Christmas Decorations for 2012

[YoCoLifSavr]

I am looking at booking a trip to Disney in November. I was looking at November 1st-9th. This will be our first trip down for Christmas and are really hoping to see Christmas lights. When do they start decorating? When are most of the parks fully decorated for Christmas? I could also book at end of November but due to my work schedule it will be more of a hassle. Any insight is helpful. Thanks everyone

 

[tinkerbellybutton]

I think you'll be cutting it a bit close. I know MK is usually done in time for the first MVMCP which starts that first week of November, but the Christmas tree in MK doesn't go up until after the parade taping in early december. I'm sure the other parks will be starting to get decorated, but not sure any of the "activities" such as Christmas parades, Osborne Lights, and WS in Epcot will be happening yet. From what I remember Epcot doesn't start the Christmas stuff till after Thanksgiving day.

We've visited twice for Thanksgiving and most of the resorts were just finishing their decorating during the week, and there were a few that hadn't even started.

The one time I was there that early in November was for a Halloween trip. I believe we left to come home on November 2nd or 3rd, and the only thing in the way of Christmas was merchadise in stores. I did not see any signs of Chrsitmas decorations anywhere.

If your main reason for the trip is to go at "Christmastime" then I think you'd be better waiting till the end of November.

 

[TDC Nala]

With those dates, you won't see very much that is Christmas related. You might catch the castle lights, I believe that last year they came on starting November 4. The first MVMCP was November 8 and the Osborne Lights opened November 10, so you will be cutting those very close. Park decorations won't be up except possibly MK. Resort decorating will not have started yet. If you're looking for a Christmas trip, I think those dates are too early.

 

[YoCoLifSavr]

Ok the other dates I had picked was November 30th1st thru Dec 8th. What's the temperature like in Florida in late Nov and early December?

 

[Kate and Family]

The temperature can vary between shirt sleeve weather, and "where are my scarves and gloves!?!". My last visit (the week after Thanksgiving) was delightful. We wore a sweater or light jacket in the early morning on our way to rope drop and tied it around around our waist by noon. Although you can always get rain in Florida - it seems to be less often during that time of year as well.

 

[YoCoLifSavr]

Ok that sounds great, I think I will look to book at the end of November to early December. We really want to visit for Christmas and see the lights. I will just have to get coverage for work but it wont be no big deal. The things we do for Disney

 

[suevr]

We were there last year for Halloween and the first week of November. If I remember correctly, the day after Halloween they took the Halloween decorations down. The next day they had the Christmas wreaths up on the streetlights, and bit by bit they stared putting up more Christmas decorations each day. We were able to see the Xmas lights on the castle, but nothing else. TDC Nala is right about when the other things start to happen.

You'd definitely be better going at the end of November if you want to see the Christmas decorations.