When Is the best Time To Go?

[3kidsandagoldenpuppy]

I'm Planning on a Trip to WDW with my 3 young children again(ages 2.5 yr old twins and 5 yr old daughter) and was wondering when between nov 1 and christmas is best to go? I'd appreciate any advice. Really want to see Christmas lights but don't want it to be cold or too busy. Thanks.

 

[The Disney Bunch]

There is no best time to go. All the times have something that is appealing to some people & not to others. Weather - no one can predict what the weather will be like. Been there in November when it has been hot & been there when it has been cold.
busy? - I know THanksgiving is busy. It seems to me that Disney is busy all year round now. I believe there is a study somewhere that breaks down the crowd schedule based on years past.
What other criteria are you looking for? enjoy planning!

 

[momimouse27]

Hi! We have found the best times to go are the early weeks of December. We actually haven't been during that time in about 3 years but are about to do that again the week before Christmas. Anytime after Thanksgiving until the week before Christmas is the best.

The weather is mild, the decorations are up and the lines are short! Have fun on your trip!

 

[mom2aredhead]

From a crowd-avoidance perspective...

Avoid (to the best of your ability) anything scheduled that is almost guaranteed to bring a larger crowd to the parks.

Like holidays when schools are closed (Thanksgiving weekend, Christmas week),

Pop Warner week (usually beginning of December), especially if you plan to stay in the value resorts,

Veterans day weekend,

"Jersey Week" - generally the beginning of November when schools in NJ are closed for teachers convention.

Many will argue that crowds are "manageable" during some of those times. But given the choice, if I KNEW that there would be an extra few thousand people there, I'd pick a different week.

The weather in December is all over the place. I can't speak for November. We were there last December and had a nearly 50 degree temp swing during the course of the week - 85+ degrees and sticky humid for a few days, then a cold front moved in and it was in the low 40's in the morning, warming to a balmy 65.

 

[DisneyFlower]

From what I've been reading on the boards, it seems that Disney is pretty crowded all the time now - but I'm sure there are times that are less crowded - but these times are getting harder to predict. We were there last year - Dec 15 - 20 - and it was nice. The crowds were not bad. There were 10 -20 minute waits for most rides and the crowds were not as "thick" as they are in summer and on holiday weeks - ie it was easier to walk down the streets, find a bench to sit on, find a spot for the parade, etc. We LOVED the decorations and the spirit of Christmas in the air. The weather was GREAT. Most days we wore pants and jackets into the parks in the morning but took jacket off as the day warmed up - and put it back on in the evening. We had one day that was pretty chilly all day and we wore our thick jackets the whole day. But, for us the cool air was much more refeshing than the hot, humid temps in summer! We wound up staying an extra day because we were just having too much fun!! And we're planning on going back this year the same week. Hoping crowds and weather are nice again!