Not very familiar with nearing peak time crowds

[MineeBaby]

We have had our fair share of Disney vacations at various times throughout the year. Personally, we prefer off peak season even if it is hurricane season or the dead of winter, but we have also been for major holidays before and have experienced the madness of Disney World at its peak. Unfortunatly, we are now in a position where we don't have the flexibility to travel whenever we want (yay higher education!) and are stuck with the summer, spring break, and Christmas.

We haven't been to Disney World leading up to a major holiday and I was wondering what sort of crowd level we might expect. We are planning on going the week leading up to Christmas of this year (but not staying for Christmas), and I called member services to make our reservation on the morning of the 7 month out mark, but the smaller resorts were all booked. At this point, the only thing they have left is OKW and SS. We prefer Boardwalk (and are on a waitlist now) because we like to walk to the parks and, given that we can't seem to get into Boardwalk easily, are wondering if this week leading up to Christmas is really a nightmarish time to go. Perhaps we should just pass until a more opportune time presents itself?

 

[disneynutz]

Any time before the 18th and you will be in great shape. After the 18th, the attendance increases through Christmas.

Bill

 

[Sammie]

I guess it all depends on what you consider crowded. We consider all of early December crowded and from the 18th on a mob scene.

Maybe it was because we remember what early December used to be and boy has it changed.

With Pop Warner, Disney fan fests such as AllEars and the taping of the Christmas parade and all the special activities that the holidays bring and I don't any of December as a down time anymore.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Just like October used to be a great time to go because it wasn't crowded. Not so much anymore. They used to only have two Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Parties - Oct 30 and 31. Now they start in September. Food & Wine didn't last all month long, it was a shorter time period.

Disney has gotten smart about the formerly slow times and added things to them to build up the crowds. They've added more half marathons/marathons. They've added more special ticket parties. Their slower times now get filled with special events like Pop Warner and cheerleading events.

 

[drusba]

Generally what you will face beginning the 18th is that it will be quite crowded when you get there and then increase on an order of magnitude daily until about December 23 when you finally get to full Christmas time crowd size. Your thought process will be that on December 18 when you first hit a park, you will think it is quite crowded and then on Decemeber 23 you will pine for the good old days of Dec 18 which you will now think had a very light crowd.

If you are waitlisting at BWV for only a night or two of the week chances are decent; if you are waitlisting for entire week, chances are much lower.

 

[Sunshine22]

I guess it's all relative to what you are used to. I went the week before Christmas last year and found it to be crowded, but not nearly as bad as Spring Break, 4th of July, or other summer weeks. The evening and late night crowds were pleasant, most likely due to the cold weather. The teens used fast passes for the more crowded rides and everyone had a great time.