Hi all!! First let me start by saying that before our trip, I learned so much from reading here!!! My trip report will not be as grand or detailed as many, but I will fill you in on a few things we did. 
On this trip was myself, my husband and our 2 teenage daughters.
* Our week was December 13-19th 2012. I cannot believe how quiet the parks were!!! Although I credit the slow parks to following easyWDW park recommendations - I did the parks they recommended & am so happy we did! We met many families on busses and monorails who were at different parks on different days than we were and they were so frustrated with wait times. Do your research!
* We flew in on Thursday the 13th and landed at about noon. A shuttle was waiting for us with our name at the airport. We paid $120 round trip to our hotel & back the following week. We checked into our hotel and decided to ride the monorail & get off to look at the resorts on the monorail. Then we headed back to our hotel to swim. We had beautiful weather all week - I was worried about December, but it was in the upper 70's to mid 80's.
*Friday the 14th we headed to Animal Kingdom. We were there about 5 minutes after they opened or so. We walked to Expedition Everest & rode twice in a row with 5 minute wait times. We then went to Dinosaur and rode with a 5 minute wait. Then we went to the Safari - we waited about 15 minutes to get on & saw every animal there was to see. Our day was a little overcast which helps, I guess. We ate lunch at Flame Tree BBQ - great food. We all did a version of ribs & chicken and a chocolate dessert to share. Perfect amount for lunch. We did the rest of the attractions & shows, including Nemo and Lion King. We also headed back to EE and rode 2 more times with less than 10 minute waits. Dinosaur was broken down when we went back at about 5:30pm. We stayed til close and went back to our hotel for dinner.
*Saturday the 15th we headed to Epcot at opening. We did all of the rides with very minimal wait times - all less than 30 minutes - most about 10. EXCEPT TestTrack. The wait was supposed to be 40 minutes, but turned out to be 90 minutes - there were issues apparently and they weren't able to run as many people through as they usually can. We did not think the ride was worth 90 minutes. We had ridden the older version and don't think that the newer version is anything great. We were all pretty disappointed to wait that long for a ride that was mediocre. We ate at Sunshine Seasons for lunch - we all had sandwiches with noodles on the side and shared another chocolate dessert. Food was good, not great. We went back to our hotel for dinner and came back to Epcot again for Illuminations. Wonderful day!
*Sunday the 16th we went to Universal Islands of Adventure at opening. Very slow crowds that day - waits for the Hulk rollercoaster were 5 minutes. Harry Potter waits were about 20 minutes. Dragon Challenge roller coaster waits were 10 minutes. We ate at Captain America diner & had good burgers. Headed back to our hotel at about 7pm.
*Monday the 17th we went to Hollywood Studios at opening. Wait times were minimal here too. We went to Toy Story Mania and got a fast pass first - then got in a 15 minute line to ride it. Then we headed to Tower of Terror, line was 15 minutes max, Rockin' Roller Coaster was the longest wait at 20 minutes. We walked around a bit and headed back to TSM and got on in about 10 minutes. We hadn't made any reservations, but decided to try the 50's Prime Time. We were told there would be a 35 min. wait, but we only waited about 20. Waitress was wonderful! Food was delicious!! Would definitely eat there again! We re-rode all of the rides except TSM - lines were at about 80 min. for the rest of the day. We saw the 6:30pm Fantasmic! show - getting in at about 5:15pm. We brought snacks in and just rested our feet and ate. The show is incredible!! Then we headed back to see the Dancing Osborne Lights - totally worth seeing!
* Tuesday the 18th we went to Magic Kingdom about 1/2 an hour after opening. Lines for everything were minimal - longest line was for PeterPan and that was 40, but ended up being about 25. We got in line at the Be Our Guest restaurant for lunch. Line was long, but we were in within 20 minutes. Food was very good - we had steak sandwiches, turkey sandwiches, a ham & cheese sandwich and 4 different desserts. All yummy. We walked around each room and found a table pretty easily. Definitely worth eating there.
*Wednesday the 19th we flew home. All in all, lines were not as long as posted at any ride (except TestTrack). Crowds were low. Weather was great. I would definitely plan another trip during this 2nd week of December.
If you have any questions, please ask.
On this trip was myself, my husband and our 2 teenage daughters.* Our week was December 13-19th 2012. I cannot believe how quiet the parks were!!! Although I credit the slow parks to following easyWDW park recommendations - I did the parks they recommended & am so happy we did! We met many families on busses and monorails who were at different parks on different days than we were and they were so frustrated with wait times. Do your research!
* We flew in on Thursday the 13th and landed at about noon. A shuttle was waiting for us with our name at the airport. We paid $120 round trip to our hotel & back the following week. We checked into our hotel and decided to ride the monorail & get off to look at the resorts on the monorail. Then we headed back to our hotel to swim. We had beautiful weather all week - I was worried about December, but it was in the upper 70's to mid 80's.
*Friday the 14th we headed to Animal Kingdom. We were there about 5 minutes after they opened or so. We walked to Expedition Everest & rode twice in a row with 5 minute wait times. We then went to Dinosaur and rode with a 5 minute wait. Then we went to the Safari - we waited about 15 minutes to get on & saw every animal there was to see. Our day was a little overcast which helps, I guess. We ate lunch at Flame Tree BBQ - great food. We all did a version of ribs & chicken and a chocolate dessert to share. Perfect amount for lunch. We did the rest of the attractions & shows, including Nemo and Lion King. We also headed back to EE and rode 2 more times with less than 10 minute waits. Dinosaur was broken down when we went back at about 5:30pm. We stayed til close and went back to our hotel for dinner.
*Saturday the 15th we headed to Epcot at opening. We did all of the rides with very minimal wait times - all less than 30 minutes - most about 10. EXCEPT TestTrack. The wait was supposed to be 40 minutes, but turned out to be 90 minutes - there were issues apparently and they weren't able to run as many people through as they usually can. We did not think the ride was worth 90 minutes. We had ridden the older version and don't think that the newer version is anything great. We were all pretty disappointed to wait that long for a ride that was mediocre. We ate at Sunshine Seasons for lunch - we all had sandwiches with noodles on the side and shared another chocolate dessert.
Food was good, not great. We went back to our hotel for dinner and came back to Epcot again for Illuminations. Wonderful day!*Sunday the 16th we went to Universal Islands of Adventure at opening. Very slow crowds that day - waits for the Hulk rollercoaster were 5 minutes. Harry Potter waits were about 20 minutes. Dragon Challenge roller coaster waits were 10 minutes. We ate at Captain America diner & had good burgers. Headed back to our hotel at about 7pm.
*Monday the 17th we went to Hollywood Studios at opening. Wait times were minimal here too. We went to Toy Story Mania and got a fast pass first - then got in a 15 minute line to ride it. Then we headed to Tower of Terror, line was 15 minutes max, Rockin' Roller Coaster was the longest wait at 20 minutes. We walked around a bit and headed back to TSM and got on in about 10 minutes. We hadn't made any reservations, but decided to try the 50's Prime Time. We were told there would be a 35 min. wait, but we only waited about 20. Waitress was wonderful! Food was delicious!! Would definitely eat there again! We re-rode all of the rides except TSM - lines were at about 80 min. for the rest of the day. We saw the 6:30pm Fantasmic! show - getting in at about 5:15pm. We brought snacks in and just rested our feet and ate. The show is incredible!! Then we headed back to see the Dancing Osborne Lights - totally worth seeing!
* Tuesday the 18th we went to Magic Kingdom about 1/2 an hour after opening. Lines for everything were minimal - longest line was for PeterPan and that was 40, but ended up being about 25. We got in line at the Be Our Guest restaurant for lunch. Line was long, but we were in within 20 minutes. Food was very good - we had steak sandwiches, turkey sandwiches, a ham & cheese sandwich and 4 different desserts. All yummy. We walked around each room and found a table pretty easily. Definitely worth eating there.
*Wednesday the 19th we flew home. All in all, lines were not as long as posted at any ride (except TestTrack). Crowds were low. Weather was great. I would definitely plan another trip during this 2nd week of December.
If you have any questions, please ask.
