Resorts booked first week in Dec?

[tlynk]

Other than Mousefest does anyone know why the PO's are booked up the first week in December? I noticed the standard rooms at AKL and WL are booked too, along with 2 days at the Swan and Dolphin?? I hope I didn't choose the wrong dates to go to WDW?? My family will be on a Disney Cruise the latter part of the week and I'm wondering if I should go to WDW after the cruise? Due to kids schedules if we do WDW after the cruise we would have 3 days in the parks vs. 4. It would be worth it if there are fewer crowds. We don't mind missing the MK since we have Disneyland within driving distance.

 

[maggiew]

All that is available at the All Stars are preferred rooms. I can't get a standard room at any of the 3.

Pop has standard rooms available though.

I was thinking maybe the cheerleaders would be there???????

Maggie

 

[Hasil72]

I think Maggie is right. Between MouseFest and the Pop Warner football players and cheerleaders a huge amount of rooms been booked. We were planning on arriving that Sunday the 11th and are having a hard time finding a room. I have to make a list of the rooms/resorts I'm interested in and call back to see what's open. Good luck!

 

[nursemelis374]

I really believe that early December is getting more popular. We read last year all over the boards and on other sites that this was the best time to go. We were there December 1st through 10th last year. Crowds were tolerable, but much higher than expected. The weather was also freezing all but 2 days. Yes, we are from California, but we talked with a bunch of east-coasters in lines and while waiting who were commenting on how cold it was.

 

[Hasil72]

We were there in Dec '99 and it was actually warmer in New Jersey than it was in Disney. The cast members couldn't stop commenting on the record lows. I've always wanted to take the kids to see the Christmas decorations (and celebrate our anniversary) but I've read so much about the increasing crowds lately that I might rethink going in December.

 

[bleeps]

Yes -- this was well documented from last year --

Pop Warner and Cheerleaders pretty much account for all the values selling out.

WL and AKL have many, many repeat families and do a great job pulling in new families because of the magical holiday atmosphere.

Mousefest is lovely but doesn't "move the needle" in terms of attendance levels.

In all likelihood, all on-property places will fill up, if they haven't already, because WDW has done such a great job promoting the holiday season and plenty of us like to take it all in without actually spending the holidays there.

The plus side is that the off-property places remain virtually empty, and that's what keeps the crowds lower. We went last December and are going again this December for the first week of the month -- agreed that the crowds are a little more than what we'd expect BUT still much less than during peak times.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

We had a hard time getting a standard room the second week of December at WL last year. The amount of people that are going in early December was drastically increased from when we went the second week of December 2001. If you're used to going in July type crowds than it'll seem "dead" to you but if you're expecting to truly have non-existent crowds (as we had been spoiled with Dec. 2001), it's a lot more crowded. Also, everyone makes a big deal about how WL has such beautiful holiday decorations and is so festive (and it is beautiful), but we visited all of the moderate and deluxe resorts last year and by far all of our favorites were Poly and Boardwalk as far as the decorations and holiday feel. WL is nice but it was just so crowded (it felt more crowded in the resort than it did at the parks). We would come back at 1-2 a.m. from PI and there would still be kids running all over the lobby and up and down the halls. When compared to Christmas week all of this would seem extremely uncrowded but if you haven't been in a few years and the last time you were there was during the "value" season, things have changed a little. But of course, all of this is just my opinion. Some people thought it was not crowded at all.

 

[5disneyfreaks]

I made our ressies last week for POR and there were only 10 rooms left for the AAA discount. Seeing that this is the first time we are using AAA, I didn't know if this was odd or what. I did find it strange that their were so few rooms left.
I should probably tell you that we are going Dec. 12-19. Are the crowds really going to be that bad?

 

[Hasil72]

I am wondering as well. Have the crowds increased that much? We were hoping to go 12/10-15. Thought the crowds would be less overwhelming for DS with an autism spectrum disorder. Should I reconsider going at another time? DS6 and DD3 won't care. They'll still be flipping that we're back at Disney.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

It's really not THAT bad. Most lines were 10-20 minutes (which is a huge difference from 45min.-2 1/2 hour wait during peak times) with the most we waited was 30-40 min. for Soarin' during our last trip. It was just a huge difference for us from when we went in 2001 where there was literally NO lines for anything. We walked on almost every ride. It just seems to pick up attendance a little more with every passing year during early December.

**I should also add we were there from Dec 10-20th. The crowds really started to pick up towards the end of the week for people coming for the following Christmas week.

 

[Cory's Gal]

We went to WDW last Dec 1-5. I booked all of our stuff in September 2005 and was able to get a room at POR even with Mousefest and Pop Warner. It sounds like we got lucky! I found the crowds VERY low and the weather was pleasant, just about 70 everyday and no rain. Good luck!!

 

[Tikiman]

We booked the Polynesian back in February and then most of the lagoon view rooms and all of the garden view concierge rooms were booked for the first part of December. My travel planner said that they are getting very full for the beginning of December. It is Value Season and actually Christmas Time beats out 4th of July for attendance. I always wanted to see WDW with the decorations since we love Disneyland during the holidays but I will be happy to go back to visiting in July. I like the warmer weather and the longer hours. I also like to swim a lot and I have heard that swimming will be limited because of the weather.