December Disney World crowds

December Disney World crowds are pretty predictable but interesting. Crowds flock to Walt Disney World in December. During the first three weeks of the month crowds are usually light to moderate, but as the big day approaches, more guests arrive and the parks fill up. Christmas Day is the busiest day of the year at most of the parks.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Disney always does a great job with Christmas in the parks and in the all of the hotels. The parks are decked out with ornaments and garland all around. There are trees and decorations every where you look.

December at Walt Disney World

Every day during the holiday season (which starts the first week of November) there are special shows, special firework shows, special meals, special parades ... Christmas time is just the "most wonderful time of the year" for a Disney World vacation.

Dad's Christmas at Disney World page

December Crowds

December starts out serenely. The first week is pretty quiet. Until...

The football teams and cheerleaders show up. Thousands of somtimes a bit noisy pre-teens descend on Disney World for the Pop Warner Super Bowl and National Cheerleading and Dance competition. The dates for 2012 will be the week of December 2 through 9. In the evenings the parks will be inundated with pre-teens and teens.

See the discussion about the Pop Warner Competition and the taping of the Christmas Parade

After the kids go home, crowds slow down some until schools start to get out. Then everyone in the whole wide world arrives at Walt Disney World. (Maybe not everyone, but gazillions do.) Starting about a week before Christmas, December Disney World crowds start to get noticeably larger every day.

The week of Christmas will be very, very, very busy. We're talking the busiest week of the year.

Christmas Weekend (if the weather is nice) will be crazy. It always is. In the past on Christmas Day the Magic Kingdom has stopped accepting any guests as early 10:00 in the morning. However, with Christmas being on a Sunday this year, Saturday and Monday could be just as outrageous.

The days from Christmas until New Years Eve, December Disney World crowds will be wall-to-wall.

December 31 will be almost as busy as Christmas Day. By 7pm it's possible that the Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios will not accept any more guests. There have been reports of guests picking out their spot to watch the fireworks as early as 5:30 p.m.

How to avoid Disney World crowds

Yes, Disney World crowds can be avoided. It just takes some work. Dad can help you plan your day to avoid, or minimize the effect of Disney World crowds.

Dad's Disney World Crowds page

Dad's Crowd Calendar Disclaimer

This calendar is based on historical facts, as I know them today. The Walt Disney World Resort is an ever-changing environment and you might find things significantly different from below.

(There, Mr. Dad's lawyer, are you happy?)

December 2012

Here's the guide to the colors used in the December Disney World crowds calendar.

Light - the green color - no waiting in most lines.
Moderate - the blue color - short wait in all lines, 30 minutes on the big rides.
Heavy - the yellow color - 30 minute wait on all rides, 1-2 hours on the big rides, must arrive at least 30 minutes prior to shows.
Wall-to-Wall - the red color - 1 hour + waits on rides not unusual. 2-3 hours for the big rides. Even 30 + minute waits for "fast" food.
Out of Control - the purple color - there are people everywhere you look, the rides have long lines, shows are standing room only.
Don't blame me, I warned you. - the black color - worse than out of control. So many people you can't hear yourself think.

Check out Dad's experience with December Disney World crowds.

The Complete Crowd Picture

The calendar below is an overall view of what the December Disney World crowds will be like. This calendar is based on what Dad knows about Disney World crowds. Yes, that's a bunch. So where did Dad come up with all this stuff. For one thing Dad spent years reading the The Unofficial Guide Walt Disney World and digesting all the information thy have about Walt Disney World.

The Unofficial Guide guys started their own website. It's called Touringplans.com. It's where you can go to see historic crowd levels at every park. You can get daily updates on ride closures and park hours. And, you can even download the "Lines" app for your phone that has up to the minute lengths of the lines at all the parks. Cool.

I use Touringplans.com for my trips especially my December ones. I highly recommend it. Trust me.

Dad's Touringplans.com page

Ask Dad

When it comes to December, Christmas and Disney World, Dad is a full blown, been there, done that, know-it-all, expert. Christmas at Disney World is the most wonderful time of the year and Dad's favorite time to visit Disney World. So, if you have any questions about December Disney World crowds or anything else in December, why not Ask Dad.

Here are some of the questions about December that Dad has answered in the past ...

Inquiring minds want to know. Dad does.

Dad's Ask Dad page

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Dad's Bottom Line

Disney World comes alive in December. It's the best time of the year to visit. Yes, December Disney World crowds will be up this year, yes, you will have to wait in line, but it's still the best time to visit Disney World.