November or December

[Seeker615]

Hi - Well we never made the trip this year to Disney and Universal but we decided to head there next year. I want to be there for the holiday decorations. So what is the best week to go? Right after Thanksgiving or the first 2 weeks of December. We plan on staying at the POP resort and then using Mears or a taxi to get to Universal for one day.

Thanks

 

[DISHoppy]

Hi - Well we never made the trip this year to Disney and Universal but we decided to head there next year. I want to be there for the holiday decorations. So what is the best week to go? Right after Thanksgiving or the first 2 weeks of December. We plan on staying at the POP resort and then using Mears or a taxi to get to Universal for one day.

Thanks

IMO, either week is fine. Keep in mind the first Sat in December is the Xmas parade filming, and the following week is Pop Warner week (both are subject to change). Pop Warner will likely invade the POP resort as they have in the past, and you might want to avoid the MK the weekend of filming. We were there the week after Thxgiving back in 2008 and the crowds were low to moderate. The only other thing I would consider is traveling the weekend after Thxgiving....it wasn't as bad I expected, but it was busy (and we had the flight from hell with the plane in turbulence all the way from CMH to MCO).

-Kevin

 

[bytheblood]

I think the crowds will be a bit lighter in November.

 

[DISHoppy]

I think the crowds will be a bit lighter in November.

True, but I think the OP meant the week starting the weekend after Thxgiving or the first full week of December. Both weeks have their own issues, but can easily be worked around. Based on what I've seen on touringplans.com, there's not much of a diff b/w those two weeks this year (altho DI$ has been adding F! shows to the first full week of December this year).

The problem with earlier in November is that you may or may not see the Osborne lights (altho they have been lit in early November last year and supposedly this year), and some of the other decorations may still be being installed (like the MK tree). Also, not sure if the holiday parade @ DAK runs until after Thxgiving, and the CP @ Epcot doesn't start until after Thxgiving as well.

-Kevin

 

[WDWisTheBest]

I would suggest the weekend after Thanksgiving. The lights should be up at DHS.

 

[Seeker615]

Thanks for input so far. I really want to see the holiday lights and decorations so we do want to be there after Thanksgiving. Thanks for the heads up ob the filming and the Pop Warner group. I want to try and avoid that too.

 

[DISHoppy]

Thanks for input so far. I really want to see the holiday lights and decorations so we do want to be there after Thanksgiving. Thanks for the heads up ob the filming and the Pop Warner group. I want to try and avoid that too.

The Osborne Lights, CP @ Epcot and DAK holiday parade will definitely be happening starting the day after Thxgiving. There is just no guarantee the lights will be on @ DHS in early November (around the time the MVMCP begins).

On another note, there is an invasion of cheerleaders and bands ~the day before the parade taping....I'm not sure how long they stay, but I assume it's only for a day or two. We stayed @ POR in 2008 and saw several buses of cheerleaders, etc. the day we were leaving, which was the Friday before taping. We're going 12/5-12/10 this year, so I'll have better 411 about the first full week of December then.

-Kevin

 

[4Robins]

After T-day and December are better to go crowd wise......first 3 weeks in Nov are very very busy!!