Oct or Dec 2009

[wink13]

We have taken trips to WDW the last 4 years in Oct as the boys have a fall break but they do have to miss a couple days of school. Next year I'm thinking of moving our vacation to Dec during their holiday break. The reason I ask now is I will need to book at the 11 month window next week if going in Oct. We love Oct, low crowds & great weather. I realize the holidays will be busy but might be nice for a change. We love MNSSHP how does it compare to MVMCP?

Opinions requested and welcome.

I realize it's a no lose situation but thought I might see what other disers think.

 

[hakepb]

We have taken trips to WDW the last 4 years in Oct as the boys have a fall break but they do have to miss a couple days of school. Next year I'm thinking of moving our vacation to Dec during their holiday break. The reason I ask now is I will need to book at the 11 month window next week if going in Oct. We love Oct, low crowds & great weather. I realize the holidays will be busy but might be nice for a change. We love MNSSHP how does it compare to MVMCP?

Opinions requested and welcome.

I realize it's a no lose situation but thought I might see what other disers think.

Outside of WDW, I enjoy Christmas time a lot more than haloween, so I loved MVMCP more than MNSSHP. Parades and fireworks are longer than normal days.
How much do you enjoy Christmas at home vs halloween?

There's also Christmas events at all the parks and resorts, so I think the overall Christmas time trip is better. (Although large crowds are not enjoyable to me, so I am not sure if I'd do Christmas break)
You may also experience more varied weather. You might get highs of 80, but you might also get a lot of days of highs in the 60's (lows in the 30's are possible) so packing and pool time is more uncertain in December.

 

[wildernessDad]

This is exactly the same question that I am struggling with. I am leaning towards October because I'll have been to WDW in December this year and last year.

 

[corky441]

what to do what to do...

buy more points and go in Oct and Dec

 

[wink13]

what to do what to do...

buy more points and go in Oct and Dec

NICE!

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

I think MVMCP was nicer as I love the decorations. I went last yr to MNSSHP and MVMCP and I think that the only issue is ur talking about going during Xmas break which personally I think is crazy..lol It's like walking into a tank of paranahs(sp). During holidays U get people coming hoping for this great experience along with thousands of others and u can't get that competeing for the rides, characters etc. On the positive they only sell so many tickets to special events. I wouldn't do the parks except doing Special events. Also I would not go on the weekends...more locals go those days. Anyhow I NEVER travel during the breaks I want my kids to enjoy their experience and they get more out of it when we do our special events and cruise during school yr. Whats a week, if your kids a good student and u know how to balance ur liffe by slipping in an half hour a day to do some work, then airplane....should have no issues. Ok that is my opinion, but just that opinion...everyone has one...LOL

 

[drusba]

You don't say when during the Dec "holiday break" that you intend to go. MVMCP ends Dec 19 partly because the parks thereafter go to very long regular hours.

If you have been there in Oct but not during Christmas break, then you need some fair warning about Christmas break: (a) crowds will be larger than you can imagine, multiply what you saw in October by 3 to 4 times, standby lines for popular rides go to 2 to 3 hours after the early morning (Soarin' has even gone to 3 1/2) and they stay that way all day and evening, fastpasses run out before noon, even Treehouse gets lines over an hour, parks, particularly MK, can get so crowded that they cease allowing new guests to enter; (b) if you don't have restaurant ressies in advance, you will not eat; even the counter service places in the parks get lines of 45 minutes or more during regular eating times; (c) if you like parades, guests start grabbing good viewing places 90 minutes or more before they begin.

Weather can be anywhere from very warm to cold, can have hours long rains or none, i.e., it is variable.

So why Christmas: lots of very impressive Christmas decorations, many of the outdoor shows go to Christmas theme, Osbourne Lights at Studios is fantastic, and even Country Bear goes to a Christmas show. However, don't pick Christmas if you melt in huge crowds and don't go then with the idea that you must do all the rides.

 

[Spear3909]

Just went for the first time at the end of October (10/30-11/4) and have gone the week after Christmas (Christmas break for most). There is no comparison when it comes to crowds. When we arrived on 10/30, we literally walked on to most rides at MK (including Dumbo). Same on 10/31 and MNSSHP was not crowded for rides (long lines for candy). I did miss the holiday atmosphere that you get in December. We are going to try 12/18-12/25 in 2009 as well - hoping the crowds will be a little lighter leading up to the holiday.

 

[figment795]

what to do what to do...

buy more points and go in Oct and Dec

DH and I did just that. We now have points at BLT 175 points and 370 points at SSR. I never thought we would own 545 points.

 

[lizanne]

I been there at Halloween week and while it was nice I do prefer Christmastime. But I've never been there during Christmas week, we go early December.

I know many people who have gone during the week between Christmas and New Years and all of them say the crowds are unbelieveable.

Whatever you decide, hope it's a great time

 

[Inkmahm]

what to do what to do...

buy more points and go in Oct and Dec

That was our solution! We have AKV for our March trips, BWV for October and VWL for December. We do NOT go at Christmas though, we go in early Dec to avoid the crowds

 

[ahalla]

If you want to experience Christmas w/out the huge crowds, we have gone the first two weeks of December when you can enjoy all the Christmas decorations w/out the huge crowds. You will still need to take your kids out of school, but really how much of a vacation will it be when you are fighting with huge crowds?