If it's low crowds you want, the crowds will definitely be lighter in between Halloween Time and the official start of the holiday season (11/14). No doubt about that.
If it's holiday decorations you're interested in, not all of the decorations will be up around DLR on the first weekend of November. Only some of them will be up. A couple of people have mentioned that certain holiday things on Main Street do not go up until after the parade is taped. There are way too many decorations all around the Resort (including both parks, all 3 hotels and DTD) for the stuff to be up by the first weekend in November. It goes up, a little at a time.
Also, there will be no official holiday entertainment happening on that first weekend - no Santa, no Reindeer Round-Up, no IASW Holiday, no carolers, no holiday fireworks, no Winter Castle icicle lighting at night, no snow falling on Main Street, etc.
Will you see some "snow" on the Castle? Yes. That will probably go up in late October. Will you see some holiday merchandise in the shops? Yes. Will you see some holiday-ish treats in the bake shops or candy stores? Probably. Will you see
some decorations, like a random wreath or some garland here or there? Yes, there will be some. You may see some stuff in New Orleans Square. I'm not sure if Toontown will be decorated yet. Main Street won't be complete. The hotels will not be decorated. Downtown Disney will not be decorated. I'm not sure what's happening in DCA this year, with all the construction.
Also, Haunted Mansion Holiday will be open.
So if you want a trip that is light
ER on crowds, with a little splash of the holidays thrown in (but not the full holiday experience), you will get it. It's off-season, before the holidays officially begin, so it will be a slower week.
