October vs December

[charmedlife3517]

Hello All. We are planning our next Disney World vacation and I am having a hard time deciding if we should go the first week of October or the first week of December. Any advice on which I should choose? Pros and Cons? I am worried about the heat in the end of September beginning of October. Is it seriously hot at that time? How are the crowds? TIA

 

[OatsZoo]

I have been at the end of September, it is not crazy hot, but it is hot. December has known to be cooler and could get cold at night. Also October is hurricane season so you could get rain.

October you can do the Halloween party but December has the Christmas party too.

I can't speak for crowds in December but they are great and quite low at the end of September.

 

[figment_jii]

I also vote for October because, despite the weather, you have MNSSHP (Halloween party) and F&W festival at Epcot. F&W is my favorite event at Disney World. There are lots of yummy foods to try and cooking demos to attend. The weekday crowds are pretty low, but weekends can be busy at Epcot. The weather can be changeable, but is generally warm/hot and humid.

Early December is also a lot of fun. The weather is generally good (cool, dry) and the crowds are lower. There are lots of holiday decorations to see at the parks and resorts. The MVMCP is also fun (but I like MNSSHP better).

 

[charmedlife3517]

Thanks for the input. We have been in October before but it was the last week of October right before Halloween. I guess I should mention that I will not go to the Halloween party or the Christmas party. My main concern is crowds and temperature.

 

[figment_jii]

Thanks for the input. We have been in October before but it was the last week of October right before Halloween. I guess I should mention that I will not go to the Halloween party or the Christmas party. My main concern is crowds and temperature.

Then I would probably also lean towards Decemeber. I don't think that the crowds are markedly different between the two periods, but the weather can be...December is cooler (can be cold) and less humid. So, if your main metrics are crowds and temperatures, Decemeber has the edge to me.

 

[DWillowBay]

Given the items of importance to you, I would have to vote for December. I have been there in both months, so I have pros and cons for both. But December definitely brings lower temps and the crowds, at least during the year I was there in early December, were a bit lower that those in October. No matter, you'll have a marvelous time with either the decorations of Fall or Winter and both are delightful. Enjoy!

 

[kittyab]

We went this past November around Veteran's Day. The weather was perfect. We were able to go to the Xmas Party.

We are thinking on our next visit to go the last week of October thru the first week of November so our DD can experience the Halloween Party.

 

[RAD]

I vote December. We were there this December 4-7 and weather was great, sunny every day with temps in the low 80's. But then again we've been there other years and CM's are walking around with gloves on.

But I'd go no matter what, just seeing all the holiday decorations up in the parks and resorts make it worth it.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Crowds and temps will be MUCH better the first week of December than anytime in October. Not even close.

 

[charmedlife3517]

Thanks everybody! I think we are leaning more towards the beginning of December now or possibly the week of veterans day. I really want to see the Christmas decorations and I have already been during the Halloween decorations. I have to say, I am really going to miss the food and wine festival

 

[purple figment]

If you want to see the Christmas decorations and enjoy all of the Christmas activities, the first week in December would be better than Veterans Day week. The official start of the holiday season is the day after Thanksgiving, so until then some activities such as the Candlelight Processional and Epcot Storytellers won't start. MK and DHS are the first parks to be decorated in time for the start of the MVMCP and Osborne Lights early in November, but the resorts are decorated gradually throughout November. The gingerbread house in the GF might not be finished by the end of Veterans Day week. The only thing you'll probably miss is the big Christmas tree in Town Square which is not put up until after the filming of the Christmas parade.