What dates should I go in December 2006?

[zulaya]

I have been in December before, usually the first full week of December. I was reading touringplans.com and they are claiming the second week of December is actually less crowded. I looked and for me, it's only a 2 point difference for 2006. Your opinions please?

 

[sarhenty]

I think the second week is a safer bet in case people want to "extend" there Thanksgiving Weekend into a Thanksgiving Week. People are really tied up at work right before Christmas and technically there is a week in between the 16th and the official "christmas vacation".

 

[zulaya]

I agree with the Thanksgiving comment, however, in 2006, Thanksgiving is November 24. If people extended for the week after Thanksgiving, they'd go through Dec 2 or 3, not really into the first full week of December. At least for 2006, that's how it works out.

Lately, Thanksgiving has been so late in November that I feel it has affected crowds. But I don't know that that will occur in 2006.

 

[Jenny0725]

My DH has been in Orlando all week for business and visiting the parks and DTD at night. He has been suprised at how packed it is. He has even said that the merchandise is very picked over.

 

[4mcbjCtr]

We were just there last week. It was semi crowded. Epcot was a nightmare because of the candlelight processional. I don't think it will make a whole lot of difference. They have created Christmas events that bring guests into the parks, so what used to be not crowded, is now becoming more crowded.

 

[bobbiwoz]

With this weather we're expecting today, I would go as early as I can! Tomorrow is the first day that I CAN go out because today are the last exams that I am giving, and wouldn't you know, we have snow coming. Last year we were there the following week, beginning on the 19th and we came home to a snow blocked Ohio.

Earlier may enable you to get to the members meetings, I would love to go to those.

Bobbi

 

[zulaya]

Good point about the member meetings...I haven't been to one yet and would like to.

I know I could search it out, but would either week make any difference as to whether Merry Member Mixers would be going on? I HAVE to get to one of those.

 

[poohj80]

The first week of December is the Pop Warner and Cheerleading competitions at Wide World of Sports. A friend who works there quoted 14,000 people at WDW just for these events between the participants and their families.

 

[zulaya]

As I said in my OP, I have been at WDW the first week of December. And I have seen the Pop Warner kids...actually only once did we run into one larger group and that was at AK. And they were fairly well behaved...none of the spontaneous cheering or anything.

14,000 when you stop and think about it at WDW is a drop in the bucket...It is a significant group though, I agree.

 

[poohj80]

We experienced the Pop Warner kids a couple years ago and ran into the larger groups more during the evening hours (after the competitions were over for the day maybe?) and did experience the spontaneous cheering. I assume the All Star resorts were pretty full and rowdy during this time but luckliy we weren't staying there. DH is in Orlando this week for training and he said DTD was packed last night (he was guessing due to early park hours and the Pop Warner groups). He had no wait for dinner at Puck's but waited almost 30 minutes to check out at the Christmas store.

 

[OneMoreTry]

I didn't pick one because I don't know.

But we'll be in an OKW GV from the 16th to the 23rd of Dec 2006!! And I can't wait.

 

[zulaya]

OK, there have been 171 views of this post so far but as of now, only 27 votes. Let's get some more votes on there please

 

[bullpup12564]

When we went there it was a ghost town until the following weekend. (I am not sure if that is the week right after Thanksgiving?

 

[J and R's mom]

The second week of December has definitely proven less crowded in my past stays. The post Thanksgiving crowds will all be home (even though it comes earlier next year), as well as the Pop-Warner crowds, and the Christmas crowds aren't there yet.

I was in WDW last week and very surprised at the crowds. I'm guessing the number of folks there had something to do with going the week after Thanksgiving, but I'm not sure. We've never gone so soon after Thanksgiving before. My father's work schedule is why we had to go during that week instead of this week or next week (which was my preference).

The larger crowds could also have something to do with the specials, dining plans and the 50th celebration advertising as well. I asked a CM at Sir Mickeys in the MK if crowds were normally this large this time of year. She said, "No. But we don't know how to gauge crowd levels anymore. It's more crowded now than it usually is this time of year."

So who knows what next year might bring.

 

[janice1234]

i did not vote because i do not know if after thanksgiving is an option for you. we left the monday after thanksgiving and returned that friday. it was a short trip, but little to no crowds. i have been the first week, and also the second week in december, and honestly the end of november was the least crowded i have seen the parks. i hope that helps.

 

[Bigtechsan]

When just got back from the WL. When we got there Sat. the front desk said there were no rooms anywhere n the park until Tues. So If the Thanksgiving crowds stay a week I would go the following week. MK waits werent' bad on Sunday but on Tueday we walked on every ride. Dumbo and the Carousel had no wait. Now that is fun.

 

[JimC]

The adventure season in December is a popular time for DVC but less so for the rest of the resorts. I have not gone during Choice December season, but I don't believe the WDW holiday crowd really starts until around 12/20 and then bulids quickly to a peak for the last week of the month.

 

[zulaya]

Bumping for this week's readers