Week of Dec. 7 crowds

[Scrappy2]

We are thinking about a trip this year sometime in December and would like to go when crowds are a little lower. I know the week after Thanksgiving is usually a great. Thanksgiving is later this year so the week after would be the week they typically tape the Christmas parade. What about the next week? That is still almost 3 weeks before Christmas. Do you think the crowds would be a little lower? Anywone that has been this time of year that can offer any great advice would be awesome!

[sorcerer fan]

parade taping will most likely be the 5, 6, and 7th of dec. but it only affects MK. depending on how long you stay , make sure you don't go there, otherwise not to bad for crowds. there really isn't any SLOW time down there anymore. we went this year the 9th to the 14th and it was a short wait to all rides and beautiful weather, 80's almost every day. the closer to xmas you get the worse it gets. But remember the worse day at Disney is better than a day anywhere else!

[Scrappy2]

Thank you! I know that is really no "slow" time just trying to avoid the type of crowds we normally have. We normally go duing very crowded time so just trying to plan something a little on the lighter side.

[SurferStitch]

We were there that time last December.

Crowds were moderate to very high (depending on day/time/etc). Magic Kingdom was pretty much shoulder to shoulder on Main Street every night we went... weekend or weeknight. The Thursday night MVMCP was packed to the gills. We walked out of the park at 12:50 am, and it looked like a regular night at the park (party ended at midnight). Just 2 years prior to that, we had Main Street to ourselves at the same exact time.

Oh yeah... when we got to our bus stop for AoA at 1am, the line was still an hour long. We got back to our resort around 2:20 am.

We didn't ride any popular rides without FP. Lines were just too long for us (35-45 min for average rides, 90-120 for E rides/attractions).

We had a blast, don't get me wrong, but be prepared for crowded fireworks, parades and busses. We were, and just skipped things we didn't want to wait for. We'll just do them next time.

Weather was AMAZING! Sunny and warm every day (except for one day at about 67).

[Gator]

If you compare this time to any major holiday week or summer, it's a good time to go. Yes, crowds are up more than they were 10 years ago, but it's still not horrible.

As for MK parade taping, we were there on one of the taping days and it really wasn't as bad as everyone said it would be. The only difficult part is getting from gate through Main Street. It can be a bit tight. But once you get through that, the park is about as normal as any other December day.

[Scrappy2]

Do you think the week of Nov 16 would be a less crowded time? That is the week before Thanksgiving. Most of the decorations should be up by that time.