When is the best time to go to WDW in December

[MagicKingdom05]

Hi,

Planning my first ever December WDW trip for Dec 06 and was wondering when would be the best time to go excluding Christmas and New Years. I have stayed at WDW during other times, but never in December so I'm not sure about when is the best time to go. I'm planning for a Poly resort stay, so all I need is some ideas on the best dates to go. I'm thinking a 10 day trip would work out well.

 

[MLAinVA]

For the last couple of years we've spent a few days during the second week of December, carefully avoiding the weekends. Mickey's Christmas party and all of the other holiday events and attractions are available, but the crowds are light. Yes, somethings close early, but we saved the evenings to go look at the hotel holiday decorations. They are really awsome!

 

[imatoad]

I was just at the Poly, and asked numerous CM's the same question. The majority said the first and second week of December were the weeks they would bring family to visit. Very light crowds, of course except the weekends. We are looking to do December 2006 to see the decorations, besides, Oct. is getting very crowded.

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

We went in Dec 04 ..leaving on the 18th. If I were you, i would plan my trip so I would be gone by the 15th. Crowds grew quickly after that date.

 

[sue1013]

We also take a December trip every year 1st or 2nd week. I agree with the others the weekends are more crowded but nothing like Easter or Christmas week. During the week most of the time fast pass machines are not even open. Even with the shorter hours we are able to do everything and we are not at park opening. The decorations are beautiful make sure you go to see all the deluxe resorts.

 

[raven69david]

For the last couple of years we've spent a few days during the second week of December, carefully avoiding the weekends. Mickey's Christmas party and all of the other holiday events and attractions are available, but the crowds are light. Yes, somethings close early, but we saved the evenings to go look at the hotel holiday decorations. They are really awesome!

+1

We almost always go the 2nd week in December. The crowds are not too bad and the wait on most rides is no more than 10 minutes, if that.

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

We've had good luck the first week of December.

 

[MagicKingdom05]

Thanks for the replies. I would prefer that the parks were open until atleast 9 or 10 pm each night, but going off of this years Dec hours, it looks like the only time in December that would be the week between x-mas and new years which isn't going to happen.

I thought it would be cool walking at night in the parks with all the lights on.

 

[mickeysaver]

If I was planning the trip, we would go somewhere starting in the early-mid part of the week of 12/10/06. That way, I would be avoiding the first weekend, which is when they film the Christmas parade at MK and I would (cross fingers) be missing the Pop Warner stuff. I would not necessarily want to arrive on the weekend, but maybe arrive on a Tuesday and stay for a full 7 nights. On arrival day, I would do MVMCP, unless it was an AP discounted MVMCP night and then I would just change the MVMCP to the Thursday of that week and if I wanted to do two of them, I would do the second one on Sunday. JMO Maggie

 

[MagicKingdom05]

Hi,

I know that this might sound a little crazy, but I have always had this dream of sprending like 10-14 days in December at WDW and doing everything. The one thing is that this would probably mean is no Feb trip, so this is why I'm not sure which direction to go in.

 

[helenk]

I like to go the first week, the crowds are relatively light, and the decorations are beautful.
If you look at this years hours, MK is open until 11:00pm the first 2 Saturdays, when there is MVMCP the park closes at 6:00 but the remainder of the week it closes at 8:00, MGM closes at 8:00 and Epcot at 9:30. And of course you have the evening EMH. Definately consider doing the MVMCP, the park is open from 7:00 to 12:00 for the party.

I thought it would be cool walking at night in the parks with all the lights on.

Since it gets dark around 4:30 or so, you should have no problem walking in the parks with the lights on.

 

[MagicKingdom05]

helenk,

I'm thinking Dec 1-11th, what do you think. I can get a AAA rate at Poly in a Garden room for 298.54 w/tax a night which would work just fine since this is a solo trip. plus I would save $52.69 a night over the rack rate.

 

[jjohnson]

Jason your confusing me. Didn't you go to WDW this year?

 

[MagicKingdom05]

jjohnson,

Sorry about the confusion. I will fix it. I ment first December WDW trip, not first WDW trip. I posted at almost midnight cst so I probably didn't realize the possible confusion.

 

[helenk]

Jason,
That sounds like a pretty good rate to me, I've booked the Poly for our trip 12/4-12/9 lagoonview AP rate 367.00 tax included.
I'm sure you will be happy going to WDW this time of year.

 

[jjohnson]

I would do 2 shorter trips 5n at AKL in Feb & 5n at Polynesian (would you consider WL) in Dec.

 

[MagicKingdom05]

jjohnson,

From what I'm being told WL is already booked up for that time frame in December. I got a really good deal through BRP at AKL for Feb, so that is already booked. I have always wanted to stay at Poly and with the convience of the monorail, I figured this would be the best time to try it out.

 

[VernRDH]

jjohnson,

From what I'm being told WL is already booked up for that time frame in December. I got a really good deal through BRP at AKL for Feb, so that is already booked. I have always wanted to stay at Poly and with the convience of the monorail, I figured this would be the best time to try it out.

We just booked WL for 12/2-9 of 2006 with no problems. It will be our first time there and we are looking forward to it.