crowds before Christmas

[maryszhi]

When do the crowds start coming before Christmas. I was thinking of going the week before instead of going the 2nd week of January like I did this past trip. I really want to do Mickey's Christmas Party, which is why I am thinking week before Christmas, but what do you all think.
thanks

 

[RonAnnArbor]

BAD time to go....Those schools that take a two-week break will be out from Dec 19th returning to school on the 2nd...Those that take a one-week break will not effect things until the weekend....

But with the 24th on a Saturday and Christmas on a Sunday, I will venture to say that the crowds will start to roll in beginning Wednesday night the 21st and onward as people take the extra days to head down before the weekend crowds, thus causing their own crowds.

I always go the second week in December and the crowds are light to moderate, never heavy (the 11th - 16th this year) and nothing like what they will be beginning on the 19th...

Touring Plans predicts
12/19 Monday 9/10
12/20 Tuesday 10/10
12/21 Wednesday 7/10
12/22 Thursday 10/10
12/23 Friday 10/10
12/24 Saturday 10/10
12/25 Sunday 10/10

 

[HouCuseChickie]

I think the MVMCP is only going through Dec 18th- so it's likely you'd still miss it.

Also, you're going to experience very heavy crowds. A friend of mine went week before Christmas in 2010 b/c all of our schools here let out the week before. They had to live by their touring plan. He said it wasn't quite as crowded as the week after Christmas, but still wall to wall people and then some. That being said- they still had a blast.

 

[Master Yoda]

Rule of thumb is once schools let out for Christmas break avoid Disney like the plague. That is typically around the 15-18 of December.

 

[mrsdanalind]

We usually go the week after Thanksgiving or the first week in December, we've gone later but find that the crowds are beginning to get thick by the second week and by the third week forget it, it's a mad house. We like the earlier times, because the decorations are up, the programs are all in place and running, ( The Christmas Processional is a yearly must) and most of the lines are non existant. You can pretty much book any dinner reservation you want and it's a much more relaxed atmosphere. MMVCP will be done or so booked up that you will still be fighting crowds, and it will be cooler also. Word of advice, take a sweatshirt, light jacket or warm sweater with you in the evening, it'd downright chilly at night there and last year I as glad I packed a lightweight winter coat. Used it most nights there. (and a few days too)

 

[Gojira ゴジラ]

Last time we went there from dec 10 to 21 the crowd was okay. Getting crowded the last few days before we flew back home

 

[brisem]

We usually go the week after Thanksgiving or the first week in December, we've gone later but find that the crowds are beginning to get thick by the second week and by the third week forget it, it's a mad house. We like the earlier times, because the decorations are up, the programs are all in place and running, ( The Christmas Processional is a yearly must) and most of the lines are non existant. You can pretty much book any dinner reservation you want and it's a much more relaxed atmosphere. MMVCP will be done or so booked up that you will still be fighting crowds, and it will be cooler also. Word of advice, take a sweatshirt, light jacket or warm sweater with you in the evening, it'd downright chilly at night there and last year I as glad I packed a lightweight winter coat. Used it most nights there. (and a few days too)

How was the weather during the days.

 

[RonAnnArbor]

It varies... I go every year at that time -- Two years ago it was cool at night but hot (80) during the day.

Last year, for the entire week that I was there, it never got warmer than 52 degrees EVEN during the day -- and at light it dropped down to the low 30's.

Just watch the weather the week before you go, and it is usually pretty correct.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

How was the weather during the days.

We went Dec 7 -13 in 2010 and a good chunk of our days were cold...at least for FL. Mid 30s to low 50s with 30 something wind chills. I lived about 3 hrs north of Orlando for several years and some years it was cold while others were low 80s. It just depends.

 

[mrsdanalind]

How was the weather during the days.

The weather was for the most part coolish in the morning and really nice by afternoon, We didn't need the coats or sweatshirts until after the sunset, then it got quite cold. We laugh that there is usually one day that the weather is cruddy, cold and/or rainy or both, but for the most part like I said nice. I've been down there when it's been over 100 degrees in the parks and when it's been in the upper thirties, so the weather is unpredicitable, pack for everything and anything.
:veryconfu

 

[disneygirl1]

First on second week in Dec is the ideal time to go... After that crowds start moving in! Weather wise, it is so hit or miss this time of year. In 2008 weather was awesome, could wear shorts and a sweatshirt and were cool... This past Dec. it was beyond freezing, I'm talking winter jacket and gloves cold all day and night.

 

[TestTrack]

in 2008 we did Dec 7-13th which was the basically the second full week in december. This time we're trying the 10-18 which again is the second full week in December. Touring plans shows crowds picking up starting around the 18th. I imagine most kids have off the week before Christmas so that would be the 17th on. So most people would fly out the 17th and be at the parks starting around the 18th...so touring plans makes sense.

Crowds in 2008 were ok. We waited usually around 15-30 minutes max. Only exception I can think of was TSM...which we waited 1.5 hours for.

Here's hoping that this week is a good one to go this year. We debated about the 3rd to the 11th for quite a while but wanted to avoid pop warner if possible.

 

[EvilQueen-T]

we've gone the last two years the week after thanksgiving with the latest end date being around the 14th of december. and plan to go again this year but have noted that although this time of year has traditionally been pretty quiet at the parks it's getting more and more crowded every year. this time of year is also no longer considered value season they now have "fall" season and charge a little more for the hotel rooms.

 

[disneygirl76]

When do the crowds start coming before Christmas. I was thinking of going the week before instead of going the 2nd week of January like I did this past trip. I really want to do Mickey's Christmas Party, which is why I am thinking week before Christmas, but what do you all think.
thanks

Hi there! Going right before Christmas is a great time to go. My DH and I went from Dec 16 - 23. The first 6 days were very low key, very low crowd levels. And then BAM! Everyone arrived. Next time, I will go a bit earlier. But over all, its a great time to go.

 

[harryk]

Have done all the various weeks in December. Have found that ending our vacation by the 16th or 17th worked out best. Crowds are beginning to build toward the end of the 2d week of December.
Went the Christmas week 2 years ago. Knew the crowds would be heavy - but could not believe how heavy they were. Fast passes exhaused by 1015 AM every day. Line at Haunted Mansion ended at boarding ramp of the Riverboat - wait time exceeded 1-1/2 hours. Had a grand time anyway.
MVMCP was over before Christmas and the Christmas Parade itself was running.
So - book any time between Thanksgiving and December 16th and you should be okay. MVMCP dates are usually posted by Mid May.

 

[anne thomas]

It varies... I go every year at that time -- Two years ago it was cool at night but hot (80) during the day.

Last year, for the entire week that I was there, it never got warmer than 52 degrees EVEN during the day -- and at light it dropped down to the low 30's.

Just watch the weather the week before you go, and it is usually pretty correct.

Hi :wave:
Do you have any photos of the crowds the 2nd week of December? This will be our first trip to Disney World-:sohappy: Dec 12/ Dec/17 staying at the CR