October-November OR November-December?

[VailaTigger]

Hi folks! I've not been on here for a long time, although I do lurk from time to time and read a few things.

We have the unexpected chance for a WDW trip later this year, and I've been looking into when the 'quiet' park crowd levels are, but having never been at these times before we're struggling with which one to choose. We are now 90% sure it's going to happen. I'm sure all you lovely people will help! Any comments / advice welcomed.

Last 2 weeks in October / early November - probably CSR
Pros - weather potentially still quite warm, Halloween things
Cons - no Xmas things
Reason for resort choice - seems best out of the options available (ASSp - good price but no rooms renovated / CBR - never been, but see reviews saying it's just a bit 'meh' / CSR - bit more expensive, but could ask for a newly renovated room / POR - love it but only royal rooms available and getting too pricey / AKL - love it but just too pricey)

Last week in November / first week in December - probably POR
Pros - lots of Xmas things
Cons - weather potentially much colder
Reason for resort choice - seems best out of the options available (ASMu - good price but I don't think the rooms will be renovated / ASMov - would have been our first choice, great price, newly renovated rooms, BUT Pop Warner teenagers!! (don't need to say any more) / CSR - did think about this for the same reasons as the October trip above, but still concerned about Pop Warner / POR - love this resort, and virtually same price as CSR in October so happy with that / AKL - love it but starting to creep into silly money again)

Which would get your vote?
Thank you!

 

[wilma-bride]

We used to love the last couple of weeks in October as we used to go over half term. The weather was lovely - warm but not as humid as summer - and the crowds were low. I don't think WDW really has any low crowd times nowadays, the parks always seem to be busy.

My daughter and I are actually going the end of November (just after Thanksgiving), because we really want to see the Christmas decorations (and attend MVMCP) but want to avoid the Christmas crowds over the actual Christmas/New Year period. Our friends that we are going with have told us they go most years, around this time and it can be chilly but still warm enough during the day for t-shirts.

Have you been at either of those times before? If so, I would choose the time you haven't travelled - i.e. if you have been for Halloween, do November and if you have been in Nov/Dec, do October.

 

[VailaTigger]

Thanks for your input!
Never been at either of those times before, hence the indecision! Sounds like October could be lovely - but like you I think my other half would like to see the Christmas decorations (and that's the time we'd picked to go too, after Thanksgiving)
Oh decisions! I'm no good at this.

 

[disneyholic family]

as already mentioned, there are no slow times at WDW anymore, so pick the decorations you want to see....
i like both,.....both times are fun...
both times can actually be cool/cold (depends on the silliness of mother nature....my sister, who lives in detroit, woke up to snow all over her lawn..on april 4th??????? mother nature must be smoking something for sure)..

there is the possibility that end of november/early december will be slightly less crowds, but with the greater potential for colder weather..
though it can also be very comfortable weather then as well...

so i haven't been any help have i?

 

[wilma-bride]

so i haven't been any help have i?

Neither of us have

 

[godders]

I've been at both times.
I would definitely choose November/December. Christmas decorations and really low crowds after Thanksgiving. The weather was a good 22-26 degrees during the day and could get wear flip flops, shorts and a jumper in the evenings. It was great!
October was warmer but busier and while I prefer the Halloween party to the Christmas party, give me quieter times any day!

 

[VailaTigger]

We're still undecided! Thank you all for your input though, it's all valuable and much appreciated.
Maybe leaning towards November / December though... and hoping that Mother Nature gets her act together by then, she's definitely dropped the ball this winter

Next question - are the Pop Warner teenagers as much of an issue as I've been led to believe reading other things on the web?

 

[godders]

Completely depends on where you stay. If you're at the All-Stars then they are more likely to be an issue. If you're at Port Orleans French Quarter then you may notice them a bit in the parks but they won't be a problem.
I crossed paths with them at Coronado Springs but as I was in the parks all day it wasn't a problem.

 

[VailaTigger]

Thank you!

Best to avoid the All Stars then?

 

[godders]

If you decide on Nov/Dec yep avoid the values the first week of December, any other time All-Stars are fine.

 

[UKDEB]

To some extent you're at the mercy of the vagaries of the weather whenever you go, but we've always been very lucky during the first half of November—little rain, not too hot and humid during the day and pleasantly warm at night—but that's by no means a given. Your first option would see you catching the tail end of the International Food and Wine Festival at Epcot. If you've never done it before, I'd almost go as far as to say it's a not-to-be-missed event, but it does make Epcot very busy and there's also a RunDisney event during the first weekend of November centred around the IF&WF (and, thus, Epcot).

 

[VailaTigger]

Thank you all again! Super help.

Hubby is keen on doing the Xmas things, so we’ve plumped for Nov / Dec this time.

We’ll avoid the values!