So, I wanna see the resorts and parks all dolled up for Christmas, but really don't wanna fight the crowds. I went to The World November of 01, and the parks were pretty empty. They said it had a lot to do with September 11. My Dad has always gone the week before Thanksgiving and says that is the best time to go. I am starting a tradition with my family this year
and we are going the last week of January 09. Right now I work in retail and November and December are out of the question, but I anticipate a change soon. Anyway, How early do the resorts and parks decorate for Christmas? I would love to see all of it but I hear that it is just as crowded at Christmas as it is in the summer months. Any advice?
I went right after 9/11...empty is right!! Best and worst trip of my life! It was really last minute as I took advantage of the ridiculously low airfares they were offering to try to get people to ply again and so many people were cancelling their trips, the hotels were offering great deals too.
Our hotel was overflowing with Europeans. I think I was the only American there. The price was right, the weather was beautiful everything was great until.....we got to the pool!
Checked in, put our suitcases away, grabbed some lunch at the resort, changed into our bathing suits and went to the pool. My boys, 10 and 7 at the time, immediately meet these 2 great siblings from Scotland. Within 10 minutes they were all best friends as if they had known eachother for years. This day was the start of the Scotland kids 3rd week at Disney!!! They had already done all the parks, did all the shopping...etc... The last wek was just to relax at the pool / resort.
Wow! Great for them!! Somehow what was great for them turned into a nightmare for me. The kids played at the pool all afternoon and when I said we had to leave, it was dinner time, my boys asked if the other family could come with us. Me, being me, had no idea what to say. It was just me and the boys. Hubby did not come as this was very last minute and he had to work. Hubby would of immediately said "No, not tonight guys, lets go!" Me, however, turned bright red as everyone was looking/waiting for my response, and quietly said "I guess so". So off we went, the Scotsand the Americans~!
I have to admit, I did have a nice time. The kids (Scots) came back to my room after dinner to play card with my boys and left around 11:30pm!! (can you believe parents would let their children go to a strangers room after JUST meeting them??) Next day, we got up bright and early to go to the parks..MK first. I think we were there less than an hour and my boys started complaining they wanted to go back to the hotel to play with the Scots. I insisted we were staying in the MK, but by noon, I had had enough pouting/complaining we left. The both promised they would go to a park the next day and not complain at all. We got back to the hotel and they were all smiles again...more playing with the friends.
Day 3..same as day 2, though insert Epcot instead of MK.
Day 4...same as day 2 and 3, though insert MGM instead if Epcot and MK
Day 5..Animal Kingdom..they actually lasted until about 2:00pm before complaining as they were riding the Kali Rapid ride continuously for hours (remember..empty parks!!)
Day 6...Horray!! Scots are leaving!!!! We had breakfast with them, exchanged addresses to the kids could write (I almost offered a ride to the airport to get them out of there!! Seriously, I really liked this family, the kids were so well behaved, so sweet, so smart and I love love love their accents!! I could listen to them talk forever! I was only disappointed I didnt really get to go to the parks). Back to MK for us. What? the kids want to go on the rides? We stayed all day! Went to hotel to change close and go over to Epcot for Illuminations.
Day 7..1/2 day MGM - 1/2 day AK
Day 8..Home...
If anyone asks the boys about the trip..they mention NOTHING about Disney World. All the talk is about the hotel pool, learning to do backflips and the 2 Scottish children!!!
Now back to your question!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Christmas decs are not put up until the day after Thanksigiving. Usually the first 2 weeks of Dec are pretty slow, though I have heard they are offering great deals at this time, so its popularity is rising a bit. I would still pick this time over a school vacation week or summer!!
They go up slowly. But they start early.
We go every year and arrive the weekend before Thanksgiving and 99% of WDW is decorated. For some reason, maybe it's size?, Epcot is the last to be fully decorated but even it is finished by Thanksgiving. The first Candlelight Procession is held the night after Thanksgiving.
