Theoretically, which days should be least crowded for MVMCP

[famsen]

Just wondering, historically what is the best days to go in December?

 

[bibbidibobbidibecky]

Earlier in the month and not on a weekend.

 

[larryz]

Tuesdays/Wednesdays.

Another good clue is to check the evenings with "discount" rates -- those are nights Disney is NOT expecting to fill up...

 

[kellyg403]

Tuesdays/Wednesdays.

Another good clue is to check the evenings with "discount" rates -- those are nights Disney is NOT expecting to fill up...

+1



Kelly

 

[MermaidMommy]

How bad are weekends in early December? Against my advice , some members of our group aren't coming in early enough to make a Wednesday party, so we're stuck going on Friday, Dec. 2. I'm hoping that Christmas is still far enough away to help, but realistically, do I need to brace myself for a huge turnout? I loved MVMCP the first and only time we went, but that was back in 2004, and the crowds were light. I talked everyone into going because it was so much fun, but I'm really getting worried about the crowds, especially since we'll have a 4-year old with us, who'll want to do the shows, parade, characters -- you know, all the really crowded stuff!

 

[keholman15]

Do not choose a weekend . earlier in the month are best. Wednesdays is a best time.

 

[mom2princesses2]

I didn't realize the night we are going (11/8) is discounted...hoping for lower crowds!!

 

[mkoerner]

We will be going on Wednesday, Dec. 7. Hoping for low crowds, but still very excited to see all of the decorations and take lots of pictures!

 

[Singinglizzie]

I didn't realize the night we are going (11/8) is discounted...hoping for lower crowds!!

The night your are going in Nov. might be the least attended party for the year - let us know how it actually is, by posting back here.

 

[mom2rtk]

I don't actually subscribe to that discount theory. I think the discount actually draws people TO those party nights, especially with tickets already as high as they are.

We were at a sold out party on a 12/16 (a Tuesday) in 08. I later heard the prior Tuesday (the 9th) was also sold out. That Thursday we also went (the 18th) but it wasn't sold out. I didn't understand, but finally put it all together when someone here pointed out that the 9th and 16th were the discount nights.

Didn't matter in 09 when every party that last week sold out.

Last year we were there the 14th and 16th but the weather drove the crowds. Tuesday night it dipped into the 20's keeping the crowds at bay. Thursday the 16th was the most packed (and sold out) I've ever seen.

Another point....... when people say avoid the weekend, I agree, but only with Friday. I think Sunday could actually be preferable to the mid-week nights. Fridays sell out because of the locals who come out. Sunday that's not an issue as they go back to work the next morning.

Soooo.......

1) Always avoid Fridays if you can.

2) Early to mid-November is best.

3) Avoid Veteran's Day

4) Avoid the very first party after the Thanksgiving break.

4) ANY date in December can sell out

5) If going in December, the earlier the better.

6) Once you buy your tickets, stop thinking about it. Unless you're going in November, don't expect a small crowd.

That leaves .......... what?............... 2 or 3 parties with the potential for a small crowd? I'm pretty sure the Disney bean counters planned it that way.

 

[larryz]

I don't actually subscribe to that discount theory. I think the discount actually draws people TO those party nights, especially with tickets already as high as they are.

But that's why Disney doesn't discount the weekend parties. They know they're going to get the local traffic. They only discount to bring up attendance when they know there will be lighter evenings. Profit in numbers and all that.

I agree with your comment that earlier in December is better, as it seems that school closings for the holidays get softer and softer each year -- or is it that more and more parents risk incurring the wrath of the attendance police for a slightly better Disney experience?

Never mind! I'm not starting that discussion here!

 

[Bamagal]

We will be going on Wednesday, Dec. 7. Hoping for low crowds, but still very excited to see all of the decorations and take lots of pictures!

Same here. I've always heard Wednesday's arent too crowded.

 

[mom2rtk]

But that's why Disney doesn't discount the weekend parties. They know they're going to get the local traffic. They only discount to bring up attendance when they know there will be lighter evenings. Profit in numbers and all that.

I agree with your comment that earlier in December is better, as it seems that school closings for the holidays get softer and softer each year -- or is it that more and more parents risk incurring the wrath of the attendance police for a slightly better Disney experience?

Never mind! I'm not starting that discussion here!

I know exactly what you're saying. But I'm just saying that the results Disney gets with those discounts makes up for the anticipated low crowds. And in the absence of the discounts, those nights probably would have been lesser attended. I'm just going with my own personal experience. The discount nights (which I KNOW were discounted because they expected lower attendance) were sold out but the non-discounted ones were not. Don't get me wrong, plenty of non-discounted ones sell out too. But if you can get to a non-Friday, non-discounted night, I think your odds are better.

Same here. I've always heard Wednesday's arent too crowded.

I don't know about years past, but for at least the last few years they didn't do Wednesday parties at all. They typically did Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. I know this because we always do 2 parties (Tues/Thurs) and this Tues/Wed change-up this year really messed up my routine!

 

[mlnbabies]

We are going Dec. 4 which is a Sun. I hope that the crowds will be ok. We will be there all week so if the weather is bad we can go Tues or Wed.

 

[*DisneyDreamer]

We will be going on Wednesday, Dec. 7. Hoping for low crowds, but still very excited to see all of the decorations and take lots of pictures!

This is the day we're planning to go as well. I can't wait! Definitely hoping it will be good in terms of crowds, but I'm sure we'll still have fun no matter what.

 

[juliebug1997]

We're going Nov. 11th and 13th. I know the first one is probably going to be a madhouse but we're going anyways. I'm hoping the 13th won't be quite so bad.

My brother and I went last Christmas to the next to last party and I didn't find the crowds to be terrible at all. We had very little wait on most rides (it was like 9 AM crowds for the 5 hours). The longest line we had was for the Dwarves.