When does Christmas decorations, etc. start in the parks?

[Bete]

I went last year for Christmas week and the week after. The parks were set up for Christmas with the entire cast being dressed up for Christmas in special costumes. Magic Kingdom: The Main Street Cast Members were dressed for Christmas. Country Jamboree (replaced with Goofy, now) had a Christmas theme. Main Street had decorations on the store fronts.
Animal Kingdom had Character greets in Camp Minnie with all the characters dressed up for Christmas. The Epcot Liberty Singers had their Christmas attire on (velvet costumes). World Showcase had the Santa Claus or equivalent at each country.

According to the official December calendar the Christmas parade at MK doesn't start til Dec. 20. I know you can see the same parade at MVMCP. This makes me think that the above activities don't start til Christmas week.

I think they decorate with the Christmas trees at the parks and resorts before Christmas week but what about the activities described above? We are going earlier in Dec. this year and I'm afraid it won't have all the magic. Please help.

 

[stitch79]

My understanding is that they decorate for Christmas soon after Thanksgiving, so you should be fine in early Dec.

 

[Kapp]

some of the resorts actually start 2 weeks before Thanksgiving with most working on them the week before. The parks are done a few days before Thanksgiving. I know I have seen some sort of schedule listed on some website and will try to find it.

 

[Peggy Sue]

Ray Sharpton has outlined the schedule in a post he placed on another board. see link below and scroll down to second post..he's done a great job outlining when every area will be decorated!

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=366519

 

[tink2]

I've been twice Thanksgiving week. The resorts are decorated by then. Before Thanksgiving, there are a few decoarations around the parks, mainly a tree or a few things. Thanksgiving morning- everything is decorated- very magical what they do overnight. Two years ago, some of the characters at meet and greets were dressed as Santa Goofy and other Christmas attire the day after Thanksgiving. Candelight Processional starts the night after Thanksgiving. Christmas music is playing Thanksgiving morning. Epcot has a few bands playing Christmas music throughout the day beginning the day after Thanksgiving I believe. Basically, I think lots of things are going on after Thanksgiving.
Have Fun!!

 

[swatts1]

A few years ago we went during the 1st week in Nov. They were already putting up the decorations on Main Street and the Osborne lights were being tested. At that time no trees were up, but all the window and store decorations were beginning to go up.