First trip- week before or after Thanksgiving???

[laraashley4]

I'm beginning to plan our first trip to WDW in late Fall 2017. We aren't limited by school schedules yet because our kids will be 2.5 and just shy of 5 years at the time of travel, so we really want to go at a less busy time. I've narrowed it down to 3 different weeks, but need help deciding which would be best. Should we go the week before Thanksgiving, the week after Thanksgiving, or the first full week of December? Obviously, Thanksgiving week isn't being considered. I'm leaning towards the week before Thanksgiving since December is always a crazy time for us with multiple family obligations and all the pre Christmas craziness. But will we miss out on a lot of the Christmas festivities at WDW going that early? If you think it's best to wait till after Thanksgiving, which of those 2 weeks would you pick? Or does it not really matter since it is our first trip and we will be overwhelmed with all the stuff to do even without the extra Christmas events? I know 2017 Food and Wine dates aren't out, but would it possibly still be going that first weekend we would be there if we went the week before Thanksgiving? Thanks for the advice.

 

[Nancyg56]

I think that given the choice of the week following Thanksgiving or the first week of December, I would choose December. I have been from Thanksgiving Day to the end of the first week in December, and found that first week to be really nice. Everything was decorated, and the parks manageable. IT was my personal favorite of the weeks you mentioned.

 

[cassie58]

Waiting till after Tday is best for fully enjoying the Christmas activities. The week after through mid Dec. is usually not overly crowded and you can check out all the Christmas offerings. Leading up to Tday, they begin decorating the resorts, but they are not fully done till closer to that week. Giant gingerbread house at Grand Floridian just opened on the 16th, so some things may be done the week before, but not totally. Epcot has the storytellers in each country, but that does not begin until after Tday I believe. They also start the Candlelight Processional after, which is a great show, but your kids may be a little young to sit through it right now. MK will be decorated at the beginning of the month, and castle lighting starts before the first Christmas parties(they began on the 7th this yr.), so you will get to see that even before Tday. Many things will be going on by the week before, just depends on what you would like to do. Check out this thread with activities for this yr. to get an idea: http://www.disboards.com/threads/th...s-returning-whats-gone.3559593/#post-56729603. As far as F&W festival goes, this year it ended on the 13th or 14th of Nov. I believe, not sure if you wanted to try to catch it or avoid it, but that last weekend is generally really busy, especially coupled with end of Jersey week and Veteran's day weekend. You might also want to watch for when discounts are offered. In the past, there has been free dining right after Tday, and sometimes in early Dec. It is usually announced around April-May. Check out Mousesavers.com for a list of historical discounts, and you can sign up for their newsletter to get alerts when new promos come out.

 

[Sdolores]

I have gone once in early December and I am going again this year (12/6-11/2016). I love this time of year because the weather is great (shorts in the day and jeans/long sleeves at night). Heck, you can even swim during the day. Also, everyone is in the Christmas spirit and it really brings the level of excitement up for the holidays. Finally, the crowds are some of the lowest of the year. In my mind, this is an easy decision. Enjoy!

 

[laraashley4]

Great advice about it being crazy busy the last weekend of food and wine festival. I thought it would be neat to try to catch a little bit of food and wine and Christmas, but those crowds at Epcot may not be worth it. And thank you for the the link with activities. I'm about to look through that now.

 

[DisneyChris2016]

We just got back - were there Nov.12-19. We were at Epcot Monday, Nov.14 which was the last day of food and wine. It wasn't that bad. As soon as food and wine ends, the Christmas decorations start going up there. It was pretty Christmas-y when we went back on Friday.

Magic Kingdom is really decked out. Decorations everywhere and the castle lighting is amazing. Christmas parties three of the nights we were there.

Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom both had decorations up, but no special holiday events that I'm aware of.

The weather was fantastic. NO rain the entire week. High temps ranged from low 70s to low 80s. We don't do afternoon breaks but 1-3pm would have been perfect for swimming most days. Mornings and evenings were just a bit chilly. Crowds were very manageable, with the exception of Sat. Nov.19 (avoid MK on Saturdays if possible).

We stayed offsite so I can't comment on resort decorations. I have no idea about that. But with the ages of your kids, I'd say the November week would be great, especially if you're planning to go to MVMCP.

I know that this year, I couldn't get into Christmas mode until the trip was over. December gets crazy for us as well. It can be hard to shift gears.

Good luck with your planning!

 

[Eli's 1st trip]

Our favorite trip ever was the week after Thanksgiving! It was the best for line waits (hardly any) and we were able to use Disney transportation so easily...I wish we could do all of our trips then but the kids are older now and cant take them out of school

 

[dmea10]

I am not sure of the Pop Warner week, but personally I would avoid that week.

 

[a742246]

I would go the week after Thanksgiving. Less crowds more Christmas decorations. At EPCOT the Christmas candlelight show seems nice.
I was there last week (Thanksgiving week) and it was crowded especially MK.