Week b4 Thanksgiving or Week b4 xmas-which is better week?????

allaboutthekids

Earning My Ears
Joined
May 12, 2014
Messages
5
Help! I have been planning a trip for about 9 months now....main objective is Disney Christmas (my youngest son LOVES holiday decorations!!!) and low crowds! Currently have reservation at FW Cabins with dining, all ADR's made, golf cart rented, for Nov 15-22. Just found out that isn't the best week for DH work...still doable, but week of Dec 13-20 would be better for him!!! I am nervous to change my dates at this point, but willing to if it seems like the right thing to do!! While I know the crowds should be better in Nov, will there be enough decorations up or should we just wait a few more weeks and somehow make the week in Dec work???? Worried about the crowds in Dec being so close to Christmas!!, It will be our first trip without grandparents, just the kids (4 total-10,8,6,and 4!!). Would hate to have this big trip planned and miss all the Christmas magic by a few weeks!! But would also hate to be miserable without any grandparents to help if crowds are too awful!! These are the ONLY 2 weeks that are options!!! (Had a reservation for Nov 30-Dec 6 which would have been ideal, but had to cancel cause that absolutely won't work with his schedule!!!) We will probably be back to Disney in the future, but not sure if it will be around Christmas time...Which week is better???? Is it worth it to wait til Dec, or will the crowds be too miserable????? What to do? What to do???? Thanks in advance for ANY input!!
 
The closer to Christmas the crowds get bigger and bigger, we went over the christmas holidays one year, never again, it was shoulder to shoulder. That was the week before and after a couple of days after christmas.. Early Dec might be ok..
 
Check the crowd calendars to be sure!

Just search "Disney world crowd calendar"

Try for green, yellow if you must and avoid red by all means.
 
I'd keep the Nov trip. Weather and crowds will be better and there will be some Christmas decorations up.
 

Thank you-shoulder to shoulder is exactly what I DON'T want!!! The crowd calendars indicate that the crowds the week before Xmas (not the week of xmas) might be ok! And somewhere during my research this week (Dec15-20) is supposedly the 2nd best week of the year to go (Week after Thanksgiving is #1, which I had, but can't do)!! I am just looking for some personal in put from those that have been!!! Also, no campsites available to FW except tent sites, which to me says CROWDED!!! DH really holding out and crossing his fingers hoping that I agree to switch the dates...so far not convinced!!! Thanks again!!
Anyway know if FW campsites decorated the week before Thanksgiving???
 
This year I am going November 14-23, so same time as you. I know most schools are still in that week, so I am banking on lower crowds. That week before Christmas is when a lot of schools start to let out for Christmas holidays, so the crowds will probably start to increase in a hurry. This is what I based my decision on. I had it narrowed down to week before or after Thanksgiving. Just taking mine out of school for the week.

Just my opinion though, haven't actually been yet.
 
Yes, there will be decorations. We went Nov 5 and there were decorations up.
 
We were there last year Dec 15-22 and loved it. Crowds were great and only got busy that last day, since it was the weekend before Christmas. If you can, bring decorations for the cabin. You can put lights around your deck railing, in the windows, etc. We brought window candles, wreaths with battery lights, a spiral tree with lights and little other things. A set of 100 lights can wrap around the deck railing - there's a plug out on the deck.

If you get a golf cart, you can decorate that too.
 
We have been there the last three year and will be going again this Christmas, We go around December the 12th and leave around 21st. The crowds are not that bad... I know that we leave just before the crowd come. So I think the dates that you will be coming will be just fine.
 
Closer to Christmas the decorations increase. Some are there for long periods of time.
 
Thanks for all the input. I am so conflicted about which dates to go!! If we can talk one set of grandparents into going, i will switch to Dec!! Otherwise I think we will stick with Nov...crowds seem like they will be more manageable if we are on our own!!!
 















Receive up to $1,000 in Onboard Credit and a Gift Basket!
That’s right — when you book your Disney Cruise with Dreams Unlimited Travel, you’ll receive incredible shipboard credits to spend during your vacation!
CLICK HERE







New Posts







DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest DIS Tiktok DIS Twitter DIS Bluesky

Back
Top