Considering 2011 Christmas or stick with Oct?

[culli]

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.

We got lucky in Nov and saw most of the Christmas decorations. The Osborune lights were amazing! My 8 year old thought it was cool but the 5 and 4 year old boys could careless. The nice thing about being there when they set it up is we go to see them making the gingerbread carousel at BCV.

I spoke with my wife and we are not going Christmas. Going to stick with our late October maybe early Nov plans. Actually if we go before Nov 11 that gives us one more trip for 2 of the kids on their APs.

 

[littlestar]

I think sticking with October or early November is a good decision. I've noticed the weather pattern seems to be cooler in Orlando for December and January these past few years we've tried it.

We've decided we're no longer going to go in January - we're moving our trips to late February/early March. We usually go three times a year - May, late September/early October, and January. But December/January has just been too cold for the past few years.

We're changing our Orlando trips to 10 days, too, instead of 7 day vacations.

 

[Harlemgirl720]

I will be going for Christmas next year. We are doing Disney Dream cruise 12/29 to 1/3 and I thought it would be a good time to see Disney at Xmas. Never done it before. So it will be just me and my son.

We will go either on 12/25 or 12/26 and stay at BLT until the 29th.

 

[Xizor2002]

I had never been to WDW during December until this year. We just got back on Sunday after spending the week of the 19th - 26 at OKW.
For the first two days it was just downright cold. Its funny to see the lifeguards at the pool in their "winter" outfits. The pools being heated make jumping in easy its the getting out that can sometimes be a bit much. If you have never seen the decorations at the parks then by all means use one of your trips to go during the 'season'. Dec 1-15 is a lot cheaper (similar to October) and a lot less crowded. The weather isn't the most fantastic during December but given your ability to chill and to do many other activities you might find it rewarding.

I know that my kids and wife would have preferred warmer temperatures and fewer people but we are pretty good at navigating through the attractions at each park. All in all the Christmas day parade at noon was probably the most crowded but it was an experience we really wanted to have so we put up with it. Given the choice between October and December, october wins hands down every time in our book but as the kids get older October is very rarely an option. Stick with October until you can't do that anymore.

I found it very odd that on Christmas eve there were all sorts of younger kids all over the parks. I really thought they would be empty of all Santa believing kids but that just was not the case.

 

[mybabesuz]

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.

Based on what you have said, I think you will be happier in October,

The cold weather for the 3rd year in a row have me second guessing our own December plans also.

 

[culli]

Read Davids " NYE and 23 days of Disney" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2621054 - page 2 has pictures of how busy it is on Dec 29.............yeah we don't hit parks that hard and crowds wouldn't bother us too much. BUT WOW those pics have sealed the deal NO WAY we going this time of year!

 

[MinnieGi]

Enjoy this time when your kids are young and you can take them out of school and team schedules without too much problem! Christmas will always be there and I think its more fun when the kids are older anyway to do Christmas at WDW especially for things like the Candlelight Processional.

We are also a hockey family (DS plays and DH is coach) and my DD is on a competitive dance team that rehearses all fall for Christmas production so we are limited to school and team breaks. We have gone for several T-weeks in a row so this year we decided to give Christmas a try and we had an amazing Christmas trip that started on the 20th and ended on the 29th. My kids swam the first four days and even had a Blizzard Beach water park day as temps were high enough for them (high 70's and sunny) I didn't go in the water but felt great to lie in the sun in my bathing suit.

Parks are crowded but my kids wake up early and we are at the parks at rope drop and seriously get on everything even during this busy season...we leave around 1:00 and see those AWFUL crazy stand-by times and the signs that announce MK closed, but we have had the most wonderful time as parks open at 8:00 and sometimes even 7:00 am and they are also open as late as 3:00am! (again good for older kids/teens).

Next year we are going in June and T-day week for 2011 but are thinking in 2012 we will do Christmas again.