Planning wayyyyy ahead....

[ceejanerun]

Looking to plan a trip in late 2016 - know, I know...a long time away, but there is SO much to plan for! I can't decide between mid-November or very early December so I have a couple of questions:

1) Crowds - is there a noticeable difference between the crowds in mid-November vs early December? We have visited many times but always in January. The reasons for Nov vs Dec - my granddaughter will turn 5 on November 18 (would be a lovely treat to celebrate it in WDw). Then again, i would love to see everything decorated for Christmas and I believe everything would be in place by early December.

2) Temperatures - we're used to cooler weather on our visits (it's balmy in comparison to our Canadian winters). Is there a noticeable difference going in mid Nov., vs. early Dec., vs. January? We've never really used the pools but it would be nice if November is a little warmer.

3) Having raised two sons, I am completely lost as to what a 5 year old girl might enjoy. I read about the Perfectly Princess Tea party at the GF which sounds like it would be fun to try. I know about BBB. Anything else that is a "not to be missed" with a princess fan?!

 

[hakepb]

The week before Thanksgiving week is a natural "low time" between F&W and Thanksgiving week. MVMCP and Osborne Lights have been going by then, and resort decorations are being installed.
Early December would get you all complete decorations and the Candelite Processional.
EasyWDW crowd calanders look similiar this year for Early Dec or the week before Thanksgiving Week.

Fromy experience, the 3rd week of November can be an entire week of lows in the upper 30's/40's to highs in the 60's
Or it might be an entire week of lows in the 60's and highs in the 80's.
December, like your January trips can vary wildly, too. Most people that travel a week to WDW from Nov-March get several decent swimming afternoons in WDW's heated pools, but not all weeks cooperate.

 

[disnut8]

Just to note - while most of the Christmas decorations will be up the week before Thanksgiving, Epcot does not start the Candlelight Procession or the holiday storytellers or the holiday tag for Illuminations until the day after Thanksgiving.

OP - you can still celebrate your granddaughter's birthday the first week in December. She'll be five and some days, that's the only difference.

 

[glohoffman]

We are also planning way ahead for a late 2016 trip! Its the best way to find the best deals IMO! I have two girls...and one is princess obsessed! She was 5 on her first trip (she is 6 now and will be 7 on our december trip) and a princess meal is a must! It allows you to meet the main girls without standing in line! We did CRT last year and are doing Akershus in two weeks, as well as 1900 Park Fare. We will do CRT again in December because her cousin will be there on her first trip, and she will be 5! Its so magical to see their faces light up as they walk up the stairs into the castle!!!
We never did BBB because i am a licensed cosmetologist and she always wants me to do it instead, but I have always thought it looks fun!
I would chose December if I were you, only because I would feel more guaranteed to see the decorations, and you could hit a nice low crowd period. We went a week after my daughters 5th birthday last year, and she still very much felt like it was her birthday trip!

 

[JimmyBean42]

It's actually not that way ahead you are planning. We've gone in early December (week after Thanksgiving) and are going this year the week before Thanksgiving. While the first week in Dec. was very slow about 5 year years ago, we found that it was getting more crowded around 2 years ago. So crowds are catching on. Meanwhile, we booked this year for the week before Thanksgiving (between Jersey week and Thanksgiving) and it seems like it will be pretty crowded as well. All hotels seems fully booked (my sister tried to add a one night stay and couldn't book a single place) and restaurant reservations were very tough, even at 180 days. This may have to do with it being a free dining week, but crowd calendar sites said it would be a mid-level to lower-mid level crowd week. Doesn't seem that way to me. Hope I'm wrong. Either way it is WONDERFUL time of year to go and the decorations are phenomenal. For a 5 year old girl there are a ton of things to do. Character dining at Akerhaus or Cinderella's Castle, Bippity Boppity Boutique, all the Mickey / Minnie stuff, Sofia, Doc, and all the great shows. I feel it's a little more tailored to a 5 year old girl than a 5 year old boy but either way your family will have a great time.

 

[hskaggs11]

When we went the week before Thanksgiving week last year, all of MK was decorated, there were big trees in all of the resorts, and the Deluxes were all decorated for Christmas. Osborne lights were in full swing, and most everywhere we went it was Christmas. Unless you are planning on doing Candlelight Processional, I think you will be able to see most everything Christmas themed that you want. Weather last year was weird, after the first day, it turned cold. Cold enough to need something more than the lightweight thin hoodies we brought "just in case" I remember doing world showcase and it being 45degrees(f)at noon! It did warm up some, but most days it hovered in the low 60's, dropping to mid 50's in the evenings. I would have loved the weather if we were more prepared! I really liked the crowd level that year, it seems less busy than normal. Not low, but it didn't feel crowded to me.

 

[wdwfanva]

It's not unusual for me to plan our trips a year ahead !!! I have even been known to start planning a future trip when I'm at WDW !!!

 

[angierae]

I'm already in full swing of planning my October 2016 trip. You're fine.

 

[skipfierce]

I have already begun our Nov. 2016 planning. Well....I start the min I get on the bus back to the airport.

 

[BudgieMama]

That doesn't sound early! We booked in April for August 2016. Happy planning!

 

[RustManFan]

It has been close to 2 weeks since I made my room only reservations for 8 nights beginning on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving

When we went in 2nd week in November 2009 the parks already had their trees and many decorations but the resorts were not started yet. And I got some wonderful Christmas ornaments while the supply was still very plentiful! We did the first night of Osborne Lights around November 9th or 10th.

 

[wdwrich]

We plan well in advance too. I've been known to call at the 499-day mark to reserve a room.

 

[ceejanerun]

thank you all for your input!