Christmas decorations

[PlutoNJ]

My family's considering a trip to WDW this year and would like to enjoy all the decor for Christmas. The trip would be the full week before Thanksgiving. My questions are:
Will all the decorations be up in both the parks and resorts to enjoy?
Will the 'edible' decorations in Beach Club, Grand Floridian, etc. already be up?
Will Mickey's Very Merry Christmas party and Osbourne Lights be available?

Also, when does Disney post the dates for the Christmas party and where can I find that?

If anyone has gone during that week or anyone with info, any help would greatly be appreciated.


Thanks in advance.

 

[Samantha/NC]

We went over Thanksgiving and yes all of the decorations are up. Mickey's party was not going on the week of Thanksgiving--or at least not the evenings we were there.


It was a great time to go!!!!!!

 

[queensara]

We are going to WDW for Thanksgiving, I'm hoping the crowds are brutal

 

[OlderMan]

We were at OKW from Friday thru Sunday after Thanksgiving.

When we left Sunday afternoon, they were still putting up decorations there.

 

[Camster0307]

In 2006, MVMCP started on 11/11; in 2007 - 11/12. Osborne Lights(DS) and Jingle Jangle Jungle parade(DAK) also started around the same time. So you can count on those resorts being decorated. As for the resorts, I think they start decorating the first week of Nov. (I would imagine the edible displays are started way before that!) I don't know if there is an exact timeline as to when the resorts would be full decorated. I can tell you that, a few years ago, we were at BC during Veteran's day week; went to bed one night - no decorations; woke up next morning - fully decorated!

BTW - I don't think they usually run MVMCP during thanksgiving week!

 

[disney54us]

Hi and welcome to the boards. It use to be that everything was decorated the day after Thanksgiving like. Now since they have MVMCP starting in mid November that is decorated as any of the parks that have there special Christmas events. I have been there in mid November and the hotels were decorated maybe not fully, but tree's wreaths etc. Go on WDW and click on the month you will see if they have the dates set yet for the special events. Have a great trip!!

 

[byoung]

We are going to WDW for Thanksgiving, I'm hoping the crowds are brutal

They will be.

 

[Leleluvsdis]

I'm glad to see this info.. we are planning for december 09. First time not in the summer, or spring break.

 

[PlutoNJ]

Thanks everyone for your input. I have done some of my own investigating and after a call with 1-407-WDISNEY, they told me this:
They aim to have all decorations up by Nov. 10
Dates for MVMCP are usually not announced until May-June of this year.

I was looking at last years dates for MVMCP and noticed that the entire week before Thanksgiving, there were no partys. but the week before that, there were. Anyone know why? If that's the case, I'm thinking of possibly going mid-week - mid week: Nov.13(Thurs.)-19(Wed.), just so that we can go to the party.

Did someone say that Osbourne Lights was opertaing the week before Thanksgiving?

It would be the first time my family would see any of this and I want them to observe it all! It's so beautiful.

All additional info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Camster0307]

Our trip is scheduled for Nov.8-16th; as stated in my earlier post, I'm thinking the party should start sometime @ Nov.12.

I've dug up my MVMCP brochures from the last two years:
2006:
Epcot - Holidays Around the World: Nov.24-Dec.30, 2006
MGM - Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights: Nov.13, 2006-Jan.7,2007
DAK - Mickey's Jingle Jungle Parade: Nov.13, 2006-Jan.7,2007
DTD - Festival of the Seasons: Nov.24-Dec.24,2006

2007:
Epcot - Holidays Around the World: Nov.23-Dec.30,2007
MGM- Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights: Nov.12,2007-Jan.6,2008
DAK - Jingle Jungle Parade: Nov.12,2007-Jan.6,2008

I would imagine the dates for this year would fall around same time.

 

[PlutoNJ]

That's some great info to go by. Hopefully WDW keeps to the same schedule from the last two years.
Camster, would you happen to also have all the dates of Mickey's Very Christmas Party from the last two years?
Thanks...

 

[DizneyNutz]

That's some great info to go by. Hopefully WDW keeps to the same schedule from the last two years.
Camster, would you happen to also have all the dates of Mickey's Very Christmas Party from the last two years?
Thanks...

2007 dates:

November 12, 15, 16, 25, 27, 29, 30, 2007
December 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11 (SOLD OUT), 13, 14, 16, 18 (SOLD OUT), 20, 21 (SOLD OUT), 2007

I believe these were the 2006 dates
* November: 13, 17, 27, 28, 30
* December: 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 18, 19, 21, 22

 

[PlutoNJ]

Thanks again for those dates. It's a good reference for possible dates to come this year. It's strange that they seem to skip over that full week before Thanksgiving. Anyone know why?

 

[Camster0307]

I think the dates DisneyNutz posted are pretty accurate except I had the first party in 2006 being Nov.11.

As for no party the week before Thanksgiving: I'm going to assume it's to give the Thanksgiving holiday it's recognition. Just my guess.

 

[PlutoNJ]

Ok, I started this next question on a new thread, but Camster0307 and DisneyNutz seem to have all the info from the past couple years and I'm hoping you guys may have this info too!

What would the park hours be like during those weeks in Nov. (second and third full week before Thanksgiving)
When the Magic Kingdom has extra magical hours during this time, will they stay open until midnight?

Thanks guys.

 

[Camster0307]

PlutoNJ - Glad to help - especially someone from Jersey - born & raised myself, grew up in Bayonne and lived in Hoboken.

Anyway, I pulled out the calendar I had for MK in Nov. of 2007. It seems that, on average, MK was open either 9-7pm or 8pm. Late EMH would mean it stays open an extra 3 hours, so that would mean 11pm. (nights it was listed closing at 7pm, I believe, were the nights of the MVMCP) Now, for the week OF Thanksgiving, MK was open regularly until midnight - meaning late EMH went until 3am! (I'm assuming).

If you want a more definitive answer, I would post your question on the theme parks board. There are people over there who have kept better track of these hours over the years.

Good luck. Go Giants!

 

[PlutoNJ]

Camster, thanks again. I too have lived in Hoboken!

I did receive additional info on the 'theme parks' section.

Basically I'm trying to compare the park hours during those two weeks in Nov, which I have mentioned to the first week in Dec. It's just another factor to help me determine when we should go. I'm defeintly leaning towards Nov. especially if we can see all the holiday decorations/special events/MVMCP, just the same as if we went in Dec.

Although the con may be that the park hours may be longer in Dec. But I have to find out based on previous years. That's where you guys have been very helpful to me.

Thanks again!

 

[Camster0307]

PlutoNJ - I think the park hours for the first few weeks in Dec. will be the same as the first few weeks in Nov. If you look in the various guide books, both those times of the year are listed as "low-avg. attendance" (although I do think they are getting more popular). Anyway, it won't be until you're actually in the week of a holiday (like Thanksgiving or Christmas) that you'll see the park hours extended.

Really, I've been both times and the crowds are very managable. By going in the beginning of Dec., though, you're virtually guaranteed that all the Christmas decorations will definitely be up; and the Epcot holiday festivities (i.e. Candlelight Processional & Santas from @ the world) don't start until after Thanksgiving.

 

[PlutoNJ]

Thanks Camster. Yes, I do agree and it is a guarantee that all decor/events will in full effect after Thanksgiving. I will be happy in Nov. as long we can attend the MVMCP, see some decorations, and hopefully Osbourne Lights also.

Another thought with regards to earlier park closing hours will be, to have a late dinner after park closes or earlier so that we can still get in some additoonal park time after dinner...decisions, decisions. I think this will have to be the next thread I will have to begin in the restaurants section!! lol

So, the crowds are very managable both first half of Nov. and Dec.? that's good to know.