that's why we leave then.

We hit the parks hard the first week while its slow and then enjoy everything at a leasurely pace the second week of the trip.