Tell me about December....

[Jeannie in NJ]

I think it might have been 2010 when we went the 3rd week of Dec. Cms told us it was the coldest winter there in 40 years. Highs of 40's during the day, colder than it was back home in New Jersey. I had left my fleece lined hoodie in the car at the airport back in NJ so I was freezing . I went into a shop at either MK or Epcot and asked if they had any fleece lined hoodies or jackets. They didn't have any in the shop but the cm made some phone calls and shortly another cm showed up with a brown fleece lined hoodie with a huge pink Mickey on the back. It is my warmest jacket I own. We froze all week , never even thought about going in the pools but we still managed to have a great time, just a very cold time. Had the refillable mugs and drank a lot of hot chocolate. The next year, we went the week after New Year's, wore shorts , went in pool every day, wore light sweatshirts at night.

For about a month before we go to Disney, we really up the vitamin d, and none of us has ever gotten sick at Disney.

Also, it was not crowded either trip.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

Oh yes. DDIL, DGD and I all came back (started dec 4) with the sinus infection/sore throat/cough-congestion bug. We're very careful hand washers, anti bacterial wet wipes people, too. I finally felt well on December 24.

 

[lauradis]

Im hoping for 80 degree weather in first week of dec this year.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

I also want to add that I got a great sweatshirt (on sale) at the adventure land shop, a nice fleece lined jacket at the Emporium for my son (25.00) and my favorite is a black fleece jacket with a Santa Mickey silhouette in green that I got at a MVMCP one year. We carry a 4 foot Christmas tree with Disney ornaments for the room.

 

[judeis]

I agree with PP's!! Absolutely the best time to go. All the parks are so beautiful and it feels so special. Definitely check the weather before and do as another PP said and plan for + or -5° or so. If you are able to move up your trip, I would. The first two weeks in December are wonderful, but once you get past the late teens, it is a parking lot of people.

 

[Figmentmommy]

I agree with PP's!! Absolutely the best time to go. All the parks are so beautiful and it feels so special. Definitely check the weather before and do as another PP said and plan for + or -5° or so. If you are able to move up your trip, I would. The first two weeks in December are wonderful, but once you get past the late teens, it is a parking lot of people.

Agreed. Last year we arrived on 12/13 and checked out on 12/20. You could see the increase in crowds that day - which was the Saturday before Christmas. We loved being there right before Christmas but heading home before the crowds settled in. I will say that early December just isn't the same low crowds as it used to be several years ago - but still considerably lower than actual Christmas crowd levels. I think we have a new definition of low these days!

 

[Figmentmommy]

Oh yes. DDIL, DGD and I all came back (started dec 4) with the sinus infection/sore throat/cough-congestion bug. We're very careful hand washers, anti bacterial wet wipes people, too. I finally felt well on December 24.

Our family too! We were there starting 12/13. Must have been going around!

 

[lauradis]

Our trip this year is Dec 1 - 6, 2015 I hoping for crowd levels of 5 or less and warmer weather then 50.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

Our trip this year is Dec 1 - 6, 2015 I hoping for crowd levels of 5 or less and warmer weather then 50.

You probably have a chance at 5 or less at the parks other than MK. Would definitely do MVMCP for lower crowds and watch the EMH days for the other parks. HS was so crowded due to Frozen, Osbourne lights and EMH. My mistake. Day times 70ish pleasant, nights cool, a couple of rainy days. Have a great time!

 

[goofy4tink]

Well, I've been to WDW in early Dec every year, except '14, for the past 11 years. I have had weather that was miserable....cold and damp, in the high 330's at night. And believe me, that's cold in central Fl. I'm from Mass, so you wouldn't think I would feel that cold, but I did. I've seldom had weather higher than the low 70's during the day. I've been there when it's cold enough for the rhododendron's to curl their leaves all the way under!! CMs in hats, scarves and mittens. Of course, they do that when it gets below 60!!

It's a great time of year to go...used to be fairly uncrowded. But, the secret is out...lots more people there now. But, that's not stopping me from going back this Dec!!!!

 

[lauradis]

You probably have a chance at 5 or less at the parks other than MK. Would definitely do MVMCP for lower crowds and watch the EMH days for the other parks. HS was so crowded due to Frozen, Osbourne lights and EMH. My mistake. Day times 70ish pleasant, nights cool, a couple of rainy days. Have a great time!

The frozen stuff worries me. I love crowds, but hubby hates them.

I know Mk like the back of my hand, old pro of getting as much out of high season days. Im good there.

This is trip is high lights of V&A chef table if I can get it. then the extra xmas stuff, and of course tot as many times as my dd wants. Everything else is gravy.

 

[Minniekins]

We have been going that time of year for awhile now. wE were there in 2010and2011 when they had the coldest weather, we were freezing and it was awful. One of those years, there was the marathon with ice on the roads and I heard they held the runners back awhile. They all came back with those foil blankets. Even on the newscasts we'd see , they were warning about the cold telling people they needed to wear hats and scarves, gloves and coats! Being from near Chicago, that seemed pretty silly to hear on the news, lol! The next couple years in mid December were okay, some good days and a few cold ones. 2013 dec 7-15, we had like 72-80 over the week for the most part, and in 2014, we had 78-83 for the 10 days, it was great! We love going then for all the beautiful Christmas things going on so we take the risk that it might be chilly, but I really a sweat it out til we are there and the weather is decent, lol! Those two years of super cold weather were awful and every year I dread if it will turn so cold, and I won't be able to handle it again, lol! Still, I definitely recommend a trip during Christmas time, it's wonderful!

 

[Mambo Junkie]

The frozen stuff worries me. I love crowds, but hubby hates them.

I know Mk like the back of my hand, old pro of getting as much out of high season days. Im good there.

This is trip is high lights of V&A chef table if I can get it. then the extra xmas stuff, and of course tot as many times as my dd wants. Everything else is gravy.

I do too but I was ill prepared for the number of people. I was definitely out of my comfort zone. I usually go in September and January/February, and only 1 Christmas did the crowds reach what I experienced last December. I've even gone at Spring break and using the fp- system it was doable. This was a whole 'nother animal.
ETA: Still I would go again at this time of year; it's so beautiful.

 

[lauradis]

I do too but I was ill prepared for the number of people. I was definitely out of my comfort zone. I usually go in September and January/February, and only 1 Christmas did the crowds reach what I experienced last December. I've even gone at Spring break and using the fp- system it was doable. This was a whole 'nother animal.
ETA: Still I would go again at this time of year; it's so beautiful.

The sure volume increase and fp+ and dd is getting older to like different places is why we pick a December lowest volume week to go, for one of our last family trips.

 

[Figmentmommy]

The frozen stuff worries me. I love crowds, but hubby hates them.

I know Mk like the back of my hand, old pro of getting as much out of high season days. Im good there.

This is trip is high lights of V&A chef table if I can get it. then the extra xmas stuff, and of course tot as many times as my dd wants. Everything else is gravy.

We didn't really notice too much of a crowd problem at DHS due to Frozen. We did Osborne Lights & Fantasmic during evening EMH and then spent a day doing everything else. (10am-6pm)
Osborne Lights was crowded but definitely not a wall to wall type of feeling. Our trip was 12/13-12/20.

 

[DebbieB]

I've gone the beginning of December many times. One time it was 48 degrees on our arrival day. Another trip it was 80's the whole time. Don't kid yourself if you are from a cold climate that 60 will seem warm. If the sun is out during the day, it will seem warm but as soon as it gets dark, it gets cold. I remember the first time I saw Wishes was that time of year and my teeth were chattering on Main Street.

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

After seeing the prices of the party I am so on the fence. I know most say it needs to be experienced at least once and that the cost of the tickets offsets a day at the parks but with APs it would be close to $300 for my family to attend.

 

[LuvGoofy6]

When we went in 2011 (end of December) we had 90 degree weather. I would have preferred a little cooler. My husband and son brought shorts but my daughter and I brought capris. We girls were wishing we packed shorts!

 

[LuvGoofy6]

I think it might have been 2010 when we went the 3rd week of Dec. Cms told us it was the coldest winter there in 40 years. Highs of 40's during the day, colder than it was back home in New Jersey.

When we were there in 2011 and had 90 degree temps the CM told us that 2009 and 2010 were miserably cold. I remember him saying one of those years the temps were 40. I didn't complain about how warm it was after that.

 

[eyehartdisney]

After seeing the prices of the party I am so on the fence. I know most say it needs to be experienced at least once and that the cost of the tickets offsets a day at the parks but with APs it would be close to $300 for my family to attend.

If the christmas party is anything like the halloween party, you'll be able to do more in that amount of time than an entire day at MK. I always consider MNSSHP to be a purchased fastpass, with an upgraded parade and fireworks!