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Old 01-05-2011, 10:43 PM   #1
Marybeth
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Advice from December Travelers

So we are planning our next trip for Dec 3-10, 2011. For those that have been to WDW duing that time, how are the crowds in the parks? I have heard that the POP Warner sports and cheer competition is going on during that time and the resorts are crazy full with kids.

Any and all info would be appreciated.

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Old 01-05-2011, 10:46 PM   #2
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Hi Beth, i have been there the last 2 years and im booked for dec 9th to the 11th Mousetactular this year . and honestly i can say it is a little more crowded then usual but nothing that interfered with my happiness of having a magical time .
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Old 01-05-2011, 10:50 PM   #3
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We were at the parks Nov 30th to Dec 6th and found it not too bad. I have nothing to compare it with as this was our first visit, but I do know that we rarely had long waits for anything. I am planning on doing it all again this year! *Fingers Crossed* And I'm definitely signing up for mousetacular again if I get to go!! It was such a blast!
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Old 01-06-2011, 12:50 AM   #4
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I was just there Nov 30th - Dec 4th and it was great! Our last day there we saw all the cheerleaders and it started getting a little crowded, but we had almost no wait in lines (if you went on the single rider lines on everest, test track, etc you could just walk right on). The Christmas party was great because it wasn't too busy either. It's a great time to go if you want to experience Disney at its Holiday best!
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Old 01-06-2011, 01:48 AM   #5
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Whenever we've been there, we've never found the crowds to be too bad then.
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Old 01-06-2011, 02:01 AM   #6
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I've been both the second week of December and the week before Christmas and found it completely manageable!
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Old 01-06-2011, 03:00 AM   #7
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Haven't been in December since '03 (ouch), but loved it. I'll admit to changing the December week I chose, to mostly avoid Pop Warner. I'd heard negatives (and had experienced cheer team crowds/noise a few years prior), so decided to avoid it if I could. Would love to head back for another December visit~DH deserves to see WDW "all done up for the holidays", too (but only if I get to go, lol).
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Old 01-06-2011, 05:45 AM   #8
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I absolutely loved December!!! The weather is so nice and the crowds were nil---especially since I always compare them to our summer trips.
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Old 01-06-2011, 10:21 AM   #9
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We were at WDW Dec. 4th- Dec. 11th. We had no problems with Pop warner. All we saw at the parks were mainly families. The crowds were not too bad. We used touringplans.com to figure out which park to visit for the day. We stayed at the WL and did not have any problems.
We really enjoyed all the decorations. The light display (Osborne Family) at DHS was spectacular!

We did experience a cold snap, so bring the winter coats and gloves just in case!
Have fun planning!!!!!
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Old 01-06-2011, 10:53 AM   #10
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I love visiting in December. The crowds aren't that bad and the temps are usually good. But, since that is pop warner week, I'd try to get into a deluxe resort to avoid all groups of kids. I know they stay at the All-Stars, and there is usually overflow into one of the moderates as well.
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Old 01-06-2011, 11:27 AM   #11
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I was thinkin of going the first weekend in dec.
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Old 01-06-2011, 11:41 AM   #12
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we're going 12/7-17, and i was curious about the crowds myself...thanks for posting this Q!
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Old 01-06-2011, 11:54 AM   #13
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We've been there three times (2006, 2007, and 2008) in mid December -right around December 9th on, and the crowds haven't been bad at all. I think that Pop Warner was there during at least one of those trips (normally it's the first week of December, but I think that one year they were there later). Anyway, we had no trouble with them at all. I'm sure that they're busy some of the time, and unless you're staying at the same resort (value resorts, primarily - and I'd avoid that if they're there), you should be fine. I just booked a trip for that same time - December 2nd through the 6th. DS and I will be staying at BLT, and we hope to attend the Christmas parade, too. See you there! Happy planning!!
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Old 01-06-2011, 12:00 PM   #14
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My friend Val and I will be there at that same time. I have been at that time of year several times and have never had a problem. It is my favorite time to go.
Maybe we will meet up somewhere.
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Old 01-06-2011, 02:48 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ravensgirl76 View Post
we're going 12/7-17, and i was curious about the crowds myself...thanks for posting this Q!

We went Dec 11th - 19th in 2009 and the weather and crowds were great. MK was like a ghost town during the week but weekends were definitely more crowded, though not overwhelming. Osborne Spectacle of lights was a total zoo but we went on a Friday night. I have to add though that Disney did a nice job of managing the crowd and forcing people to tour the lights by following a specific route but man, it was a sea of humanity.
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