I'm freaking out now! I need poitive thoughts.

[SamanthaL]

I was so excited to be going to WDW in Nov. I ALWAYS go in the value season, mainly because of crowds and weather.
Now I hear the first week in Nov. is completely booked!!
Is this week going to be a nightmare of crowds and lines?
We will be there Nov 3-9. Please help me calm down! My 85 year old grandmother is going and she is not the most patient person in the world. Will it be alright?

 

[pooh6890]

Samantha...Super Soap Weekend is 9-10 at MGM so you will miss that. Food & Wine Festival is also going on. That time of the year is busy because the weather is so perfect. Just take your time and enjoy being there. (Take grandma for a nice chilled glass of wine in Germany, that should make her a little more patient ).....We are going Nov. 8 to 13th and can't wait....Just remember you are in Disney girl!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[SamanthaL]

Thanks pooh6890. I think maybe I will have the wine. Maybe 2.
I will just keep saying, I am in Disney World, I am in Disney World. This will be my week long chant.

 

[AllyandJack]

I think most people go around Thanksgiving because of school. I did that last year and it was a nightmare! I generally go late July, early August. I enjoy the heat and the crowds are just starting to die down, but the hours are still late. However, we arrived the day before Thanksgiving last year and stayed until the following Monday. We didn't go on one ride because the lines were so long and all the fastpasses were gone. We got to Epcot at 9am and the fastpass time for Test Track was 5pm! We did have a really good time doing other things - Candlelight Processional, Osbourne Lights. I think since you're going early, you shouldn't run into the same things I did. It might be crowded like Disney always is, but not as bad as I found it over Thanksgiving.

And, like everyone said, you're in Disney World! Long lines and all, it's still better than being anywhere else. Personally, I'd rather be standing in one of those lines than sitting here at work right now.

 

[hightown]

We're going 11/9-16 but was trying to get rooms for friends the same time. It is mostly booked till 10th and after. But you have to remember that CBR is closed. That closed 2000 rooms. Also SOG is closed and I think part of Disney Institute. The resorts may be full and busy but due to the closings. Hopefully the parks won't be any busier than normal at this time of year.

 

[BoyLovesBuzz]

Samantha,
Keep in mind that with the closing of CBR there are 2100+ fewer rooms availabale. Also, I am not sure your exact dates, but I plugged in 11/2 - 11/8 and see availability at all the All Stars, PO-R and the Poly. I don't think it will be as bad as you fear.

WL, AKL took a lot of the displaced CBR. Plus there were great deals available. CSR likely took a lot of CBR people, plus conventions, which don't really affect the parks.

It may be a little more crowded then past Novembers, just because of the great resort deals, but I wouldn't expect anything approaching the crowds during the spring or summer.

 

[Trekker]

Another thought - with all the codes/discounts Disney is offering it may be more people staying onsite and less off site. Hoping the crowds will be about the same as in the past in the parks......

 

[SamanthaL]

So your saying I may not need the wine after all. That's good news. I wouldn't mind except that this is Nana's 85th birthday trip and I don't want her to be unhappy. This was her idea, but she would hate HUGE crowds.
I love her dearly, but a week of "the face" would be hard to take, if you know what I mean.

 

[addictd2disney]

Put Nana in a wheelchair and then it will be MUCH easier for her!
PLUS you get to go thru all the rides with no wait by going thru the handicapped entrance. I see it done all the time with elderly people. Then it should not matter to you about the lines. Even the shows have access. Have a great time!

 

[SamanthaL]

addictd2disney- now that you mention it we have rented an ECV for our stay because there is no way Nana could walk that much. She's in great health, but the with arthritis even the walk to the bus stop would be too much. i never thought about getting to the head of the lines because of the ECV. Great thinking!!
Can I still have the wine though?
You guys may want to watch for THIS trip report. It should be a doozie and will be titled "National Lampoon's WDW trip"

 

[addictd2disney]

What a hoot!

 

[las3888]

We were there last year during Super Soap Weekend and didn't notice a blip in the crowds. It was just as we expected - minimal wait time for anything. I can't believe there are loads more people going this year than last year, so I think you will be fine.

Have fun!

 

[tampafan]

We have been at Disney at its most crowded - mid July when it is really hot and New Years Eve when it is cool. The weather in early November is usually cool. The crowds are not nearly as bad when it is cool. People are more patient in general. You can also do things that help negate the crowds. Go to the parks in the am, use the Fast Pass options, and make priority seatings for all meals you plan to eat at sit down restaurants. There is no fee for that and it saves so much aggravation in trying to find a restaurant. Also, it makes planning your day easier. If you want to see Fantasmic, make a dinner package reservation as soon as you get to the resort. It will really make the whole process much easier. Also, if you need to get away from the crowds, eat a meal at the All Star Cafe at the Wide World of Sports. The theme might not be for your Nana, but the food is great and it is rarely crowded - just make sure a big game is not going on.....

 

[jwfla422]

Also keep in mind that there are a lot of conventions going on during this time. I remember that when booking our room in Nov 2000 (first few days of that month).

The CRO CM told me then many things were booked up due to a lot of business functions and conventions, so the parks may not be as crowded as you think they'll be. He said October used to be "convention" month but it has since spread into part of November as well.

When we did go, we didn't find the parks real crowded. It was pretty comfortable, crowd wise and weather wise. Just try to utilize FastPass and make sure you have lots of PS in advance just to be safe ENJOY!!

 

[SamanthaL]

WOW! What great responses. Thanks everyone! I feel better. I didn't know about all the coventions at that time of year.
Thanks again!

 

[sramille]

I think we've pretty much exhausted this thread, but.....

This will be my 4th year at Super Soap Weekend. I know that even 4 years ago when I went, all the hotels were booked about this time. So, with CBR and other factors incorporated, I wouldn't worry about the crowds. However, I wouldn't venture into MGM on Nov. 9 or 10, it will be a madhouse!

 

[kylara]

I have to agree with what others have said. Historically at this time of year, the off-site hotels occupancy nose dives but WDW's consistently stays at a higher rate of occupancy. This is the time of year that WDW offeres codes and discounts to draw people away and get them hooked on Disney hotels...hoping they can then keep them onsite on later trips.

Also it is convention time. With as many convention hotels on property (Boardwalk, CSR, Poly, Swan/Dolphin) they can take up a lot of rooms, but not a lot of park space since they are in the conventions during the day. Sometimes the evenings will get a little more crowded for those conventions that give free time, but believe it or not, I know people who have come for conventions and never stepped foot in the parks (what were they thining )

So all in all, lines shouldn't be too bad. Hope you and your grandma enjoy the trip.

 

[MinnieGi]

Thanks Samantha for posting this quesiton. I was starting to get worried too when I saw the "sold out" post. We are going Nov. 2nd - 8th and picked this time on purpose as a low attendance time. I feel better after reading all the posts!!!

 

[disneefamily]

Disnee Dad Says........................ Fugetta aboud it, your trip will be sweet! Just plan the important stuff early in the trip when it will be uncrowded. Kinda bummed, work forced me to change my dates, so I must now live thru Soap Weekend, artists, conventions etc.
Won't be that bad, Nov.3 to Nov.7 pound the parks. Nov 8 don't know. Nov.9 and 10, Stay away from MGM, hit parks early, praise god we have AP's, and relax as our Ap's expire

 

[SamanthaL]

Thanks everyone. If Disnee Dad says it will be sweet, I believe him!