Birthday, Columbus & Thanksgiving Weekends

[Terk-1]

I was thinking of going down August 2005 for my birthday weekend (leave the evening of 8/25 and return the evening of 8/30), in October 2005 (leave the evening of 10/6 and return the evening of 10/11), then one more time in November 2005 (leave the morning on the day after Thanksgiving 11/25 & return the evening of 11/29). We get Columbus Day & the day after Thanksgiving off a paid company holiday's.

Sound like too much??? Should I just skip the weekend in November and just go in October for a Columbus Day week?

I know how crowded Thanksgiving weekend is, but how is it Columbus weekend? Does MNSSHP start that early in the month?

 

[kimwim8]

I'll be there from Oct 10 - 15th. Yes, MNSSHP is going on then (I think it starts the beginning of Oct.) As far as crowds, from what I've read, it's not as crowded as peak-peak times, but not empty either. There are several threads I've come across about October at WDW, maybe try a search.

Maybe I'll see you there!

 

[jtjarvis]

I've tried asking the same about Columbus Day —we're going 10/7-10/11, no other options because we want to do mnsshp and can't miss school otherwise in October.

This has become my outlook: I'm going to prepare for crowds (and I know it will not be as crowded as other major holidays, or summer I have been told). If the crowds are there, I will be prepared to negotiate them I will enjoy being there in a (hopefully) beautiful month, when lots of cool stuff is going on (mnsshp and F&W). And I will just be experiencing a different WDW than I did when I went this past Jan., end of month, when we went to MK on Sat. and Sun. and walked on nearly everything! So maybe it's my turn to stand in at least a couple of lines...

But really, seems like CD weekend is busier than other Oct. weekends (maybe except for Oct. 31?) but it does not seem like a weekend to necessarily avoid...

 

[Terk-1]

I thought a lot about splitting so many weekends and decided to just do a long weekend in August and then go for a full week Columbus Day week. With the holiday on that Monday, I will only need to use 4 vacation days that week. I know it will be alot of traveling within 3 months (going for long weekend at the end of August, going on a cruise the last week of September, then heading for WDW the middle of October).

Does this sound like a lot in a short amount of time?

 

[Terk-1]

Thanks for your input regarding Columbus Week. I would like to do MNSSHP, since I have never done it before and it looks like alot of fun. I'm hoping to convince my family to come, since going trick or treating at the Magic Kingdom would be a blast for the kids.

How is the weather? Is it hot & rainy? What about the park hours? Are they open later or close earlier? Is October considered "value" or "regular" season? Are there discount rates at the resorts? What about AP rates?

 

[Beachangel]

Too much DisneyWorld? No way!

Sure, the holiday weekends are crowded since people have an extra day off. It doesn't bother me since I visit frequently, I'm just more selective of what rides to do.

I'm heading down in August for 10 days, going again for 3 days CD weekend for F&W, heading to Las Vegas for 4 days after Thanksgiving and back to WDW in December for 4 days.

Whew!

 

[jtjarvis]

I've not been to WDW in October before so can't vouch for the weather, but I do know October is in regular season. We booked a FW cabin with AAA discount, but I'm still going to watch for some October room-only discounts. They've just issued codes through September -- let's hope they'll do the same for October (but Oct. is more popular than September. Hope they're not just trying to boost Sept. numbers).

I think the details about the "seasons", weather, AP rates etc. should be readily available on the main wdwinfo site. It's also on mousesavers.

Hope this helps!

 

[Terk-1]

I know it will be a wee bit hot at the end of August, but I would love to spend my birthday there at least once. I've also wanted to do MNSSHP, but have not had the chance as of yet, so I'm going to do both of the things I've always wanted to do next year.

When do tickets usually go on sale for MNSSHP?Is it better to go during the week, rather than the weekend? Can this be done as a solo? Do you have to dress up?