Help me decided which of these Nov/Dec dates

[BC Disney Lover]

We are trying to plan our first trip to Disneyland during the holidays and need some input on each of these dates. These dates are when the airfare is in our favor but I also need to consider parade and firework schedules, crowds, cast parties. Usually 3 days is just enough for our family but with crowds should we add the extra day just in case? As always thanks in advance for all your help!

Sun Nov 16 - Thur Nov 20 will all Holiday activites be available by then
Wed Nov 19 - Sun Nov 23
Sun Nov 23 - Thur Nov 27 i think this is too close to Thanksgiving
Tue Dec 2 - Sun Dec 5
Sun Dec 7 - Thu Dec 11 when do most kids get out of school

 

[Jenn1116]

Sun Nov 16 - Thur Nov 20 will all Holiday activites be available by then
Wed Nov 19 - Sun Nov 23
Sun Nov 23 - Thur Nov 27 i think this is too close to Thanksgiving
Tue Dec 2 - Sun Dec 5
Sun Dec 7 - Thu Dec 11 when do most kids get out of school

It is my understanding holday parades and fireworks start the weekend of Nov 21.

Avoid Thanksgiving week due to heavy crowds

That leaves Dec 2- 5 which may be ok. They do have cast parties on Mon and Tues at the beginning of Dec. so DL is closed at 5pm or 6pm. It may fall on 1st and 2nd or 8th and 9th. Don't know yet. I believe DCA is open later those nights but I don't know for sure.

Dec7-11 - Candlelight will likely be the 6th and 7th so big weekend crowds but the weekdays should be ok. I've heard crowds are ok at the beginning of Dec. Check on parades and fireworks though because those might be weekend-only events until right before Christmas.

 

[Jenn1116]

I don't know if that helps with all of my "I don't knows" and "not sures"

 

[HoneyBee06]

We went the first weekend in December last year and the crowds weren't too bad. But it's really hard to tell anymore. I'd say whenever you go, expect crowds. And that way if there aren't any, you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Personally, I would go a week before Thanksgiving. Or the week or two after Thanksgiving.

 

[Jenn1116]

Personally, I would go a week before Thanksgiving. Or the week or two after Thanksgiving.

I agree... That's why I have Nov 18 - 22 and Dec 3-7 booked... Now I just have to decided which week to go!

 

[XTinabell]

We are trying to plan our first trip to Disneyland during the holidays and need some input on each of these dates. These dates are when the airfare is in our favor but I also need to consider parade and firework schedules, crowds, cast parties. Usually 3 days is just enough for our family but with crowds should we add the extra day just in case? As always thanks in advance for all your help!

Sun Nov 16 - Thur Nov 20 will all Holiday activites be available by then
Wed Nov 19 - Sun Nov 23
Sun Nov 23 - Thur Nov 27 i think this is too close to Thanksgiving
Tue Dec 2 - Sun Dec 5
Sun Dec 7 - Thu Dec 11 when do most kids get out of school

I'm a little confused about your Tue Dec 2 - Sun Dec 5 dates because Dec. 5 falls on a Friday so I think you meant the 7
I love going in November. They start putting up the decorations at the beginning of November and the weekend of Veterans day is around the time when they kick off the full holiday stuff with the tours, fireworks and the parades. If it were up to me I would go November 16-20th. The weekend will be busy but during the weekdays will be quite empty. I think this is actually a good year to go in November because thanksgiving isn't until November 27 so you get a couple of weeks between veterans day and thanksgiving. The week of thanksgiving will be busy because the kids get the week off and people take extended holidays.
The other good choice I would say is Tue Dec 2 to Dec 7 (?) the only thing is there is a good chance the candle light processional will be that weekend and that brings in a very large crowd of people.

 

[Denton]

It is possible the holiday fireworks and parade will start on the 14th. There doesn't appear to be a strict formula on when the official holiday season starts based on Thanksgiving's date.

In 2006, we were there during the second week of November, and we saw the Believe in Holiday Magic show on the 12th but the Christmas parade didn't start until the next Friday.

Last year, the official holiday season started on the Nov 16th and Thanksgiving was on the 22nd.

 

[jemilah]

I have the Ent rate booked for Nov 30 till the 2nd at the hojo I hope that since the rate is available it won't be too badly crowded.

 

[BC Disney Lover]

Thanks for all the replies. Yes I meant Dec 7, I had it all typed out and my 2 yr dd shut everything down on me so I re-wrote it all in a hurry. I really wanted to do Nov16-20 so I hope the parade and/or fireworks are running by then.

 

[ironpig70]

going sunday thru friday 23-28 of nov. yes we will there on thanksgiving. have heard that it will be crowded and heard its not that bad. this time frame works best for us.