October or the week after Thanksgiving

[figment_jii]

We have been to DL in May, June and Mid Sept in the past. I think crazy busy when everything is long lines I guess and hard to move around. I refuse to go to WDW in the summer, spring break and christmas week. But love mid nov there and the first week of dec isn't too bad.

In that case, I think you'll be fine in either mid-November or early-December at DLR.

 

[chickapin parterre]

This is so helpful for me. I am in the same boat for planning next year in 2016. We are going sometime mid sept to dec.

How is the full week before thanksgiving week in crowds?

The one false concept for 2015 is the week after Thanksgiving. Since when does the first week in December become the week aftter Thanksgiving. In 2016 there will be a week after thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is not a set date, but the last Thursday. In 2016, the lost "week after Thanksgiving" returns. And when it returns, it willl be ghost town, just because of th threads like this that don't distinguish the week after Thanksgiving and the first week in December which are the same in 2015. So, when 2015 is over and folks write here that the week after Thankstiving is horrible, guess what happen in 2016 when the WEEK AFTER THANKSGIVING RETURNS. It will empty, and the first two weeks of Dec will also be very light. that missing week returns and 2016 Christmas will be light up to the 18th, then it returns to normal. Christmas 2016 pre holiday week will be grand

 

[jlwhitney]

In that case, I think you'll be fine in either mid-November or early-December at DLR.

Sounds Perfect. I can't wait to go back!

 

[Sherry E]

The one false concept for 2015 is the week after Thanksgiving. Since when does the first week in December become the week aftter Thanksgiving. In 2016 there will be a week after thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is not a set date, but the last Thursday. In 2016, the lost "week after Thanksgiving" returns. And when it returns, it willl be ghost town, just because of th threads like this that don't distinguish the week after Thanksgiving and the first week in December which are the same in 2015. So, when 2015 is over and folks write here that the week after Thankstiving is horrible, guess what happen in 2016 when the WEEK AFTER THANKSGIVING RETURNS. It will empty, and the first two weeks of Dec will also be very light. that missing week returns and 2016 Christmas will be light up to the 18th, then it returns to normal. Christmas 2016 pre holiday week will be grand

The reason why I look at the week after Thanksgiving as the "first week in December" this year, 2015, is because most days out of that week are December days. The majority of that week is December this year. November 30th falls on Monday, and the entire rest of the week is December. If there were only a couple of little stray December days clinging on for dear life at the bottom end of the week, I'd call it a November week. But, yes, technically, the first "full" week in December would be two weeks after Thanksgiving week, with no November days at all.

Nonetheless, as I previously mentioned, lots of people head back to school and work right after Thanksgiving break. So the first couple of weeks after that -- and the first half of December -- are a wee bit less crowded than the second half of December because the first half of December is too early for most people to take a Christmas break.

 

[chickapin parterre]

Thanksgiving of 2017 and 2018 have five Thursdays and the rule is the fourth Thursday. The fourth grader down the street pointed this fourth Thursday rule out to me so I am not as smart as a fourth grader. so the week after Thanksgiving in 2017 and 2018 is the retailer dream come true because the holiday is longer. And that will be the dreams come true for anyone who ventures in Holiday Disneyland 2017 and 2018 week after thanksgiving. That explains why , when going thru my scrapbooks, that Thanksgiving of 2007 (outside of 9/11 Thanksgivings) was very light, the following week took the pressure off of Thanksgiving., because indeed, many folks don't want to celebrate until December. We did thanksgiving of 08 and 09 and then the kid was in high school and that was the end of week long kid visits. though I did do a single day each year the week before Christmas til 13 and returned in Dec the week after Candle in 13 and 14. I am avoiding 2015 because I don't think Dwayne Johnson will be able save the holiday mess of 2015. thank you for your hard work Sherry E.

 

[Sherry E]

Thanksgiving of 2017 and 2018 have five Thursdays and the rule is the fourth Thursday. The fourth grader down the street pointed this fourth Thursday rule out to me so I am not as smart as a fourth grader. so the week after Thanksgiving in 2017 and 2018 is the retailer dream come true because the holiday is longer. And that will be the dreams come true for anyone who ventures in Holiday Disneyland 2017 and 2018 week after thanksgiving. That explains why , when going thru my scrapbooks, that Thanksgiving of 2007 (outside of 9/11 Thanksgivings) was very light, the following week took the pressure off of Thanksgiving., because indeed, many folks don't want to celebrate until December. We did thanksgiving of 08 and 09 and then the kid was in high school and that was the end of week long kid visits. though I did do a single day each year the week before Christmas til 13 and returned in Dec the week after Candle in 13 and 14. I am avoiding 2015 because I don't think Dwayne Johnson will be able save the holiday mess of 2015. thank you for your hard work Sherry E.

You're welcome!

Again, I was only referring to this year -- I'm not looking ahead to 2017 and 2018. I am trying to simplify the whole explanation -- regardless of what the rule is -- because this year, the week after Thanksgiving week is mostly December, and I tend to think that when people ask about the week after Thanksgiving this year, they will think of that week as being a December week... this year. Next year, 2017 and 2018 are another scenario. I am only referring to this year, as the OP of this thread is going to DLR this year.

 

[theostwalts]

So based on the last couple of posts, should I be looking at other weeks in November? I really don't have any set dates so I can be flexible. In looking at the first three weeks of November only the second week has a holiday (Veteran's Day which falls on Wednesday the 11th).

 

[chickapin parterre]

So, if you truly visited WDW the week after thanksgiving and not the first week in Dec and you are looking for those low crowds, then weeks prior to Thanksgiving would be great. A poster here once shared that they didn't celebrate Christmas until after thanksgiving, which is silly, because there is no set date for thanksgivng. But thousands of folks hold that Christmas after Thanksgivng as a mantra, so all those days prior to Thanksgiving are empty because of the Christmas traditionalist and not visiting till the first week of dec. . This is why retailers hustle christmas before Turkey day. october is now an event at Disneyland, crowded, especially as the day approaches. So this also makes November empty, as halloween locals have poured into the park , as well as folks like ourselves who like the Halloween opportunities

 

[Sherry E]

So based on the last couple of posts, should I be looking at other weeks in November? I really don't have any set dates so I can be flexible. In looking at the first three weeks of November only the second week has a holiday (Veteran's Day which falls on Wednesday the 11th).

I sill think the week after Thanksgiving is fine because lots of people have cleared out and gone back to work and school, and it is still too early for Christmas break. I go in early December -- which, this year, starts during the week after Thanksgiving -- so I have no problem recommending that time. It won't be slow and quiet, but it won't be the madhouse that it would be later in December.

 

[figment_jii]

Personally, I would either aim for the full week before Thanksgiving (the one that starts with the Avenger's Marathon weekend) or the week after Thanksgiving. I think either would be fine and neither will be as busy as the weeks in mid-to-late December. I've gone the full week before Thanksgiving in the past and while the weekends are busy, the weekdays were pretty manageable. I think the weekends are going to be busy regardless of when you go once the holiday season starts anyway. I tend to think the later into November you go, the better chance you will have at seeing most/all of the holiday overlays, decor, and offerings (e.g., last year the GCH gingerbread house was still being built the week before Thanksgiving).

 

[theostwalts]

Thanks guys! DL planning is all new to me. Since we will be flying out from the east coast, I figure we will fly in on Saturday and do the parks Monday through Friday.