Please Help! Need advice on December Date

[JenJen88]

Hello all, I have been lurking on the boards enjoying all of the information that I have been able to find, so I thought there was no better place to get advice from. I am in law school, and have been in the process of trying to plan our wedding over my Christmas break. If the school had stuck with their normal schedule for next fall my break would have started on the 8th and the wedding was penciled in by Disney for the 11th. I thought this would be perfect, because I would get all the benefits of the beautiful Christmas decorations and celebrations without it being too busy because the schools would still be in session. Flash forward to this morning: My law school decides to change the exam period to last through the 15th. I could safely move the wedding to the 14th and if I happen to have an exam, get one teacher to let me take it early. So now, onto my question. Is Disney going to be crazy busy if we are there from the 13th-18th? My fiance broke his neck at C2 right before I entered law school, so very large crowds make things difficult for us to get around (he has to use ECV in the parks because he tires so easily and walking for any distance is difficult). I just want to make sure that everyone with us, and he will get to enjoy the time. I have been to Disney many times, but this will only be his second trip, and I want him to fall in love with the magic the way I have.

 

[CDsSleepingBeauty]

We were there December 1-5 this year for our PS, but I have been around the 15-24 a few times when I was in pharmacy school. It was definitely slower when we were there the first week of December, but not a whole lot slower. If you're there the 13th-18th, it will probably start to get busier each day, but still not as crazy as it is from Christmas day until New Year's. Christmastime is my absolute favorite time of the year to go--it's definitely worth it!

 

[Tifa]

First let me offer congratulations to you! You will have lots of fun planning in the times ahead!

About your question of Disney in December, yes be ready for crowds. December is one of their peak seasons due to schools going on winter break, Mickey's Merry Christmas Party, and other seasonal festivities Disney puts on that families flock too.
By choosing a date near the beginning of December (and near the middle of the work week) you have a better chance of smaller crowds. As you close in to Christmas week the parks become super packed.
Also keep in mind that DFTW prices and minimums jump up during that month.

I hope this helps! You have many magical and fun days ahead! Enjoy them all!

 

[JenJen88]

Thanks for your advice. I am sure everything will work out fine, I just have a tendency to worry and had a minor melt down when the school posted the exam periods today. Disney in December is my all time favorite. My grandma would take my mom and I every year when I was little, but our last trip like that was in 2000. I know as it gets closer things will heat up with action. This is why my mom always pulled me out of school a week early for our vacations. If only law school would work around my schedule!

 

[rrali33tt]

Congratulations!

I actually JUST graduated from law school...I am taking the bar exam next week....YIKES! I probably shouldn't be on the disboards but I can't help myself and I am losing my mind studying 12+ hours per day (its a miserable experience). What year of law school are you in?

I went to Disney with my boyfriend (we are not engaged yet..but hopefully real soon!) during winter break of our 2L year from Dec 16-23. First off, the decorations are beautiful, and I think they still may be up through the first week in January (and you should still be on winter break). You should check with your planner on that. If you want the decor in the background of your photos or want the atmosphere it will be there.

Next, it was REALLY REALLY busy when we went. We both love Christmas but we decided we probably wont go back for a christmas disney trip unless it was when we had children so they could experience it too.

We stayed at the POR..love this resort, its very easy getting to downtown Disney and you usually don't have to wait too long for the buses to the parks BUT during that week we did wait a little while longer. The same goes for leaving the parks at night.

The crowds vary in each park.
Magic Kingdom--Our first night I had tickets to MVMCP for a Friday evening. It was so crowded and we maybe went on one or 2 rides and watched the fireworks and left. After exams & travelling all day we coudn't deal with the crowds. BUT they also had extra magic hours that week really late so after a lot of begging, we went when they were open to 1am = BEST IDEA EVER ...we went on almost every major ride (space mountain, pirates, haunted mansion) there were not many people there that late. (but you will need a warm coat lol). We went back another day to hit some other rides and for dinner at the castle, but we mainly got on the rides when we were there for EMH.

Animal Kingdom -- Not that crowed and we got through pretty much the entire park and went on every ride in one day. I can give you tips on how we got it all done. However, we didn't get on the Expedition Everest because they ran out of fast passes (this happened in other parks as well so plan accordingly)

DHS -- The lines for the rides were pretty long and you need fastpasses to get on Aerosmith, Toy Story , Tower of Terror if you don't want to wait. Obviously the Osbourne lights are crowded, but my boyfriend hates crowds and still said it was one of his favorite things to see/do. Just be prepared to walk slowly through the light show lol

EPCOT - Not nearly as bad as the magic kingdom in regards to crowds but 2nd most crowded park but bearable. If you want a FP for Soarin, you should be there when the park opens.

SO, I agree with the above poster, and early December would be better compared to later in the month, but if you just want the decor, I would check with your planner about if the decor is still up the first week or so in January and ask some people what the crowds are like then if your main goal is to avoid the crowds.

I hope some of this helps...you can make it work if you plan everything out in advance ( what rides you must get on, make dinner reservations 6 months out etc.). Happy wedding planning!

 

[NoOrdinaryPrincess]

The only thing I want to add is that at the very least DJ prices double in the month of December (~$3k I think), so you may want to look into DJ alternatives, or at least keep that in mind.

 

[JenJen88]

Congratulations!

I actually JUST graduated from law school...I am taking the bar exam next week....YIKES! I probably shouldn't be on the disboards but I can't help myself and I am losing my mind studying 12+ hours per day (its a miserable experience). What year of law school are you in?

I went to Disney with my boyfriend (we are not engaged yet..but hopefully real soon!) during winter break of our 2L year from Dec 16-23. First off, the decorations are beautiful, and I think they still may be up through the first week in January (and you should still be on winter break). You should check with your planner on that. If you want the decor in the background of your photos or want the atmosphere it will be there.

Next, it was REALLY REALLY busy when we went. We both love Christmas but we decided we probably wont go back for a christmas disney trip unless it was when we had children so they could experience it too.

We stayed at the POR..love this resort, its very easy getting to downtown Disney and you usually don't have to wait too long for the buses to the parks BUT during that week we did wait a little while longer. The same goes for leaving the parks at night.

The crowds vary in each park.
Magic Kingdom--Our first night I had tickets to MVMCP for a Friday evening. It was so crowded and we maybe went on one or 2 rides and watched the fireworks and left. After exams & travelling all day we coudn't deal with the crowds. BUT they also had extra magic hours that week really late so after a lot of begging, we went when they were open to 1am = BEST IDEA EVER ...we went on almost every major ride (space mountain, pirates, haunted mansion) there were not many people there that late. (but you will need a warm coat lol). We went back another day to hit some other rides and for dinner at the castle, but we mainly got on the rides when we were there for EMH.

Animal Kingdom -- Not that crowed and we got through pretty much the entire park and went on every ride in one day. I can give you tips on how we got it all done. However, we didn't get on the Expedition Everest because they ran out of fast passes (this happened in other parks as well so plan accordingly)

DHS -- The lines for the rides were pretty long and you need fastpasses to get on Aerosmith, Toy Story , Tower of Terror if you don't want to wait. Obviously the Osbourne lights are crowded, but my boyfriend hates crowds and still said it was one of his favorite things to see/do. Just be prepared to walk slowly through the light show lol

EPCOT - Not nearly as bad as the magic kingdom in regards to crowds but 2nd most crowded park but bearable. If you want a FP for Soarin, you should be there when the park opens.

SO, I agree with the above poster, and early December would be better compared to later in the month, but if you just want the decor, I would check with your planner about if the decor is still up the first week or so in January and ask some people what the crowds are like then if your main goal is to avoid the crowds.

I hope some of this helps...you can make it work if you plan everything out in advance ( what rides you must get on, make dinner reservations 6 months out etc.). Happy wedding planning!

Thanks, we are excited. Ugggh.... I don't even want to think about the bar exam at this moment. Good luck with your studying. I am in my second year and looking very forward to being done in May '13. In fact, I should be working on corporations right now, but so hard to get in the mood for that class. Not so much looking forward to the bar, but can't wait to play in criminal law land as an attorney and not just writing all of the motions for my bosses.

January is not really an option as his sister and brother-in-law are joining us while on their Christmas vacation. Well in fact, most of our family is using the time they would have off for Christmas to make it. I am sure it will all work out, I will just have to be super organized and planned about meals and such, and extra magic hours will be great. Rides aren't the issue, because as I stated he broke his neck right before my senior year of undergrad, and still has to be careful on what he does. I just want to make sure he is comfortable (he doesn't enjoy large crowds because he feels like people stare at his scar on his neck and say things about him having to be in an ECV- it was very hard for him to go from training to be a police officer who looked like a body builder to knowing he will never be able to lift more than 10 lbs again).

As a side note, POFQ is my all time favorite, and where we will be staying. I have never stayed at riverside, but heard that it's beautiful.

The only thing I want to add is that at the very least DJ prices double in the month of December (~$3k I think), so you may want to look into DJ alternatives, or at least keep that in mind.

Luckily, I don't have to worry about this. The plan is for a small escape wedding with just our immediate families and my best friend. Followed by dinner somewhere in one of the parks and fireworks