When will the parks get busy this holiday season?

[circus slim]

We're planning a trip to WDW the week before Christmas and we're wondering when the parks might start to get very busy.

With Christmas on Thursday, we're wondering if the weekend before (12/20 and 12/21) will be very busy.

We've been to WDW earlier in December and really like the fact that the place is all done up for the holidays and the crowds are small.

We're hoping to be able to enjoy it the same way this year!

What do you think?

 

[karenmason]

I have been to Disney every December for the past six years.
Varying my week somewhat each year. The first two weeks in the month are very quiet, and then mid month, bam, the crowds pour in overnight. On 12/20 and 12/21 the parks will filled to the brim. If I were you, I would come earlier in the month.

 

[circus slim]

Hi Karen - and thanks for your reply.

We were afraid of that! Schedules being what they are, the week before Christmas is the only week we can go. We are hoping that the parks will be relatively quiet earlier that week. We're going to be there 12/13 through 12/21. It sounds like it may be extremely busy at the start of our trip too??

 

[jann1033]

I totally agree with that. we were there one year ending our trip the weekend before Christmas and overnight hordes of people came out of the wood work! the difference was unbelievable and we were sorry we had stayed. First time I really wanted to go home! some people claim to love the crowds but not me. We have been there the 13 with no problem, I am thinking this was around the 17-18...in fact I think at that time it was the first day of the season switch so you might want to go by that.

 

[karenmason]

Just to clarify my answer. The weekend that falls mid December is when the parks will start to overflow. Friday will be quiet and then overnight it happens. The above poster says the weekend before Christmas, but I think it is actually a whole week sooner.
JMHO

 

[ToriLammy]

Originally posted by circus slim
Hi Karen - and thanks for your reply.

We were afraid of that! Schedules being what they are, the week before Christmas is the only week we can go. We are hoping that the parks will be relatively quiet earlier that week. We're going to be there 12/13 through 12/21. It sounds like it may be extremely busy at the start of our trip too??

I don't think you will have to worry about extremely busy until around Dec 19th. We went from Dec 16th to the 24th one year and it really didn't get busy until around the 20th. You could actually see the crowds growing the closer it got to Christmas. Schools generally let out the Friday before Christmas so that would be the 19th. The crowds will probably grow over the weekend just as you are getting ready to leave. Do all the must do things early in your trip and save the nice to do things for when it gets busier. You should be fine for the first 5 or 6 days.

Tori

 

[jann1033]

sorry let me clarify ( I was looking at a calender for this year trying to figure it out and got a little confused..).we would have left the weekend of what I am guessing would have been the late teens since we were never there the week before , as in immediately preceeding, christmas week..This year value season ends on the 19th...since at that time I did not realize you got the rate you started with we usually finished our vacations on no later than the last day before value season ended. The date of the 17 sticks in my mind but then again that could be anything. any way I would guess this year you might have problems the 20-21 as value season ends the 19 and people coming for Christmas would no doubt come as soon as possible for that weekend.. I remember we started at MK that day with horrendous crowds and moved to epcot still horrendous crowds so I would not plan for any park activities those days myself unless you want to go to ee and then leave right away but that is kind of a waste in my opin. I think if you wanted to shop or something that might be tolerable unless you would run into last min. shoppers too!

 

[katerkat]

We're guessing the crowds will start to arrive Dec. 19 (to get that value season hotel rate) and be in full force by Saturday. (If we go) we're going to be there Dec. 14-19, and we expect it to be quiet throughout the week. We plan on spending Saturday at DTD instead of a park.

 

[XStAnt]

DW and I were at Disney World 12/22-12/27 last year (2002). Crowds did not get to be too bad until 12/25. They grew steadily over the week, but they explode on Xmas Day. Before that the parks were manageable.

This year, Xmas falls on a Thursday. I believe 12/20 and 12/21 will be more crowded than a ususal December weekend, but shouldn't be too bad. Don't get me wrong, there will be crowds and you should make PS and use FP, but it's not a bad time to go.

The start of your trip should be a great time to go. From 12/13-12/19 you should have relatively low crowds. It's a great time to go.

Enjoy your trip.

 

[circus slim]

Thanks everyone!

That's a GREAT tip about everyone arriving on the 19th to catch to value rates! I imagine that's going to draw huge crowds!

We're going to try to get everything done at MK early in the week and stay away from the parks on the 20th. I think we might take a trip over to SeaWorld on the 20th and get away from the crowds at Disney.

Thanks again for the info, you folks are great!