What is the least crowded week in Nov/Dec?

[momtotwolittleones]

We are supposed to go in September, but for numerous reasons that may not happen. I've never been to DL with Christmas decorations, so that could be fun. But, we hate crowds, and will gladly miss fireworks to not deal with them. Is there a week that is usually really slow? I was thinking either right before or right after Thanksgiving, but I'd love any feedback.

Thanks!

 

[disney-inspired]

We are supposed to go in September, but for numerous reasons that may not happen. I've never been to DL with Christmas decorations, so that could be fun. But, we hate crowds, and will gladly miss fireworks to not deal with them. Is there a week that is usually really slow? I was thinking either right before or right after Thanksgiving, but I'd love any feedback.

Thanks!

I've been during the first week of December more than once and the crowds were very nice. Because it's right after Thanksgiving most kids are usually back in school.

 

[DizneyMommy]

If you're ok with dodging the CM parties and Candlelight, the first week in December is LOVELY! Starting Nov 30th (looking at this year's calendar) the park should be delightful for 1-2 weeks. Then all bets are off.
The first week of November is nice, too, but then you get half Halloween decor and half Christmas as they take one down and put the other up.

 

[Amy_Renee]

I would agree that the first 2 weeks of Dec would be good. We went Dec 7-11 last year and it was fantastic!! The only lines we waited in were Nemo (30min) and Toy Story (30 min)

 

[Albort]

keep in mind though, this year, the crowding is VERY hard to predict. Because of the new monthly payment plan for APs, you will find yourself with heavier crowds the first 2 weeks of Dec since 3 APs will blackout the last 2 weeks(with deluxe on select few days)

this has also occured right before summer to be careful on planning your days...

 

[CaliKT]

What do we think crowds will be like the week before Thanksgiving? We'll be going Wed-Fri Nov. 18-20. Thanksgiving is the following week Nov. 26. Since I know the week of Thanksgiving is very busy, I'm hoping that those dates will be relatively slow....

 

[Sherry E]

keep in mind though, this year, the crowding is VERY hard to predict. Because of the new monthly payment plan for APs, you will find yourself with heavier crowds the first 2 weeks of Dec since 3 APs will blackout the last 2 weeks(with deluxe on select few days)

this has also occured right before summer to be careful on planning your days...

This is exactly what I was thinking, Albort. After we heard about/saw what happened with the crowds this year who packed into the parks before the APs were blocked last month, and given the reports that more folks have APs now than ever, I was guessing that there will be an influx of people into the parks in the first two weeks of December this year. Of course, we don't know for sure this will happen, but seeing that the holidays at DLR are so popular, people with APs will want to get into the parks before they are blocked.

This year is kind of crazy and hard to predict. We can't rely on the typical patterns.

Even the latter part of November may be crazy, because the season starts on November 20, and everyone packed into the parks last year on the first couple of days of the holiday season. If there is any new 'stuff' going up for this year's holiday festivities, we can bet that crowds will pile in.

 

[Albort]

I do forgot to mention is that CMs also will have their passes blackout and wiped. aka, free passes that will expire so CMs will be signing in massively too. :|

 

[momtotwolittleones]

Hmm, I don't know if I'm savvy enough to deal with blackout dates! Our other option is Sept. 15-18. I know the homeschool convention is there, but how big can they really be? (We homeschool, but aren't part of the convention.) The first week of December would be better financially, but I don't want to run into Christmas crowds. I'll do that when the kids are a bit older.

 

[Brady's Mom]

We were originally scheduled to go in Sept. but with all the conventions and stuff, we opted to move our trip to Nov. 1-6. Hopefully, the crowds will be light since the hours are typically shorter then. And, you can still get the Howard Johnson Entertainment Rate for that time frame.

Although, DH and I just got back from DLR last night, we didn't find the crowds to be as bad as we thought. It was crowded and hot, but I expected worse. I think the crowds were about the same as when we went for our Fall break in 2006 and the first part of Dec. 2008 (last year) and even when we went the first part of March in 2008.

It is nicer to have the longer hours in the summer since it is easy to take a nap and then go back for evening. But, I think we all prefer shorter hours at my house. I have early risers and they are tired by 8 pm.

Good luck with deciding when to go. We try to make it a science, but it is just a guess, really. Pick your dates and then plan for crowds and if it is less busy, it's a bonus!

 

[l’amore bella]

I have gone during the second week of November and the parks were not crowded at all. The longest I had to wait in line was about thirty minutes. There were many rides with no line whatsoever. The Halloween decorations were just coming down and I was able to see a few holiday decorations that were just going up.

 

[DTDkettleCORNfan]

We always go the week after Thanksgiving.....and the crowds are always very low. Last year it fell in December for the first time since we have been going that week, and the crowds did seem a big bigger. The wait times were still short (except to meet Tink), but there seemed to be more people walking around.

And the holiday fireworks are shown every night (barring high winds) once the holiday season officially starts (just before Thanksgiving), so you'll see them whenever you go.....

 

[karylrocks]

I do forgot to mention is that CMs also will have their passes blackout and wiped. aka, free passes that will expire so CMs will be signing in massively too. :|

When do these expire? We are planning to go Dec 10-14.

 

[SBdisney]

I was wondering what the crowds might be like the Monday/Tuesday of Thanksgiving week. My thought was that people would either be in school/working or traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday. However, I could be wrong. Has anyone been during this time? I really want low crowds.

Thanks!

 

[luvmysoxfan]

I have gone during the second week of November and the parks were not crowded at all. The longest I had to wait in line was about thirty minutes. There were many rides with no line whatsoever. The Halloween decorations were just coming down and I was able to see a few holiday decorations that were just going up.

i have to agree! we love this time of year to go!

 

[momlissa]

We've gone mid November 2 years in a row and will be going again, mid November, this year. I've gone in every season and IMO, this is the perfect time to go. Light crowds, perfect weather. It doesn't get much better!

Be careful about booking around Thanksgiving. I've heard it's one of the most crowded times to go. I asked one of the DLR employees when the best time to go was and he said "right after any holiday," - except for maybe Christmas.

Good luck!