When do Christmas decorations go up?

[disneymom0104]

Is it right after Halloween, or later in Nov.? We are *very* tentatively planning a trip. After 2 WDW trips and 1 DL trip during Halloween season, we want to see something new (and my younger dd says she never wants to ride Space Mountain with the Ghost Galaxy overlay again ). My kids want to go back to DL before we go to WDW again. I would love to see the Christmas decorations!

Also- we stayed at PP in Oct. and LOVED it, but we had a free dining pin code which really helped lower the overall cost. I don't think a room discount will ever be as good as that promotion was for us, and I don't expect that offer to come again (at least not in an e-mail pin) so I have been looking at the Hojo kids suite- looks awesome! I would love to get the Entertainment card rate. How quickly does that rate fill up? Do you think there would still be availability at the end of the summer for Nov? To be honest, we would prefer to stay onsite- but it looks like we could stay an extra night in a Hojo kids suite with the entertainment rate for over $500 less than PP with a 25% room discount (6 nights at Hojo vs. 5 nights at PP). I wouldn't want to book too far out since there is a no cancelation policy with that discount, and we would prefer to be on site if there was a great promotion.

Also- how are crowds in the 2nd week of Nov. vs. the week after Thanksgiving?

Thanks so much!

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

If I had to guess, I would think Christmas season (fireworks/parade) will start November 9th.

 

[nicolispicoli]

It's my understanding that they start taking down halloween and putting up holiday decorations immediately on November 1st. We were there this last November 11-15 and although the first official holiday start was 11/14, everything was up by the 11th. They just didn't have the special things (castle lighting, holiday fireworks, holiday rides, etc.) going yet. I would say that if you went the second week in November, you would be pleasantly surprised. I can't speak for the week after Thanksgiving as I haven't been then.

For the Hojo, those rates are totally unpredictable since no one knows how many rooms of each type are dedicated to the retro rates. I just booked mine for October, because I didn't want to chance it. Worst case scenario, it costs me $59 to cancel if under 30 days. I myself am hoping to split my stay if I can get a good AP rate or pin for the time frame in October I'll be there. Good Luck!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

If I had to guess, I would think Christmas season (fireworks/parade) will start November 9th.

That's barely a week to switch the park from Halloween to Christmas. I think more realistically Monday the 12th at the earliest or Friday the 16th.

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

Last year the parade and fireworks started on 11/11/11 (and they always start on a Friday). That's why I'm guessing the 9th. The 16th seems kinda late.

You could be right though...it'll be awhile before we know for sure.

 

[disneymom0104]

Thanks- I was just looking for a general time and have figured out it is not Nov. 1st. We are thinking either 11/11-11/17 (our anniversary is 11/11) or the week after Thanksgiving.

How do Nov. crowds compare to Oct.? Or are they very similar? (we went in early Oct. and found the crowds to be managable but heavier than we ever see at WDW)

 

[Ella5]

I booked Hojo entertainment rates for Nov. and they told me that they have a 30 day cancellation policy. So you could book them and still be able to cancel 30 days out. Also, if you have a mixed reservation (some nights ent. rate and some nights regular price) it reverts to their 48 hr policy.

 

[disneymom0104]

I booked Hojo entertainment rates for Nov. and they told me that they have a 30 day cancellation policy. So you could book them and still be able to cancel 30 days out. Also, if you have a mixed reservation (some nights ent. rate and some nights regular price) it reverts to their 48 hr policy.

Good to know- thank you. I might go ahead and book since we are now pretty sure we will go- it will just depend on offers from Disney this fall. I did like the perks of staying onsite, but that kids suite looks awesome at Hojo! I think I can get the Entertainment rate for every night

 

[raftislander]

We were at DL in 2010 for the opening day of Christmas seasons which was around the 15th or 16th (it started on a Friday mid-month). There were decorations up, but according to one cast member, they were not all up yet. Having gone back this past season between Christmas and New Year's- there seemed to be more decorations- in DL at least - than what I recall. New Orleans Square was literally dripping with decorations. It made my jaw drop and I did not have that reaction in 2010. So while the fireworks and parade will be running as soon as the season starts, if you want to really get a full dose of Christmas decorations, I would try to go after Thanksgiving.