I'm torn on dates. Please help!

[hershey2014]

Hello. I have been to Disney 3 times. I want to go back this year and surprise my elderly parents with a paid trip with us. I looked at the Free Dining dates for this past year and it really puts a crink in my plans.

We have only stayed at ASMo but since it wasn't offered we are going to try another value resort.

But here are the dates were trying to decide on. Again I know free dining may not be offered this year but we really can't afford to pay for all of us if they don't offer it.

Option 1: November 13-21st
Option 2: December 11-19th

We really would like to see the Christmas decorations. Which week is best for decorations and crowd levels? Thanks for any help at all!

 

[CAL2]

hi, both are pretty good dates for average crowd levels, we are going this Nov 3rd-20th we like this time of year as the weather is still nice and Christmas decorations are up.

As you get more into Dec there are a few more decorations up and they have the Christmas Santa's at Epcot, but the weather can be a bit cooler especially at night.
cal

 

[KrazeeK120]

I'm not sure which week is better, but do note that Disney sometimes offers room-only discounts at the same time as free dining, and the room-only discounts CAN be a more substantial savings than free dining. Just be sure to check all possible discounts before booking!

 

[wendow]

We were just there Dec 9-17. There were plenty of decorations and the festiveness was great. Crowds were moderate and pretty easily managed.

The thing that would give me pause for that time period since you'll be taking your elderly parents is the weather. It was very cold a lot of the time. Especially at rope drop and at night. Usually the best weather was during the peak hours in the park and not when we wanted to be in the parks.

 

[CynBeth]

I would do your second choice because the tree will be up at MK as the parade taping will be over with and you can see the Candlelight Processional and Holidays Around the World at EPCOT which does not begin until the day after Thanksgiving. We have been very lucky where we have gone for a Thanksgiving Week and also the second week of Dec and had great weather both times although for the Dec trip it was a little cool a few nights but we were prepared so it was not a big deal.

 

[babydoll65]

I think option #1 would be best as far as free dining goes. We went during this week and saw most of the Christmas decorations and the Osborne Christmas lights which I hope are still running this year. Pop century is the best resort since they offer more rooms under the free dining promotion

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

I would go with November for our family. It will be very decorated for Christmas and MVMCP will have already begun. I think it will be less crowded based on my own anecdata and it will probably be much warmer.

Look into seaworld's Christmas celebration too. It's very festive.

 

[SmithSmith]

If money is an issue than I'd go with free dining in November, because the room rates are cheaper than the December dates.

Depending on which Value resort you choose, if you need 2 rooms, then you could save $300-$400 dollars by going in November.

 

[CalicoSky]

We went November 15-23 in 2014, and the crowd level was low/moderate. It picked up a bit on the 22nd as the Thanksgiving week crowd started to trickle in, but it was very manageable.

Weather may be slightly warmer in November than in December, but that's really luck of the draw. We had some chilly evenings. Pack a wardrobe with plenty of layering pieces and lightweight gloves and you should be fine.

For Christmas decorations, the parks were pretty well decked out with the exception of MK's Christmas tree. Loved seeing the Osborne Family lights, and at Animal Kingdom Mickey and Co. were in their Christmas finery, which was fun. The few resorts we visited didn't have their decorations up yet. That wasn't critical to us, but if you're really after the full everything-decorated experience, pick December. But it's plenty festive in November.

 

[dachsie]

One thing to consider - with the value resort, you will only get the quick service dining plan free unless you pay to upgrade. It may not be worth it to do that. You will get more Christmas stuff in Dec like the gingerbread displays and the gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian.

One more thing, I think some of those days you have marked for Dec were blocked from the free dining plan this past year cause i looked into doing it

 

[hershey2014]

Thanks for the replies so far. I would like to see the gingerbread houses myself but everyone in the family kinda voted for November. I do want to attend the christmas party at mk. Anything else we should plan fir?

 

[sharonabe]

The other things you will miss if you choose the Nov date are the Candlelight Processional and the Holiday Storytellers at EP.

I think you will have lower crowds the Nov week over the Dec week as crowds will begin to build toward the end of that Dec week.

As others have said, you also have a more consistent history of nice weather for the Nov time frame. Dec can vary wildly.

 

[yeheyprincex2]

I have been during the exact dates of your November dates and I have been in early December. Both times are great for lower crowd levels. If you want all the Holiday decoration experience you will want to pick December.

 

[minniemous]

We went November 9th=November 19th and we loved it. Moderate temps but still nice for swimming. Christmas is in full swing and that is nice. We did not do the party. We are not to into the parties.

 

[babydoll65]

When I went in November 2013, the gingerbread house in the gf was already up. We did not go to specifically to check it out but we had reservations for breakfast at the gf cafe. That was on 11/13 and it was fully up. So was the gingerbread display in the contemporary resort