Nov / Dec questions

[DisMom1981]

In the midst of planning our first ever Christmas season trip. First we were planning Sat of Thanksgiving to Friday- one day shy of a week due to people traveling with. Would only be in parks on Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend in MK which has a party so would be less crowded anyway. Four more park days would follow.

Now I'm thinking of doing a mid Nov trip with the hopes of catching free dining between black out dates, being able to stay a full week and lower crowds throughout the trip (after Jersey week). Is it any less Christmasy in November?

Will free dining even matter at Pop over the standard room discount if we want to upgrade to the one sit down meal a day plan? We plan on purchasing this plan even if we stick with the original dates- which only historically have the room discounts I believe.

Will southwest come out with flights before or after free dining is announced? I don't want to buy flights and then have free dining not exist the week I thought it would.

I am literally making myself crazy.

 

[coolbrook]

Hi, You have lots of things to consider, and you have some time to figure it out, so try not to drive yourself crazy. It looks like Pop in August has been your vacation pattern so far. First of all, it will be fun to do something new and try a different season. I think you will enjoy the weather and the Christmas decorations. How "Christmasy" it will feel may depend on a few different things like the decorations, the music you hear, decorations at your resort, character costumes, special shows or performances, and whether or not you can get in the Christmas spirit in November. I know that some decorations are added a little later like some resort decorations. There was a big watch on the boards last year for the Wilderness Lodge Christmas tree to go up I remember. You will need to research when things have started in the past to guess about this year.

The free dining, upgrading, is room only better, is it worth it calculation is complicated and there are a lot of variables to consider. You just have to do the calculations and see what is better. We went last year the week leading up to Christmas and had free dining which we upgraded. The other thing to consider when thinking of discounts is what the rack rate for the room on those days is. A discount off a $150 room will result in a lower price of course than that same discount off a $200 room. Are the room rates much higher on one of the weeks you are considering? If you are going for free dining and you are going to upgrade anyway everyone will tell you to price out a moderated resort and see if you come out about the same price wise.

The other thing I would say is that it is great and perhaps necessary to consider the best value and lowest crowds etc., but also think about when you really want to be there. Will going after Thanksgiving feel more "Christmasy" to you, is that what you really wanted, do crowds just make things feel fun and festive? It sounded to me like you really want a Christmas season trip from what you wrote. Have fun planning and remember that there is probably no wrong time to go. You will have a wonderful trip!

 

[DisMom1981]

Last paragraph = just what I needed to hear! Thanks!