Planning a ‘last minute’ Christmas Trip

[Hemlock]

We’ve been to Disney World over a dozen times in the Spring (usually March), but have just decided to plan a “last minute” trip to see the Christmas Decor. Our schedule is super flexible - trying to decide on any week in November or early December. We love warm weather and want to see the full Christmas at Disney experience. Looking for advice on dates (lower crowds are always better) or any other advice. Thanks

 

[CarolynFH]

The first couple of weeks of December, more specifically the weeks after Thanksgiving and before schools start getting out for holiday breaks, have some of the lowest park attendance all year. That’s when I’d try to go.

 

[FreeTime]

Don’t count on warm weather though. We have been in December where hats and gloves are needed.

 

[Marthasor]

I would go after Thanksgiving. Crowds the entire month of November are pretty bad in our experience.

 

[Hemlock]

The first couple of weeks of December, more specifically the weeks after Thanksgiving and before schools start getting out for holiday breaks, have some of the lowest park attendance all year. That’s when I’d try to go.

Thanks! Low crowds are a definite plus

 

[Hemlock]

Don’t count on warm weather though. We have been in December where hats and gloves are needed.

This is my worry! We’re coming from Canada so we would appreciate a week of warm weather

 

[Hemlock]

I would go after Thanksgiving. Crowds the entire month of November are pretty bad in our experience.

Good to know!

 

[happily single]

If you are staying on-site I think hotel availability will dictate when you go. We just booked a trip at the beginning of December and there were not a lot of hotels left, unless you want an All Star resort

 

[wdwnomad]

Go after Thanksgiving. This way you will be sure the entire resort is decorated. Epcot doesn't start its festival until the day after Thanksgiving. And the resorts get decorated throughout November finishing up at Thanksgiving.

 

[Disneydawg74]

We’ve been going the first week in December for many years (or the last week in November in years when Thanksgiving isn’t in that week). I wouldn’t characterize these weeks as “low crowd” weeks. Last year it seemed quite crowded.

 

[keishashadow]

OP, I’ve done my share of “bonus/last minute trips”, it’s very doable. Sometimes, more pleasant as no worries of overthinking things for perfection.

We do a “xmas” trip every year, sometimes starting the Friday after Thanksgiving, all the way up to when our APs are black out.

Some things to consider:

1. If flying, look at airfare 1st, it can wildly fluctuate during that time period

2. We do favor the 1st week in December (like many other DVC owners based upon most resorts booking up so fast this year). It seems more crowded once travel resumed a couple of years ago.

3. You can google crowd calendars for estimates. IMO for full holiday activities & generally lower crowds: Look at the 2nd & partial 3rd weeks in December (12/8 to 12/18/24 this year)

3. Look @ your ticket media as to cost. Our sorcerer APs are blacked out starting Dec. 19

 

[pixiedust2u]

If you are staying on-site I think hotel availability will dictate when you go. We just booked a trip at the beginning of December and there were not a lot of hotels left, unless you want an All Star resort

Funny you say this… someone had posted recently that the website was actually being weird and not showing availability for many hotels in early December, but it’s a glitch in MDE and in fact many resorts have availability. The poster had to call to get accurate availability.

 

[Hemlock]

If you are staying on-site I think hotel availability will dictate when you go. We just booked a trip at the beginning of December and there were not a lot of hotels left, unless you want an All Star resort

Thank you, good point! We’re thinking of renting from a DVC owner at Old Key West if there’s availability, but we’re open to stay off site if need be.

 

[Hemlock]

Go after Thanksgiving. This way you will be sure the entire resort is decorated. Epcot doesn't start its festival until the day after Thanksgiving. And the resorts get decorated throughout November finishing up at Thanksgiving.

Good to know! I was not aware of that

 

[Hemlock]

We’ve been going the first week in December for many years (or the last week in November in years when Thanksgiving isn’t in that week). I wouldn’t characterize these weeks as “low crowd” weeks. Last year it seemed quite crowded.

we usually go in March, so I’m hoping November/December will be a little quieter

 

[Hemlock]

OP, I’ve done my share of “bonus/last minute trips”, it’s very doable. Sometimes, more pleasant as no worries of overthinking things for perfection.

We do a “xmas” trip every year, sometimes starting the Friday after Thanksgiving, all the way up to when our APs are black out.

Some things to consider:

1. If flying, look at airfare 1st, it can wildly fluctuate during that time period

2. We do favor the 1st week in December (like many other DVC owners based upon most resorts booking up so fast this year). It seems more crowded once travel resumed a couple of years ago.

3. You can google crowd calendars for estimates. IMO for full holiday activities & generally lower crowds: Look at the 2nd & partial 3rd weeks in December (12/8 to 12/18/24 this year)

3. Look @ your ticket media as to cost. Our sorcerer APs are blacked out starting Dec. 19

Thanks! Lots of good points to consider

 

[Hemlock]

Funny you say this… someone had posted recently that the website was actually being weird and not showing availability for many hotels in early December, but it’s a glitch in MDE and in fact many resorts have availability. The poster had to call to get accurate availability.

Wow! Thanks for posting this

 

[pixiedust2u]

OP as of last week Dolphin/Swan has availability and very good rates. We booked months ago and actually rebooked at half the price! Def helpful to have the perks of staying on property during the holiday season as far as EE and the 7 day window for LLMP.

 

[CarolynFH]

Thank you, good point! We’re thinking of renting from a DVC owner at Old Key West if there’s availability, but we’re open to stay off site if need be.

DVC is very hard to get during the first two weeks of December - those are the two weeks of the year that book up the fastest, due to weather, holiday decorations, low points cost for villas, and lower park crowds. It’s not impossible, especially if you can find a confirmed reservation at one of the DVC rental agencies, but it’s hard especially this close to those dates.

 

[Genie+]

Thank you, good point! We’re thinking of renting from a DVC owner at Old Key West if there’s availability, but we’re open to stay off site if need be.

Unfortunately DVC is 95% booked Nov/Dec 2024. 1BR still has options that’s more than 2 or 3 nights.

For DVC November is going to cost more points than December. Ex- 1BR SSR is 34pts/nt during the week in Nov and 24pts/nt Dec.

For that reason you may have more options for Nov. If you can find something in Dec it’ll be 25%+ less points. Mid-Nov should be lower crowds than early Dec (which seems busier and busier every year). I’d try to avoid the first and last weeks of Nov because early on is Jersey Week followed by Vet’s Day the following Monday 11th, and Thanksgiving Thursday is Nov 28 so Nov 23-30 will be BUSY. The sweet spot in Nov is the 12th through 22nd.

We’ve gone a bunch of times in Dec and Jan and generally only get a day or two during a weeklong trip over 80f high. That’s our temp to hit the pool, just more pleasant all around. We’re doing mid-Nov for the first time this year and I’m hoping the weather will be much better for pool breaks, yet still unlikely to be blazing sun everyday.

For Christmas the holiday decorations start going up days after Halloween. All the resorts and parks should be fully decked out by mid-Nov, except Epcot still runs Food & Wine most of Nov. The full Christmas at Epcot experience starts with Festival of the Holidays on Nov 29th.