Why is mid-November so crowded? (2013)

[taaren]

We're trying to plan a trip for next year using the PAPs we just upgraded to, which expire Dec 5th. We'd like to go either the week before or the week after Thanksgiving.

I understand why Thanksgiving week is crowded (week of Nov 23), and we really liked the lack of crowds of the first week of Dec this year.

So my question is, if F&W ends on Veteran's Day, there's a week and a half before Thanksgiving week where the parks should be pretty empty but TouringPlans still has the week of Nov 16 as being level 5 crowds most days with 7's and 8's in Epcot and DHS, our favorite parks. Why?

This mid-November week will probably be better for me to take off of work, and slightly easier to get a DVC villa at the 7 month mark, but level 5 crowds sound a lot less appealing than 2's and 3's for the first week of December.

[MEK]

Is that Jersey week? I know they are notorious for having a week off sometime in November where half the state goes to Florida?

Anyway - not sure about the crowds levels. I do think that would be a fun week to visit as all the Christmas decorations are coming out.

I'm sure someone will know why crowds are higher. I do know, being a DVC member, that it can be difficult to get a villa the first couple weeks of December.

Happy planning.

[Farps]

Im from jersey, and nov. 7 and 8 2013 is the teachers convention so many people from NJ will be swarming to the parks that week. Including my family, crowds are still manageable though but not at their lowest. Just check one of the crowd calendars.

P.S. not everyone from new Jersey will be there, only half. Lol, it's a small state

[LadyLuck24]

We were there the week of Nov 11-18th 2010. The first night was crazy in Epcot because it was the last night of F&W (we knew it would be nuts but went anyway because we had never been to F&W). The rest of the week was great---I wouldn't say it was the lowest crowds I had ever seen, but I was never overwhelmed by crowds & we got to go on everything we had planned to. Of course the usual rides (TSM, Soarin, etc) were necessary FP-ers, but we still got on them. Between the great weather and the moderate crowds, plus Christmas decorations, that week ranks right up there with the second week of May as my favorite time to go.

[North of Mouse]

Originally Posted by taaren

We're trying to plan a trip for next year using the PAPs we just upgraded to, which expire Dec 5th. We'd like to go either the week before or the week after Thanksgiving.

I understand why Thanksgiving week is crowded (week of Nov 23), and we really liked the lack of crowds of the first week of Dec this year.

So my question is, if F&W ends on Veteran's Day, there's a week and a half before Thanksgiving week where the parks should be pretty empty but TouringPlans still has the week of Nov 16 as being level 5 crowds most days with 7's and 8's in Epcot and DHS, our favorite parks. Why?

This mid-November week will probably be better for me to take off of work, and slightly easier to get a DVC villa at the 7 month mark, but level 5 crowds sound a lot less appealing than 2's and 3's for the first week of December.

We were there this year from 11/27 - 12/7 and the crowd level was excellent, and the weather cooperated also This is one of our favorite times of year to go, the other being mid April for F&G Festival (but not crowded after most spring breaks are over).

[taaren]

Originally Posted by Farps

Im from jersey, and nov. 7 and 8 2013 is the teachers convention so many people from NJ will be swarming to the parks that week. Including my family, crowds are still manageable though but not at their lowest. Just check one of the crowd calendars.

P.S. not everyone from new Jersey will be there, only half. Lol, it's a small state

Originally Posted by LadyLuck24

We were there the week of Nov 11-18th 2010. The first night was crazy in Epcot because it was the last night of F&W (we knew it would be nuts but went anyway because we had never been to F&W). The rest of the week was great---I wouldn't say it was the lowest crowds I had ever seen, but I was never overwhelmed by crowds & we got to go on everything we had planned to. Of course the usual rides (TSM, Soarin, etc) were necessary FP-ers, but we still got on them. Between the great weather and the moderate crowds, plus Christmas decorations, that week ranks right up there with the second week of May as my favorite time to go.

This is helpful, thanks. I'm looking at Nov 17-22 or 23, and it sounds like that might be a fairly good bet if I plan my parks right.

Originally Posted by North of Mouse

We were there this year from 11/27 - 12/7 and the crowd level was excellent, and the weather cooperated also This is one of our favorite times of year to go, the other being mid April for F&G Festival (but not crowded after most spring breaks are over).

We were there from 11/30-12/5, and I did love the weather and walking on to all the rides. That's why I'm pushing for it again, though DH seems really attached to the week before Thanksgiving. (Personally I'd like to get the visiting the in-laws part of the trip done before getting my Disney happy face on, but he would rather relax with his family after.)

[beccasmom]

We visited the week of 11/12 this year and the crowds did not seem bad from our perspective. This was our third straight year visiting the week before Thanksgiving and it has always worked well for us. This year we had blah weather (cloudy, drizzly), so that was disappointing. So no "quality" sun time, but we had a great time otherwise.

[Eponine1]

I am going the week of November 15--23 2013. I subscribe to Touring Plans too.

Don't worry, the numbers will go down. They are basing it on the numbers from the past year. If you look at a certain day and click onto a certain park you will see that is based on the hours of 2011 which was really the week of Thanksgiving with longer hours.

For 2013, Thanksgiving falls one week later.

It will be a great week. F&W should be done, no Jersey Week, not Veteran's Day.

Once the calendar comes out and the usual hours are posted like MK 9-8 pm (usual hours for that time) then the numbers will come way down.

I go the week before Thanksgiving every year and never had a problem.

Watch for the calendar in May and TP will adjust the numbers then.

Happy planning!

[Sweettears]

We used to go that time of year when our kids were younger because they had Veterans Day off and it was one less day of school to miss. Back then it wasn't a busy time of year to visit.

[Promomx2]

We too are looking at Nov. 16 to 21st. I just wanted to make sure that we would miss Pop Warner and any cheering competitions. Will we miss them?

[taaren]

Originally Posted by Eponine1

I am going the week of November 15--23 2013. I subscribe to Touring Plans too.

Don't worry, the numbers will go down. They are basing it on the numbers from the past year. If you look at a certain day and click onto a certain park you will see that is based on the hours of 2011 which was really the week of Thanksgiving with longer hours.

For 2013, Thanksgiving falls one week later.

It will be a great week. F&W should be done, no Jersey Week, not Veteran's Day.

Once the calendar comes out and the usual hours are posted like MK 9-8 pm (usual hours for that time) then the numbers will come way down.

I go the week before Thanksgiving every year and never had a problem.

Watch for the calendar in May and TP will adjust the numbers then.

Happy planning!

This makes me feel much better! I think I'm sold on this week now ... I'll have to commit before May due to the fact that we are DVC, so my 7 month date will be mid-March, but we need to start arranging for time-off work, etc anyways.

Originally Posted by Promomx2

We too are looking at Nov. 16 to 21st. I just wanted to make sure that we would miss Pop Warner and any cheering competitions. Will we miss them?

Pop Warner 2013 will be the 2nd week of December, the 7-13 instead of Nov 30-5 from what I saw on another thread. That was one of the reasons the Nov 30 week was appealing to me.