Considering 2011 Christmas or stick with Oct?

[culli]

Here are a few bullet points as I'm considering Christmas 2011:

1. We go 2-3xs a year recently
2. Kids love the pool time
3. Family of 7 - Nana, Dad, Mom, 9,6,5, 1.5 year old kids at time of travel
4. Have APs - don't commando parks
5. Like shoulder season but kids getting older it is getting harder.
6. Live in WI so it is COLD and we will fly not drive
7. Eat in room unless we get an adult night out

We are going in May 2011 and have plans for Oct 2011. So if we go Christmas we will not go in Oct. We love Oct early Nov as not busy and weather is still warm and spend time in pools.

Concern is will kids have enough to do without pool time? Will it put more pressure to go to parks? We do love hanging out at EPCOT, boardwalk area, and do the camp fires with movies.

I have read many Christmas posts and the positive comments have me considering this trip. So besides parks and pool (weather) what are other negatives? Given what I have stated what would you do Oct or Christmas 2011? Yes F&W is nice but we don't go for that reason in Oct, biggest impact to me is it is harder to get EPCOT resort area!

Thanks in advance for your comments.

 

[jekjones1558]

When you say Christmas do you mean actually ON Christmas or do you mean December? Christmas itself is over-the-top crowded but earlier in December crowds aren't bad. If you have never seen WDW in December then I think you should try it. Osborne Lights and all of the resort and park decorations are wonderful. You may get lucky and still have pool time but that is not a given. Good luck in your decision.

 

[Tara]

As you realize already, weather will be iffy for swimming. You could luck out - who knows. It will also be very crowded as you know. Another factor is that airfare will likely be much higher and if you get a situation like we're having this weekend, you could encounter delays and canceled flights, which are not easily rebooked (it could take several days before space is available to accommodate you).

A few pros are that the decorations are lovely, the special events and shows are plentiful and you'll have long hours at the parks.

 

[culli]

When you say Christmas do you mean actually ON Christmas or do you mean December? Christmas itself is over-the-top crowded but earlier in December crowds aren't bad. If you have never seen WDW in December then I think you should try it. Osborne Lights and all of the resort and park decorations are wonderful. You may get lucky and still have pool time but that is not a given. Good luck in your decision.

We have seen the Disney Christmas decorations or most of them as we went the week before Thanksgiving this year. We are talking about kids Christmas break - Dec 22 thru Jan 2 timeframe. We are a hockey family so this week is not only school vacation but tends to be a small break in the hockey schedule.

 

[Chuck S]

We were down in January 2010, it was so cold this year that we changed to December 2010, and it was also cold. We are going to try early November 2011.

 

[toniosmom]

We were there Dec 4-11 and it was freezing! My DS5 loves to swim, so not being able to swim for most of the week put a damper on things. We go twice a year and have APs this year. Like you, we do not do commando trips and eat the majority of our meals in the villa. I'm glad we went because I have never seen Disney Christmas, but we won't be going that time again for a while. We missed swimming way too much and December weather is too iffy. On a positive note, the crowds weren't bad while we were there, but I imagine closer to Christmas, they are much higher.

 

[Tara]

We were down in January 2010, it was so cold this year that we changed to December 2010, and it was also cold. We are going to try early November 2011.

Good luck - we visited the week before Thanksgiving in 2008 and it was also very cold - about the same as it was during the recent cold snap. I went again in early November 2009 and it was much better, but not really warm enough to swim IMO. (I think it has to be above 85 to enjoy swimming - I don't like swimming if the air temp is colder than the water temp.)

 

[culli]

Last year 2009 went in Oct and it was record highs - in the 90's. 2 years we went in Nov it was awesome high 70's low 80's and sunny. I think I just answered my own question - not ready for DVC Christmas yet.

 

[bobbiwoz]

December's weather this year hasn't been amenable for swimming. We were there from the 11 to the 17th and are going again tomorrow. If you really want to swim, I would go for the earlier in the year dates.

We go in December every year and yes, sometimes its warm, but October is a surer thing.

Bobbi

 

[Chuck S]

Well, we went for several years in the December/January time frame. We'd often hit a couple of cold days, but it would turn nice again. However, the last couple of trips it has just been too, too cold to be truly enjoyable. As I said, we're going to try early November this year and see how that works out.

That said, if you've never seen Disney with all the Christmas decorations and festivities, it is something everyone should see at least once.

 

[starbox]

I would do October - weather is iffy and December crowds always bring lots of germs. This is just me, but I did not take my kids in winter until they were past the age where they got sick all the time. A 1.5 yo on a plane and in crowded, potentially cold and rainy parks? Mine would have been in Centra Care within days. I like it warmer and less crowded with little kids - there's still no guarantee they won't end up sick, but at least it's not peak flu season.

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

We were there 11/30 - 12/5 and got really lucky the weather was nice (mostly mid 70s) but the week after was really cold. We did not do much swimming in the mid 70s weather and the pool at Kidani was rarely used.

So I would keep the October booking you have.

We're going to try an early November trip this year as I have a business conference in Orlando this year.

 

[mgroshans]

we just got back Christmas day. This was our first time during the "Christmas season". We won't be going back during this time frame. It was crowded. The temperature wasn't truly swimming weather- we didn't go. There were numerous times that we walked by the pool and the only people out there were the lifeguards- all bundled up. It was awesome to see all the decorations. Like a PP said, seeing the parks, the resorts and the decorations during the "Christmas Season" is something you should do, at least once. We are going in May/June and October of 2011. Good luck with your decision!

 

[Paticake]

We love the Oct/ Nov weather at WDW. This past Nov. we went on Nov.13th, we were able to swim, did Osborne lights, MVMCP was going on, Ice castle lights were beautiful, and most of the decorations were up. The crowds were great. I don't thin I would go Christmas week.

 

[bobbiwoz]

This bad east coast storm is also making me re-think our NYE plans for next year. I remember Decembers with no snow!

Bobbi

 

[Starr W.]

We are considering doing an Xmas trip, leaving as soon as the kids are out of school and flying home Xmas day. Airfare is very reasonable. We've done the last 5 Thanksgivings at WDW and are skipping it next year and going in early November.

My eldest is starting HS next year so missing the more than one day of school is going to be tough.

We may try Xmas 2012, but DH is digging his heels in because he loves the MLK weekend trip and we'd give that one up. 60 degrees at WDW sure beats the below zero weather we've had at home a couple of those trips.

I would just like not be home and deal with "the family dramas" that always seem to happen at that time of year.

 

[mtmbyck]

As all have posted, Oct is better for crowds and weather, however, keep in mind the EPCOT food and wine festival is that time so EPCOT would be very busy. But Halloween decorations at the parks are really fun to see! I vote Oct.

 

[maminnie]

Friends of ours went last Christmas (2009) and a number of the days were very cool and the crowds were rediculous. They go once a year or every other year and they said never again at Christmas. It was so crowded that they have officially deemed themselves "Disneyed out"!

Disney World is a much "happier" place when crowds are lighter so I would recommend a less crowded time unless you are set on being there to see the Christmas decorations and be part of the Christmas festivities.

 

[culli]

As all have posted, Oct is better for crowds and weather, however, keep in mind the EPCOT food and wine festival is that time so EPCOT would be very busy. But Halloween decorations at the parks are really fun to see! I vote Oct.

Yup we love Oct time frame, the countires get crowded but that doesn't bother us at all.

 

[starbox]

Another note about Christmas..... I do agree that the holiday events/decor are worth seeing, but IMHO, they definitely skew towards older children/adults. Out kids were 10 and 12 the first time we went, which was perffect because they understood we were there for the shows more than for the rides. The EPCOT storytellers, gospel choir, and Candlelight Processional are our favorite holiday things - but my kids would have been bored and restless listening to them at 1.5yo and 5y.o.