When, exactly, do they put up the Christmas decorations?

[pat fan]

We would all love to see WDW at Christmas, but I will not fly in the winter. On the latest WDW Holiday special, one guest they were talking to said she always came right before Thanksgiving to see the decorations without the crowds. True?

Frankly, November is the latest I would consider traveling, and I don't want to be there Thanksgiving weekend. We normally go in July and if I can only squeeze in a weekend in November, it can't be during the busiest time! Due to my work schedule, I can't take time off during the week during the school year. A weekend quickie trip is all I could manage in November.

 

[Camster0307]

Ok, I'll try to help you out - even though you're a Pats fan!

I've been to WDW as early as the week of Veteran's Day; stay at the BW. Went to bed one night - no Christmas decorations; woke up in the a.m - the place was all decked out in it's holiday finest! I think the resorts start decorating in early-Nov. and try to be fully decorated by month's end. As for the parks, I will say that the past two years, MVMCP started on Nov.11 in 2006 and Nov.12 in 2007 - which means MK was decorated. Osborne lights (DS) and the Jingle Jangle Jungle Parade (AK) also start around that same time which means those parks should be decorated. Epcot typically doesn't start their "Holidays Around the World" until after Thanksgiving, so I don't know how decorated that park would be in earl Nov. Hope this helps!

BTW - die-hard Giants fan here - hope to see you in the Super Bowl!

 

[disney54us]

Hi, it has changed in recent years. The hotels would be decorated by Veteran's day weekend (depending and maybe not fully). It use to be the day after Thanksgiving for the parks, but due to the popularity of MVMCP which now starts mid November., MK is fully decorated. If you check the month of events on WDW you should be able to see when the the other events start in the other parks. That would give you a good hint if they will be decorated. I notice you said you don't want to go over Thanksgiving, but would the first week end in Dec. be out?? Everything will be fully decorated and all the special events for Christmas will be going on. Just a thought. Good Luck

 

[tiggerfan1]

When my family and I were at WDW last November (Nov. 6-10), many of the Christmas decorations were already up. Unfortunately, Cinderella's castle was not decorated in the beautiful lights yet and the MVMCPs hadn't started yet. However, the Food and Wine festival almost made up for that! (Yum!!) The weather was really nice, too. The highs were in the mid-70s for our entire stay. It did get pretty cold in the mornings and evenings, though. Overall, I think going in early November is probably one of the best times to go to WDW.

 

[AlwaysEeyore]

We were at WDW 11/10/07-11/23/07. When we arrived they had up some decorations in the parks but the hotels really weren't decorated. The night of 11/15 & 11/16 they decorated all the hotels. It was amazing to wake up and find that elves had been around spreading Christmas Magic! We went to the MVMCP on 11/15 and the castle was decorated.

Hope this helps!!

 

[pat fan]

Thanks for the replies!

I notice you said you don't want to go over Thanksgiving, but would the first week end in Dec. be out??

The weather is just so iffy then, bt is a consideration, though. Thanksgiving itself is just so expensive for air and everything, plus it would be very crowded and we'd only be there a couple days.
Who knows....that special just really had us drooling over the castle lights!

Ok, I'll try to help you out - even though you're a Pats fan!
BTW - die-hard Giants fan here - hope to see you in the Super Bowl!

I was wondering why you weren't a Pats fan if you're from the Boston area!
A Giants/Patriots Superbowl would be very hard around here....my DFIL is a Giants fan! He likes the Patriots, but he's liked the Giants since back in the day....I'm not sure that match-up would be good for family relations!
BTW, I'm glad it's Eli still in the play-offs and that Peyton got knocked out!

 

[Camster0307]

Thanks for the replies!

I was wondering why you weren't a Pats fan if you're from the Boston area!
A Giants/Patriots Superbowl would be very hard around here....my DFIL is a Giants fan! He likes the Patriots, but he's liked the Giants since back in the day....I'm not sure that match-up would be good for family relations!
BTW, I'm glad it's Eli still in the play-offs and that Peyton got knocked out!

I'm a born and raised Jersey girl! Been living in Mass. for 15yrs.now (yikes - can't believe it's been that long!) Anyway, still true blue to my teams - Giants and Yankees! Trust me, it hasn't been easy living here these past few years!

BTW - the past two years, we've been to WDW after thanksgiving (2006 - 12/2-10; 2007-11/24-30), and the weather's been great. Very comfortable, even warm enough for shorts and t-shirts. Did have some nights where it got into the high 40s, but I like that better than the humidity!

 

[pat fan]

BTW - the past two years, we've been to WDW after thanksgiving (2006 - 12/2-10; 2007-11/24-30), and the weather's been great.

It's not the Florida weather I'm afraid of, it's the flying out of here weather I'm afraid of! I would have a heart attack and die if I tried to fly and they had to de-ice the wings of the plane. Or plow the runway. Or anything like that.No thank you!!!!

I'm not sure why I live here, other than I hate change. I've lived here my whole life and I hate cold, snow and ice with a passion!

 

[hickchick]

Thanks for the info on the Christmas decorations! We are tentatively planning to go 2 weeks before Thanksgiving this year, and it is good to know we will not be too early to see this!

P.S. Go Packers!!! I think the Giants will be a little bit COLD at LAMBEAU tomorrow!

 

[Camster0307]

Thanks for the info on the Christmas decorations! We are tentatively planning to go 2 weeks before Thanksgiving this year, and it is good to know we will not be too early to see this!

P.S. Go Packers!!! I think the Giants will be a little bit COLD at LAMBEAU tomorrow!

You'll be eating those words come Monday morning, hickchick!

 

[Leleluvsdis]

What are the crowds like the first week of december?

 

[MousekaMaddi]

we were there this nov 11 -18th and went to two MVMCP and saw lots of xmas deco........lovely! (but chilly)

 

[pat fan]

P.S. Go Packers!!! I think the Giants will be a little bit COLD at LAMBEAU tomorrow! You'll be eating those words come Monday morning, hickchick!

Either one, bring 'em on!!!
GO PATS!!!!

 

[Camster0307]

What are the crowds like the first week of december?

We've been many times during the first week of Dec. - best time to visit IMO. Parks are not too crowded; minimal lines for rides; and you can enjoy all the holiday festivities. Only thing to be aware of is it's usually Pop Warner week that week - their national championship(?) and many football teams and cheerleaders are around for it. I've never seen it affect the parks; but there have been some nightmare stories posted on these boards about problems at the hotels these teams stay at. I think they usually book at the ASSports and CS - not positive though. I stay at the BW so I have never had a problem.

 

[chrisann]

It would be one of the weekday parties we'd be going to.

 

[MattJL]

I remember that the first day they had the new lights on the castle was Veteren's Day.