Please help me choose Christmas 2018 dates

[SpaceMtnGirl]

Hi everyone. I am planning our first Christmastime trip to WDW for 2018 and I'm looking to nail down some dates.

Wednesday through Wednesday are good for me to take off work. I am looking at Nov 28 - Dec 5, or Dec 5 - 12. Dec 12 - 19 would also be an option but seems too close to Christmas crowds?

Thanks for any expert opinions on which week would be better!

 

[mco65]

My opinion would not be expert... but i have been late Nov.. mid dec and late dec..
If crowds or lack there of are your main concern, I would visit Nov. 28 - Dec 5. the closer you get the Christmas the larger the crowds....

 

[SpaceMtnGirl]

Yes, crowds are my main concern. I know that there really isn't a low crowd time to go, but just looking for my best option out of those weeks. Thanks!

 

[FSU Girl]

I was there December 9-11 this year and the crowds were insane. I think they were worse than when I was there on Thanksgiving. I think the earlier you go the better the crowds will be

 

[SpaceMtnGirl]

Yikes! I definitely don't want to deal with insane crowds. I noticed this year that on the last Thursday in November, MK closed early for a CM event. Is that something that is done annually?

 

[sharonabe]

Yikes! I definitely don't want to deal with insane crowds. I noticed this year that on the last Thursday in November, MK closed early for a CM event. Is that something that is done annually?

It is done annually, but the date and park change. There's no way for you to plan for it, but be looking for it once you decide.

 

[SpaceMtnGirl]

It is done annually, but the date and park change. There's no way for you to plan for it, but be looking for it once you decide.

Thanks for the info!

 

[rajak73]

We were there in 2014 Dec 1 - Dec 12 and crowds were not bad. Times may have changed with crowds.

 

[arminnie]

We went 2 years ago during your 3rd option. And found it to be insanely crowded. We have usually gone during what would be option 2.

So this year we went with the late November early December week. It was better but nothing like it used to be during that time.

Like you we normally go midweek to midweek. But as we drive I may change to traveling on the weekends as it is just too crazy in the parks on a weekend.

Best advice I got was to go to MK on a night that closes early for MVMCP. Yes you have to leave by 7, but the park is not crowded until 4 when the party people start arriving.

 

[SpaceMtnGirl]

We were there in 2014 Dec 1 - Dec 12 and crowds were not bad. Times may have changed with crowds.

Thanks for the feedback. It does seem, from what I'm reading on these boards, that December is getting more and more crowded. Just my luck as I'm finally able to go that time of year!

 

[arminnie]

Duplicate

 

[SpaceMtnGirl]

We went 2 years ago during your 3rd option. And found it to be insanely crowded. We have usually gone during what would be option 2.

So this year we went with the late November early December week. It was better but nothing like it used to be during that time.

Like you we normally go midweek to midweek. But as we drive I may change to traveling on the weekends as it is just too crazy in the parks on a weekend.

Best advice I got was to go to MK on a night that closes early for MVMCP. Yes you have to leave by 7, but the park is not crowded until 4 when the party people start arriving.

The bad part for me is that I cannot take 2 Saturdays off in a row at my job, so if I want a 7 night trip, it makes things difficult!
I like your advice for MK. We normally go during MNSSHP time (Columbus Day week) and use that strategy.

 

[Klayfish]

I know my opinion is different than a lot of others here, but I don't think it matters a ton which of those weeks you pick. Sure, it's going to be busy. WDW is the most popular tourist destination in the country, and it's the holiday season, so it kind of "is what it is" to some degree. We were at WDW for Thanksgiving this year and are here now...yesterday was our first day in the parks. We also did the same thing (Thanksgiving and Xmas weeks) in '15. Yes, there are spots and times where the crowds are massive...almost all of them are MK related. For example, the hub during fireworks, or anywhere in the park on Xmas Day or Thanksgiving Day itself after about lunch. But outside of that, I don't think it's really that terrible. Use the FP+ system as much as you can, have some holiday spirit, have some patience and you'll be fine no matter when you're there. You can find lower crowd times, too. Like someone mentioned, MK during a MVMCP day, or the other parks after dinner. Like I mentioned in a thread I started, we were in Epcot last night...I'm not joking when I say it was less crowded last night than I've seen it even on a slow summer night. Future World was eerily empty...and it was only 4 days before Xmas. I'm sure we're going to hit some big crowds while we're here, we expect that. We'll be in HS in just a few hours, I can report back what it was like. I'm not saying you should expect to get on all rides with no waits, etc...because that clearly isn't the case. As I said initially, it's Disney at Xmas, it's busy. But just know which places to avoid on which days/times and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

 

[sndral]

I was there December 9-11 this year and the crowds were insane. I think they were worse than when I was there on Thanksgiving. I think the earlier you go the better the crowds will be

We were there in 2014 Dec 1 - Dec 12 and crowds were not bad. Times may have changed with crowds.

We have gone during the holidays several times. This year 12/9-19, was insane, particularly at MK. Our boat driver back to the GF from MK one night mentioned that MK had almost reached capacity the day before. We’d been during the same time frame in 2015, and the increase in crowds at MK and AK was a shock. W/ MK I attribute the huge crowds to the park being shut down so many nights for the MVMCPs jamming people into the remaining hours. W/ AK the new rides have pulled people to the park and the lines for the other rides were probably double what they were in 2015. Epcot and DHS were about the same as 2015, Soarin & TSM both had shorter standby wait times than 2015 IME.
Next year we are going to try going earlier, MK especially was too jammed to enjoy for me.

 

[Bete]

We just did a trip this year for Nov. 27 to Dec. 4. We were able to get the free dining promo staying onsite. That is what dictated our dates. Mid-Dec had free dining, too.

We loved it, but we got up early for every extra magic hour available. We even did 7 am at MK on a party night for early entry. That was the best early time we ever did. Keep in mind the food courts don't open before 7 am in most resorts. We bought breakfast items (cold) ahead of time the night before when we had to head out early. I was obsessed with getting my FP+s at the 60 day mark. I continued to tweak my FP+s until I had a perfect schedule for us. We were able to get 4th fastpasses most days on the fly. Absolutely, did dining reservations at the 180 day mark and I was able to get all the dining packages for Candlelight Processional, Fantasmic, and River of Lights. Planning ahead of time made a big difference. Keep in mind that Disney has extended the 60 day FP privilege to their Good Neighbor offsite resorts near Disney Spring this next year. This means there will be more competition for FPs next year.

By doing the above planning crowds had very little affect on us. Once it got more crowded we did more shows and live street entertainment which are easier to get into or we split from the parks until later evening.

I hadn't been to Disney World for about 6 years and I was nervous about it all especially with all the new technology involved now but we survived. I love magic bands.

I'm planning a 2018 holiday return if we can get free dining. Without the free dining we will not go. For us that made the trip. Keep in mind that also adds to the crowd levels. Not only is there a special events night for cast members in early Dec., but POP Warner is at that time, too.

I would try to do a MVMCP on the night you arrive (try to schedule your time off this way); so, try to get an early flight out if you are flying.

 

[Shellyred8]

If you are planning at staying at an All-Star resort, keep in mind that the first-ish week in December is usually Pop Warner football and those resorts are pretty full of those kids.

 

[SpaceMtnGirl]

Thank you all for the additional feedback.

I'm not sure where we'll be staying yet, but I'm leaning towards Pop Century -- we really love Pop and want to try out the renovated rooms. I have read they get Pop Warner kids too.

 

[KurtC]

We were just there from 11/27 through 12/9. The first week had lower crowds than the second, but still manageable with a good plan and the right FP+'s and ADR's. We were at MK on 11/30 (the day that it closed at 4:30 for the cast member party). It was the best day ever! Hardly anyone was there (relatively speaking). We started early and were done by 3pm and had accomplished everything we wanted to do that day.

 

[Lothlórien]

Either of these options are good.

Nov 28 - Dec 5, or Dec 5 - 12

The further along in the month of December, the larger the crowds. Also, it brings in more Brazilians and South Americans.

Pop Warner crowds will grow larger in the parks the further the first week of December goes along, but not enough to make an impact. For the most part, they are pretty well-behaved. The cheering can get a little taxing, but the South American's would be my bigger concern.

Either way, both are lovely weeks.

 

[Dee McGee]

Bookesd Dec 3-7, 2018. We will be able to do MVMCP and the Candlelight Processional. Both were a priority on our list this time around as we have yet to experience the party or the processional. Cant wait!