DL December Crowds?

[Gillyanne]

Hi! Usually not on this side of the forum as we're a WDW family on the regular, but I'm planning a DL trip for Dec 2023 (far out I know) and wanted to know if there's any difference in crowds as it gets closer to the holidays? Right now I'm looking at booking either the first (full) week of Dec, or the 2nd, and was wondering if any one tends to be less crowded than the other?

TYIA!

 

[shambolicdefending]

Hi! Usually not on this side of the forum as we're a WDW family on the regular, but I'm planning a DL trip for Dec 2023 (far out I know) and wanted to know if there's any difference in crowds as it gets closer to the holidays? Right now I'm looking at booking either the first (full) week of Dec, or the 2nd, and was wondering if any one tends to be less crowded than the other?

TYIA!

The crowds earlier in the month are usually not as bad as when schools start to get out for the holiday break, but you should still expect it to be pretty busy.

 

[CaptinEO]

First two weeks of December are fine, crowds don't show up till closer to Christmas.

 

[Dear Prudence]

The week after Christmas is the PITS because everyone is here for the Rose Bowl

 

[Phroobar]

Does anyone else think the Rose Parade is kind of silly?

 

[TP2000]

Does anyone else think the Rose Parade is kind of silly?

No. It's fabulous. It's silly, but a good silly. What the hell else are you going to do hungover on New Year's morning but watch banks and foreign airlines and department stores roll giant floats through Pasadena covered in Pampas Grass.

What the world needs is more Pampas Grass!

One of the best ways to watch the Rose Parade in recent years was via that hysterical mock coverage on Amazon Prime with "Cord and Tish" the subversively perky broadcasting duo that was really just Will Farrell and Molly Shannon being hilariously stupid. I love to sit there sipping my secret recipe Morning After Special and just laugh. Pampas Grass!

 

[Sailor310]

Touring plans and Isitpacked? show ok crowds until the Dec 16th.

I like the Rose Parade. Yes, it is silly spending millions on floats and flowers for a few minutes' exposure. Our city does its own float. I believe it's funded by private donations. If it weren't, I'd vote against spending tax dollars for flowers.
I love visiting the floats the day after. It's spectacular seeing millions of flowers.

 

[TP2000]

Touring plans and Isitpacked? show ok crowds until the Dec 16th.

I like the Rose Parade. Yes, it is silly spending millions on floats and flowers for a few minutes' exposure. Our city does its own float. I believe it's funded by private donations. If it weren't, I'd vote against spending tax dollars for flowers.
I love visiting the floats the day after. It's spectacular seeing millions of flowers.

One of the nice things they did at DCA was display their Tower of Terror float for the week after the parade. I think that was in '05, just after the ride had opened? Or was it '04 before the ride opened that spring? Regardless, it was an impressive sight to see in DCA across from Golden Dreams...

Hi! Usually not on this side of the forum as we're a WDW family on the regular, but I'm planning a DL trip for Dec 2023 (far out I know) and wanted to know if there's any difference in crowds as it gets closer to the holidays? Right now I'm looking at booking either the first (full) week of Dec, or the 2nd, and was wondering if any one tends to be less crowded than the other?

TYIA!

The earlier in December, the better! Although you must remember that the first weekend in December is always Candlelight Weekend; that won't impact attendance much, but it makes getting into and out of the park a bit of a hassle as the Candlelight setup overtakes the Town Square and at night it's a crowd control nightmare there.

If you can deal without seeing the Town Square in its natural state as they prepare and/or remove the Candlelight extravaganza, go that first week of December. Also know that it's not unusual for it to be a bit rainy in early December, and even if it's sunny the nights that time of year can get quite cold.

But Disneyland at Christmastime is gorgeous, so you should have a great visit. The earlier, the better!

 

[Dear Prudence]

I think the Rose Bowl Parade is legitimately impressive.

 

[TP2000]

I think the Rose Bowl Parade is legitimately impressive.

I do too. I especially absolutely adore those high school marching bands from around the country and world who show up. They are just beaming with pride! And to think of all the local fund-raising and planning that goes behind getting 150 teenagers from Ohio or Montana to Pasadena the week after Christmas is just... impressive. And insane.

It warms my heart to see those kids marching down Colorado Blvd. on New Year's morning, and I don't have a musical or talented bone in my body.

If the Tournament of Roses ever decides to have a marching unit for old talentless queens who play bad tennis but make decent cocktails, I might be invited to march. Otherwise... I'm just thrilled to be proud of the talented kids on TV!

 

[Gillyanne]

Thanks all! By the time I went to book, the availability swayed my choice. First week Dec 2023 (3-10) it is! Now I just have to remember to keep an eye out for when flights go on sale. Don't have to worry about them for our week(s) at WDW but no way we're driving to cali Also to go ahead and grab our tickets asap so we get them before any increases. Will get on that (via UT) when we get back from WDW

 

[Phroobar]

If the Tournament of Roses ever decides to have a marching unit for old talentless queens who play bad tennis but make decent cocktails, I might be invited to march. Otherwise... I'm just thrilled to be proud of the talented kids on TV!

Isn't that the Hollywood Christmas Parade your describing?

Personally, I like the Huntington Beach 4th of July parade. There is nothing like watching rich white people riding in expensive cars spouting how culturally diverse Huntington Beach is.