Week before thanksgiving, the week after thanksgiving or first week of December 2016?

[colleenr]

We are so undecided when to go. I want to go when crowds are lower but still able to see the decorations - hoping for epcot to be decorated but I believe they are after thanksgiving. I am also crossing my fingers for free dining. Any suggestions?

 

[MandiC]

First week of December is supposed to be low crowds, and has been free dining the last few years. Both of those things could always change but first week of December is one time we have considered and if we ever feel strongly about visiting for Christmas decorations that would be the week we'd choose

 

[disneyseniors]

We have been the first 2 weeks of November, the week before Thanksgiving, and the first 2 weeks of December but not the week after TG.
So, for my 2 cents worth: 2 weeks before TG was great, low crowds and the decorations were up The first week or 2 of December was fine too; however, you have to watch for the Pop Warner cheerleaders who usually go to WDW around Dec. 6th to 13th? or so. It can get pretty loud if you are staying at one of their resorts, and crowded. I liked both times; just depends on what you want? The decorations are up right before TG and of course, in December. Have fun

 

[MandiC]

Which resorts do the POP Warner cheerleaders usually stay at? I'm sure value but is there anyway to know which ones exactly? ASMu is one we are considering for our next trip...but a lot of loud 'neighbors' might convince us to do Fort Wilderness afterall...

 

[AlexisMaxMommy]

We went the week after Thanksgiving one year, and it was great. We had no crowds to deal with and everything was decorated. We did a Mickey's Christmas Party which was great because we walked right up to every single ride with absolutely no wait.

 

[Lincolnshire]

We did the week after thanksgiving this year. It was wonderful- we got lucky with great weather and the crowds were manageable. The Christmas decorations were up and my toddler loved them.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Week after thanksgiving is great! We have also done first week of December and it was good, but crowds a bit higher and we did meet up with pop warner. They generally stay at All Star Sports, but it seems they have spread out some over the years. AVOID all the All Stars as they share buses.

 

[EveClark]

I don't have any advice, but I'm very curious to hear what others have to say since we were trying to decide between these same 3 weeks as well!

I think we're leaning towards arriving the Sunday after Thanksgiving and staying thru Saturday. So, not quite the first full week in December.
From what info I've been able to get, it seems like that would work out best.

We'd like to avoid the Pop Warner crowds and don't want to have to plan around the Christmas Parade taping at MK. I'm willing to miss seeing the big tree up in MK to avoid those other things.

The one thing I haven't been able to check into yet is how the airfare prices will differ between those weeks. With Thanksgiving being such a popular time to travel, I'm not sure if flying on a different weekend will save us enough money to reconsider what week we choose.

Good Luck!

 

[Lincolnshire]

About the parade taping: it really was not a big deal at all. The day we were there it just tied up the front of the castle. I suppose it would be a problem if that's your only MK day and you have a princess obsessed kid, but for us it was a non issue and the rest of the park seemed less crowded than on other days.

 

[WalleandEve]

We were there from November 14-24 this past November. The crowds at Magic Kingdom were much higher than we expected. The other parks weren't we bad, but some of the crowds at that time surprised us.

 

[EveClark]

About the parade taping: it really was not a big deal at all. The day we were there it just tied up the front of the castle. I suppose it would be a problem if that's your only MK day and you have a princess obsessed kid, but for us it was a non issue and the rest of the park seemed less crowded than on other days.

I'm so happy you mentioned this!
My daughter will be almost 5 and she is in full princess mode already. I'm thinking we would do a meal in the Castle as well as some meet and greets. Plus, my husband always likes walking thru the stores along Main Street and we usually eat dinner at Tony's... so lots going on in that area.
But, if we schedule more than one MK day during out trip, maybe we can take advantage of the rest of the park on the parade taping day and to the Main Street area stuff on the other day.
Good to know! Thanks!

 

[colleenr]

Thanks for all your responses. Sorry it took so long for me to post a thanks but I couldn't find this post for awhile. We would be staying at probably Port Orleans French quarter. We like to stay there. I wanted to see epcot decorated as well but I think that is usually decorated after thanksgiving. I really don't want to have to deal with the cheerleaders. I would like to go during free dining however. Also airfare plays a role too. My sister went two weeks before thanksgiving and got really good prices for airfare.

 

[karalecia26]

We are thinking about the same 3 weeks in 2016. I am thinking about doing the week after Thanksgiving. Lower crowds, Christmas decorations are up, and my middle child will still be 9 so will still be a Disney "child"!

 

[colleenr]

I think we will be doing the week after thanksgiving.

 

[colleenr]

So i am rethinking the week after thanksgiving due to airfare - I looked at this years prices for those two weeks. its crazy high to leave the sunday or even Monday after thanks giving. I am back to think the 1st week of December. But I am worried about the cheerleaders. Are the parks crazy because of them? any help would be appreciated.

 

[ariane37]

So i am rethinking the week after thanksgiving due to airfare - I looked at this years prices for those two weeks. its crazy high to leave the sunday or even Monday after thanks giving. I am back to think the 1st week of December. But I am worried about the cheerleaders. Are the parks crazy because of them? any help would be appreciated.

I don't have experience with Pop Warner, but if you do a search on here you can find past threads where people share their experiences being down there during Pop Warner week.
Just want to add - totally understand air fare being a factor. However, we went the week after Thanksgiving 2012. Actually, went down at night Thanksgiving day and stayed for 10 days. Once the Sun. after T-day hit it was wonderful!! If when air fares are released there isn't much difference between the week after and 1st week in Dec., maybe reconsider week after

 

[colleenr]

Airfare was released today for southwest - the sunday after it is over 300 one way, the Monday is over 200 one way and then the tues is 141. The following week it is 123 one way and this is x4. so the week after is a lot less. I don't really want to leave on a Tuesday and come back on a Monday. This is why I am torn. If I wait a week we can go sun-sat.