Our trip December 2-11

[Jimdamedic]

The Cast:
ME 39
Wife 40
Nieces 12 and 9
SIL & her husband
Their two kids 11 & 12

I want to touch on some points I haven't seen mentioned in other reports for this time period. First of all, by all means rent a house if you have a large group. For less than $1,200, we had a 4 bedroom 3 bath house with pool and jacuzzi all to ourselves for 9 nights. We would have had to have had at least two rooms in a hotel for that cost. Try getting two large hotel rooms for less than $130/night total. Don't get too tied up in research for the perfect home, most of the homes are alot alike. Put a list together of what you need and where you want to stay and research from there. Also, there's not that much difference in driving time between the different resort areas. We stayed in Orange Tree, which is north of 192 on Highway 27. We were on Disney property in 13 minutes. The closest resort is maybe five minutes. The closer you stay, the more expensive the comparable house.

Those who said the Pop Warner tournament doesn't affect the crowds was incorrect. We saw groups of kids all days in all parks. They were very well chaperoned and behaved, but they did affect crowd size.

The weather was gorgeous for the most part, we only had two rainy days and they weren't too bad.

Soarin' may be the best theme park ride I've ever been on. You must use Fastpass. If you have a profound fear of heights, don't ride. My wife wouldn't talk to me for an hour after I told her that it wasn't that bad.

MVMCP was great.

There are more and more people going to WDW in early December. The secret is out. I've been in April and September and the crowds this time were much heavier.

Photopass is cool.

Finally, it's really cold in Iowa when you come back from Florida.

 

[exwdwcm]

I totally agree on pop warner. I had heard about it, but was keeping my hopes high that it wouldn't affect us. it did. i was surprised how many stayed at POR. in the middle of our vacation, at 11pm at night, a bus load of them unloads (charter bus) right outside our door- and they are loud. we asked the chaperon to quiet them down as we had a sleeping, sick 2 year old. didn't help. next we hear them above us, on 2nd floor, stomping, running and yelling....we finally called security and then came out with lights on and it finally got quiet. sad that we had to call security, but we were trying to sleep. the food court was a madhouse too, until saturday (12/11). we stayed away except for drink refills. i saw some in the parks, but most behaved there. it was in the resort where we had the most problem. we WILL NOT be going again during Pop Warner week.

 

[renaibr]

we were also in the parks on dec 2 and 3rd and i found the crowds to be much more than they were at the same time last year.
i am not going to go any more at this time of the year since
the secret is out. i dont enjoy waiting to go on rides.
we did soarin first and had gotten a fast pass for it also and went back.
the weather was great and we came home to new york with a snow day!

 

[Sophierella]

This is the third December (December 3-10) we have gone and I agree the secret is out. We saw more people than ever beore in early December.

Also, this is the first year we have experienced large and LOUD crowds with Pop Warner. Whenever we saw a group, they were chanting about something. While waiting for the boat ride from DTD to POFQ, we had to sit through a cheer before we were able to get on the boat. They had a special cheer for the captain, imagine that. Then they entertained themselves by chanting and cheering in the lines and strolling through the park. They were loud enough to wake my daughter sleeping in the stroller as they walked/cheered by us.

Anyone know when they post next year's trip on their website, my husband and I wnat to make sure we miss them next year

 

[MichelleVW]

I agree with you on the Pop Warners affecting the park attendance. We saw them everywhere in the parks ...we were there two years ago during the same time and it was much less crowded than this year.

We stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge so we didn't deal with them at the hotel, but I wouldn't have wanted to be at the All Stars resorts.

We didn't wait in many lines due to timing and fast pass, but I honestly couldn't believe the crowds that were there.

Michelle

 

[LoveRafiki]

DITTOs on the crowds -- we were there 12/2 -- 12/10.... went to MK on Sunday 12/4

Didn't know it was the stupid filming the Christmas parade for ABC -- plus it was a special tribute day to the Military.... (I fully support and thank our troops --- I just didn't expect impact that day).

So -- I was a bit stunned.... didn't know about Pop Warner football impact - didn't see any of them (or notice at least) -- we stay in villas at Wildnerness Lodge so they wouldn't be there.

I hope that the "secret" is not out about beginning of December and am hoping that I merely need to avoid ABC taping day at MK....