Mid-late September Vs. Early-mid November for 14 nights?

[DisneyBeth94]

Hey guys,

I'm completely torn between a November trip and a September trip for 2016.

I prefer Christmas a lot more to Halloween but would also want a trip where the crowds are minimal if possible. If I were to choose a September trip, would there be a lot of Halloween decorations up? As much as I love halloween, I don't want all of my photos overcrowded with Halloween decor, whereas I would love my photos to be filled with Christmas decor! If we were to go in November our dates would be 6th-20th (good idea or bad?)

It's just me and my boyfriend, both from the UK, and neither of us drive so we will be booking day excursions with coaches to Universal Orlando and Busch Gardens if anyone can help with that?

We'll be staying at Disney resorts for the entire duration of our stay (14 nights) with one week at Pop and the other at AS Movies.

Also, my boyfriend's birthday falls in late September if Disney give any special treatment to birthday guests?

Thanks in advance for any help you guys can give me as I really am torn between the two!

 

[siskaren]

Only MK decorates for Halloween, and even that is mostly orange bunting and pumpkins, so it doesn't really scream Halloween - more fall.

If you want Christmas decor, November 6-20 might be a bit early - MK will be decorated since the first MVMCP takes place about November 8, but Epcot doesn't start their Christmas activities until after Thanksgiving, so I don't think it would be decorated earlier than that, but I'll concede I'm not sure. You might be able to see some hotel decorations during the latter part of your trip, but I think it might be a little early for that as well.

Disney doesn't do anything special for birthday guest other than giving out buttons that say Happy Birthday.

 

[bochnikm]

We have tried September and November a number of times.

September - very low crowds but hot and humid. Option to do the Halloween Party
November - low to moderate crowds - but nicer, sometimes cool in the morning weather. Option to do the Christmas Party.

One year, due to the calendar we went early November and got to go to both MK parties.
Trip report at http://www.bochnik.com/disneynov2012/nov2012.htm

We like both months. Seeing that you are from the UK I would suggest November. You might melt in September.

 

[FirstDown]

Both will be very crowded. There isn't a time now when it's not crowded.

 

[vallerii]

Are you food and wine type people? The Food and Wine festival at Epcot typically starts in LATE Sept (sometimes early OCT) and goes typically through about mid-Nov.

 

[FirstDown]

This past Sept was very crowded. I'd shoot for Nov.

 

[jnjhuddle]

I agree about September being incredibly hot still, but crowds will be much lower. You will definitely see an increase in crowds in November. Wine and dine half marathon is weekend of November 5 so draws a significant crowd as well as "NJ week" being a bit later this year. Typically the entire state of NJ is in Florida 1st week of November since kids are off from school Tuesday (Nov 8) for Election Day and Thursday/Friday (Nov 10&11) for teachers convention. my kids school throws in 1/2 days on Monday /Wednesday that week for conferences. So many will book anywhere from Nov 4-nov 13. Crowds are still manageable (unless NJ people scare you) that week, compared to say Easter week. Will be interesting to see what the crowd is like this year since it is a pivotal election year. I know I'm probably not going to go in November this year for that reason.

 

[halfpintpeggy]

This past Sept was very crowded. I'd shoot for Nov.

Really, wow! Haven't visited in September for years - but it used to be almost empty. Ahhhh, how I miss those days. If September is very crowded now, then maybe there really IS no "off season" anymore.