Two date ranges-help me decide

[CeeCee101]

So an oldie but a newbie, used to go to WDW all the time but haven’t been in 10+ years and planning now for a trip. Boomer couple. Several times we used to go right after Thanksgiving like starting the Tuesday after. We also went once during late January. Been all different times of the year but looking for lower crowd times. We’re currently looking at the week after Thanksgiving or end of January. DH loves the times we have done immediately after Thanksgiving because lower crowds but still very festive. I am worried about crowds though. I have been reading trip reports and am amazed how crowded it seemed this past year even in late January. is this the new normal from pent up demand? Also we used to get good rates that week right after Thanksgiving but stuff I have been reading is saying just forget getting any discounts for all of December.
What to do? Thought from anyone who has been there the past year? DH def would prefer week after Thanksgiving but NOT if it is going to look like Spring Break. Thanks

 

[Marionnette]

So an oldie but a newbie, used to go to WDW all the time but haven’t been in 10+ years and planning now for a trip. Boomer couple. Several times we used to go right after Thanksgiving like starting the Tuesday after. We also went once during late January. Been all different times of the year but looking for lower crowd times. We’re currently looking at the week after Thanksgiving or end of January. DH loves the times we have done immediately after Thanksgiving because lower crowds but still very festive. I am worried about crowds though. I have been reading trip reports and am amazed how crowded it seemed this past year even in late January. is this the new normal from pent up demand? Also we used to get good rates that week right after Thanksgiving but stuff I have been reading is saying just forget getting any discounts for all of December.
What to do? Thought from anyone who has been there the past year? DH def would prefer week after Thanksgiving but NOT if it is going to look like Spring Break. Thanks

The week after Thanksgiving is no longer a low-crowd period. We were there this past year. It was the most crowded we have seen it in all of the years we have gone at that time.

 

[DeeBee3]

I would give late January more of a thought - except MLK weekend. I don't think there are many slow times anymore. Ever think of mid-September?

 

[windcriesamy]

I've never been at either time of year, so take this with a grain of salt: I would choose January. I don't know that there's much of a difference in crowd levels between your two options, but I'm a big fan of the festivals and Festival of the Arts looks like such a fun time! I would choose January based on that alone.

 

[CeeCee101]

Ok December seems out. The Festival of Arts does look interesting. We would likely go right after MLK weekend and before Prez Day weekend so that late January period.

 

[CeeCee101]

We’ve done September before and loved it BUT this year due to other commitments can’t go before December. So maybe late January is our time?

 

[ars0525]

Late January (after MLK week) or very early February may be your best bet crowd wise. The Art festival at Epcot is interesting.

You don't want to have the school holidays or Princess race weekend crowds.

Just remember to bring some layers. This year that last January weekend was like 40's. Or it could be raging hot next year. lol

 

[Kelseyblue]

So an oldie but a newbie, used to go to WDW all the time but haven’t been in 10+ years and planning now for a trip. Boomer couple. Several times we used to go right after Thanksgiving like starting the Tuesday after. We also went once during late January. Been all different times of the year but looking for lower crowd times. We’re currently looking at the week after Thanksgiving or end of January. DH loves the times we have done immediately after Thanksgiving because lower crowds but still very festive. I am worried about crowds though. I have been reading trip reports and am amazed how crowded it seemed this past year even in late January. is this the new normal from pent up demand? Also we used to get good rates that week right after Thanksgiving but stuff I have been reading is saying just forget getting any discounts for all of December.
What to do? Thought from anyone who has been there the past year? DH def would prefer week after Thanksgiving but NOT if it is going to look like Spring Break. Thanks

I would go late January. That is when we went this year, and we really enjoyed it. We love the Festival of the Arts at Epcot.

 

[CeeCee101]

Ok another wrinkle: I can book a great rate with Swan/Dolphin using points and money for the week BEFORE Thanksgiving. When do they start decorating for the holidays? Would this also be an ok time to go?

 

[Marionnette]

Ok another wrinkle: I can book a great rate with Swan/Dolphin using points and money for the week BEFORE Thanksgiving. When do they start decorating for the holidays? Would this also be an ok time to go?

The week before Thanksgiving as in November 13 - 20? Moderately crowded. Most holiday decorations will be up but Epcot will still be doing F&W. Some hotels may still be in the process of decorating.

If you're talking about Thanksgiving Week (Nov. 20 - 27) itself, expect increasingly crowded parks as the week goes on. By mid-week it will be VERY crowded. However, all decorations will be up and the Candlelight Processional and Festival of the Holidays at Epcot should begin on Thanksgiving itself.

 

[Her Dotness]

We ordinarily have gone that week before Thanksgiving week.

Great time for seeing most decorations as Marionnette indicated. The parks will be very close to fully decorated by then if not already done.

However, not all resorts will be finished decorating until the weekend before Thanksgiving. I always want to see the GF's spectacular decorations and haven't gotten to some years because we usually leave Saturday morning. Occasionally, those went up on Wednesday or Thursday overnight, other years not until after we were gone.

You will miss virtually all special events and activities by going then. So, if experiencing those is your aim, you'll need to plan a stay after Thanksgiving.

 

[CeeCee101]

We were looking at like the 15th to 22, Thanksgiving on 24th. This also has the benefit of being the week of DH’s birthday. Also he really wants to do the new Cirque show (we are Cirque nuts and saw La Nouba every time we were at WDW) and their website says the current show runs until 12/31. We weren’t sure if they go dark in January. Argh! This is all such a conundrum! But that’s what planning is all about. Thanks for all the help

 

[RoseGold]

I went the first week of December 2021, never again. I have never seen the parks so crowded. I'd definitely do January. Watch for the marathon and MLK.