Please help with Dec planning

RebeccaLovesDisney

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Jun 5, 2001
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We have a "split" WDW trip planned for December and are going to spend the following days at the parks (gong on DCL in between!!):

Dec 9 (Th) & Dec 10 (Fri) - expecting low crowds

Dec 19 (Sun) thru Dec 21 (Tue) - expecting somewhat heavy crowds.

We definitely planning on doing MK during our first visit, maybe also adding MVMCP - since I know MK will be most affected by the holiday crowds. But what other park should we try to see during the first two days? Which other park do you think will get the most crowded during the week before Christmas? I'm thinking either MGM or AK, but I'm not sure.

Just got the email saying I can start making PS reservations :), so I feel like I want to start getting at least a rough plan of which parks to visit on which days.

Thanks for your help!! :cool:
 
Hi RebeccaLovesDisney! We have been several times during December and my advice is to do MK and MGM first. We have found those feel the effects of the crowds the most. Then, we would probably do AK and then Epcot or do EE at one and then hop to the other - on the second leg of your trip. Personally, I don't think the crowds are FIERCE until Christmas Day. You will have a great time!!
 
Thanks doodle! I hope you are right and the crowds stay manageable during the days before Christmas.

I think we will try to focus on MK and MGM during the first part of our trip. Now to decide on which days to do EE, PS's, MVMCP.....
 

I am by no means an expert, but my suggested touring plan is below. Have fun! Maggie

12/09 Thursday
I don't know if you have the day to do a park or if this is your arrival day.
Go to MK at 4pm (doesn't waste a park ticket if this is all you do this day - great value!)
MVMCP...this is a must do!

12/10 Friday
Sleep Late
Epcot (Since it's so big it absorbs crowds well....and it's open later, so you can do a lot even with your shortened touring time.)
See the holiday Storytellers around the WS. (pick up a schedule at the front of the park)
Do Candlelight Processional, if you are interested.
See Illuminations!

12/11 - 12/18
DCL

12/19 Sunday
Animal Kingdom
Go over to MK to see the parade and Wishes

12/20 Monday
MGM
See Fantasmic!
Check out the Osborne Lights (open for an hour after the park closes)

12/21 Tuesday
Epcot in the AM
MK in the PM
---Or---
MK all day (depends on you)
 
Just wanted to say that we have been to Disney during that timeframe many times and the crowds always seem to increase in a BIG way starting on the Saturday before Christmas, which is the 18th this year. We usually try to plan our trips to check out on the Saturday before Christmas and that always seems to be the day that the hordes of families arrive.

I would try to do MK and AK on your early trip, since both seem to get really crowded, and do MGM and Epcot on your later trip, since crowds don't seem to matter as much there.
 
Thanks Deena and GEM for the advice and thank you Maggie for the detail plan! We are arriving Wed. evening so we will visiting a park on Thursday.

Is there a big difference in the MVMCP crowds between Thurs and Fri nights? I know they sell a limited number of tickets and Friday is likely to be sold out. But when it is sold out, how crowded is that? I mean, are ride lines really long then? Just thinking of this option since we'll be able to sleep in Saturday some before going to the port.
 












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