***Official December 2022 Thread***

[Mischievous Daisy]

December 2-4 (Big company event-10k people (employees+family) all paid WDW+Universal). Seriously avoid this weekend If you can.

Quick question...
How late will this group be staying on Sunday? Will that impact MVMCP you think?

 

[Mischievous Daisy]

The event is WDW/US/IOA, so people will be split across all those parks. We were given very few details and the event is not public yet.

I think the 7 resorts (we were told that we would be given accommodation across 7 resorts) that would be impacted would be around MK (4 there) and HS/Epcot (3 resorts on the Skyliner). There are a lot of Star Wars fans (Co often books movie previews). We will have access to business Uber so bus transportation shouldn’t be impacted much.

The 3rd is the only full day so I would assume people who are flying in and haven’t seen the fireworks would go to MK then (Dec 2nd and 4th are Christmas party days and there is supposed to be a kickoff event Dec 2nd (maybe at GF or Golden Oaks).

I’m not sure how the package will be booked, but I’m pretty sure we will get some form of priority access (so wait times might be impacted slightly). At six flags we had 2 hours before park opening dedicated to company employees and platinum express passes. Maybe they will arrange after hours. Since US/IOA express passes are pretty expensive in Dec, a lot of people with older kids will choose US over MK.

They will probably arrange a buffet and VIP drink/treat stations in each park so ADRs shouldn’t be impacted. We had a long wait at Pecos bill (1 hr longer) and at Satuli due to Marching bands ordering with coupons last trip.

Plus you can now plan Mobile Order! Just make sure you set it up 2-3 hours before in order to ger your preferred mealtime. That should help alot!

 

[Disturbia]

Quick question...
How late will this group be staying on Sunday? Will that impact MVMCP you think?

Plus you can now plan Mobile Order! Just make sure you set it up 2-3 hours before in order to ger your preferred mealtime. That should help alot!

I don’t think the Christmas party on Sunday will be impacted. Our original flight back on Sunday was around 7 pm on AA (flight got cancelled). It’s now around 5 pm. We tried to request an additional day, but the automatic system didn’t allow dates to be modified and we could only select Dec 2-4. Our party of 5 was split and seated in different rows (eg 15 and 17). The flights are pretty full. There are multiple flights on different carriers and flying from different places.

I suppose people could book their own flights and accommodations but most people will be heading back to work.

We can’t mobile order for our kids because they have allergies that are not listed. It adds 40-60 mins to wait for a chef and have to go through each menu item every time we order. Disney has changed things even within a couple of months, so no shortcuts for us. Some places make a fuss (Boma) but we don’t budge (it’s so much worse/troublesome for other guests if our kids react). For the upcoming company trip we were asked about food allergies.

 

[Mischievous Daisy]

I don’t think the Christmas party on Sunday will be impacted. Our original flight back on Sunday was around 7 pm on AA (flight got cancelled). It’s now around 5 pm. We tried to request an additional day, but the automatic system didn’t allow dates to be modified and we could only select Dec 2-4. Our party of 5 was split and seated in different rows (eg 15 and 17). The flights are pretty full. There are multiple flights on different carriers and flying from different places.

I suppose people could book their own flights and accommodations but most people will be heading back to work.

We can’t mobile order for our kids because they have allergies that are not listed. It adds 40-60 mins to wait for a chef and have to go through each menu item every time we order. Disney has changed things even within a couple of months, so no shortcuts for us. Some places make a fuss (Boma) but we don’t budge (it’s so much worse/troublesome for other guests if our kids react). For the upcoming company trip we were asked about food allergies.

3 years ago at Chefs de France, a waiter gave me a really hard time about me asking that the bleu cheese not be served as I am highly allergic, (As in anaphalactic reaction!) and it was noted on my MDE
He was having none of my BS because "I probably just didnt like it"!) What a bad word, bad word!
I am shocked at how some people view the world and only their opinions matter. Fortunately, that was our only less than magical experience.

 

[Disturbia]

December (15 and 22) extended evening hours for HS

https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2022...ours-announced-for-disneys-hollywood-studios/

 

[Alexis56578]

Can deals be applied to part of a package? We're December 9-17th, so the Disney+ one starts a few days after we arrive. I'm guessing no.

 

[Disturbia]

Can deals be applied to part of a package? We're December 9-17th, so the Disney+ one starts a few days after we arrive. I'm guessing no.

This might help:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/apply-room-only-discount-to-existing-reservation.3600987/

https://www.disboards.com/forums/disney-discount-codes-and-rates.93/

 

[Avery&Todd]

I'm here to join the cast of people visiting Disney in December!

Thanks for having me!!

Its just a quickie weekend trip since we'll have just visited for a week in October ( ) but I wanted/needed to go to a Christmas party so we're coming Dec. 3-6th.. and going to the Dec. 4th xmas party....

right now we're staying offsite at the DoubleTree @ DS, but I have a waitlist for both Saratoga Springs and Kidani -haven't stayed at either but super excited about the possibility of either location!!

either waitlist comes through!!!

We're only going to the party and then to Epcot on the 5th...and I just saw they're having extended evening hours that night so that might be fun!!

We're also going offsite to go digging for shark teeth @ Bone Valley Experience by Thomas Hodge....SUPER DUPER stoked about this one...we're also going digging in April when for our Cocoa Beach vacation!!

 

[RealBlast3]

Can anyone with Late December trip experience describe to me if I can handle a trip the week of 12/17-12/23? In terms of crowds being overwhelming I mean.
I have always done the week after Thanksgiving or the first 2 weeks of December. And those crowd calendar websites scare me. That week is mostly an 8 all week.

I am a solo traveler and can get to the park at rope drop. This seems to be the only week that will work for my schedule this year between Thanksgiving and XMAS and I desperately want to go during the holiday celebrations. I haven't been in 3 years. Is it worth braving the crowds? I will be mostly spending my time in Epoct and Magic Kingdom. In fact I probably won't visit Hollywood Studios at all and Animal Kingdom likely only briefly.

 

[Disturbia]

Can anyone with Late December trip experience describe to me if I can handle a trip the week of 12/17-12/23? In terms of crowds being overwhelming I mean.
I have always done the week after Thanksgiving or the first 2 weeks of December. And those crowd calendar websites scare me. That week is mostly an 8 all week.

I am a solo traveler and can get to the park at rope drop. This seems to be the only week that will work for my schedule this year between Thanksgiving and XMAS and I desperately want to go during the holiday celebrations. I haven't been in 3 years. Is it worth braving the crowds? I will be mostly spending my time in Epoct and Magic Kingdom. In fact I probably won't visit Hollywood Studios at all and Animal Kingdom likely only briefly.

Are you staying at a deluxe resort? Then you have extended evening hours (lower crowds). Usually the regular hours will be extended by 1-2 hours two weeks before the trip (and ADRs get added) so the park closing will be pushed from 10 pm to 11 pm or 12 am and EEH will be until 1-2 am (not great for early risers).

 

[RealBlast3]

Are you staying at a deluxe resort? Then you have extended evening hours (lower crowds). Usually the regular hours will be extended by 1-2 hours two weeks before the trip (and ADRs get added) so the park closing will be pushed from 10 pm to 11 pm or 12 am and EEH will be until 1-2 am (not great for early risers).

No I am going to stay at a value resort, and yes, I am an early riser and tend to finish my days in the park with a late dinner for the most part. I make an exception the one evening I do the Mickey XMAS Party at Magic Kingdom.

 

[Disturbia]

No I am going to stay at a value resort, and yes, I am an early riser and tend to finish my days in the park with a late dinner for the most part. I make an exception the one evening I do the Mickey XMAS Party at Magic Kingdom.

Maybe someone else can chime in, but these videos might help:

 

[Disturbia]

Budget extra time for travel. It took us an hour to get from Mk to the Polynesian right before fireworks ended during spring break. ADRs take a good 2 hours. Mobile order 2-3 hrs ahead.

 

[Pickles282]

December 2-4 (Big company event-10k people (employees+family) all paid WDW+Universal). Seriously avoid this weekend If you can.

Any idea what parks to avoid on the 2nd?

 

[Disturbia]

Any idea what parks to avoid on the 2nd?

I don’t see a big impact on Dec 2nd. The kickoff event is probably that day. We thought about buying Christmas party tickets but there is so much uncertainty with flights (already cancelled once) and then the kickoff event would take several hours out of the evening.

 

[maryj11]

December (15 and 22) extended evening hours for HS

https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2022...ours-announced-for-disneys-hollywood-studios/

View attachment 701514

I wonder if the parks will be more crowded during the day on the extended hours nights?

 

[Disturbia]

I wonder if the parks will be more crowded during the day on the extended hours nights?

The HS hours are the day after MK EE hours. They are trying to get Deluxe guests to book HS next day. Maybe given the potential 1-2 am MK EEH deluxe guests are less likely to book HS the following day (need to book Genie+/LLI$ earlier in the day) and book AK or Epcot (you can sleep in a bit).

I see EEH as trying to divert crowds away from other parks vs benefit guests (then they would be available to all guests or be available every day).

 

[RealBlast3]

Maybe someone else can chime in, but these videos might help:

Thank you! I will check out these videos. Anyway I have booked the trip 12/17 - 12/23. I'm excited and looking foreward to it. I mean, I am an experienced solo- vacationer, this will be my 9th solo trip but those were all before the pandemic (Dec. 2019 was the last one) and also usually during more desirable weeks in terms of crowd control. But I am all about the research and planning, hence why I'm on the Dis, so I will learn the new way to vacation efficiently in Disney in this post-pandemic world.

 

[hsmamainva]

Thank you! I will check out these videos. Anyway I have booked the trip 12/17 - 12/23. I'm excited and looking foreward to it. I mean, I am an experienced solo- vacationer, this will be my 9th solo trip but those were all before the pandemic (Dec. 2019 was the last one) and also usually during more desirable weeks in terms of crowd control. But I am all about the research and planning, hence why I'm on the Dis, so I will learn the new way to vacation efficiently in Disney in this post-pandemic world.

Awesome! Where are you staying? Will be happy to add you to the list!

 

[Pickles282]

I don’t see a big impact on Dec 2nd. The kickoff event is probably that day. We thought about buying Christmas party tickets but there is so much uncertainty with flights (already cancelled once) and then the kickoff event would take several hours out of the evening.

As long as the kickoff event isn’t at Epcot, all is good