Hmmm, we were there 11-25 to 12-01 and I had a really different experience with all of the parks. I wont do big crowds and it always seemed manageable to me. It really does requiring strategic planning of course (and perhaps spending some extra cash here and there). As mentioned a dozen times already, DON'T GO TO MK ON NON-PARTY DAYS, especially on weeks when there are 3 parties scheduled. I felt like Friday at MK had really great crowd levels. We did a full day there that day. Its true Touring Plans did crank the numbers up each day 2-3 points. Its our third year in a row going the post Thanksgiving week, and its true its no longer a 1-2 week on the charts. But I didn't feel overwhelmed.
Our week -
11-25 - Arrive - resort day - (TP predicted 4 - actual 2 at MK) - should have snuck over to MK!
11-26 - MK all day - day one ! (TP predicted 6 - actual 7 at MK) - 8am MK arrival with BOG 8:05 ARD. Ate quickly and did 7DMT 9(They opened 7DMT about 8:55 so we had advantage over RD crowd.), Teacups, WTP, small world, Peter Pan without a wait. Waited about 5 mins for Carousel. Grabbed a last minute FP for Dumbo. Did carousel again (make it stop
) Back in room by noon. Morning crowds not bad at all. Went back with just my daughter in the evening. Crowds were as heavy as I would ever deal with, probably a 6-7. Did Elsa Castle lighting, Buzz, People Mover. And then it rained hard! Even though we knew the rain would drive out the crowds we headed back to the room anyway. TP said MK 7 that day. I agree, but the morning was nowhere near as bad. That evening was the only time I witnessed heavy crowds.
11-27 - Epcot by 9:30 am with just my daughter.(TP predicted 3 - actual 5 at EP) (TP predicted 3 - actual 5 at AK) - Walked onto Mission Space green with zero wait. Future World practically empty. All of FPs were for AK in the afternoon so we waited standby for Frozen for about 25 mins. Left Epcot about noon. Not crowded at all at that time. AK in the afternoon did not seem crowded to me, not insanely so at least. We knocked out our FPs and got a last minute FOP for 4! Too bad FOP went down. Oh well free "any experience" fast pass at least. Left AK around 6:30. Great day!
11-28 - TS EMM at HS. (TP predicted 2 - actual 2 at HS) (TP predicted 2 - actual 4 at EP) - We did the TS EMM until about 10am including breakfast, then walked onto star tours about 10am with no wait. Left HS about noon. Did not seem insanely crowded to me. Epcot in the afternoon. Hit up Frozen again with last minute FP, Imagination (ugh), Grand Fiesta Tour in Mexico (daughter loves this ride for some reason!) did wait about 5 mins here which is unusual, ate dinner at Katsura Grill with all of the outside and half of the inside tables opened. Left about 6pm as our kids had been up since 5:45 for EMM. Epcot was definitely not too crowded that day.
11-29 - MK all day - day two! - (TP predicted 1 - actual 2) DD and DW had a 9:45 at CRT. DS and I did Tiki Birds, and Aladin x3 while waiting on them. 5 minute wait for Aladin each time. When then had JC, PoTC, and Tea Cups FPs to burn. Did Splash with just my DD(drop was a bit much or her
) Again park did not seem busy. We stayed until around 1. Had to get kids to nap for
MVMCP that night. Party crowds were not bad at all. Most rides had 5-10 minute wait although we didn't try 7DMT as we had done it 3-4 times already this trip. Very happy with the party.
11-30 - MK all day - day three! - (TP predicted 1 - actual 3)- Cant remember specifics, we just rode whatever we felt like and relaxed a little for our last full day in the park. Lines up about 40 minutes early for the FoFP so we could get front row(spot in front of the Christmas shop rocks!) DEFINITELY not crowded at all at MK that day.
12-01 - Leave
Man we did A LOT OF MK this trip. Thats what happens when you have young kids on a monorail resort. We are usually much more AK and Epcot heavy when we stay and CCV or BCV.
Overall it seems like crowds weren't bad if you were in the right park at the right time. Obviously this is just my experience though. Looking at TP the party days at MK were downright light, maxed out at 2-3 on TP.
I still feel like this is one of the best times of the year to go with the combination of weather, prices, and crowds.