The lesser of two evils - please help me choose Easter or Thanksgiving

[lindsmom]

Finally getting back on board planning our next trip. I realize this is EARLY. But I process things better this way. Also we are looking at two evil times to go so we will need to book places earlier than average.

We HAVE to go when my daughter will miss the least amount of High School. We don't want to go during February vacation because it would still be too cold for pools.

Looking at crowd levels and temperatures (for swimming outside), if you HAD to choose between either Easter week 2017 (from good friday through the following Saturday) or Thanksgiving 2016 or 2017 (from Friday before through the Saturday after Thanksgiving), which would you choose? Cost is less of a concern because we are planning far enough out that we will save for it either way.

Would be staying off property so EMH are moot.

 

[lauradis]

The only difference would be flight cost, and Thanksgiving time has Xmas deco up.

 

[Jarmo]

Looking at a few crowd calenders for the last couple years, it seems like you can expect (very) slightly lower crowds and slightly warmer temperatures for Thanksgiving.

I'm in NY so I'd pick November just to get out of the cold

 

[Alesia]

Thanksgiving isn't nearly as busy as Easter.

 

[LaurenT]

I'd do Thanksgiving. Holiday decor is up and you get out of having to have dinner with the whole family

 

[momof2n2]

Hmmmm - I'd pick Easter, but with the caveat that I haven't done either.

My sole November trip (early Nov) was too cold for my blood. We did not swim.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

I'd pick easter, simply to see everything blooming and get an early taste of spring. Our winters are miserable and drag on forever, so by Easter I am ready for some warmth and sunshine. If I went at Thanksgiving it wouldn't be nearly as refreshing, since I haven't had time to grow weary of the snow. We went early December 2014 and the Temps were in the 60's and it misted rain most of the trip. Not quite the warm, Florida Vacation we had hoped for.

Crowd levels don't bother us though. We are able to have a good trip no matter the crowd level.

 

[ariane37]

I'd do Thanksgiving. Holiday decor is up and you get out of having to have dinner with the whole family

I proudly admit these are the 2 main reasons we're going this Thanksgiving !! Long story but I had to say that We went down on Thanksgiving day once and stayed for 10 days after and loved seeing all the holiday décor/EPCOT storytellers/CP. However swimming weather is hit or miss, we had a couple days in the low 70's but most days were low-mid 60's and very windy. Nights were very chilly. I know others have reported nice warm temps in late Nov. so it really varies. Think there's a better chance for swimming at Easter time depending on how early or late it falls.
However as Alesia said, Easter is typically busier than Thanksgiving.......maybe think about which you'd prefer, the chance for slightly warmer weather or slightly lower crowds?

 

[staceyrhood]

Thanksgiving for sure Easter is sooooooo....... much busier. And really both times can be iffy on weather. Last year is was cold and raining on Easter (late April) this year it was warm and beautiful. Thanksgiving this past year was freezing, but the year year we were swimming.

 

[Figmentmommy]

I would pick Thanksgiving over Easter. Please know that the weather in November can be cooler than expected. With that being said - we've only ever had warm weather (shorts & swimming) on our November trips, but others have reported colder temperatures - so it can fluctuate.
I am still a huge Disney in November fan. It's our favorite time of year to visit!

 

[hakepb]

I was "lucky enough" to get this pre-Thanksgiving week where it never got above 68 and got down to 39:
http://www.wunderground.com/history...statename=&reqdb.zip=&reqdb.magic=&reqdb.wmo=

(Although it actually rose above 70 the Fri after Thanksgiving)

I'd still choose Thanksgiving. The unseasonably cold works a little more with Christmas decor, and in 2009 it was a great lows in the 60's and highs in the 80's...

 

[scrapquitler]

Thanksgiving for sure.

 

[skuttle]

We've done both. Thanksgiving week a few years ago then Easter this year. If I had to pick one, I think I'd pick to go for Easter again. Easter was much more crowded than Thanksgiving week, I will admit. However, we took advantage of early EMH and planned our FPs for late afternoon/early evening and it worked great. We road everything we wanted to, some multiple times. We LOVED flower and garden at Epcot, and DH and I especially enjoyed the food booths! We also enjoyed being able to swim.

The last time we went for Thanksgiving, we wore shorts for half the week and jeans/jackets the other half. Swimming wasn't an option (at least not for us being from Louisiana where 50 degrees is cold!).

I know the weather can be iffy for both (just like it is here in Louisiana), but I think you have a better chance of warmer weather for easter than for thanksgiving.

 

[kathy884]

I don't know how much time off you have around Thanksgiving and how flexible you are for your flight days, but OMG if you have to fly down on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and fly back on that Sunday, I find that flights run about double what I usually pay for spring break flights. My extended family is going to be down the full week of Thanksgiving. They asked if we'd like to join them. After looking at flights I decided to just send my son down and DH and I will stay home. Call me cheap, but I just couldn't stomach the flight costs for that mini trip on top of super crowded parks when I can usually go for 1/2 the price. I would like to see everyone, but I'll do that at another time during a less busy and less expensive travel period. // My brother is doing his portion of the trip Friday to Friday and got a good deal on air. Other family members are flying back on the Monday or Tuesday after Thanksgiving too and saving beaucoup bucks. DS, though, has zero flexibility due to his school schedule.

 

[Chitownpeeps91]

With Easter it depends when it falls for instance our Springbreak always is the last Monday in March. This year that was the week before Easter.

So depending when is Easter it might be less crowded (say when Easter is mid April)

Our weather was perfect except for Good Friday when I think it was about 90. At least it felt that hot.

Yes it was crowded & fast pass plus doesn't help but Spring at WDW is very pretty & a great break from a long winter.

 

[lindsmom]

With Easter it depends when it falls for instance our Springbreak always is the last Monday in March.

So depending when is Easter it might be less crowded (say when Easter is mid April)

Yes, I have looked it up for 2017 - Easter is on the 16th, and my daughter's april break is the 3rd full week each year, which will be 17th - 21st. When I looked it up, I was really bummed because we have gone during F&G in April and it was one of the best vacations.

Thanks so much for everyone's input!

I think we will go with Thanksgiving - we will get to see Xmas decorations, it might be slightly less crowded, and like many have mentioned it releases the pressure of a huge family dinner! Whoo hoo!

Also, I realized DH and I will be celebrating our 20th anniversary in May 2017, so we'll save that time for just Mom and Dad - maybe a long weekend for just us to WDW?! LOL!

 

[Kathryn777]

I thought in general Orlando over Easter was insanely busy. We did meals but no parks and getting around was crazy!! We did thanksgiving 4 years ish ago and it wasn't nearly as bad

 

[itchin2go]

We went Thanksgiving week of 2014. It wasn't nearly as crowded as I thought it would be. I will say that I wasn't WOWED by Christmas decorations, but they were a cool added bonus. Osborne Lights was aMAZing. It was cool to be somewhere other than home on Thanksgiving. Haven't been Easter week, but having read some negative crowd reports on these boards, I would go with Thanksgiving.

 

[saraheli]

We went Sat before thanksgiving through tues before thanksgiving this year and thought it was a great time to go. It wasn't hot at all, decorations were up which was really nice, and ofcourse we loved the Osborne Lights.

 

[mickeymom629]

I have never gone during Thanksgiving, but we have done spring break (5 times!). One year, we also went the Christmas/NYE break before and it was warmer during the Christmas trip, and less crowded. With a good touring plan, you can manage the crowds. Hollywood Studios always seems to feel the most crowded, imo. I think the weather is hit or miss anytime.