what's going on the first 2 wks of Dec?

[GSLand]

We have reservations at the Poly Dec 6-10. Now it looks like we can extend the stay on either end by a day ... but according to the WDW site there is no availability at the Poly on either end!
Also checked the Contemporary - no rooms. GF had rooms - but more than I want to pay. Note - online check only - havn't called

We selected this time because the WDW site said it was a low attendence time - but am I getting some bad advice there?
Is there a big something going on, esp at the Poly?
I heard about the pop warner thing - but that they are at one of the other resorts.

 

[luvdisney24]

I think it's just a really popular time to go with all the Christmas decorations going on. Many of the resorts are sold out those first two weeks. I do know Mousefest will be going on but I'm not sure about the dates for that.

You should call Disney. Just because it's not showing up online doesn't mean there is no availability to add a night. - Good Luck!!!

 

[bolgers love wdw]

The first two weeks of December aren't as "slow" as they used to be. My DH and his family have always gone at that time of the year for almost 15 years now and they have seen a huge increase in the crowds in the past 5 years. So much so, that they are not going this December for the first time in a very very long time. I think what has happened is people caught on that it was a slower time and everything was decorated for Christmas(so pretty), plus it is still value season, so a bit cheaper to go. Also, it is not as hot and humid as the summer...well except this past December(2007)when the weather was actually warmer than our May(2007) trip!!!

We were watching some vacation video from December 1998 and it was EMPTY!! Now I have only been going to WDW since 2002(14 trips already!!!) and when I watched that video from 1998, I was so surprised to see how uncrowded it was!!

Anyways...you could always call and double check to see if they have any rooms available for you.

 

[Karlzmom]

I think it's just a really popular time to go with all the Christmas decorations going on. Many of the resorts are sold out those first two weeks. I do know Mousefest will be going on but I'm not sure about the dates for that.

You should call Disney. Just because it's not showing up online doesn't mean there is no availability to add a night. - Good Luck!!!

I see that Mousefest is set for the Sea trip 12/7 - 12/11 and land 12/11- 12/15.

I am sooo glad I booked back in January, as it is surprising how full everything is for a "slow" time.

 

[Country Flower]

I just know about the Soho expo dec. 4-7 in the Dolphin. Natural products distributors.

 

[ahill004]

I would call and ask in person. They may have room available for one night if you talk to someone live.

 

[hoosiergirl7]

In May I looked into booking a trip from the 2nd until the 10th at the Poly. The quote I got for 4 people including the DDP was $3700. We weren't ready to book yet as we needed the cash to do it. Well about a month later I went back and there were no rooms available. So instead of going in Dec, we're going in Oct during the F & W festival. We're planning on going Dec '09 and this time we'll plan a little better. Since this was the "slow" time I figured it wouldn't be a big deal to wait a little longer to book. Boy was I wrong!

Actually it's kind of a relief that it happened though. Not too long ago we found out that the military is going to move us again. Not sure when yet but we could be dealing with movers & packers at the beginning of Dec instead.

 

[disneyfan2]

we tried to extnend our package as we arrive Dec 6th but our TA advised us it was booked up(value resort POP) i figure it is sold out because of Pop Warner booking value hotels. Anyways, we are looking at moving it up to the first week instead, as that had availablity?

 

[RachaelA]

Do these things go on every year around the same time?

I'm starting to plan a December '09 trip so I'd like to avoid any of the "special weeks" if possible before the holiday prices start.

 

[DisneyChristmas]

We couldn't get in Poly or GF (any type room) for any days during first two weeks of December 2008! We've often visited during the 2nd week of December and always found moderate crowds. What a difference this year!

We just booked Poly Hawaii for 3rd week of December last night and were able to get Lagoon view.

 

[sherry8253]

We are arriving the 4th of Dec and leaving on the 15th. We are having to split our stay because we couldn't get the entire time at either one of the resorts we wanted. We booked back in Feb or March. No AAA rate available at the AKL either.

 

[TDC Nala]

December is no longer slow. DVC has been that way for quite a long time. If you don't have your reservations booked early, you don't get one.

Mousefest is not large enough to cause sellouts at the resorts or crowds in the parks. Attendees generally roam in smaller groups.

The Pop Warner tournament will limit availability at the values and possibly moderates for the first weekend of December. They also generally rent the Studios for an evening party, so it closes early on one night. Deluxes may be more popular at that time because other guests try to avoid staying in the same resorts as the Pop Warner groups.

A lot of families either take the kids out of school or are on varying school schedules, and they prefer to go in the first two weeks of December, when the resorts are cheaper and the Christmas festivities are in full swing.

 

[mountain man]

This seems rather odd to me for several reasons.

Last year they offered discounts for this period. We booked in Aug or Sept with no problem. At the All star sports they were renovating a whole building, which was vacant. Also given the gas prices and a lot of airlines cutting flights.

Should I start to panic and book now or hope for some discounts later?

 

[skipperkim]

I'm hoping it isn't too busy. I'll be there the first weekend in Dec. I'm also hoping that Disney comes out with a discount for my dates so I can upgrade to AKL.

 

[RaySharpton]

As others have said, the first two weeks are not as slow as they used to be over a decade or more ago, and after "911" attack and after the 2008 financial, home mortgage, job loss crash. And many schools have changed over the years from routine Thankgiving/Christmas vacations to year round school and home schooling offering many more different vacation schedules than before.

Another thing is that on December 6th is the official opening of Magic Kingdom's New Fantasyland section, so that might bring a lot of people back.

And the youth Pop Warner Football and Cheerleader championships have been coming at this time for over a decade. The 2012 Pop Warner Super Bowl and National Cheer & Dance Championships will take place from Saturday, December 1, 2012 through Saturday, December 9, 2012 at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. 64 football teams compete for National Championships and the Cheer & Dance Championships feature over 300 cheer and dance squads. Even though this sounds like a large group, most will be practicing for their games until they lose and then maybe go to the parks to enjoy themselves. I am sure the ESPN sports field areas will be busy.

And I guess the economy has gotten a little better, too, and more people in the world can now afford that WDW vacation, and maybe, they always wanted to go in November and December.

I think that the first two weeks in December are still better than Thankgiving week and weekend and during the Christmas and New Year's week and days.

I have been going to WDW for the first two weeks every year for over a decade and I have been lucky to be there when several Disney website groups were meeting up.

Last year the DISboard DISUnPlugged Podcast had a wonder December night at Universal Studios Harry Potter World all to ourselves after the park closed.

And there has not been an official "Mousefest" for years. Once upon a time, "MouseFest" consisted of many online Disney websites, Disney forums, Disney book authurs, all meeting together until it just got to big, I think. But last year and this year there are several planned groups called Reunion 2012 and R.A.D.P. Disney groups that are planning meets.

www.reunion2012.com/schedule Reunion 2012 is only meeting 4 days and 146 people have signed up. They are meeting from November 9- December 2, 2012.

http://meets.radp.org/radp17 Recreation Arts Disney Parks has been around before forums like the DISboards ever started and meet almost every year, too. They are also meeting for 4 days from December 7-10, 2012. The largest meet last year was about 100+ people.

www.themagicinpixels.com/2012/06/pixelmania-2012-announcement Pixelmania 2012 is another group of about 43 that will be having their Disney meets for for 4 days from December 6-9, 2012.

And there could possibly other conventions going on or other groups, but I just think that is could be that more people are able to go on vacations now than they were since the 2008 financial, home mortgage, job loss crash.

I am lucky since I can plan to go every year at the same time and make my reservation over 11 months in advance. I know sometimes it is difficult for me to get a BoardWalk Villa Standard Studio even when I try to make reservations at 11 months in advance with missing days reservations already made by others before the start of my reservation arriving date.

I really don't know the answer, but I hope that you get your rooms.

 

[minnie mum]

I really don't know the answer, but I hope that you get your rooms.

I enjoyed reading your post, and your list of factors influencing occupancy levels, but I think the OP will have finished her vacation. That first post was from 4 years ago.