Fall Break vs Christmas/New Year...Need opinions, fellow DVCers...

[mickeysbutler]

We are currently booked at BCV for spring break week but will have to change it. I am looking at either fall break (mid oct) or Dec 27- Jan 3. I am really wanting to enjoy BCV pool, but also think Christmas would be nice...Obviously pools won't be an option in Dec/Jan...But we could still enjoy Christmas decor, correct? Trying to figure out if it will be difficult to book at the 7 month window for Dec 27-Jan 3. Also, trying to figure out when would be the best time to go. Winter is the only time we haven't been to WDW. TIA!!

 

[vicki_c]

Swimming is usually possible. We swam many days on a Christmas / New Years trip.

I think either date will be challenging in terms of finding a reservation.

And if you didn't know those December/Jan dates are the most crowded time of the year. Many people will not consider visiting at that time of year. We did it once and I would do it again, but we had a long trip (13 days) and very low expectations because it was our 4th trip that year. We really didn't care if we did. I thing other than special Christmas and holiday things.

 

[disneypoor]

Swimming is usually possible. We swam many days on a Christmas / New Years trip. I think either date will be challenging in terms of finding a reservation. And if you didn't know those December/Jan dates are the most crowded time of the year. Many people will not consider visiting at that time of year. We did it once and I would do it again, but we had a long trip (13 days) and very low expectations because it was our 4th trip that year. We really didn't care if we did. I thing other than special Christmas and holiday things.

We are considering going right before Christmas and flying home on Christmas Eve. Any idea if crowds are lower at that time than right after Christmas? Thanks!

 

[vicki_c]

We are considering going right before Christmas and flying home on Christmas Eve. Any idea if crowds are lower at that time than right after Christmas? Thanks!

Yes, the largest crowds of the year are from Christmas Day thru New Year's. But whether those few days leading up to Christmas would be a significant difference is debatable. I haven't looked at the calendar for this year, but often crowds start the weekend before the holiday, depending on when Christmas is. I know the year we want, we arrived on a Saturday and Christmas was Thursday I think. That Saturday we arrived was the last day for AP discounted rooms, because crowd expectations were high starting the following day.

 

[disneypoor]

Yes, the largest crowds of the year are from Christmas Day thru New Year's. But whether those few days leading up to Christmas would be a significant difference is debatable. I haven't looked at the calendar for this year, but often crowds start the weekend before the holiday, depending on when Christmas is. I know the year we want, we arrived on a Saturday and Christmas was Thursday I think. That Saturday we arrived was the last day for AP discounted rooms, because crowd expectations were high starting the following day.

Thanks for the reply! Not sure if we will book or not but am considering it. We have too many trips booked, so my husband might reach his breaking point if I try to sneak in another one. Lol!

 

[Reasha.kling]

We really enjoy October. Although it is busy, I didn't find it anywhere near as busy as December. They weather is ideal for the pool, the only thing I can say is that we have hit some rainy weeks in October….but either way, you're in Disney!

 

[amym2]

BCV will be nearly impossible to get in October because of Food & Wine. For either of those time frames, you may just have to take what you can get at the 7mo mark. We've been at Christmas time twice and once it was warm enough to swim, but the other time we were wearing coats, hats, and gloves. You just never know.

 

[WDW_Diane]

We are currently booked at BCV for spring break week but will have to change it. I am looking at either fall break (mid oct) or Dec 27- Jan 3. I am really wanting to enjoy BCV pool, but also think Christmas would be nice...Obviously pools won't be an option in Dec/Jan...But we could still enjoy Christmas decor, correct? Trying to figure out if it will be difficult to book at the 7 month window for Dec 27-Jan 3. Also, trying to figure out when would be the best time to go. Winter is the only time we haven't been to WDW. TIA!!

I personally would avoid those December dates after Christmas. Now if you could go in early December, different story. We stayed at the Yacht Club this past early December and had perfect weather, used the pool too. Doing the Deluxe resort tour to see all the Christmas decorations was great. If you end up going during the crazy post Christmas time, plan for insane capacity crowds. This past December parks capped out at times.

If you are working around a school schedule, and it looks like you are, October would give you lower crowd levels and warmer weather. We've been a few times in October and always enjoyed it.