Crowds in December?

[The MaD Hatter]

I know Christmas to New Year's is supposed to be one of the most crowded times of the year at WDW. However, does anyone know what the crowds are like the week prior to Christmas (12/18 - 12/23)?

 

[swimmom]

We went the week before Christmas in 2004. As it got closer to Christmas, it got more crowded in the parks.

 

[SeiraB17]

If you can at all try and go the week of 12/13 to 12/18 or so. That is when we went two years in a row and it was perfect! There were hardly lines for anything and if you take advantage of the extra morning hours you will practically have parts of the parks all to yourself~

 

[dumboflyer]

Every day gets exponentially (seriously) busier as you get closer to Christmas Eve. (So Dec. 18 will be good, Dec. 19 will be okay, Dec. 20 will be manageable, Dec. 21 will be busy, Dec. 22 will be pretty busy, Dec. 23 will be yucky busy and Christmas week....well, avoid it).

The BEST times of year is early February or mid-September. BUT it is magical to see Disney at Christmastime. I'd recommend early-to-mid December in that case.

 

[gboiler1]

We were there a couple years ago during almost those exact dates and really had no problems with crowds. MK and more specifically Fantasyland are busier than the other parks, but noting compared to Christmas week. I'm guessing you are leaving on 12/23 which puts your last day in the parks on Friday 12/22, so you'll avoid a majority of those arriving for Christmas.

Just remember plan well, go to the "hot spots" early in the morning when the crowds are less and there will be times you'll feel like the park is nearly empty! Enjoy!

 

[Teenchy]

My birthday is 12/18, so we have been at WDW the past 2 years around that time 12/17-12/21. Although we have been to WDW many times, two years ago was the first time during the Christmas season. I was expecting crowds to be so much worse than they were. We had very short lines for everything, even Soarin was only 15min.

I have to suggest a couple of things if you have not been during that season.
1. Candlelight Processional/World Showcase Santa's
2. Osbourn Lights
3. MVMCP
4. Resort hop to see al the fantastic decorations
5. Offsite / The Gaylord Palms Resort, check out their decorations and huge Ice sculptures.

Have a great time....:xmas: ...WDW is even more magical at Christmas

 

[tecowdw]

I know Christmas to New Year's is supposed to be one of the most crowded times of the year at WDW. However, does anyone know what the crowds are like the week prior to Christmas (12/18 - 12/23)?

Actually, since the Christmas decorations will likely be by mid-November, why not consider anytime from mid November through Mid-December? The MVMCP's begin that early for the first time this year so I imagine the parks will be decked out by then but with much smaller crowds than around the Christmas holiday itself.

As for me, I'm actually tossing around the ideal of going to WDW during Christmas this year. I usually go around the second week of December but likely not this year since I am going during Thanksgiving. I'm a little worried about the crowd levels but I'm not really planning on doing alot of rides so hopefully I can cope. Does anyone have experience on how busy the resorts are during this time? I'm curious if it seems most people go to the parks instead of hanging around the resort hotels. I'm thinking about the Polynesian as it seems to feel the least crowded during high attendance periods. I can imagine the moderates and value reorts will feel jam packed. Thinking of possibly staying at one of the Lodges' too (probably WL).

It's gong to be the most diffuclt decision I have to make for the trip too!
:veryconfu

 

[BRER STITCH]

The first two weeks of December are my FAVORITE times to be at WDW!

I have had many corporate functions at WDW during those two weeks and the parks are great, with smallish crowds and in full bloom for Christmas!

HAVE FUN!

:xmas: