Help me decide...

[wdwgirl21]

The hubbie has graciously agreed to let me plan a long weekend trip to see the Osborne Lights one last time=( We will be leaving the kiddos at home for this trip (our first time going to Disney without them, and I feel guilty just thinking about it) and we are debating when to go. Our first option is to leave the Friday after Thanksgiving, visit HS that Saturday, Epcot that Sunday, and Magic Kingdom that Monday, and fly home on Tuesday. Or we can leave Friday, December 11th, go to MVMCP that night, go to Epcot that Saturday and do the Candlelight Processional package, HS that Sunday, and fly home Monday. It's only about a $100 less to go for 3 nights the weekend in December because the hotel rooms are higher. We have been Thanksgiving week, but I can't really remember how bad the crowds really are. Can anyone sell me on one weekend or the other?

 

[serene56]

Crowds are HIGH now-- can not even imagine the holidays-- that weekend of thanksgiving will be insane. (unless you are talking the first weekend in Dec.
Are you finding hotels for the 11th of Dec? we are going down the 6th and hotel rooms are VERY scarce - what does that tell us

 

[anniemae]

I think both weeks will be very very crowded. It seems LOTS of people are making "one more trip" to see the Osborne lights one last time. If I had to choose, I would probably go Dec dates. It is a weekend, so be prepared for heavy crowds, but I think the crowds will also be very heavy after Thanksgiving.

 

[tink9702]

For crowds I'm guessing they will both be busy, but possibly less during the Dec dates? It actually sounds like two different trips for itinerary though. Trip 1 has a full day in MK, Trip 2 has Candlelight processional & Christmas Party but quite a bit less time in MK. But being it's an adults only then I might pick Trip 2 in December because you need less MK time with just adults & the Candlelight processional I'm sure is easier without kids too.

 

[wdwgirl21]

I am finding hotels available for both dates, but the prices are higher in December than over Thanksgiving weekend which surprised me. They are a little different, because there is no MVMCP the Friday after Thanksgiving, and since we woudl have an extra day that weekend we would just do a full day at MK. We have done several parties, and feel like we can get pretty much everything in that we want to see. I just wish I had a better idea of which might be slightly less crowded=) I need Madame Leota's crystal ball!

 

[jpeden]

We are going down the 27th-30th of November. It will be busy but it's the only time we can go. We'll be doing O'hana on Friday night (possibly AK/MK), then Epcot/DHS on Saturday, and then MVMCP on Sunday - leaving on Monday. There seems to be decent room availability still for this weekend.

 

[ggluvs2travel]

I would choose the December date. The weekend after Thanksgiving will be very crowded.

 

[wdwgirl21]

Thanks guys, I think the weekend in December will be the winner=) We can do MVMCP and see Meredith Viera narrate the Candlelight Processional, that should put is in the Christmas spirit!

 

[anniemae]

Thanks guys, I think the weekend in December will be the winner=) We can do MVMCP and see Meredith Viera narrate the Candlelight Processional, that should put is in the Christmas spirit!

That sounds awesome!

 

[LSUfan4444]

Last year our arrival date was the day before Thanksgiving (8/10 crowd prediction). Thanksgiving Day we were at Magic Kingdom (am extra magic hours - 7 am) for rope drop and this is what Main Street looked like about 9:30 am

Now, it's busy but important to remember this is after the park had been open for about 2 and a half hours and crowds were still very manageable. We stayed in Magic Kingdom until after our Thanksgiving Lunch (Cinderella's Royal Table) as 12:10 so we ha about 4 hours of touring and with using our FP+ ressies we didn't wait more than 20 minutes for anything.

Crowded, but not unbearable. The key was to get there early and I think we got there about 7:30 am.



On Friday, the day after Thanksgiving (7/10 crowd prediction) we got a late start and spent most of the day at Hollywood Studios. We got there about 10 am and had our three FP+ spread throughout the day (10 am - 1 pm) and after our last FP+ we went over to the World Showcase for dinner. After dinner, we went back to Hollywood Studios for Osborne spectacle of lights and this is what the crowds looked like.

Saturday was another busy day and we spent the morning at Animal Kingdom. After lunch at Sanaa about 2 pm we went back for relaxation time at the resort and ended the night at Magic Kingdom where we had FP+ for MSEP, Wishes and Mine Train.


It was doable and we loved being in the parks during the holiday

 

[JESSketeer]

I haven't been during either times, but I would assume that Thanksgiving weekend would be more crowded with the kids being off school and families visiting for a long weekend. I would lean towards the weekend in December, might be a little less crowded and it sounds more to enjoy with MVMCP and Candlelight Processional!