November 25-28 vs. December 9-12

[jpessa]

Hi everyone,

for those of you with experience during the holiday time at DLR: I am currently holding 2 reservations and am not sure which to keep. November 25-28 vs. December 9-12, just me and DD6. Here are my thoughts:

November 25-28:
1. Thanksgiving weekend, so will be super crowded (I've been at crowded times like President's Day weekend, race weekends, and don't mind - we have APs so are happy walking around and just doing our favorites - HOWEVER haven't been for Thanksgiving weekend before).
2. Thanksgiving weekend, so park hours will be long which works well for us (we're rope drop, midday break and stay to close types).
3. This reservation is for PPH, as I like to stay onsite if coming at busy times to take advantage of EE.
4. May not have all the Christmas decorations and holiday offerings yet???
5. I would leave super early Friday to get a half-day of parks in (live 6 hours away).
6. More than double the price for this hotel vs. offsite in December.

December 9-12:
1. Probably a lot less crowded.
2. This is an off-site reservation (Grand Legacy - stayed there before and it does the job)
3. No EE as offsite
4. Will park hours be reduced?
5. All the Christmas stuff should be in full swing
6. Would have to leave after work and get in at midnight on Friday, but still full days Sat-Sun then leave Monday.
7. Much more affordable hotel rate, as offsite (but can afford the other, just always a question of if I "should").

What would you pick? I welcome your thoughts and suggestions.

Thanks!
Julie

 

[smartlabelprint]

Full Xmas starts 11/10.

 

[figment_jii]

4. May not have all the Christmas decorations and holiday offerings yet???

The Holiday season official starts on November 10 this year, so pretty much everything should be up and running by that point. The only "big" thing that might not be fully completed is the Grand Californian Gingerbread House (if they do one) - that doesn't seem to have been completed with the start of the "season" in the past.

1. Probably a lot less crowded.

Maybe...I do think the crowds are likely to be manageable on Friday, but Saturday and Sunday might be pretty busy. This is the last weekend before the holiday AP blockouts go into effect. I've been this weekend in the past (the last weekend before the blockouts went into effect) and the weekdays were pretty good, but Saturday and Sunday were pretty busy (on par with a holiday weekend).

4. Will park hours be reduced?

I don't think so...usually the parks go to pretty long hours in early December as the holiday crowds start to build up.

 

[jpessa]

Thanks, this is really helpful!

 

[Angrose]

We were there the weekend after Thanksgiving in 2014, and honestly I did not think the crowds were any worse than a normal weekend. I would definitely do that weekend again, but it won't work out for us this year so we're planning in Dec 10-13. I think both weekends will be similar crowd wise. You already know how to manage the crowds by doing rope drop and afternoon breaks, so you are already two steps ahead of most people! It sounds like T-day weekend will be better for you since you can arrive earlier on that Friday. All the holiday goodies will be in full swing. The hotels were fully decorated, even with their gingerbread houses, Santa, and carolers. We loved it!