Anyone done Halloween AND Christmas at WDW?

[aussie shaz]

So I was looking into which dates were a possibility for us for next year to visit WDW.

If I can't get holidays during the September school holidays, I'll have to take the kids out of school at some time (I will not go during Spring break or Summer!)

I had wanted to go to Disney(LAND, WORLD or HK) over Christmas, but I didn't want to pay the prices for airfares and hotels at that time of year.

Then I thought we could catch Halloween if we did September/October school holidays.

Now I have just discovered that the last Halloween party is approx 1st of November (give or take) and the first Christmas party is approx 9th of November. This means that I could do BOTH

Has anyone done this, or have any ideas/views/possible problems with this? The weather still looks ok in early November, and the crowds seem to be ok? Thanksgiving isn't until late November.

Would love any input at all.

Also any ideas if airlines have specials for late Oct?
Thanks

 

[Sugarglider]

ME! PICK ME! PICK ME!

I went at that time in 2011 and it was GREAT!

I am not sure about airfares at that time - i bought a special fare from Qantas in May. I scored a discount package at the World (at OKW) in March

the weather was magnificent - mid - high 20's C; no rain; no humidity; crowds were low - ish.

the Food and Wine Festival was also on and it attracted HUGE crowds on Fridays & Saturdays. So i did the booths first thing (11am) on weekdays and the place was very quiet. Had no problems with crowds. Did both parties - they were busy but not sold out - and still quieter than an ordinary day at the parks. LOVED halloween - and dressed up! more fun!

Christmas isn't 100% out - just starting. e.g. the party is on but the MK tree is not up; the gingerbread things are not constructed; some of the decorations are not yet up etc
Avoid thanksgiving weekend - arrive in the days afterward.

Very good time to go - highly recommended

 

[WanderlustNZ]

If I wasn't restricted to traveling in school holidays, this would be my top choice of times to go.
It would be so cool to do both parties in one visit and November is a lovely time weather-wise.

My first and only time visiting WDW (about 20 years ago when I was a teenager) was late November/early December. When we were there I remember the weather being still warm enough for swimming, but not uncomfortably hot. We still got the late afternoon thunderstorms most days, but they only lasted a few minutes and weren't an issue.

 

[DizOz]

We have done both Christmas and Halloween at WDW (Although in different trips). We did the September school holidays and took the kids out for a week before and after which worked out fine. We also did a late November and December tip which we loved as well. This year we are doing the Nov/December trip again.

I would say if you can do both the parties (MNSHP and MVMCP) they are great fun and the lines are pretty short as well. The decorations and themeing of the two is also great to see.

We found the weather was fine, we were still swimming every day right into December.

Crowds generally at those times crowds will be low, accommodation discounted and free dining will also most likely be available as well.

 

[aussie shaz]

Thank you Thank you Thank you!!

I just did a happy dance

I was just waiting for someone to come up with some reason I shouldn't go then, but you didn't!

I've come to the conclusion I'll just have to take the kids out of school (as we've done for the past 7 years or so). I'm sure a couple of weeks missed in Year 7 wont change the path of my sons life

Very excited now!

 

[Minniemum]

Now I have just discovered that the last Halloween party is approx 1st of November (give or take) and the first Christmas party is approx 9th of November. This means that I could do BOTH

Has anyone done this, or have any ideas/views/possible problems with this? The weather still looks ok in early November, and the crowds seem to be ok? Thanksgiving isn't until late November.

Would love any input at all.

Also any ideas if airlines have specials for late Oct?
Thanks

Hi aussie shaz! We did the "3 in 1" trip a couple of years ago - MNSSHP, MVMCP and the Food and Wine Festival. All this in 2 weeks!

We arrived on October 29 and stayed 2 weeks. First up we did a couple of days eating our way around EPCOT at the Food and Wine Festival as we knew it was about to finish (end of October). On Halloween we made the most of our home resorts (Pop) celebrations. The staff did a wonderful job of dressing up, organising games and competitions, as well as trick or treating. We also wandered around DTD which was quite busy with lots of trick or treating posts set up outside stores. Before you get too excited, I believe Disney don't have this as an option anymore .

Just over a week later we went to MVMCP. Whilst not all the decorations were out, we LOVED it! The night had me feeling all warm and fuzzy and thankful for how blessed we are to have these opportunities. A truly wonderful night topped off with the most spectacular fireworks show.

The weather in the first week was perfect - sunny 27 - 30 most days. The second week was about 22-24 just a little too cool for swimming. Note that one of the water parks will close for a few months of maintenance from the end of October. Crowd levels at all the parks were low to medium and made for easily manageable days.

Airfares were very well priced as it was out of school holidays.

I notice you are from Melbourne too. Does your school have a long weekend for Cup Day? If so, it will minimise the amount of time you have to take DS out of school.

 

[Snickals]

We did it just last year, caught the end of the Halloween stuff and the start of the Christmas season (plus Thanksgiving)...was fun experiencing differest festivals and seasons

 

[WickedDreamer]

Yay!! Sounds like an exciting trip your planning with the family!!

My sister and my are planning the exact same trip together for this year, we arrive on the 24th October and stay for 3 weeks, so we can do Food and Wine, MNSSH , Festival of the Masters and MVMCP we're very excited for this trip as we are going to be able to celebrate a lot of seasons.

For Halloween we have read that in the afternoon a lot of the resorts also have characters visiting in costumes so you can ask your hotel for the list on the morning of Halloween. We have subscribed to touring plans and they say that MK and Epcot are the two worst parks to visit on Halloween. But AK seems to have the best characters on Halloween as all the characters wear different costumes that are exclusive to AK.

I shall share any other tips we learn while we are planning as well for both parties

 

[aussie shaz]

Thank you everyone. I am getting more and more excited by the minute and it's still nearly 2 years away!!

I think if we leave on October 30th, we can arrive evening that night. 31st, we can shop etc in the morning, then do the resort Halloween stuff. Then hopefully there will be the last (or second last) MNSSHP on the 1st of November.

I did realize that we'll be away for Melbourne cup weekend, so that takes at least one, probably 2 school days out of the equation, and he'd probably miss 10 school days. I can live with that.

Wickeddreamer, I would love to hear everything you're planning, and how it all goes. I guess I'll start booking stuff this October/November.

 

[aussie shaz]

Minniemum, you put my mind at ease. The only thing that worried me about this plan was that a few sale airfares I looked at didn't start until 1st November. This date just wouldnt work for me. I'll keep my eyes out this year about when good prices are released.

 

[Sugarglider]

First up we did a couple of days eating our way around EPCOT at the Food and Wine Festival as we knew it was about to finish (end of October).

Hi Minniemum - guess what - they have now extended F&W to last 7 weeks! goes into mid Nov.

I notice they are turning the flower & Garden festival into a bit of a food festival as well - with a lot of the booths running

 

[Minniemum]

Then hopefully there will be the last (or second last) MNSSHP on the 1st of November.

That's when we went too! According to our kids the best thing about the night is trick or treating. Me? I loved the costumes, parades, castle lit up, fireworks...ok, I really loved all of it!

Minniemum, you put my mind at ease. The only thing that worried me about this plan was that a few sale airfares I looked at didn't start until 1st November. This date just wouldnt work for me. I'll keep my eyes out this year about when good prices are released.

When we went we found the October and November prices were the same.

Hi Minniemum - guess what - they have now extended F&W to last 7 weeks! goes into mid Nov.

I notice they are turning the flower & Garden festival into a bit of a food festival as well - with a lot of the booths running

I think you'd need 7 weeks just to try all the food!