Nov. vs Dec. at WDW

[christyd2]

DH and I are planning to celebrate our 10 yr. anniversary at WDW. We are thinking early or late November (avoiding Thanksgiving break) or one of the first 2 weeks in December.

Which month/week would you pick & why?

Edited to add: We won't be staying on property, so no dining plan or concerns of room rates if that matters.

 

[peg110]

While I can understand why you might want to avoid Thanksgiving, I will tell you that we love to go during that time. We stay at Fort Wilderness and usually like to check-in on Thanksgiving day. Get settled in (maybe an ADR somewhere) and while the weekend tends to be busier, It dies off on Sunday and Monday (and the following week) is great (in terms of crowd). I think most crowd calendars has that week after Thanksgiving ranked as 2nd or 3rd for the best weeks to go (based on crowds). You also get the Christmas Decorations and usually they have the Mickey's Christmas Party available too (Extra cost though).

For us travel and Kids school time was a consideration. Since our kids typically have a half day before Thanksgiving, then they are off and don't have to return to school until the following Tuesday (Monday after Thanksgiving in PA is the first day of Buck Season and many schools give the kids that day off too), we can maximize their (and our) time off. We will leave Tuesday Night after work and trek down (more leisurely) in time to check-in on Thursday. Stay the rest of that week, and leave the following Saturday morning and head home (less leisurely) so that the kids can get back to school that Monday after we return. They really only miss 4 and a half days for what amounts to 9 days at Disney (plus about 3 1/2 days of travel).

 

[Barbydoll8]

Yes the week after T-giving and first week of Dec have better crowds. Been there T-giving weekend and it's a bit crazy but the following week not so bad. Careful of when they will be taping the Christmas parade as things will be crazy in MK. Weather should be good. I prefer Nov but that's just me.

 

[chalee94]

early nov = the end of the food and wine festival at epcot
mid nov = low crowds
early/mid nov = still pretty warm - pools are usually still an option...also, you get some holiday decorations
thanksgiving = too crowded for me
after thanksgiving = low crowds + christmas decorations (pretty much all the decorations are up including big trees at the deluxe resorts) and festivities (epcot storytellers and candlelight processionals)

first week of dec can include some young crowds due to pop warner
early december can also be more iffy when it comes to pool weather - or sometimes needing sweaters and jackets

i love both times - weather is usually a little better in nov but if you want the full-on christmas effect, go in december and take a little time to visit resorts like the GF, WL, beach club and AKL.

 

[Jon84]

I think it depends where you are going to stay.

We did 3rd to 18th Dec last year. POR for a week was lovely. Then the Pop Warner lot turned up when we moved to the Radisson @ Celebration, it was awful, late night parents drinking in the lobby, kids in the pool area till midnight, running through corridors.

If your plan is to stay offsite, or a value, I'd avoid Pop Warner time. In the parks they are a little annoying, cheering all over the place and generally showing off. /Rantoff

 

[christyd2]

I think it depends where you are going to stay.

We did 3rd to 18th Dec last year. POR for a week was lovely. Then the Pop Warner lot turned up when we moved to the Radisson @ Celebration, it was awful, late night parents drinking in the lobby, kids in the pool area till midnight, running through corridors.

If your plan is to stay offsite, or a value, I'd avoid Pop Warner time. In the parks they are a little annoying, cheering all over the place and generally showing off. /Rantoff

We are staying in a condo about 20 mins. away. I've heard at the beginning it'seems not so bad, but towards the end of the week when teams are eliminated, that'sounds when they flood the park. Would you say that'she true? Or avoid the whole time?

 

[Jon84]

We are staying in a condo about 20 mins. away. I've heard at the beginning it'seems not so bad, but towards the end of the week when teams are eliminated, that'sounds when they flood the park. Would you say that'she true? Or avoid the whole time?

You'll be fine on your accommodation then

Thinking about it, it did get busier, but it is a slow time of year so I didn't really notice. They tend to spend more time sitting around, than actually on rides and in shows!

At the hotel it was strange, we struggled for parking for days, then one day they all just disappeared!

 

[christyd2]

early nov = the end of the food and wine festival at epcot
mid nov = low crowds
early/mid nov = still pretty warm - pools are usually still an option...also, you get some holiday decorations
thanksgiving = too crowded for me
after thanksgiving = low crowds + christmas decorations (pretty much all the decorations are up including big trees at the deluxe resorts) and festivities (epcot storytellers and candlelight processionals)

first week of dec can include some young crowds due to pop warner
early december can also be more iffy when it comes to pool weather - or sometimes needing sweaters and jackets

i love both times - weather is usually a little better in nov but if you want the full-on christmas effect, go in december and take a little time to visit resorts like the GF, WL, beach club and AKL.

Wow, thank you for breaking each week down.

We love the idea of being there for Christmas decorations. In mid-November, is the MK decorated & lights up at DHS?

Is the Food & Wine Festival something not to be missed? Are the crowds bad because of it or only bad at Epcot?

 

[chalee94]

We love the idea of being there for Christmas decorations. In mid-November, is the MK decorated & lights up at DHS?

Is the Food & Wine Festival something not to be missed? Are the crowds bad because of it or only bad at Epcot?

a lot of the basic decorations are up in mid-november including the giant trees outside the parks and the castle lights - with the giant trees at the GF, WL and AKL being part of the exceptions. the osborne lights at DHS should open on nov 6 from what i have seen.

i love the food and wine festival - it's an interesting change of pace and food is part of my favorite thing at epcot anyway. (i like that disney has added some of the food booths for the flower and garden festival in the spring...but i won't digress...)

weekends at epcot are very busy during food and wine - the rest of the time, it appears to be a bit more busy (looking at the easywdw crowd calendars) but not a deal breaker.

depends what you value - the lowest crowds should be the week before thanksgiving but if you research the food and wine festival and it sounds like your thing, maybe it's worth a few more crowds. and if you want the full christmas experience - and plan to eat at resorts like the GF or AKL anyway - then early dec is your best bet (but do be aware of the pop warner thing). it's hard to go wrong - it just depends on how you want to focus your trip.

 

[christyd2]

Awesome, thank you! That will help us decide. It sounds like there really is no bad option!

 

[Accident]

DH and I are planning to celebrate our 10 yr. anniversary at WDW. We are thinking early or late November (avoiding Thanksgiving break) or one of the first 2 weeks in December.
Which month/week would you pick & why?

After CM recommendations last year that the week immediately after thanksgiving is one of the emptiest weeks (and one of the weeks with no discounts), we tried it last year and really enjoyed it. Everything for the holidays was going on, plenty to see and do, not very crowded. Since you aren't staying there and not worried about food, it should be perfect for you.

the epcot holiday stuff starts after food and wine ends if the candlelight show is an important thing to see, after thanksgiving might be better