When in December is there a noticeable rise in crowds?

[valerie160]

We had to cancel our October trip and rebooked a December (near christmas) trip and I'm getting nervous about crowds.

We are there from Dec 13-Dec 20. I think we'll be done with the parks on Dec 19 and spend Dec 20 at DS before heading home.

What should I except by way of crowds? Will crowds start to get crazy that weekend (Dec 15th onwards?).

Thanks!

 

[ShadeDK]

You should be fine. The crowds will not be as light as the first couple of weeks of December, but still very manageable. I go during this time (and will be there again this year). Crowds will start to increase through the week, but I don't expect it will be all that noticeable until the end of the week (Dec 21-22) - but you'll have headed out by that time.

Edit: following up on the comments by @mom2rtk below, the rates support that trend:

Fall rates ($) - Nov 25 to Dec 9
Regular rates ($$) - Dec 10 to Dec 14
Peak rates ($$$) - Dec 15 to Dec 21
Holiday rates ($$$$$) - Dec 22 to Dec 31

 

[mom2rtk]

Disney knows when the crowds are coming. Check when rates roll over to peak pricing. That will tell you when the big crowds are expected to arrive.

 

[stinkpickle]

The parks start getting crowded shortly after they open.





Sorry...couldn't help it.

 

[rangerxenos]

You shouldn't hit insane crowds, but December (before Christmas) has gotten a lot more popular.

 

[Oswin]

I'd say that starting around Friday the 15 it will pick up considerably and be very very crowded, but it won't be insane until probably the 20-22. Last year we went from December 14- Jan 1 and noticed that it was already pretty busy when we arrived but it wasn't madhouse packed until about the 20. Go in expecting it to be busy, but not completely unmanageable. The thing to remember this year is that a lot of people in Sept rescheduled for December, and schools seem to be getting out for winter break anywhere from December 15-December 22. I think crowd levels in December will be unusual in the weeks before Christmas this year because of those reasons.

 

[matheke]

The Saturday before Christmas (usually). One year, I booked our trip a little late and we stayed at one of the All-Stars. Friday was nice but when we hit the food court on Saturday it was standing room only. We went to the MK that day and it was wall to wall people. We went back to the resort around noon, used the pool, packed and went to Downtown Disney and were glad we left Sunday morning.

 

[mom2rtk]

The Saturday before Christmas. One year, I booked our trip a little late and we stayed at one of the All-Stars. Friday was nice but when we hit the food court on Saturday it was standing room only. We went to the MK that day and it was wall to wall people. We went back to the resort around noon, used the pool, packed and went to Downtown Disney and were glad we left Sunday morning.

Generally speaking that's true. However, with Christmas on a Monday, many schools will let out at various times over that prior week. So it's not as clear cut as it might be.

I do know one year we were there when Christmas was on a Thursday and that Saturday prior (our departure day) was a sight to behold, with so many cars arriving all at once.

 

[matheke]

Generally speaking that's true. However, with Christmas on a Monday, many schools will let out at various times over that prior week. So it's not as clear cut as it might be.

I do know one year we were there when Christmas was on a Thursday and that Saturday prior (our departure day) was a sight to behold, with so many cars arriving all at once.

We had the same experience in reverse around Thanksgiving. Arrived the Friday after and did Universal that Saturday (Thank you head of the line). It was so crazy I could not log on with my lap top or phone at OKW. That Sunday it look as if everybody left and I was able to get on-line the rest of the week with no problem.

 

[valerie160]

The thing to remember this year is that a lot of people in Sept rescheduled for December, and schools seem to be getting out for winter break anywhere from December 15-December 22. I think crowd levels in December will be unusual in the weeks before Christmas this year because of those reasons.

I didn't even think about this!

 

[valerie160]

Edit: following up on the comments by @mom2rtk below, the rates support that trend:

Fall rates ($) - Nov 25 to Dec 9
Regular rates ($$) - Dec 10 to Dec 14
Peak rates ($$$) - Dec 15 to Dec 21
Holiday rates ($$$$$) - Dec 22 to Dec 31

This is SUPER helpful! Thank you!!

 

[wgeo]

FWIW - Disney's block out dates for resident annual passes starts on the 18th, the specific date changes each year so it has to mean something for what they are expecting for crowds.

 

[mom2rtk]

FWIW - Disney's block out dates for resident annual passes starts on the 18th, the specific date changes each year so it has to mean something for what they are expecting for crowds.

Which means the parks will be packed with APs that weekend.

 

[Gentry2004]

Which means the parks will be packed with APs that weekend.

Unfortunately, I think a lot of schools are closing for the winter holiday as of 12/15 (I know our large county and the large county next to us are, as well as the large county my parents live in 2 hours away.) We are going that week 12/16-12/23 and I'm expecting it to be extremely crowded, although better than the following week.

 

[mikeyg1479]

Crowds are generally light and manageable until you get to that Christmas week. I'd say it could potentially start getting dicey the weekend starting 12/16 since that's the week pre-ceding Christmas, when people might start taking days off work for the holiday, but the big rush will probably come the following weekend (23rd/24th) since Christmas is a Monday this year. I think you'll want to get as much done the first couple days you are there, because it will probably be a lot dicier for the later part of the trip.