Trying to decide what dates to go Nov or Dec 2012

[jennjenn527]

I am trying to figure out the best dates to go. I had my mind set on the week after Thanksgiving Nov 24-Dec 2 but after looking at Touringplans.com and seeing the crowd calendar I am going back and forth between those dates and Nov 12-19th or Dec 9-16th...Does anybody have any suggestions? I am hoping for free dining and lowest possible crowds. I went in 2006 the week after Thanksgiving and loved it but have heard that it is more crowded now during that time. Thanks for any help or comments.

 

[njmom47]

I am trying to figure out the best dates to go. I had my mind set on the week after Thanksgiving Nov 24-Dec 2 but after looking at Touringplans.com and seeing the crowd calendar I am going back and forth between those dates and Nov 12-19th or Dec 9-16th...Does anybody have any suggestions? I am hoping for free dining and lowest possible crowds. I went in 2006 the week after Thanksgiving and loved it but have heard that it is more crowded now during that time. Thanks for any help or comments.

Not sure when Pop Warner will be there exactly, but it should be the first full week of December. We stayed at POR when my dd and I went for Pop Warner. Nov 12 should be after Jersey Week, so that should be ok (sorry, had to mention Jersey Week b/c that's where I'm from! )

 

[nilseks]

We went during Pop Warner week this past December and it was GREAT. Low crowds, never saw any of the teams except on the plane. Weather was perfect. We will definitely go again at that time.

 

[Marionnette]

I am trying to figure out the best dates to go. I had my mind set on the week after Thanksgiving Nov 24-Dec 2 but after looking at Touringplans.com and seeing the crowd calendar I am going back and forth between those dates and Nov 12-19th or Dec 9-16th...Does anybody have any suggestions? I am hoping for free dining and lowest possible crowds. I went in 2006 the week after Thanksgiving and loved it but have heard that it is more crowded now during that time. Thanks for any help or comments.

Pop Warner groups can only be a factor at the value resorts. They tend to move about in packs, so if you happen to hit the pools or the food court at the same time as them, you're in for a wait. They also have a reputation for being rather noisy. I'm not sure if they deserve that rep or not but if you're planning to stay at a value resort, avoid the week following Thanksgiving.

And Disney also tapes the Christmas parade at the MK on the first weekend of December. It's usually done in stages on Friday and Saturday with Sunday set as the rain date. It pretty much closes down Main St. during the taping with crowds being directed around the area.

Both time periods are considered to be "fall season". So room rates will be about the same. Weather in December can be cooler than in early November. Holiday decorations begin to go up as soon as the Halloween ones come down. But you won't see the parks and hotels fully decorated until Thanksgiving and later. The MK tree in Town Square and the garlands that span Main St. do not go up until after the parade has been filmed. They block the camera angles.

I've been there the first week of December a few times and I've done mid-November twice. The crowds were actually lighter in December but it was definitely more crowded in 2009 than it had been during previous visits at the same time.