Early November 2017 vs Mid January 2018

[megs1313]

Maybe it's just because I can't get dates on the website yet for January, but I'm thinking of bumping our trip up to november. Thoughts on which time is better to go?

We went January this past year and thought it was wonderful. Only downside being shorter park hours. I've been before in late november into early december, but this time we'd be doing maybe the first or second week of november. I want to avoid the thanksgiving crowd.

 

[ErinsMommy]

just watch for jersey week crowds in November. other than that early-mid November is AWESOME.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Crowds will be lighter in January after MLK weekend, but the weather can be spotty. It can get really cold and windy for the parks. We have been the first week of November - look out for Jersey week which ramps up the crowds, but they will still be manageable and the weather is much more reliable.

 

[DJT]

We went the end of January/first of February this year. It was cold. It rained. I got the flu on our third day. I was miserable. My husband got it the day before we left. We didn't have a good time. I recently made reservations at CBR for the first full week of November only because we will get the $75.00 gift card per night and we can use that to pay on our room reservation. We need a do-over trip and wouldn't be going back quite so soon were it not for the gift card. I know it will be warm and I am going to prefer warm compared to what it was like in January/February. We also went January 2016 and my husband got a cold. My sister and I went January 2015 and she got the flu. We are hoping November will be the magic month for us!

 

[megs1313]

just watch for jersey week crowds in November. other than that early-mid November is AWESOME.

How do i figure out when jersey week is? and also, what's jersey week? LOL

 

[BuckeyeBama]

How do i figure out when jersey week is? and also, what's jersey week? LOL

The first full week of November has many schools closed for much of the week for a teacher conference. Many families take their kids on vacation that week.

 

[Cuddlemama]

We're going from 10/28-11/11 and I'm starting to think it might be quite crowded, despite it usually being a lower-crowd time. DVC rooms are hard to find for a number of the days, even at the places that are usually easy to book. There are no rooms available at AKL-Kidani for the weekend of 11/3-11/5. I figure that is because of the race, but it's really unusual for there to be nothing left to book at exactly the 7 month mark.

 

[PSUGuy]

As someone who's been to WDW during Jersey Week at least 3 times, most recently 2 yrs ago, I think the whole thing is overblown. MAYBE crowds are a little greater than the weeks before and after but if so I didn't notice it. When we stumbled into Columbus Day and the weekend prior I thought those days were busier than the Jersey thing. To the point here, I'd go in Nov.

Bill From PA

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

As someone who's been to WDW during Jersey Week at least 3 times, most recently 2 yrs ago, I think the whole thing is overblown. MAYBE crowds are a little greater than the weeks before and after but if so I didn't notice it. When we stumbled into Columbus Day and the weekend prior I thought those days were busier than the Jersey thing. To the point here, I'd go in Nov.

Bill From PA

Yeah, we've never been during this time but are going this year and everything I've read is that crowds might be SLIGHTLY larger but nothing like summer/holidays. Jersey Week crowds don't worry me. This is our first early November trip, went last week of October a few years ago, and the weather was much better than our January/February trips, which is why we are sticking with the same rough time-frame this trip. January weather is simply too hit or miss, and we had some pretty awful weather for our last winter trip. Too expensive a trip for weather to be rainy/overcast and in the 50s during the day.

Edited to add that we are also looking forward to seeing Christmas decorations in early November, which we haven't experienced at Disney World before.

 

[LISAMWDW]

Another vote for November. I have been there almost every month of the year at one time or another. From my experience, I would stay away from WDW from Xmas time thru the beginning of April due to holiday/spring break crowds and weather. But that is just me. I would rather have HOT then be miserably cold and crazy crowds.

 

[hes122]

I've been in late January (weekend after MLK) and while the crowds were fine, the weather was chilly. I'd rather go in November to 1) see the Christmas decorations and 2) because that's when my birthday is.

 

[disneyseniors]

As someone who's been to WDW during Jersey Week at least 3 times, most recently 2 yrs ago, I think the whole thing is overblown. MAYBE crowds are a little greater than the weeks before and after but if so I didn't notice it. When we stumbled into Columbus Day and the weekend prior I thought those days were busier than the Jersey thing. To the point here, I'd go in Nov.

Bill From PA

I agree PSUguy. We have gone the first of November several times, and have never even noticed that it was Jersey Week! The only difference is when people start yelling, "Hey Tony, get ovah heah"! LOL. Really, never saw a difference and never knew there was such a thing as "jersey week". I wouldn't worry about the crowds, OP.

 

[bryanb]

I'd also pick November. During my visit last November, it was still sunny and warm during the day... although it got a little chilly in the evening (windy and down to 50 degrees one night). Crowds weren't bad at all compared to other times of the year. Until November 13, you can still catch the Epcot Food & Wine Festival. And holiday decorations were mostly up, so there was this lively, cheerful atmosphere.

Especially since you've already experienced January recently, going in November will add some variety to your visit.

 

[FidFam]

I was just about to come here and ask the same question about this mystery 'Jersey Week' at WDW...

We've visited WDW over the last 5 years in various times of the year (mid September, late October, early December and the week before Thanksgiving) and while the one visit in October last year was a little bit busier than we're used to seeing - none of it was unbearable, except the F&W during the weekend. This year we're considering coming November 6-13 due to an excellent room deal we've been offered and we'd get to attend the MVMCP and hit the end of the F&W at Epcot.

Glad to hear, at least from most folks, that this 'Jersey Week' isn't nearly as bad as I've read elsewhere...