Nov 19-25 or Dec 16-24?

disneylover102

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Dec 31, 2017
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I don’t know my exact schedule but these are the two times I could potentially go to WDW. What’s better- Thanksgiving week or Christmas week? I know, not ideal...
 
We had a lovely time 16 to 26 December last year (it seems so long ago). There was a really nice atmosphere in the park, people were ‘in the Christmas spirit’, the weather was comfortable (some rain and a little chilly occasionally) so we wore jeans and layers most of the time and the crowds were okay. There were plenty of FPs available, RDs were not too crazy and lots of restaurants had ADR availability. The parks became noticeably busier from 24 December, but even then it was a nice atmosphere. Have fun, whichever dates you choose.
 
We had a lovely time 16 to 26 December last year (it seems so long ago). There was a really nice atmosphere in the park, people were ‘in the Christmas spirit’, the weather was comfortable (some rain and a little chilly occasionally) so we wore jeans and layers most of the time and the crowds were okay. There were plenty of FPs available, RDs were not too crazy and lots of restaurants had ADR availability. The parks became noticeably busier from 24 December, but even then it was a nice atmosphere. Have fun, whichever dates you choose.
Thank you! It looks like Christmas week is probably going to be what works best so I’ll have to just deal with the crowds! How were FPs day of? Were you able to get any day of for any of the “mountains” or even rides like Flight of Passage?

Of course it may be way different this year.
 
We did 16-23 Dec one year because our schools got out oddly early that year and it was one of my favorite trips! Every year I check to see when they let out for Christmas but it’s usually more like 21/22...
 

In past years, the week before Christmas and the week after were much more crowded.
We have done the week of Thanksgiving several times and was not as crowded as expected.
This year, nobody knows what the parks will look like.
 
I think your November dates would see fewer crowds, at least for the first couple of days. With both sets of dates, you will find that crowds ramp up each day the closer it gets to the holiday. Other factors you might consider is that WDW will be fully in holiday mode by your December dates. We've traveled right before Thanksgiving before and not everything was fully decorated yet (most, but not all) and the Candlelight Processional hadn't started yet. Also, both times of year can be iffy in terms of weather but November would have a slightly better chance of temperatures warm enough to swim. The later you go, the higher chance for cooler temps.
 
This year will be difficult to predict due to the number of trips being rescheduled and restrictions Disney may implement to FP and other experiences after reopening. In general, the weeks before and after Christmas would normally be more crowded than Thanksgiving week, but who knows.
 


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