Best time to go for Christmas decorations.

[Kara315]

What is the best time to go for Christmas? Want to try and avoid pop warner, although we have heard it's not as bad, as long as your not at the same resorts, which I heard were the value's and one moderate? The last week of November is possible, not sure if all the decorations are up then though which is what we really want to see.
What week is good for all the decorations up and avoiding pop warner(if it's as bad as some say)

Thanks.

 

[MrsJamesPSullivan]

My absolute favorite week in Disney is the week after Thanksgiving. We arrive on Saturday with our first park day being Sunday. All the decorations are up, crowd size is great. Weather can be anything, pack layers. Pop Warner starts coming in Friday but the only time we notice them is if we go to MK on Saturday and by then it's not a big deal to us because we've had it to ourselves all week. We always stay at WL that week and they definitely don't stay there.

 

[sharonabe]

Right after Thanksgiving everything is up except for one thing. IF the Christmas parade taping goes back to the first weekend in December, the tree in MK will not be in place until after they're done taping. IF they keep the taping in November, then any time after Thanksgiving will be good.

If you want to avoid Pop Warner this year, then the 11th-17th would be a GREAT week to go with lower crowds and definitely all Christmas done.
Next year, Dec 10-16 would be the week to go.

 

[texasroni75]

Just visited this past December with my youngest son. We stayed the first week of December (1-8). Pop Warner kids didn't arrive until the tail end of our trip, and even then we only saw them at the resort, not the parks. If you are staying Mod, it will be a non-issue. For me, the overall holiday crowds that build with each consecutive week at the parks as you get closer to Christmas are the bigger concern. I found that first week of December was the sweet spot - Thanksgiving ppl are gone, and Christmas madness crowds aren't there yet.

 

[toolmanjan]

We stayed Christmas week '13 We arrived on 12/21 the crowds were very manageable through Christmas Eve. In fact my DD and I had a great time at MK late night Christmas Eve. Then came Christmas day (Wednesday). I've never seen the MK so crowded so early in the morning. By 10am we realized that this was the place not to be. We will be there this year 12/15-12/26 we expect the weekends to be crowded.

 

[Klayfish]

We were there both the week of Thanksgiving and Christmas last year. They were both awesome. Decorations were in full display, so either one would be great.

 

[Kara315]

Right after Thanksgiving everything is up except for one thing. IF the Christmas parade taping goes back to the first weekend in December, the tree in MK will not be in place until after they're done taping. IF they keep the taping in November, then any time after Thanksgiving will be good.

If you want to avoid Pop Warner this year, then the 11th-17th would be a GREAT week to go with lower crowds and definitely all Christmas done.
Next year, Dec 10-16 would be the week to go.

We are planning for next year. Wouldn't that be the week of pop warner? I thought they go around that week. Or are they usually starting to leave by then? Thanks

 

[Serenebean]

I absolutely agree about the week after Thanksgiving. Our flight was on Saturday after Thanksgiving...we didnt go to the parks until Monday (we went to DS Saturday night when we arrived and we golfed on Sunday and ate dinner at Cali Grill) The entire week was fabulous. As a PP said, they taped the Christmas parade in November last year so I think that helped, but I was expecting to plan around it anyway

 

[Kara315]

I absolutely agree about the week after Thanksgiving. Our flight was on Saturday after Thanksgiving...we didnt go to the parks until Monday (we went to DS Saturday night when we arrived and we golfed on Sunday and ate dinner at Cali Grill) The entire week was fabulous. As a PP said, they taped the Christmas parade in November last year so I think that helped, but I was expecting to plan around it anyway

Does the taping bring in a lot of extra people in general or is it just for the place they are filming? Do they film it on a certain day each year, like always on a saturday?

 

[MrsJamesPSullivan]

We were in the park one year during filming but we went in at rope drop and just avoided the front if the park Main Street area during filming and it wasn't a problem at all. Sometimes you'd hear a song being played 2 or 3 times in a row while they were filming if you were closer to the front but that's all I remember. Yes, thete are people that come in for the filming and I would imagine they stayed in the park after but that's when we went to take a break and spent the evening in Epcot to avoid them.
One thing to keep in mind is the train will stop when it gets near the front of the park and wait for a break in filming to continue on. If you want to ride the train around the park I would suggest doing it on another MK day.
I'm pretty sure they film on Saturday. They always used to do it the first weekend in December but have been changing it around recently.

 

[Serenebean]

Does the taping bring in a lot of extra people in general or is it just for the place they are filming? Do they film it on a certain day each year, like always on a saturday?

Someone who has been there during it can answer better, but my understanding is that Main St in MK is closed off for many hours. Of course you can go be on Main Street and watch, but its the same thing over and over for hours. If it happened to fall on my MK day, I was just going to make sure to be well into Fantasyland before it started and wouldnt have been watching the taping itself. I dont think you can leave the Main Street area once taping starts.

 

[Boopuff]

We went last year the 10-14 and the weather was great and crowds were low (except for MK) Great time to go! Never saw any POP warner.

 

[sharonabe]

We are planning for next year. Wouldn't that be the week of pop warner? I thought they go around that week. Or are they usually starting to leave by then? Thanks

Won't know until the announce their plans, but the general consensus is they'll go the week before and be leaving on the 10th.

 

[Nancyg56]

Does the taping bring in a lot of extra people in general or is it just for the place they are filming? Do they film it on a certain day each year, like always on a saturday?

I think it is mainly Main Street area, and that is very congested. I loved it though, it was so interesting to see.

I think that you never can know what the crowds will be like overall, but I woudl not avoid WDW on parades taping days, although I might not want the MK if congestion was bothersome.

 

[ParksPixar&Pizza]

My birthday is on the 14th and it's always been my dream to go for my birthday, or at least around because I know (like everyone said), the closer you to Christmas, it can get hectic/more expensive. Great thread!

 

[Nancyg56]

My birthday is on the 14th and it's always been my dream to go for my birthday, or at least around because I know (like everyone said), the closer you to Christmas, it can get hectic/more expensive. Great thread!

I think that is a great week to go. I have been twice for that week, and have planned another week this year. Just mind the MK on non party days, as well as party days. Non party evenings are very busy becuase that is the only time for evening entertainment. I go but if you are not prepared, you can be overwhelmed.

 

[ParksPixar&Pizza]

I think that is a great week to go. I have been twice for that week, and have planned another week this year. Just mind the MK on non party days, as well as party days. Non party evenings are very busy becuase that is the only time for evening entertainment. I go but if you are not prepared, you can be overwhelmed.

Are the crowds dramatically worse? I don't go as often as other posters probably, so I never know what to expect. I would love to do MVMCP too!

 

[Nancyg56]

Are the crowds dramatically worse? I don't go as often as other posters probably, so I never know what to expect. I would love to do MVMCP too!

As far as MK, party days are great days to go early and get a lot done. I never find those days busy. Non party days can be very busy. Like REALLY BUSY. On those days I like to go later in the day, have a nice meal, and I use FP for attactions I like in the dark. Book an evening Jungle Cruise FP. It is hysterical, a Christmas layover and is fun in the evening. Find a good spot for Celebrate the Magic Castle show and Wishes. I like the Castle Lighting too at aound 6 and then again aound 8. I cannot remember the exact time.

One of my favorite attactions in the evening is the People Mover, but duing the Holidays the glimpses of the Castle are stunning.

 

[tcufrog]

We've gone twice the first week in December (including last December) and it's been great. The only problem crowd we encountered was at Osborne Lights.