Tell me about the Week before Christmas

[DizzyStitch]

OK I am a summer Veteran. Although the last trip being a week later really showed me how much crowds can change. We have a reservation for the week of December 15th at SSR near Disney Springs. I've only been once near the holidays and I never expected the opportunity to arise again. I'm pretty excited but I really don't know what to expect since I never looked at any of the holiday stuff. I am bringing my two girls and my daughter's boyfriend from Guatemala. He has only been to the World once. I'm looking for anything from weather and swimming info to crowds and special things to do (hopefully without much cost attached to them.

 

[SJSloan]

We went the week before Christmas in 2016 and it was busy, but totally manageable with a good plan. The weather was all over the place through a couple of days it was into the mid 80s and warm. Most of the mornings were chillier but not terrible and it warmed up quickly. One morning though, it was cold. We were standing at the bus stop in jackets and sweatshirts.

 

[ShadeDK]

I've often gone the week before Christmas in recent years and it's been very manageable with moderate crowds. Expect the crowds to increase, however, as you go through the week - schools will start letting out and more people will start arriving for their Disney Christmas by Wed/Thu. FWIW - since Christmas is on a Tuesday this year, it'll be the first time in a few years that many schools won't have that entire week before Christmas off (which might reduce crowds during the first part your trip).

One of the harder parts to plan for is how MVMCP will impact crowds at other parks on party days - there are four parties during your stay. I'd plan on spending some time at MK during at least one of those days (since the crowds there go down on party days), but understand that it may push crowds up at other parks. If you want to see HEA on one of the non-party nights, expect it to be very crowded.

The weather in mid-December is usually very good - warm during the day (70s - 80s) and cool in the evenings (60s-70s). Best bet, however, is to watch the weather forecast right before your trip and pack accordingly - it can get cold (and it's always interesting to see the kiosks selling hats and gloves). Swimming is definitely possible - the pools are heated and the weather (usually) warm enough. I usually carry a light jacket for the nighttime.

Plenty of things to see in the parks around the holidays - the decorations, the Epcot holiday events in World Showcase (Candlelight Processional, storytellers, etc.), and touring the resorts to see their decorations. DHS was much improved last year in the holiday spirit department and was my favorite park to be in after dark (who can argue with walking down Sunset Boulevard with snow falling amidst green and red palm trees with Tower of Terror made to look like a giant gingerbread house in the distance?).

 

[shanew21]

We've done it twice. The later Christmas is the following week, the better. It will start out not being that bad, but closer to Christmas it gets crazy, especially on non-party Saturdays. It's a freaking madhouse.

 

[Nancyg56]

This is the week we are going, and is about the same time we went several years ago. Now I imagine that it will begin getting crowded by Wednesday, and by Friday it will be very busy, with the weekend being REALLY busy. MK is going to be crowded on Saturday, Monday, Wednesday and again on Saturday because there are no parties those nights. People who want to see the nighttime shows will be there and it is shoulder to shoulder. I would plan MK earlier rather than later in the week on a party day because those days tend to have lighter crowds, however as the week progresses I think it is going to be more crowded, party or no.

I agree with @ShadeDK regarding the other parks. The party days in M are going to impact the other parks, and I bet you will feel it most in DHS, which is smaller that DAK and Epcot.

The weather is all over the place. I suggest you plan on layers. It can get cold, and since my DH seems to be the outlier in our group when it's cold in December, bring your mittens! LOL! He is joining us this year. Seriously, we have had trips that the weather was warm enough to not only swim but to enjoy the pool area, and trips when there was no way to stay out there.

The holiday season is wonderful in WDW> WE go to the Candlelight procession in Epcot, visit the storytellers in the WS, spend time checking out the decorating details all over every park, and make time to resort hop. Really beautiful!

I remember that the last trip I took that brought us home on Sunday the 22nd was crazy from Friday to Saturday, and Sunday even navigating the resort was frustrating. Mange your expectations and you can have a great trip!

 

[TwinkleKS]

We go for Christmas every year. The crowds build the closer to Christmas Day you get and continue to build until New Year's Eve ... when you may feel like half the world is at the World. We totally love it

Weather is totally all over the place. But for the last six years I believe we have managed to swim on Christmas Day ... now 2017 we were freezing a day or two later, but Christmas Day was still nice.

The Candlelight processional is a must see. We like to do MVMCP, but there is an extra charge associated with that. However, if you are arriving mid morning to mid day on your first day, it can be a great alternative to enter MK for that night just for the party.

 

[LovePug]

We are going this same week, also. This is the closest to Christmas we've ever planned on and I'm a tiny bit nervous about the crowds, but I think we will be OK. We will be checking out the Friday before Christmas and I think that's about the time crowds may start ramping up much more. We have been during the 1st and the 2nd week and, as has already been mentioned, the weather can fluctuate quite a bit, so just be prepared for that possibility. The atmosphere is unmatched, IMO.