When is the best time to book trip for next December?

[abent]

We went in October this year, but I want to go next year in december. I will book through DTC. I just cannot recall when the fall/winter promos start! Please help!

 

[KCmike]

Interesting question. It fits my situation as well. I'm all ears.

 

[DLR29]

Depends on what you want.

Pros for early December:
-Low crowd levels
-Cheaper hotels, usually some package deals or specials going on also

Cons for early December:
-Short park hours, some days might be even shorter due to Cast Member Christmas parties
-While there are nightly fireworks, Fantasmic and the electrical parade don't start nightly until later
-Not all rides might be running due to refurbs that might be going on during "off season"

Pros to late December:
-Long park hours (8AM-12AM every day and 10AM-9/10PM for DCA)
-Every ride should be up and running
-Entertainment (parades, fantasmic, etc.) will be going in full swing

Cons to late December:
-The biggest con is that the parks are SUPER crowded that last week of December and DL often close due to capacity. This means wall to wall crowds often and long lines almost all day
-Everything is more expensive during this time

So, pick and choose your dates carefully. IMO, the best time to go is just before Christmas. The park hours have just gotten longer, the rides are all running, and so are the shows, BUT the HUGE post-Christmas crowds haven't come yet. I've been twice at this time (and going again this year) and have had great success in accomplishing a lot with a lot of planning.

 

[azdisneylover]

Woohoo! Great thread! I am hoping to find a great Costco package for next Christmastime, and on the last day, upgrade to APs. Iam going to try and save to make it happens.

 

[Eeee-va]

As far as physically the best time to book for your coming trip, I don't know about that. I just like to book a hotel separately and there's generally no fee at all to cancel within even a couple days of your reserved check-in date. If you're thinking of promos from Disney, why don't you just keep checking the DISboards? Whenever a new promotion hits, it'll be posted. (Though I think Disney will wait until probably fall to put any promotions out, since I'm sure they'd rather fill the rooms at full price. )

As far as what dates to book for, this year, the hours for Disneyland park were 9 AM - 11 PM for Disneyland on Wednesday and Thursday, 12/9 and 12/10 (the days after the Cast Member parties). They're also 9 AM - 11 PM on Monday - Thursday of the week that follows (though Fantasmic isn't running for those days this year). IF that keeps up next year (which I think is somewhat likely) then there's definitely something to be said for a couple weeks before Christmas. Our weekday crowds were very manageable and even Sunday wasn't as bad as summer. (Saturday and Friday night it rained, so I have no idea how much busier the parks would have been if it hadn't--common logic says MUCH busier, but the parks were busy WITH the rain, so it could be that most of the people who wanted to go, did. Particularly since Thursday was predicted to rain and didn't.)

 

[momofeva]

Most hotels will take reservations 51 weeks in advance. If you are staying near the park, within walking distance and have a favorite hotel I would suggest sooner then later.