When do Christmas Decorations Go Up?

[YEKCIM]

Scheming toward a potential three day visit to WDW in late November or mid December, with preference for the former, due to daughter's school holidays. Actual dates would probably be 11/19-21 (week before Thanksgiving) or 12/17-19. Can anyone give me any reliable info concerning when the decorations start going up? I'd rather, as stated, shoot for November, rather than December, but decorations and special programs may be the deciding factor.

Thanks,

~YEKCIM

 

[bicker]

I could have swore I remember reading about decorations going up the weekend after Thanksgiving, at least at the resorts.

 

[lizanne]

I think the decorations will be up in Mid Nov - but not sure if everything will be lit (like the Osbourne Lights in MGM). However, I don't think any of the special Christmas programs start until after Thanksgiving. They are all worth seeing.

 

[Crazy Kanga]

I asked this question a while back and several people replied that they began going up around the middle of November. I hope that is correct because we are planning a trip this year for Nov. 18-22 based on this info. I hope someone out there can confirm this.

 

[GlennI]

In 2005, we visited from the Saturday before Thanksgiving until the Saturday after. Alot of the Christmas decorations were up when we arrived, but slowly throughout the week the rest of them went up.

The Osbourne Lights were up and on when we visited, this is a must see for those who really enjoy Christmas lights. And maybe even for the HUM-BUG types, it might even cheer them up.

 

[byoung]

Stay away from mid Dec, that will keep the crowds lower for me. It's a great time to go.

 

[YEKCIM]

Excellent info, and much appreciated. I'm leaning toward mid-December (sorry, byoung), but not even for sure that I can swing it, $$-wise, and schedule-wise. We've been to WDW in December in 03 and 04, as a family, but missed last year (boo-hoo!) and, although it is magical ANYtime, it's even more so in December, which is why I want to go back. My spousal unit (wife) is not as enamored of all things Disney as our 7 YO daughter and I are, but have received her blessing to leave her home. We *are* going to see Mickey in July (see sig), partly due to a business meeting that I have, but we're staying the balance of the week at our own expense, and will celebrate our daughter's birthday while there. Hopefully, we can swing the second trip later in the year, and I can handle 10 hours at the wheel of the family sedan, to get there!

~YEKCIM

 

[MouseWorshipin]

Last year I arrived on November 4, and there were already decorations up (not all of them, but they were up). And the Christmas music was playing in the hotels (but not in the parks yet).

They didn't come down until around Jan. 10 (music too).