Holiday Time should be up and running by around Veteran's Day weekend (usually starting the Friday of that weekend, but definitely by the following Monday). How about a midweek trip before Thanksgiving week? (Skip that week -- it can be quite crowded.) If you can fit it in the budget, try the Holiday Tour with your mom. You get the tour, several rides, prime seating (an actual chair!) for the holiday parade, hot chocolate and a gingerbread mickey cookie, and a pin.