End of Feb vs early December?

[chicagoshannon]

We are planning a trip for end of Feb 2016 or early March 2016. I started wondering if early December 2015 would be better.

This will most likely be a once in a lifetime trip. We want lower crowds but also want to see/ride everything that WDW doesn't have.

Which will be better ride wise end of Feb/early March or early December?

 

[figment_jii]

It also depends on whether you want to see DLR with or without Christmas/Holiday decor. If you go in early December 2015, most likely the parks will be fully decorated for the Holidays. Assuming 2015 is similar to 2014, this means the Haunted Mansion will be running the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay and It's a Small World will have its holiday overlay in place. There should also be a lot of decor throughout the parks and hotels. It's already been announced that the usual Christmas fireworks show will not be presented because of the new 60th fireworks show (Disneyland Forever), but there hasn't been any concrete information about WoC Winter Dreams or the Christmas Parade. If you do end up going in December, I recommend checking out the Christmas/Holiday SuperThread.

December tends to be a pretty busy month. Depending on when you go, I would expect moderate crowds on the weekdays (Mon-Thu) and high crowds on the weekends (Fri to Sun). The weekends are popular because a lot of AP holders want to see the holiday decor and offerings, but have to go before the seasonal blockouts start (Dec 18 or 19). There is also the Candlelight Processional (usually the first weekend in December). Once the blockouts go into effect, you start to see a ramp up of non-AP visitors, so there is really no quiet period after the middle of December. The trade off is that very few attractions have planned closures during that period and the parks should be operating on long hours.

In terms of 2016, it looks like Easter is on March 27, 2016. So that means the "Spring Break-Season" is likely to start in early March. If you go before "Spring Break-Season" has started, you're likely to encounter lower crowds, but with more planned closures and shorter park operating hours. Also, there is generally less entertainment offered (e.g., Fantasmic! and fireworks are generally only on weekends (Fri to Sun)). This year has a lot of refurbishments planned during the winter/spring (including "Spring Break-season") in preparation for the 60th, so this is somewhat of an anomalous year. I don't think there will be as many things down next year, but there will still be winter/spring closures (most likely one of the water rides). Haunted Mansion usually re-open in late January (it closes when the holiday season ends to have the overlay remove) and IaSW usually closes in late-January through early-February, so both should be open by late-February/early-March.

If you end up selecting dates in early March, but after "Spring Break-season" has started, then the parks should be operating on longer hours with more evening entertainment. Crowds will also pick-up. West Coast school districts do not all take the same week off for "Spring Break", but it generally occurs in the several weeks before and after Easter. I think that is why "Spring Break" is more like "Spring Break-season" at DLR (it spans about four weeks). If you want to get a sense of this year's schedules, I've been tracking key dates in the 2015 Calendar of Events & School Breaks thread. I don't think crowds will really get to heavy until closer to Easter (the week before and after).

 

[chickapin parterre]

The farther you can go into March 2016, the better opportunities that your ride choices will not be in refurb.

December 2015 will exceed all past Christmas month long December visits creating all time record crowds. December 2014 had rain issues, and the problems that came with Jan and Feb of 2015 will push folks to spend their Disney dollars during the last three months of 2015. Thriving stock market and world uncertainty will make 2015 60th Christmas, " now or never" for folks who are not Disney fanatics.

 

[chicagoshannon]

Thank you. What is the weather like in early December?

 

[figment_jii]

HydroGuy has a nice thread detailing weather data for DLR.
http://www.disboards.com/threads/detailed-weather-data-for-dlr.1711391/#post-23004158

In general, you're going to run the risk of weather-related cancellations and closures whether you go in Feb/Mar or Dec. Historic conditions can be useful to look at, but it doesn't mean the future is going to be exactly the same. I've gone to DLR throughout the year (including early/mid-December and Feb/Mar for the past few years) and sometimes the weather has been great (cool, sunny, calm) and other times it's been stormy (cold, rainy, windy).

There have been a few threads of late about raining and DLR. I would look at the thread linked below and the one mentioned in it, to get a sense of how rain can impact your trip to DLR.
Rides that close in the rain

Wind, more than rain, will impact fireworks. If it's too windy, DLR has to cancel the fireworks show. I've seen that happen in Sep, Nov, Dec, Feb, and Mar, so there is really no way to know if advance if you'll experience that. The general advice is to plan to try and see fireworks early in your trip so that if it's cancelled, you have more nights to try. F! can be cancelled if it's really wet or it can be modified if conditions are wet. The show seems to be modified more often than it is outright cancelled. WoC is the hardiest of the shows, with cancellations only happening very infrequently (usually when it's really windy).

HydroGuy has some other threads that should helpful:
HydroGuy's High Season/Off Season Tradeoff Rule
Choosing When To Visit DLR: Summary of High and Low Season and When Each Happens

To get a sense of the hours and the historic refurbishments, HydroGuy also has a thread that provides the links to the wdwinfo calendar for DLR.
Historical DLR Park Hours, Entertainment and Refurbs

 

[chickapin parterre]

2013 was very windy, cancelled fireworks and WOC, but no fog in the mornings. 2014 was wet and cancelled fireworks

 

[chickapin parterre]

oh, we also had rain the week before christmas 2011

 

[chicagoshannon]

Thanks. We just booked dec 6-12. . Now we have to find plane tickets.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

Have fun. we are gonna be there that same time. Dec 6-12th. Now I'll give you some tips I learned after having Fire works canceled twice last year in early nov.
I waited until the last two nights to do fireworks. I would re prioritize this time around. I am going to try and see the fire works our first night from the hotel, the second night from main street or around the castle.
If you want a good seat be willing to wait hours. I did and had it not been canceled I would have had awesome views.

I read some where on here woc winter dreams would not play this year because the special woc for the 60th should be playing.
Yes it can get rainy cold and windy. Just be ready, have blankets, ponchos, and umbrella for just in case. This year we are bringing gloves too. If it rains try not to be to bummed. A post on here talked about how the rain can clear some things out and you may just find the best day for walk on rides is a rainy day.
Only reason I was so upset last year was the fireworks I had waited to see for hours.

 

[chicagoshannon]

Thanks. I haven't seen any WOC so doesn't matter to me which version it is. . I really hope nothing is closed for our trip. I noticed that the last 2 years the Storybook Canal boats have been closed that week.

I have to decide if we want to do the city pass or get a regular ticket with more days for just Disney.

 

[tarheelalum]

I'd go with early December. Usually the weather is nice during the day and cool at night that time of the year. The early part of the month is crowded but not that crowded like the end of the month. All of the Christmas decorations are up and everything is wonderful. Very few refurbs during that time of the year as well. Out of the dates you listed, December is the best imho.