we just got back from being there the first week of this month (during Pop Warner) and we certainly won't be going back during the first week of December again. It was far more crowded than we expected and since it was off-peak season, and b/c of MVMCP, the parks closed earlier. It's not much fun sitting in your room with nothing to do at 8pm (drinking at WDW is too expensive and is usually only reserved for one night or maybe two).
I don't mind the early closing times if it isn't too crowded, but being crowded and having an early closing time stinks.
That, and being around 5 bazillion mini-jocks and 15 yr old prima donna cheerleaders should be reserved for the 7th level of hell. :fork:
I had a similar night once at WDW, where I was thinking...parks are closed, not enough to do. Then I thought about all the things there are to do at night.
Epcot is always open until 9 and you can hang after.
The marketplace shops are open until midnight or so, as is the West Side.
Looking at the hotels can be done any time. Nightscopes for viewing the AKL savannah are pretty cool.
The Electrical Water Pageant runs every night (weather permitting)
Talk a walk around the lake at DTD, or the Carribean Beach.
Jellyrolls, ESPN, are good places to hang out.
DisneyQuest is usually open late.
See a movie at the AMC 24.
Miniature golf is open until 10 or 11.
And every resort, just about, has a pleasant place to sit and people watch.
So now when I get a night where the parks have closed early or I'm not in the parks that day, I find something else to do that I might not otherwise have done!