What about the week BEFORE Christmas....

[ilovdisney2]

We will be at POP From Dec. 18th thru Dec. 23rd and I was wondering if the parks will be packed. We have always went the second week in Dec. but now that the kids are in higher grades it is harder to take out of school for a week.
Let me know if you have been during this time.
Also, I see that we will miss the MVMCP. Will the same parades be offered while we are there?
Thanks so much everyone!
GO OU!

 

[DemonLlama]

Crowds will not be bearly as bad as 25-31. They will build towards the end of your stay, but as long as you get there early you will still have only short waits for most things.

 

[Kaycee]

This will be my second trip during that time. We were at WDW Dec. 18-24, 2002 and I'll be there this year Dec. 16-23. Last time, the crowds were pretty nonexistant the first few days. It got busier throughout the stay, but the only time it was really bad was the Saturday evening before Christmas in MK. This year, I have all my MK time planned for the first couple of days, with MGM in the middle and Epcot at the end of the trip (I'm skipping AK this time) because that seems to be the order of the parks from busiest to least busy.

As for the parade, the afternoon parade becomes the Christmas parade after all the MVMCP's so you'll be able to catch it then.

 

[bytheblood]

The week before Christmas is a great time to go. The crowds were not too bad when we visited in 2002 and the weather was nice during the day. Chilly in the morning and after sundown, but that is what sweatpants are for.

 

[kadaten]

The parks start getting crowded the weekend schools get out. This year, most schools' last day is December 17, so crowds start building on Saturday the 18th and grow until they hit peak and stay there Christmas to New Years.

We were there last year Wednesday, Dec 17 to Monday, Dec 22. The 17th-19th were the last 3 days schools were in....not crowded. Saturday...crowded. Sunday....more crowded. Monday....90 minute wait for It's a Small World! Does that tell you how crowded it was? We couldn't get the stroller through FantasyLand for all the people and other strollers....VERY glad we were leaving that day, not just arriving. Note that it was the first day of school vacation....

This year, that day is Monday, Dec. 20.

Earlier poster suggested doing MK as early as possible in your trip....GREAT advice! It's always the most crowded!! AND, adjust your expectations. Know that at that time of year, you'll ride fewer things and stand in longer lines. That said, it is a TRULY MAGICAL time to be at WDW and I can't wait to do it again!

Have fun!