Oct/Nov or Dec?

[Picabo]

I'm sure everyone is SICK of the "when should I go" questions. (SORRY!) I haven't been to DW in 10yrs now...I was planning for first week in Dec b/c last time I went that week (2000) there were so few crowds that we could sit on the rides and go over and over wtihout getting off! I hear it's not that "uncrowded" now.

Key factors are: comfortable temps and fewest crowds

Honestly, I think my husband is the biggest complainer of all so I'm trying to keep it as nice of a trip as possible, for him, or else I'll NEVER convince him to go back. That would NOT be good.

SOOOO...do we go early Dec as planned (would LOVE to see DW all decked out for the holidays!) Or is mid-Nov better...before Thanksgiving. (But if so, at what point does it start to get crowded b/c I don't want to hit the Thanksgiving crowds) Or October??

ANY experience/advice is GREATLY appreciated!!!!

THANKS!
Melanie

 

[JeanfromBNA]

October is still pretty warm, and gets somewhat busy at times because of MNSSHP and F&W at Epcot. Early to mid September has been among the least crowded times, but it's HOT. I'll let others answer about November & December, because I've never been during that time. Good luck!

 

[Picabo]

I was afraid you'd say Sept is hot! haha Isn't that usually when free Dining ends? So you can eat for free if you can deal with the heat, eh? Thanks for the info, Jean....looks like the F&W at Epcot is over by Mid Nov, eh? So maybe Mid Nov??

Anyone?

 

[carrie1626]

OCT- any time before the NOT SO SCARY HALLOWEEN festivities
NOV - any time before the week of Thanksgiving
any time after Thanksgiving weekend
Dec - any time up until the value/holiday rates change, this would be when Xmas school vacations kick in!

 

[RumpleMom]

If there is any chance that your DH might not like the experience, then go in early Dec. so you can see the decorations, just in case he decides he isn't going back for another 10 years.

Early Dec. is busy for DVC because it is a lower points time period. I don't think it is generally busy for families because of school.

 

[ASDFG]

Personally I prefer Oct/Nov. The crowds are to bad, it's warm but there's only been one trip where it was excessively hot in October that I can recall and the food and wine festival is at that time (typically mid-high 80's to low 90's in our experience). We tend to spend a fair bit of our time at Epcot and there's a lot going on there at that time.

As far as December goes, we went last year during the last two weeks of December (15-28th). It was chilly in the mornings and at night. From the 15th to about the 22nd the parks were, virtually empty, I've never (or very very rarely) been able to just walk onto Soarin' or Test Track at Epcot or Splash Mountain. Although we made our reservations many months in advance for sit down dinners, that 1st week I think we could have made them day of with little issue.

The 2nd week of the trip from the 22nd to 28th was another story. To put it mildly, the crowds were INSANE!!. In 10+ years of going to WDW I have never experienced crowds even 1/2 what they were during the last week of December. If you didn't have a fast pass for the rides you wanted to go on by 11 am, you could forget it unless you wanted to wait in line for 2 hours or more. We'd go again in December but I don't think we'll ever go down there again during that last week of the month, it's just to nuts.

The other time we like going down is in April/May. The temps are roughly the same as Oct/Nov (at least in our experience) and the crowds are about the same. That's the flower festival as well so if you're into that sort of thing it might be something to consider.

Hope this helps.

 

[disneyfan2]

i am currently booked for Dec, but after reading the boards, and seeing the first 2 weeks of Dec have pkg all booked up, looking to reschedule OCt or early Nov

 

[Picabo]

DisneyFan2 - this is what my concern is! Even travel agents are saying the first week or so in Dec is usually slow (even a few CM have told me this) but yet everyone on HERE seems to say they are GOING early in Dec!

When do the holiday decorations go up? Maybe if I move it to Mid-Nov (before Turkey Day crowds of course)???

 

[Vility]

We are booking next october.
I have heard crowds are not so crazy then since it's back to school time.
Since our children are so young we don't have issues with back to school.

 

[disneyfan2]

DisneyFan2 - this is what my concern is! Even travel agents are saying the first week or so in Dec is usually slow (even a few CM have told me this) but yet everyone on HERE seems to say they are GOING early in Dec!

When do the holiday decorations go up? Maybe if I move it to Mid-Nov (before Turkey Day crowds of course)???

Well my TA advised the first 2 weeks were booked at all the values(we tried to add 1 day but no luck) I think the first MVMCP is Nov 10th so i assume it will be decorated by then. I too, am looking for flight deals the week before Thanksgiving and change my dates...

 

[hoosiergirl7]

We've been to Disney 2x's in September. The first time in 2002 the crowds were super low and the weather was extremely pleasant (not hot). When we went again in 2006, the crowds were insane and it was miserably hot. Both trips were taken during the same time in September.

This year we are going during the middle of October - 15th to the 21st. I'm hoping by then it's not as hot and miserable as it is in September. We're looking forward to the F & W festival as well. We are not attending MNSSHP this time even though it would be nice to. There are other things that are more important to do. Plus we will be involved in a karate tournament at Disney Wide World of Sports Complex.

We plan on going during the 1st part of December next year so that we can see the parks decorated for Christmas and to attend MVMCP. We might start the trip towards the end of November.

The problem with this is that crowd rates vary year to year. You can book something and hope for the best. Just like it did for us in Sept '02 & Sept '06.

Good luck in planning!

 

[Picabo]

Does anyone know if they announce when the decorations go up, when the rates come out in Aug? I wouldn't mind going on Oct for MNSSHP however I'm afraid it will be TOOOOO hot. Mid-Nov would be nice but I hate to be SOOOO close to seeing the decorations for the holidays and yet miss out on them.

 

[vcgirl925]

I think the first week of December is good as long as it doesn't overlap with Thanksgiving week, because thanksgiving is later this year. The very beginning of nov. is a little busy with the food and wine festival, the 1st into the 2nd week is busy due to NJ teachers convention, and then end of the month is busy due to thanksgiving. So if you can fit in between somewhere you'll be fine. We are going november 15th - 22nd and it's should be less crowded. October is good except for the end because of halloween.

 

[Nanu57v]

We do end of Sept/beginning of OCt or 1st week of December. The latter is more crowded, but seriously not that bad. I prefer the oct time because its still swimming weather.
In December, you may have to bundle up as in this WDW pic of DD...(Dec of 05)

 

[DawnM]

Hmmm....well, DH hasn't been able to go anywhere for Oct, Nov, or Dec. in a long time, but we like the Oct visits.

Now we go in January typically and love it.

Dawn

 

[jenseib]

My choice would be the first week of Dec. before Pop Warner comes, or right after they leave. . I ahve heard crowd levels are usually decent, but I mostly want to see the decorations, I think it would so beautiful ,p lus a whole differnt Disney experience. But Dh never wants to go anywhere in Dec, even thoug hI have tried talking him inot to it a few times (even using DD's Dec. b-day as a way of getting him to go, but he says no)

I think ealry Oct. would be good though too. As the weather should be pretty nice and the crowd level should be OK.

 

[disneyfan2]

Does anyone know if they announce when the decorations go up, .

I think someone said when the MVMCP start the decorations will be up and the first one will be Nov 10th, so far Osborne lights looks like it won't be up until closer to the end of Nov but there was hope it would be up earlier as in past years.

 

[cornellerik]

Early November is the time that we usually go. I have to say that I love this time of year to visit. I've been in June twice and November twice and I much prefer November. The weather is great and the crowds are managable. However, if you're a water park person/family, then November is probably not most ideal.

 

[Lisa P.]

I was planning for first week in Dec b/c last time I went that week (2000) there were so few crowds... do we go early Dec as planned (would LOVE to see DW all decked out for the holidays!) Or is mid-Nov better...before Thanksgiving. (But if so, at what point does it start to get crowded b/c I don't want to hit the Thanksgiving crowds) Or October??

Melanie, we've been several times during the quiet week prior to Thanksgiving week and the busy week of Thanksgiving. The resorts are mostly decorated by the week prior and MK is, as well. F&WF is over so even Epcot quiets down. If you don't mind missing the Osborne lights, that week (~Nov 15-22) is a great time to go. And you'll be back home in time for holiday preparations. We'll be going in Oct for the first time next year. So I can't compare that for you. Thanksgiving weather has been hit-or-miss for us, as far as water park weather. We've always had at least a couple good swimming days for the heated pools but walking around a water park, wet, would not have always been desirable.

DisneyFan2 - this is what my concern is! Even travel agents are saying the first week or so in Dec is usually slow (even a few CM have told me this) but yet everyone on HERE seems to say they are GOING early in Dec!

Careful not to judge overall crowds by what you read on these forums. Only a very small subset of the general guest population every frequents these forums. And they tend to be more frequent visitors than the average guest, better prepared about the parks, more likely to seek low season than the general population. Look at the fact that relatively few people here will post about going during peak Holidays yet the parks are packed then. It's a different group here.

 

[JoJo's Mom]

We went last year (2007) the last week of Nov going into Dec and it was GREAT! We used the Fast Pass 2 times only. Lines were short and the weather was great. All the decorations were up and we were able to see the Osborne lights (personally for me -that was the highlight of the trip!!!!)

We aren't able to make it this year. However, 2009 we will be going around the same time. The week after Thanksgiving. It was PERFECT!!!!!