because I am a planner--tell me about Nov vs Dec

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

So, we went to DL in October this year and loved it--quiet, did everything... also went in May, ditto... I promised my hubby no DL until after the big DCA refurbs and baby #2 (that we are TTC) is 3... so I was thinking May 2012 (yikes! ) But now I read about Christmas at DL and it sounds awesome...

Thing is, with work, I know I could easily go (thinking a 5 night, 6 day trip...) anytime between November 1 and the 13th... or even Thankgiving week which would be 19th-27th-ish. I really don't think Thanksgiving week is a good idea because I don't like crowds--except maybe if we plan on being there every day leading up to Thankgiving and then leaving on the actually holiday?!!

Then work gets really busy and I will be swamped until about December 14... and then I would be free until after New Year's sometime... Well that is all holiday break for the kiddos everywhere.

Ideally, I want to fly down on a Saturday and stay until Thursday to take advantage of shows and stuff on the weekends and quiet(er) Mon/Tues/Wed.

I know I am crazy thinking about a trip that is soooo far off, but as people start planning their holiday trips it'll give me something to think about!!

Would you go early November? Thanksgiving week? Or December during break and deal with the crowds??

--Lisa

 

[Vacation Dad]

We have gone over Thanksgiving week a couple times, including last year. Sunday – Tuesday really was OK. It is fairly busy, but the park hours are long, the Christmas decorations are up and the situation is not bad. It started to get much busier on Wednesday, and you don’t even want to think about going on Thanksgiving Day. By noon the park was so crowded you could barely move – the standby time on Space Mt. was 105 minutes at noon a few years ago.

If you get there early and gather Fastpasses (which doesn’t really apply that much to rides interesting to a 4 year old), it can work out fine.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'd go in early December if at all possible. If I couldn't, I'd go December 14 b/c you get all of the decorations.


Now about your promise to your hubby...I can't get behind that. Our son was a one-time try, but we've been trying now since DS was 9 months old, and we've gotten nothing. If we were waiting for an unconceived child to be a certain age before we went somewhere, we'd have gone insane by now. It's sad enough to have unexplained problems getting pregnant (and we are NOT medically minded so we're not doing any medical interventions unlike most of our friends who take longer than 6 months to get pg), let alone to put your life on hold until something that might not happen.

So I would encourage you to think on that, AND I wish you all the luck in the world with the TTC!!!!!

 

[PigletGurl]

Last year I went Nov 15 - Nov 20, and it was perfect! Cold weather yes, but this is coming out of a mouth of someone who has tropical weather all the time, and the crowds were low, as compared to summer of course, (the usual time I go). All the christmas decorations were up, and I really felt the holiday spirit in DL! Whatever you decide, have fun!

 

[DL4my2kids]

I thought it was crazy busy. Especially from Wednesday - Sunday.

 

[samkj]

If you don't like crowds, definitely avoid Thanksgiving week, including the days leading up to the holiday. It is busy, not crazy before Thanksgiving, but still busy (and seeing the 8am-midnight hours should give you a general idea that Disney expects large crowds) We go this week every other year and enjoy it. My husband and I both work for the school district, so we have to go during school holidays and don't mind the crowds.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

There is something to be said about the December 14th timetable. There's a special magic in the air as Christmas draws especially close, especially when the little ones see Santa Claus coming up on the final parade float.

It will be more crowded, but you've been very recently, so use a December visit to soak up the Christmas atmosphere in the park. Disneyland is (somehow) extra special during Christmas. In fact, I don't feel like it's Christmas until I've gone to Disneyland(every year in December since 2003). Disneyland does a great job of remembering what Christmas is all about(and I don't mean the commercialization and such).

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

I'd go in early December if at all possible. If I couldn't, I'd go December 14 b/c you get all of the decorations.


Now about your promise to your hubby...I can't get behind that. Our son was a one-time try, but we've been trying now since DS was 9 months old, and we've gotten nothing. If we were waiting for an unconceived child to be a certain age before we went somewhere, we'd have gone insane by now. It's sad enough to have unexplained problems getting pregnant (and we are NOT medically minded so we're not doing any medical interventions unlike most of our friends who take longer than 6 months to get pg), let alone to put your life on hold until something that might not happen.

So I would encourage you to think on that, AND I wish you all the luck in the world with the TTC!!!!!

Thank you for the luck, and I'll send some your way! Its not like we won't be taking any vacations, just that hubby is pretty determined that it is silly to take one younger than 3 to DL... no problem hauling them to Kauai or Mexico (2 times...) he's funny that way....

Maybe we'll brave December crowds... I could relax more... instead of trying to fit in the trip between busy times at work... although one poster said they loved the 15th-20th of November....

hmmmm...

--Lisa