December 2009 at Walt Disney World

OVERVIEW

This page outlines December 2009 Walt Disney World crowds, prices, weather, adds a few other notes, and ends with week by week summaries.

DECEMBER 2009 CROWDS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

December crowds at Walt Disney World begin quiet and slow, but hit their highest levels of the year over Christmas and New Years weeks.

Arrival dates of December 5 and 12th are fine. However, crowds begin to mass during the week beginning December 19, and peak for the year the week beginning December 26th.

Multiple-hour waits, and even park closures, are possible from right before Christmas through the end of the month.

See this for more on projected crowds at Walt Disney World.

DECEMBER 2009 PRICES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

Walt Disney World resort hotel December prices at the beginning of the month are as low as they get.

On December 18, they increase 50-60%, and go up another 10-20% the next week to their highest levels of the year.

See this for more on prices at Walt Disney World.

DECEMBER 2009 WEATHER AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

December weather is cooler and variable. While the average daily high is 73, this masks tremendous variability. 

For example, in mid-December, there’s a 20% chance the high will be 60 or below, and a 20% chance it will be higher than 80.

Click the image for more on temperatures, or go to Weather and When to Go to Disney World for more on temperatures and the chance of good pool weather. (When open, click again to enlarge.)

OTHER NOTES AND COMMENTS ON DECEMBER 2009 AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

Each of the parks has wonderful Christmas decorations, and special Christmas events.

• At the Magic Kingdom, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party—a special event that requires its own ticket—runs on many nights through the first two-thirds of the month. Later in the month, its signature events—a special Christmas parade, and special Christmas fireworks—are available to all guests.
• At Epcot, the evening fireworks show Illuminations has special Christmas additions. In addition, most nights Christmas carols are sung by massed choirs in the Candlelight Processional. Many of the countries in Epcot’s World Showcase have special Christmas events. Finally, a Christmas tree lighting ceremony occurs each evening at 6p.
• At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Christmas celebration is the holiday lights in the Streets of America area. The evening opening ceremony is 6p.
• At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the 3.45p parade is redone to a Christmas theme.

See the Basic Itinerary, particularly Sunday, Tuesday, and Friday, for more details on these Christmas events.

WEEK BY WEEK COMMENTS FOR DECEMBER 2009 AT WALT DISNEY WORLD BY ARRIVAL DATE

12/5/09 Lowest prices of the year. Crowds low. Weather cooler and variable. Recommended Week. Week ranking =1. Use the Basic Itinerary

12/12/09 Prices lowest of year until 12/18, when they go up 50-60%. Crowds low, but build the 18th and 19th. Weather cooler and variable. Recommended Week. Week ranking =3. Use the Basic Itinerary

12/19/09 Prices skyrocket 50-60% on 12/18 and go up again 12/25. Crowds build to very high levels. Weather cooler and variable. Week ranking =43. 

12/26/09 Prices  70-90% higher than the lowest of the year. Crowds at the highest level of the year. Weather cooler and variable. Week ranking =44. 

LINKS FOR WHEN TO GO

• For when to go, see this
• For next best dates, see this
• For best and worst times to visit, see this
  • For 2009 weeks to visit, ranked in order, see this
  • For 2010 weeks to visit, ranked in order, see this
  • For the 2010 Week Picker App, see this
  • For 2011 weeks to visit, ranked in order, see this
• For forecasting crowds at Walt Disney World, see this
• For seasonal pricing at Walt Disney World, see this
  • For 2009 price seasons, see this
  • For 2010 price seasons, see this
  • For projected 2011 price seasons, see this
• For weather at Walt Disney World, see this

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RELATED STUFF

• a. When to Go to Walt Disney World
• i. Itineraries for Walt Disney World
• Times to Visit Disney World