When is the best time to go in November/December?

[beagles7278]

We are planning our next trip for November or December of 2011, would like opinions on when it will be slow. We have been during Christmas and have dealt with those crowds, don't want to this time. We went in March of last year and it was great.

How is the week after Thanksgiving? I imagine it will be busy because people(like me) would like to be able to add the few days from the Holiday on trip. Give me your advice on your past experiences, thanks in advance.

 

[mnsprk]

We've found that the week before and the week after Thanksgiving are not overly crowded. CM's even say that is a "slow time" by comparison. Thanksgiving week is another story. I think more people add the extra days that week since most have a 4 day weekend at the end. JMHO..

 

[Solamom]

The first couple weeks of December are usually really really slow! We love to go during that time!

 

[figmentfan1]

The first couple weeks of December are usually really really slow! We love to go during that time!

I concur.

 

[jenscourt]

In the past, I have gone sometime in the first couple of weeks of December. I have noticed it is very slow that time of year...it is a great time to go.

 

[BradyBz12]

The first 3 weeks of December (up until around the 18th-ish/weekend before Christmas week) are still a really nice time to go, but they get a bit busier every year. Maybe because Disney is cranking out more promotions further into December recently, or maybe the word is finally out.

The few weeks before Thanksgiving are super. The full week before Thanksgiving last year was practically a ghost town. We walked into Epcot in the middle of the afternoon one day and Soarin had a 5 minute wait! That's the same week we rode TSM 4 times in one day- only once with FP and never with more than a 30 minute wait.

Early December used to be our favorite time, but this has now surpassed it. And aside from missing the big holiday kickoff stuff the day after Thanksgiving, in past years the majority of the park decorations have been up by mid-Nov (resorts a little later), MVMCP is in full swing, and last year we even lucked out and got an earlier-than-usual open of Osborne lights on 11/10. No word yet on what the schedule for this year will bring, but I'm hoping it'll be early again as we're arriving 11/13.

 

[beagles7278]

We've found that the week before and the week after Thanksgiving are not overly crowded. CM's even say that is a "slow time" by comparison. Thanksgiving week is another story. I think more people add the extra days that week since most have a 4 day weekend at the end. JMHO..

That would work out great, I could use Thursday(Thanksgiving Day) and Friday(arrive early afternoon Friday) as travel days. This would give me the weekend at the Fort because I imagine the parks would still be busy. Then I would have the following week for the parks with low crowds. Would you agree with this?

 

[Magicbus]

In the past, I have gone sometime in the first couple of weeks of December. I have noticed it is very slow that time of year...it is a great time to go.

Being at WDW year round I've noticed, and as BradyBz12 also says, lately the first two weeks in Dec are getting more and more crowded. It's not as slow as it use to be. Also, sometimes it can get cold in Florida. Last year was the worst winter I've ever experienced. It was cold too much of the time.

 

[bama_ed]

To answer your question, the two weeks after Halloween (up until Thanksgiving week) and the two full weeks after Thanksgiving week in early December are best crowd-wise and weather-wise. Obviously the December dates give you the opportunity to see more Christmas decorations in the resorts and parks.

The late October-Halloween time seems to be getting more popular each year so that sort of marks a high point in Fort attendance (I don't know about the parks). Like you I try to avoid crowds but we do what we can to get our Fort fix, right?

Bama ED

 

[AuburnJen92]

Also, sometimes it can get cold in Florida. Last year was the worst winter I've ever experienced. It was cold too much of the time.

I haven't been this cold since 1977. This Floridian did not appreciate having an actual winter this year. I understand my boo-hooing goes on deaf ears, but when you don't have the wardrobe for it, it makes it difficult to grin and bear it. I wasn't about to go and spend the money for the clothes either, when I knew that would basically sit in my closet until the next major cold snap. I might be a grandma by then.

 

[des1954]

I haven't been this cold since 1977. This Floridian did not appreciate having an actual winter this year. I understand my boo-hooing goes on deaf ears, but when you don't have the wardrobe for it, it makes it difficult to grin and bear it. I wasn't about to go and spend the money for the clothes either, when I knew that would basically sit in my closet until the next major cold snap. I might be a grandma by then.

I too got sick of wearing the same 4 outfits over & over again. However - this crockpot weather of late is making me long for those cold January days! I'm never happy.

To answer the question - well - I'm not going to answer the question because then the slow periods will turn into busy periods. Period!

 

[beagles7278]

To answer the question - well - I'm not going to answer the question because then the slow periods will turn into busy periods. Period!

Thanks for nothing, why bother posting at all?

To those of you who found it in your hearts to share your deep dark Disney secrets, Thank You.

 

[kaguilbeau]

That would work out great, I could use Thursday(Thanksgiving Day) and Friday(arrive early afternoon Friday) as travel days. This would give me the weekend at the Fort because I imagine the parks would still be busy. Then I would have the following week for the parks with low crowds. Would you agree with this?

We did this exact trip one year (except we were staying at a moderate). Thanksgiving Day was arrival day. Friday and Saturday we did non-park things, played at the pool, went to Hoop de Doo, toured the resorts to see Christmas Decoration . . . and then began going to the parks on the Sunday through Wed of the week AFTER Thanksgiving.

If you have only been at Christmas, then the first two weeks of December will seem slow.

If you have only been the week before Christmas, then the week before Thanksgiving will seem slow.

It's almost like you don't really know what slow is until you've experienced a time that wasn't as slow. Does that make sense?

I've read people say that the end of May was slow. Slow compared to what? Compared to mid- July maybe, but not to mid-Nov

Go, enjoy yourself and don't look back!

 

[mikmouse]

To answer your question, the two weeks after Halloween (up until Thanksgiving week) and the two full weeks after Thanksgiving week in early December are best crowd-wise and weather-wise. Obviously the December dates give you the opportunity to see more Christmas decorations in the resorts and parks.

The late October-Halloween time seems to be getting more popular each year so that sort of marks a high point in Fort attendance (I don't know about the parks). Like you I try to avoid crowds but we do what we can to get our Fort fix, right?

Bama ED

Believe me, 2 weeks after Thanksgiving USE to be low crowds, but the word has gotten out and now not so much. We still go that time of year every year for the past 12-13 years or so, and we HAVE seen the difference in the last few years.

 

[BradyBz12]

If you have only been at Christmas, then the first two weeks of December will seem slow.

If you have only been the week before Christmas, then the week before Thanksgiving will seem slow.

An excellent assessment, and exactly what we found to be true! We used to go just after Thanksgiving and thought it was great. Until we went before Thanksgiving last year.

We've also done the "travel over Thanksgiving and arrive Sat/Sun" and it's worked pretty well. T-day crowds start thinning later Sunday.