Week before thanksgiving or Dec??

[NicholeB630]

The crowd levels on easywdw for the week before thanksgiving are really low! We are going Dec 7th-14th. Which in the past show a 4 most of the week. Is there a huge crowd difference between a 2/3 and a 4? I know we would miss Christmas party going in Nov but is the lower crowds worth it?

 

[gonnago]

There isn't going to be a huge difference between a 2/3 or a 4 crowd level but there is a difference but not like between a 2/3 to lets say an 7/8.

Attendance levels have been increasing steadily during what use to be considered low levels so that is something you may want to keep in mind.I can only guess that the Thanksgiving crowds would start rolling in the weekend before so that may give you higher crowd levels. The 2nd week of Dec use to be low crowd levels but as previously stated they have been increasing each year it seems.

Sorry I have no answer for you since it is up to you when you would like to go but hopefully some of the more knowledgeable Dis'ers will have some advice for you.I have been there the 2nd week of nov and the week after Thanksgiving the trips were 2 years apart but the 2nd week of Nov was lower crowd levels.
Whatever you decide hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[yeheyprincex2]

we have been to Disney twice in December 2009 and 2012. DEC 2012 had a larger crowd level and we saw the difference. Last year we went November 13-20 and the crowds were totally managble and less crowded than Dec2012.

I think both option are good times to go but if you want to see all the Christmas decorations and enjoy the WS christmas entertainment you will want to go in December.

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

The crowd levels on easywdw for the week before thanksgiving are really low! We are going Dec 7th-14th. Which in the past show a 4 most of the week. Is there a huge crowd difference between a 2/3 and a 4? I know we would miss Christmas party going in Nov but is the lower crowds worth it?

You would not miss the Christmas parties They start in early November and when tracking my app over the past year the lightest wait times I have seen was the week before Thanksgiving. One of my Co workers and I were tracking it and now that is the week she has booked for.

I think it would be the perfect week to go. I have also been at the time you are going in Dec and while temps were pretty chilly we had Epcot practically to ourselves during the day time hours.

Both weeks would be good, but I think the week before Thanksgiving you could practically walk on anything without a wait.

We are headed down on Nov 1st for Food and Wine so it will be a bit crazy then, but we love it!!!!

 

[lahobbs4]

We are going the week before Thanksgiving and yes, the Christmas Party will be happening!

 

[NicholeB630]

I am so torn now. Crowd levels really are huge to us! The lower the better. Is it difficult to change dates if already booked? I didn't see anything about Christmas stuff so wasn't sure if it started that early, when do the party dates get released? I'll need to know all that when booking my ADR

 

[MomofKatie]

I am so torn now. Crowd levels really are huge to us! The lower the better. Is it difficult to change dates if already booked? I didn't see anything about Christmas stuff so wasn't sure if it started that early, when do the party dates get released? I'll need to know all that when booking my ADR

Traditionally, MVMCPs are held 3-4 times a week starting the second week of November. I believe this year, the first party is Nov 7th. The Osborne Lights at DHS will also be starting around the same date. They run every night and are included with park entry. I believe the party dates are released around the beginning of May each year.

We went the full week before Thanksgiving week last fall- it was pretty wonderful! Very low wait times, weather was great, and most Christmas stuff was up and running.

Just be aware- the Epcot Christmas activities won't start until the day after Thanksgiving. If you have your heart set on seeing the Candlelight Processional (celebrities read the Christmas story while a choir sings traditional religious carols) or the holiday storytellers around the World Showcase, you will want to keep your December plans.

We have been to WDW several times during early/mid November and once in early January to experience the holiday atmosphere, and we have never seen the Epcot stuff. We aren't religious, so we didn't have any desire to see the CP, and we didn't feel like we missed out on anything else, either. It is up to you- either time is nice. November crowds will be lighter, but December won't be awfully crowded. Really, not a HUGE difference in wait times between a level 2 and a level 4 crowd listing.

 

[NicholeB630]

I am not worried about the epcot Christmas things. I feel like changing it might be more a pain but like I said we'd really love the lowest crowds, but with that being said if line waits aren't really that much of a difference than I think we'd be ok. Unless you all really think the crowds would be noticeably different. May is when they release party dates? We can book our ADR in June for December and I really need to know what parks were going to on which days in order to book those and that also depends on what night we do the party. I worry if we did move till November I wouldn't have all the info I need when it came time to book ADR for November since I can do that in May then.

 

[yeheyprincex2]

sounds like low crowds are your priority this trip so I would go in November. this is our prioty this year too, we are going 1st week in sept for fall entertainment last three trips have been during the holiay season.

Like some one mentioned you will not miss out on MVMCP, those start in early November. you can start making your ADR's 180 days from the first day of your trip, 190 days if staying onsite so you still have time.

 

[ShannonMB]

We have been a couple times in recent years that week before Thanksgiving and the crowds are crazy, almost eerie, low. Literally no more than a 10 minute wait for anything, anywhere, ever. I'm talking walk-on-to-Splash-Mountain-in-the middle-of-the-afternoon low crowds. There have also been Christmas parties available both times we were there that week, as well as the Osborne Lights. I have a hard time getting into Christmas mode before Thanksgiving, but it was all there for the offering.

 

[richmo]

If the crowd levels are somewhere between 2 and 4, go with the week that is most convenient for you. Maybe also look at hotels and airfares and see if there's an appreciable difference.

 

[NicholeB630]

Thanks all! I will talk to DH and see what he thinks. He may want to stick with Dec. crowd level though def seems better in Nov.