DL first week of November - ghost town?

[Love Tink]

For some of you who visit DL often, in different times a year, a quick question.

I was just there this August for a busy three-day visit where we spent about 48 hours in the parks and did just about everything...twice. I thought I had my DL fix for a while (I live on the East Coast).

But my husband has been invited to a work event in Dana Point and wants me to go with him. I hemmed and hawed and he said, "Well, we could go back to Disneyland without the kids."

My first thought was that we just did the parks in fine style, and I didn't need to go back right away. Then I thought about how nice it would be to go back without the hordes, and really get to enjoy the ambiance and walk around without having to dodge my way around 60,000 of my closest friends. So I checked the Touring Plans crowd calendar, and the three days I am considering (right before and after the work event), all weekdays the first week of November, are all ranked 1 or 2.

So - sorry for the ramble - here is my question. Do you think these predictions are accurate? It seems I've seen some people on here saying that Touring Plans is just using historical models for DL, and that the predictions aren't really reliable. I know you can never say for sure, but does anyone know whether that first week of November is really a ghost town at DL?

 

[J. Galt]

We have been twice during that week. I have nothing to compare it to b/c those have been our only two trips so far but it really didn't seem crowded at all to me. I'm used to WDW during low season and it seemed even less crowded at DL. I would say during the week, most rides were walk on or a very short wait. Some areas of DCA, in particular, were practically deserted. As the weekend approached, however, things became much more busy. Hope that helps!

 

[skiingfast]

It is a sweet spot indeed for crowds. But comes with some drawbacks. Halloween is on Monday and it will be crowded, sure that falls in October but it also falls in that first week of weekdays. Then Space Mountain closes, briefly, to remove the Ghost Galaxy overlay. Small World is closed to add in its holiday overlay. And this year POTC is down. Also Halloween is dissapearing while the Holiday's decorations take over.

If it rains, not likely, ghost town is the proper description.

 

[cmwade77]

It depends on if it's a small world holiday is open yet on your dates. The week before it opens is usually fairly quiet, once it opens the holiday festivities are starting up and it becomes extremely crowded most days.

 

[DisMike]

I've been twice the first week of November. It's our favorite time to go. If you go like the 6th or so and during the week, the rides are all up with the new decorations, the weather is fabulous (mid to low 80s), and the crowds are non-existent. Longest wait we ever had for any line at that time of year is 15 minutes.

We love it!

 

[goofycathy]

We went last year November 1st-7th and it was the funnest time weve ever had! The crowds were minimal and we got a little taste of Halloween decorations and a little taste of the Christmas decorations, the only ride we missed really was IASW, but my kids are older so we didnt really mind. Have a great time!

 

[Brady's Mom]

The first week of November is my family's most favorite time to go. We know the hours will be shorter - usually 10 to 8, and that we have to add a weekend day in order to see the fireworks and F! We've haven't been since WOC opened so we don't have that experience, yet.

If you know what to expect, you should have a great time. DH and I love to go together w/out our kids and look in the shops (our kids get bored), ride the rides we want, wander in all the little nooks and crannies and take an evening ride on the Storybookland Canal Boats.

We do miss IASW, but know that it will be down for the Holiday overlay, so we expect it.

You will have a new sense of DLR if you go at a slower time. DH and I find that we rush less, vacation more and enjoy the details. I would highly recommend it.

 

[jernysgirl]

Also, keep in mind that supposedly the taping of the Christmas parade is on November 5th this year, so that will clog Main Street that day.

 

[Ariel224]

Another vote for best time ever! Two years ago we went Nov 2-7. Pretty much everything was walk-on to 15 minute waits. SM only closes for one day to remove the Ghost Galaxy overlay. IASW was still down for its holiday overlay, but that's by no means a deal breaker for us.

Last year we went right before Veteran's Day and the crowds were absolutely insane to the point of admission closure on Vet's Day itself. After that crazy weekend, crowds died back down to very low during the following week, which was the week before Thanksgiving. It was fabulous!

Really, the only downside to going during these low times is that one gets absolutely spoiled by the low waits. I find that it's now very hard to stand in a queue that's over 20 minutes.

This year's trip is Nov 7-10. I really wish we could go the week prior, but my daughter has a cheerleading competition on the 6th and can't miss the practices leading up to it.

 

[hootey]

Have not been that exact week. But, what the other person said about the workers doing all the decorations has to be true. Check the calender and call DL if you have any questions. We have found the middle of the week to be the best time to go except for july & aug. Last half sept through christmas, are usually nice. Never, Ever do you want to go christmas day or the day after, the parks always hit capasity by one or two in the afternoon. They stop allowing people in and it is so crowded you won't believe it. The second or third week of april(call DL and ask) is spring break for california and arizona, the place is packed then as well. We have gotten used to going during the slow times, as a result we avoid the busy times. Once again call DL and ask them about anything you want to know.

 

[jemimabean]

I haven't been in November (will be there second weekend in December this year), but I have been during low crowd calendars, and it is absolutely worth going for that alone! Our best trips to both Land and World have been in the "off season". Yeah, you're likely to have to deal with some rides that are closed for maintenance, but the ability to walk through the park with ease and almost walk on each ride makes up for it.

I hope that you go and have a blast!

 

[RedRosie]

We were there last year Nov 7-10 (Sun - Wed). It was AMAZING! The Christmas special was filmed on Sunday so Main Street was crazy. We stayed away and it was a ghost town in other places. The rest of the week was even less crowded. Weather was good, until 4:30 each day when it got quite chilly. I would love to go again that time of year.

 

[nemofans]

We will be there the 1st week & are also hoping for very light crowds. We had done this same week 6 yrs ago & it was wonderful! We know IASW & PotC will be down, but we'll survive.
Now one of you said that Nov. 5th is the christmas parade taping, it that true?? I hadn't seen that anywhere & didn't think all the decorations would be up by then anyway.
That would really damper our last day at DL.
Can I get a confirmation from someone about the parade taping?

 

[jernysgirl]

We will be there the 1st week & are also hoping for very light crowds. We had done this same week 6 yrs ago & it was wonderful! We know IASW & PotC will be down, but we'll survive.
Now one of you said that Nov. 5th is the christmas parade taping, it that true?? I hadn't seen that anywhere & didn't think all the decorations would be up by then anyway.
That would really damper our last day at DL.
Can I get a confirmation from someone about the parade taping?

Another DISer posted about it a few days ago, and if this website is true then yes, the parade taping will be that weekend.

 

[nemofans]

I just looked at the website. Shoot! I thought I picked the perfect week. Okay, so now I need to rethink our park days. I wish I knew what time on Sat they will have it. If it's in the afternoon or early evening, then we'll be fine. We will be doing MM & TTMM that morning, then ressies at Minnie & Friends breakfast.
I would appreciate any help from DL experts on how to handle DL w/the parade taping. Hey, can I use our preferred parade viewing vouchers for that???

 

[Love Tink]

Thanks for all the feedback, everyone. I really appreciate it.

It sounds like Touring Plans has this one right, and this would be a great time for crowds. Of course, I would be sad to miss IASW (not to mention Pirates), but I just got to ride it twice in August. It looks like Space Mountain will be closed only on November 1, so it is good to have the heads-up not to choose that day, since we're flexible.

I think my arm is sufficiently twisted!

 

[jernysgirl]

I just looked at the website. Shoot! I thought I picked the perfect week. Okay, so now I need to rethink our park days. I wish I knew what time on Sat they will have it. If it's in the afternoon or early evening, then we'll be fine. We will be doing MM & TTMM that morning, then ressies at Minnie & Friends breakfast.
I would appreciate any help from DL experts on how to handle DL w/the parade taping. Hey, can I use our preferred parade viewing vouchers for that???

From what I understand, is that it really doesn't impact most of the park, it just really clogs up Main Street. And most of the reviews that I have read, people tend to say that it is kind of boring to watch as it is an all day thing, where they run the parade over and over, to get the shots (and there is no music playing either).

**But keep in mind, that is just from what I have gathered from reading about it the last couple of years and I have never actually been there during a taping.** I'm sure you could search for some other threads here on the DIS to give you a better idea.... in fact, I though Nancy did a DISblog post about it. Hmmm....... yep! Here it is!

 

[nemofans]

Well, I guess we'll hang out in the other lands & then take the monorail from Tomorrowland take us out of there. If we have ressies at Plaza Inn, will that be difficult to get to?

 

[MND]

So - sorry for the ramble - here is my question. Do you think these predictions are accurate? It seems I've seen some people on here saying that Touring Plans is just using historical models for DL, and that the predictions aren't really reliable. I know you can never say for sure, but does anyone know whether that first week of November is really a ghost town at DL?

The parks won't be that empty, because I'll be there from 11/3 - 11/7 with my family!

We have other plans on Saturday 11/5, so we will miss the parade taping. Will enough Christmas stuff be up by then for the taping? I know WDW typically tapes the Christmas parade about a month later. A 11/5 taping seems early.

2 years ago we were at WDW beginning on Halloween for 1 week. We actually attended the MK Halloween Party on 11/1. It was a great time to be there, because crowds were low and we got to see the transition from Halloween to Christmas.

Cheers!

Mike

 

[twopeasonepod]

From what I understand, is that it really doesn't impact most of the park, it just really clogs up Main Street. And most of the reviews that I have read, people tend to say that it is kind of boring to watch as it is an all day thing, where they run the parade over and over, to get the shots (and there is no music playing either).

**But keep in mind, that is just from what I have gathered from reading about it the last couple of years and I have never actually been there during a taping.** I'm sure you could search for some other threads here on the DIS to give you a better idea.... in fact, I though Nancy did a DISblog post about it. Hmmm....... yep! Here it is!

We were there for 10 days last year and will be back for 10 this year (basically Halloween and the week after). I agree with the general statements of the thread (good time for crowds, IASW closed but my kids don't mind, etc.)

We were in the taping of the concert, which was incredibly boring -- especially for kids too young to care about being on TV. They do a billion takes of the same thing, and goes on forever. The bummer is that it's all lip-sync'd so it is even more annoying. Our boys (who were four at the time) were so bummed that we didn't even try and do the taping of the parade.

I will be at a CME this year on Sat the 5th, but maybe DH will take the boys over for the parade....

ETA that the rest of the park doesn't really seem to be affected. At least I don't remember it to be!