Questions on 1st week of December

[Parker Clan]

We've only ever gone in August and we have our first trip booked to check out the Christmas festivities Dec 6-10.
It's just me and hubby.

I'm just wondering for those that have been at that time of year - what is the crowd level like?

What are must do's?

 

[sharonabe]

We've only ever gone in August and we have our first trip booked to check out the Christmas festivities Dec 6-10.
It's just me and hubby.

I'm just wondering for those that have been at that time of year - what is the crowd level like?

What are must do's?

Crowd level should be moderate to low. Pop Warner is that week, so as the teams are eliminated from the competition, they will be in the parks, but it's not horrible.

Must dos for Christmas are the Holiday Storytellers in EP World Showcase. They're all good, but Norway is our favorite. Candlelight Processional in EP is a nice Christmas tradition. You may want to check out the dinner packages for it if you're interested. Lines can get long for it.

Studios has several new things for the holiday season. There's a thread somewhere detailing those.

Grand Floridian is a must see for decorations, but all the resorts could be put in that category.

Are you going to one of the Christmas party nights at MK?

 

[Parker Clan]

Crowd level should be moderate to low. Pop Warner is that week, so as the teams are eliminated from the competition, they will be in the parks, but it's not horrible.

Must dos for Christmas are the Holiday Storytellers in EP World Showcase. They're all good, but Norway is our favorite. Candlelight Processional in EP is a nice Christmas tradition. You may want to check out the dinner packages for it if you're interested. Lines can get long for it.

Studios has several new things for the holiday season. There's a thread somewhere detailing those.

Grand Floridian is a must see for decorations, but all the resorts could be put in that category.

Are you going to one of the Christmas party nights at MK?

Thank you so much for all the helpful info!
Epcot is my favorite park so I'm glad to hear there's a lot to do there.
We aren't going to a Xmas party this time, but definitely plan to in the future.

 

[4fordisneyworld]

This is our favorite time of the year to go! In fact, we will be there as well The resorts are always a wonderful thing to go and see. As sharonabe stated above, Grand Floridian is wonderful. I personally love Wilderness Lodge as they bring in characters in the evenings decked out in their Christmas best and then the trees at Animal Kingdom Lodge are amazing! A great picture spot! If you like gingerbread, make sure you grab at least one Mickey shaped gingerbread, but if you if love it like us, then take some home
The Christmas Party is definitely a toss up. I say that because I think you have to go without set in stone expectations. We have been on several occasions and at times it has been miserable and overwhelming and at times it has been wonderful. Now we go with a plan to just fully immerse ourselves in the magic of the Christmas atmosphere and not feel like we have to "get our money's worth" and that is definitely a more enjoyable way to go about it for our family. The parade is always wonderful!

 

[Parker Clan]

This is our favorite time of the year to go! In fact, we will be there as well The resorts are always a wonderful thing to go and see. As sharonabe stated above, Grand Floridian is wonderful. I personally love Wilderness Lodge as they bring in characters in the evenings decked out in their Christmas best and then the trees at Animal Kingdom Lodge are amazing! A great picture spot! If you like gingerbread, make sure you grab at least one Mickey shaped gingerbread, but if you if love it like us, then take some home
The Christmas Party is definitely a toss up. I say that because I think you have to go without set in stone expectations. We have been on several occasions and at times it has been miserable and overwhelming and at times it has been wonderful. Now we go with a plan to just fully immerse ourselves in the magic of the Christmas atmosphere and not feel like we have to "get our money's worth" and that is definitely a more enjoyable way to go about it for our family. The parade is always wonderful!

Thank you so much, all of that information is super helpful!!
I love gingerbread! And I can't wait to check out the different resort decorations.

 

[Moliphino]

Make sure to see Illuminations. The added holiday ending is one of my favorite things in the world.

 

[DebbieB]

I've done it several times since 1998. I agree with low to moderate crowds. The decorations and shows are great to see.

The only downside - weather is iffy. I've had trips where it was 80's all week, others barely above 60 and cold at night. One time it was a high of 48 on our arrival day.

 

[Parker Clan]

I've done it several times since 1998. I agree with low to moderate crowds. The decorations and shows are great to see.

The only downside - weather is iffy. I've had trips where it was 80's all week, others barely above 60 and cold at night. One time it was a high of 48 on our arrival day.

lol it will be better than the 105 when we go in August and the 20 degrees it will be in CT in Dec

 

[disneygolfer1985]

I will add on the weather front to ensure that you pack layers. I've been there at times when it's been highs in the 50s and other times when highs have been near 90, so pack accordingly. I will reiterate that Epcot is to not be missed during the holidays. The storytellers are great. Highly recommend Norway and Italy for storytellers. The holiday version of illuminations must be seen. The fireworks are amazing with a great message.

 

[Parker Clan]

I will add on the weather front to ensure that you pack layers. I've been there at times when it's been highs in the 50s and other times when highs have been near 90, so pack accordingly. I will reiterate that Epcot is to not be missed during the holidays. The storytellers are great. Highly recommend Norway and Italy for storytellers. The holiday version of illuminations must be seen. The fireworks are amazing with a great message.

Thank you for the tips!

 

[buteraa]

We go in December every year and once you go for the first time, you'll never want to go any other time. Christmas is so festive and fun! Enjoy!

 

[DebbieB]

lol it will be better than the 105 when we go in August and the 20 degrees it will be in CT in Dec

I'm from Pittsburgh and it seems like 60 would seem warm, but when it gets dark it is cold. I've heard because of the humidity. If you are going to be outside after dark, be prepared if the daytime temps are 60's or less. I brought gloves one time and my mom laughed at me. Guess who bought gloves there?

 

[mhf]

The gingerbread houses at the resorts, especially GF, are gorgeous! I would say the Epcot crowds are more moderate than lite but that's Disney now. If you don't have gloves or don't want to lose your good ones, go to the dollar store or and get some cheap expandable ones for you both. Bring a neck scarf (maybe a silk one, not a heavy wool one) because that can do wonders for warmth. Layers...long sleeve tshirt, sweater, light jacket.

 

[sndral]

We have gone around the holidays for several years. Sometimes early Dec. sometimes late Dec/early Jan.. Twice we have had freezing weather - literally 32F or a bit lower, so pack a nice warm outfit just in case. Other years it's much warmer & I can't remember it ever raining, altho' it must have at some pt..
Favorite things associated w/ the holidays:
Checking out the decorations in each park, they are so well done & I love the huge trees w/ their oversized decorations in front of each park.
Epcot - special illuminations, browsing the countries' stores looking at Christmas ornaments, watching the glass blower in Germany make ornaments, slipping out the International Gate between France and England to go look at the Chocolate life size carousel in the Beach Club lobby. The Boardwalk a short walk away is worth a look as well.
MK - Seeing Main Street all decked out for the holidays, the Jingle cruise which is a special Christmas version of the jungle cruise including appropriately corny holiday themed jokes, browsing shops for ornaments, taking the monorail over to the GF to gaze in awe at their tree, buying a chunk of gingerbread from their lifesize gingerbread house and munching on it while sitting in the lobby and listening to the Christmas carols being played on the grand piano by the pianist. Taking the boat out to the WL, grabbing some hot chocolate and sitting in one of the chairs in front of that huge fireplace while admiring the huge multistory tree there. Taking the boat back in time to see the water parade.
DHS - used to be Osborne lights, alas...sigh
AK - AKL has a ginormous tree worth seeing so worth a quick hop over to check it out on an AK day or if you're dinning at Boma or Jiko.
And I must visit the Christmas store at Disney Springs because you can never shop too much for ornaments
On my list of things to do: wagon ride at Fort Wilderness & seeing more of the decorated campsites (I've only seen a few.)

 

[Parker Clan]

We have gone around the holidays for several years. Sometimes early Dec. sometimes late Dec/early Jan.. Twice we have had freezing weather - literally 32F or a bit lower, so pack a nice warm outfit just in case. Other years it's much warmer & I can't remember it ever raining, altho' it must have at some pt..
Favorite things associated w/ the holidays:
Checking out the decorations in each park, they are so well done & I love the huge trees w/ their oversized decorations in front of each park.
Epcot - special illuminations, browsing the countries' stores looking at Christmas ornaments, watching the glass blower in Germany make ornaments, slipping out the International Gate between France and England to go look at the Chocolate life size carousel in the Beach Club lobby. The Boardwalk a short walk away is worth a look as well.
MK - Seeing Main Street all decked out for the holidays, the Jingle cruise which is a special Christmas version of the jungle cruise including appropriately corny holiday themed jokes, browsing shops for ornaments, taking the monorail over to the GF to gaze in awe at their tree, buying a chunk of gingerbread from their lifesize gingerbread house and munching on it while sitting in the lobby and listening to the Christmas carols being played on the grand piano by the pianist. Taking the boat out to the WL, grabbing some hot chocolate and sitting in one of the chairs in front of that huge fireplace while admiring the huge multistory tree there. Taking the boat back in time to see the water parade.
DHS - used to be Osborne lights, alas...sigh
AK - AKL has a ginormous tree worth seeing so worth a quick hop over to check it out on an AK day or if you're dinning at Boma or Jiko.
And I must visit the Christmas store at Disney Springs because you can never shop too much for ornaments
On my list of things to do: wagon ride at Fort Wilderness & seeing more of the decorated campsites (I've only seen a few.)

Wow, sounds incredible! Thanks so much for all of the great ideas, this makes me super excited for our first December trip!

 

[Mini girls]

trying to choose between Friday Dec. 8th and Sunday Dec. 10th. Undercover tourist says that Friday and Saturday night should be much busier than the Sunday. I'd prefer to go on Friday night, but are Fridays crazy busy? Should we avoid it?

 

[smooreo]

Great thread! We'll be there for the same time and it's our first Christmas trip!

 

[kiford]

This year we probably won't make it in December because we're doing DL/Aulani in early November (but we're still trying to squish in a short trip closer to Christmas). It's our absolute favourite time to go, especially in early December. We like to do MVMCP. We like to resort hop and see the gingerbread concoctions and the decorations. Every resort is so different. We spend a lot of time in Epcot watching the performances and the special holiday stories or performances. We don't do the Candlelight Procession - not my kind of thing but lots of people really enjoy that. The trees and decorations in the park are something we also make sure to get pictures of (well, DH does even though he has tons of them from every year. He just never gets tired of photographing them from different angles!). And, of course, any and every parade. Last year places in Epcot had different holiday foods inspired by the various countries, but we were never able to manage too many of them. Also last year, MVMCP had a bunch of different treats and drinks depending on where you went. I think we managed to try most of them. I also second what many have said - be prepared for every type of temperature. It can swing by a wide margin in 24 hours. Just because it's over 80 one day it doesn't mean that it won't in the low 60's the next.

 

[rangerxenos]

Crowds WON'T be low, I've been to WDW three times in the last 6 years in early December and days of low crowds are gone. Look for Moderate crowds, 4 - 6 at most parks unless it's the weekend.

Weather has been warm for us in December in the last few years -- 80s during the day, cooler at night. You never know though, we hit freezing temps once for the beginning of a trip.