Transition from Halloween to Christmas?

[WillowRain]

I had such a great time on my trip, that I really want to go back again this year. Question is, do we do Halloweentime, or wait until Christmas? Some people on a chat group were saying that Halloween is CRAZY busy. But other sites say otherwise, and a good friend of mine says Halloween actually isn't terrible. Now in November, do the Halloween decorations come down overnight and the next day it's Christmas? How does that work? It would be cool to experience both holidays. We have never been for fall time, at least not since they started decorating and doing fun stuff. Which week is the best, with the lowest crowds, and the best rates?

And also, some across the street hotel suggestions. We stayed at the Courtyard, it was amazing, but it's too expensive. Looking 150 range. Thanks for the help!

 

[SMD]

Here's the answer about decorations:
http://www.disboards.com/threads/when-do-the-christmas-lights-go-up.3517913/

 

[bcla]

And also, some across the street hotel suggestions. We stayed at the Courtyard, it was amazing, but it's too expensive. Looking 150 range. Thanks for the help!

I don't know about the Courtyard being amazing. Now that I think of it - which Courtyard? We stayed at the one closer to the convention center.

 

[disneychrista]

None of the decorations go up or down overnight. Halloween will start to go up in late August and Christmas by early/mid-October. For over half of October is Hallowmas with both Halloween & Christmas decorations.

I for one would like to see them scale back Christmastime and not have it begin until Thanksgiving week. They should not start to put up the Christmas decorations until they are taking down the Halloween.

 

[eeyorefanuk]

Sounds like we will miss halloween decorations but hopefully see some christmas .... Going 6 to 11 ish nov

 

[WillowRain]

Which times during these months are lowest crowds?

 

[ImDMous]

Nov 10 - 13 is the Avengers Half Marathon weekend and is also historically the first week of official Christmas happenings; parade, fireworks, overlays on rides. It tends to be a very busy few days. During Sept and Oct you are likely to run into Halloween Party days where you have to pay extra if you want to stay in DL or you can go to CA around 5. I don't think they've released the schedule for those yet.

 

[WillowRain]

So will it be less busy after that marathon? What about the week after Thanksgiving. I hear from people these are 2 relatively slow weeks, so will they have fireworks? I am trying NOT to go on Friday or Saturday this year. We went on a Sat during Christmas and it was the most crowded I have ever seen the place.

 

[WillowRain]

I don't know about the Courtyard being amazing. Now that I think of it - which Courtyard? We stayed at the one closer to the convention center.

The new one across on Harbor. WIth the water park. It was a nice hotel. Bunk beds, Netflix on the TV, spacious for 6 of us. But 300 a night is steep and I am looking to spend about half that. I realize I won't get a brand new clean hotel for that price, but I need something decently clean with 3 small kids.

 

[bcla]

The new one across on Harbor. WIth the water park. It was a nice hotel. Bunk beds, Netflix on the TV, spacious for 6 of us. But 300 a night is steep and I am looking to spend about half that. I realize I won't get a brand new clean hotel for that price, but I need something decently clean with 3 small kids.

OK. Our preferred hotel is the Hilton. We've gotten some great rates there, including $99/night. I've seen it as low as $59/night. That only happens when there isn't a major convention going on.

We've stayed at the Courtyard close to the convention center. It was maybe $130/night. It was OK, but not what I would say superb. The parking situation was a mess, especially when we arrived around midnight. There were several pickups with trailers taking up multiple spaces.

 

[ImDMous]

So will it be less busy after that marathon? What about the week after Thanksgiving. I hear from people these are 2 relatively slow weeks, so will they have fireworks? I am trying NOT to go on Friday or Saturday this year. We went on a Sat during Christmas and it was the most crowded I have ever seen the place.

I've heard the week after Thanksgiving is slow also, but I've never been during that time. Last year the week after the Avengers half was the first week of all the Star Wars stuff (HyperSpace Mt, new Star Tours scene, Launch Bay, etc) so that week was pretty crowded, but obviously that was a special circumstance. We stayed until Monday to see it and it was crazy crowded in Tomorrowland but relatively empty everywhere else so without that, I bet it would be a good week.

 

[SMD]

Nov 10 - 13 is the Avengers Half Marathon weekend and is also historically the first week of official Christmas happenings; parade, fireworks, overlays on rides. It tends to be a very busy few days. During Sept and Oct you are likely to run into Halloween Party days where you have to pay extra if you want to stay in DL or you can go to CA around 5. I don't think they've released the schedule for those yet.

There isn't enough "historical" data on Avengers yet. The 2 years that it's happened, everything listed above expect Jingle Cruise opened prior to Avengers. In 2014, Avengers was only Saturday and Sunday. There's an official IASW lighting ceremony, the parade and fireworks started the next day this year. I don't think that was the timing the year before. I was to say that the parade was already running when the fireworks switch happen.

 

[Wahlee]

I went with my family the week after Thanksgiving (Monday-Friday) back in 2011, and the crowds were fine. Not super empty, but not super crowded, either. The fireworks and parades were scheduled every night, with the Candlelight Processional scheduled for the last few days. It was a great time to be there.

 

[WillowRain]

Ok I've made up my mind. Going to check out the week after Thanksgiving. Going in the parks Monday through Thursday and not dealing with the weekend crowds. Hopefully crowds will be back to normal since 60th will be over.

 

[Lone Star*]

Sounds like we will miss halloween decorations but hopefully see some christmas .... Going 6 to 11 ish nov

We will be there at that time as well! but we leave on the 10th. I'm hoping it won't be too crazy in the beginning of the week.

 

[bigb83]

Ok I've made up my mind. Going to check out the week after Thanksgiving. Going in the parks Monday through Thursday and not dealing with the weekend crowds. Hopefully crowds will be back to normal since 60th will be over.

I've found over the last 3 trips that Monday -Tuesday is always busier than Sunday. Local passes are blocked out on the weekends. Our trips start Saturday night and usually go til wed and I'd say Sunday and wed are close to the same crowd wise. I think the "always busy" on the weekends thing has been driven by the Internet and most out of townersbook their trips during mid week now

 

[WillowRain]

You know, you may be right. Looking at the crowds for this weekend, on July 4th of all things, it's been rather tame. Maybe I will re-think the plan and do Saturday as day 1 this time. We did Saturday as our last day the last 2 trips, and while Christmas Saturday was insane, June saturday was actually quite nice, and we got the most things done that day.

 

[WillowRain]

But does anyone know how busy the Saturday Sunday after Thanksgiving will be?

 

[lalasmama]

But does anyone know how busy the Saturday Sunday after Thanksgiving will be?

Historically, seriously busy.

 

[WillowRain]

I would LOVE to hear from anyone who has been on actual Thanksgiving. From what I hear about today, it's really empty, on a day that's usually a 10. Sooooooo, yeah. Maybe stuff is changing. I would absolutely love to go on Thanksgiving.