***Official November 2014 thread***

[ThereAndBackAgain]

My BFF and I are heading for the World this November! It will be her first trip so I'm excited she'd sharing it with me! Originally it was supposed to be my family with me but they decided that they didn't want to experience the magic.

Staying at the POFQ from the 14-16th and ready to party at MVMCP though.

We'll be taking the Hogwarts Express (Amtrack) overnight to Florida so this is going to be an awesome adventure!

I'm so excited... is everyone else excited???

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

With HS closing at 7pm, it looks like we will have to watch the lights at 6pm and skip Fantasmic. I really hope they extend the hours, but that is our plan for now.

Yay! Hours for Hollywood Studios have been extended from 7pm to 8pm for our vacation. It looks like we will be able to see both Fantasmic and Osborne Lights at our leisure!

 

[DisneyObsessed87]

Yay! Hours for Hollywood Studios have been extended from 7pm to 8pm for our vacation. It looks like we will be able to see both Fantasmic and Osborne Lights at our leisure!

That is great news! I also read that you can enjoy the lights up to an hour after park closing... Does anyone know if this is true?

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

That is great news! I also read that you can enjoy the lights up to an hour after park closing... Does anyone know if this is true?

I haven't done it myself, but many websites and visitors have confirmed that. I know they realize some guests take their time exiting, so it's nice they keep them on for people to see as they leave. For us, I would still try to see them during park hours. However, I think as long as someone is respectful of the fact that workers want to head home eventually, taking a little extra time at the end of the night to enjoy the show is understood!

 

[DisneyObsessed87]

I haven't done it myself, but many websites and visitors have confirmed that. I know they realize some guests take their time exiting, so it's nice they keep them on for people to see as they leave. For us, I would still try to see them during park hours. However, I think as long as someone is respectful of the fact that workers want to head home eventually, taking a little extra time at the end of the night to enjoy the show is understood!

Agreed! Thanks for responding.

 

[First timer]

I've seen this complaint a lot. I'm experiencing difficulty with a few ADRs myself. It'll be our first trip so I have nothing to compare it to, but it does seem way more difficult to get ADRs than it should. One possible reason I've seen suggested is the release of all the Free Dining dates at one time...maybe people are booking reservations for November earlier this year because they were able to book with free dining earlier. I'm hoping people are holding "just in case" reservations they're going to start cancelling. If not, well, I guess we'll have another reason to go back!

Hahahaha!! Yes indeed!!

 

[First timer]

My guess! only a guess!
It's probably still less crowded than other times but because of free dining people are actually making the ADRs. I know in the past we never even bothered to get ADRs. Last year with FD we did. This next trip no FD so we are not planning in advanced and will be just as happy with QS.

When you have the FD it forces you to make the TS ADRs in order to make sure you get what you want for TS. I found FD we ate way more often than we do at home and much more, because it was there. But when we have to pick and chose as we go, we are satisfied with less. If that makes sense.

So when the crowds are bigger the TS probably get plenty of customers but when FD happens they probably get even more customers.

Hope that makes sense, but again that's my guess.

Ah, yes. I see - that does make sense. and you are absolutely right about being forced to make the ADRs.

 

[First timer]

I'm worried about this too. Our trip is 11/11-11/16. The only way I could convince my DH to go was under the premise it would not be as busy as our usual July trips. Now I'm panicking that we will be faced with busy parks again.

I just keep saying to my DH - at least the weather will be manageable - we absolutely can't take the crowds and the heat any more - it's a recipe for disaster!

 

[nogreenworld]

has anyone else noticed the main disney site being unstable a lot recently, every day, seems to be 10-11:00am-ish that i stop being able to get room rates, dining reservations won't load, etc.

when i've chatted support, they have always said they see no issue. just wondering if it's really somehow on my end?

thanks

 

[seebach080]

has anyone else noticed the main disney site being unstable a lot recently, every day, seems to be 10-11:00am-ish that i stop being able to get room rates, dining reservations won't load, etc. when i've chatted support, they have always said they see no issue. just wondering if it's really somehow on my end? thanks

I am having the same issues today.

 

[nogreenworld]

I am having the same issues today.

support just confirmed website glitch. they are "working on it"

 

[SnowWhite607]

So those of you who have been Thanksgiving week before, what are the crowds like? As you can see from my sig line, I have done June and July before so I am not totally unaccustomed to crowds. Just wondering if it will be comparable to summer, or more, or less. What to expect?

 

[mrsap]

So those of you who have been Thanksgiving week before, what are the crowds like? As you can see from my sig line, I have done June and July before so I am not totally unaccustomed to crowds. Just wondering if it will be comparable to summer, or more, or less. What to expect?

They are very crowded. We typically go the week of Thanksgiving and the week after. We usually make the first week Resort week, ADR and DTD week, but last year decided to try a park day. We went to MK on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving... We lasted a whole two hours and left. It was just crazy. We were all getting stressed out. This year we will avoid the parks again that week. Some people don't mind it, but it was too much with our two little ones.

 

[SnowWhite607]

They are very crowded. We typically go the week of Thanksgiving and the week after. We usually make the first week Resort week, ADR and DTD week, but last year decided to try a park day. We went to MK on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving... We lasted a whole two hours and left. It was just crazy. We were all getting stressed out. This year we will avoid the parks again that week. Some people don't mind it, but it was too much with our two little ones.

UGH! That is SO not what I wanted to hear! We will be there the Saturday before until the Friday after.

 

[LimeCordial]

UGH! That is SO not what I wanted to hear! We will be there the Saturday before until the Friday after.

Maybe now that you know what to expect, you can maybe check out crowd calendars to choose the least crowded days for each park, make sure you make a few dining reservations (maybe consider dining at a Disney resort instead of in-park), maybe consider a midday park break. I think the busy season definitely requires some sort of plan....or coping mechanisms

 

[mrsap]

UGH! That is SO not what I wanted to hear! We will be there the Saturday before until the Friday after.

Not sure how many park days you have planned, but I would try to make your park days before the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. It might not be bad for you, but for us, it was very overwhelming. We are used to very short lines and low crowds. Last year, both weeks were crowded.

 

[SnowWhite607]

I consider myself a Disney veteran - 14 trips and counting. So we have the dining (in park and out of park) and I have always followed crowd calendars as to the least crowded parks. Mostly our park days will be Sat, Sun, Mon and Tues and Wed and Thurs will be half days or hopping days. I guess at least I wont have to deal with the summer heat!

 

[BurleyGirl]

UGH! That is SO not what I wanted to hear! We will be there the Saturday before until the Friday after.

You know, the silver lining in all of this is that at least you won't have heat and humidity AND crowds That's what I'm counting on Honestly, DS is only having to miss one day of school by going this week (we'll arrive the night of the 20th and hop over to the Dark Side for their Express Pass on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving), so with those things in mind, I'm going armed with a plan (I'm even considering ordering a touring plan from one of those sites) and some patience and hoping for a great time in my Happy Place!!

 

[nogreenworld]

So those of you who have been Thanksgiving week before, what are the crowds like? As you can see from my sig line, I have done June and July before so I am not totally unaccustomed to crowds. Just wondering if it will be comparable to summer, or more, or less. What to expect?

two years ago we went from the wednesday the week before thanksgiving through the wednesday right before thanksgiving.

weds-saturday were awesome, low crowds, easy access. starting sunday it picked up, and monday and tuesday were really frustrating for us. we only go in low seasons, so for us it was rough. if you've been during the summers, i would second the thought that it'll probably be the same, but just not as hot.

 

[BurleyGirl]

I guess at least I wont have to deal with the summer heat!

Ha! You got there before I did