December Trip Questions

[DisneyDreamer08]

Hi everyone, I have a few questions for those of you who have been in December.
First, we are currently booked for 11/29-12/7 (Arriving the Sat after Thanksgiving). We really want to go while the holiday decorations & events are happening but due to my husbands work schedule, the rest of November is out. With the release of free dining, we realized our week is blacked out. Not a huge deal but I'm wondering if anyone has ever been the 3rd week of Dec? Like the 13th-21st? Are crowds much bigger then than the 1st week?

A few other questions-
We are hoping to see the Candlelight Processional (most likely a 5pm show). If our 4 year old gets antsy can my husband sneak out with her while I continue watching? Would they be allowed to sneak out mid show?
Also, it looks like we will be there during the filming of the Christmas Parade. Avoid MK on those days? Go to MK, avoid parade areas and do other parts of the park? If we do watch some of the filming, again, can we leave at any time if our daughter gets bored?

Thanks for any help!

 

[Disneydreamer23]

I haven't been tpto the candlelight professional but I have been there the first second and third week of December the first week I would say is very less busy the third week starts to get busier cuz its around Christmas

 

[DisneyDreamer08]

That was my thought, thanks. I'm thinking less people is better than free dining

 

[aw14]

The earlier in December the better for crowds. We were there for New Years 2012/2013 and while it was a great trip, the crowds were overwhelming.

 

[Poofiesdream]

We go every year around Dec 7-13. Crowds are good. They start coming in around the 14th. Weather is also great that time of year! Candlelight procession is wonderful and there will be no problem if you have to leave during it. Many people do to go to the bathroom ect. You just can't leave at the beginning when they are coming in down the aisles to the stage. Be prepared dinning deal or not there will be very long lines to get in ! You need to line up at least 1 1/2 hours ahead of time, even on low crowd days and no matter what time. The day they do the parade filming it is only crowded Main Street and the hub. People are always moving thru so no problems if you want to leave after watching part of the Parade. The parade taping starts and stops continuously, it is not just the parade going thru all at once. They stop do resets ect. The rest of the park is fine. There may even be less lines for rides because everyone is at the parade. That is what we found last year. Also be aware the 7th-13th is Pop Warner week. It doesn't really effect the parks much but the value resorts are packed and the food courts are terribly crowded. The week you booked should be perfect!

 

[DisneyDreamer08]

Thank you so much, that was a huge help! I think we will stick with the 1st week as planned. I was going to do a lunch/5pm show package for the Candlelight Processional. Can one of us line up early while the other roams with our daughter? Or is that considered bad line manners?

 

[Poofiesdream]

Thank you so much, that was a huge help! I think we will stick with the 1st week as planned. I was going to do a lunch/5pm show package for the Candlelight Processional. Can one of us line up early while the other roams with our daughter? Or is that considered bad line manners?

Yes it is done all the time. One person stands in line the others join later. You can't expect kids to stand in one place that long. You will love it, it took my breath away!

 

[popcenturylover]

This past December we were there the 1st-8th.(got free dining with a pin) The crowds were good the 1st half of the week but, the 2nd half is when the Pop Warner kids started arriving & it got more crowded as the week went on. We did the early show for the Processional & lined up about 15 minutes before showtime.(had DD5 & DGS1 with us) The Processional & Osbourne Lights as well as the decorations are beautiful! Highly recommend this time of year!

 

[Mukta]

Earlier in Dec is definitely better.

I have seen CP 3 times. You can exit during the show, just make sure you guys are near an edge so you don't have to crawl all over people. You can definitely have 1 of you wait in line while the others wander around.

I avoid MK all together on parade taping day. Less of a hassle that way.