When to go in November

[Mom2bk]

I have a trip planned (First trip to Disneyland!) November 10-13 and going again on the 16th. When I booked/planned this trip in May, I did not realize the Avengers Half Marathon was going on this week. I am wondering if we should move our trip to November 16-19? It will be myself, DD10 and DS7 and we are not huge crowd people. We want to maximize our time as this might our only trip to CA, or at least for several years. Thanks

 

[figment_jii]

I've been to the parks on the week after the Avenger's Marathon (arrived Sat and departed Fri). The parks felt noticeably busy on Sunday, but the crowds quickly dissipated during the week. For the most the weekdays (Mon to Thu) were pretty quiet in the parks. The attractions weren't walk-on, but the lines were okay (we had a 2 and 5 year old with us and they both did fine in the lines that we did wait). Sat evening (we visited DTD) and Sun were very busy, but it was probably a combination of the marathon and the official start of Holiday season at DLR.

 

[GatorChris]

The Avenger's marathon will certainly affect your stay as far as crowds go, but probably not as much as Veteran's Day on the 11th. I'm there that week for my last few days of my AP, and I'm worried about what Vets and Avengers will do to the parks.

 

[Dobbsie]

Seriously. Don't go during Veterans Day weekend. I still have nightmares.

 

[egritz]

If you can swing it I would definitely change your dates to the 16-19th...that's when we'll be there! We did that week last year (first day in the park was Sunday of the Avenger weekend) and parks were busier on Sunday/Monday but really good crowd levels the rest of the week. We enjoyed the week enough to return the same week this year!

 

[Mom2bk]

If you can swing it I would definitely change your dates to the 16-19th...that's when we'll be there! We did that week last year (first day in the park was Sunday of the Avenger weekend) and parks were busier on Sunday/Monday but really good crowd levels the rest of the week. We enjoyed the week enough to return the same week this year!

Thanks!! We are definitely changing to the week of November 16th!

 

[figment_jii]

I don't actually think Veteran's Day is going to make a huge impact on the parks...it's a Wednesday this year, so the middle of the week.

 

[nicolispicoli]

I've gone in November the last couple of years. A couple years ago we went during Veterans Day weekend and into that next week and it was fine for us, I definitely wouldn't call it crazy crowded. Last year I went the 19-21st (W/T/F) and it was perfect, not crowded at all until Friday evening when the locals were probably heading in after work, but definitely still manageable. It's my new favorite time to go since Holidaytime is in full swing and it's the calm before the Thanksgiving storm.

 

[Sherry E]

I've gone in November the last couple of years. A couple years ago we went during Veterans Day weekend and into that next week and it was fine for us, I definitely wouldn't call it crazy crowded. Last year I went the 19-21st (W/T/F) and it was perfect, not crowded at all until Friday evening when the locals were probably heading in after work, but definitely still manageable. It's my new favorite time to go since Holidaytime is in full swing and it's the calm before the Thanksgiving storm.

The holidays are mostly in full swing, with the possible exception of some of the things at the hotels or in Downtown Disney. The gingerbread creations at the GCH restaurants, for example, don't go up until at least Thanksgiving. Santa and the carolers don't appear at the hotels until Thanksgiving. Some events that take place in Downtown Disney (carolers and some other seasonal things) don't happen until December.

In the parks, the famous freshly-made candy canes aren't made until after Thanksgiving. Sometimes (not always) the teeny Christmas decorations along the Storybook Land Canal boat don't appear until closer to Thanksgiving. Otherwise, the parks are in full swing!

 

[nicolispicoli]

The holidays are mostly in full swing, with the possible exception of some of the things at the hotels or in Downtown Disney. The gingerbread creations at the GC restaurants, for example, don't go up until at least Thanksgiving. Santa and the carolers don't appear at the hotels until Thanksgiving. Some events that take place in Downtown Disney (carolers and some other seasonal things) don't happen until December.

In the parks, the famous freshly-made candy canes aren't made until after Thanksgiving. Sometimes (not always) the teeny Christmas decorations along the Storybook Land Canal boat don't appear until closer to Thanksgiving. Otherwise, the parks are in full swing!

You're right, I should have clarified that to mean the parks were pretty much in full swing. DTD was NOT decorated yet either time we were there before Thanksgiving, same with on-site hotels.

 

[figment_jii]

While the big GCH Gingerbread House was not finished before Thanksgiving, they were in the process of constructing it from before Thanksgiving. It was fun to watch them building the house and it was rare(ish) chance to talk with some of the creators and learn about what they were doing (and how they planned it).

 

[Sherry E]

While the big GCH Gingerbread House was not finished before Thanksgiving, they were in the process of constructing it from before Thanksgiving. It was fun to watch them building the house and it was rare(ish) chance to talk with some of the creators and learn about what they were doing (and how they planned it).

Right. That has to be constructed in that space, so it takes time -- but all of the things I mentioned above (such as the gingerbread creations in the GCH restaurants).... not available until Thanksgiving and beyond.

 

[figment_jii]

Right. That has to be constructed in that space, so it takes time -- but all of the things I mentioned above (such as the gingerbread creations in the GCH restaurants).... not available until Thanksgiving and beyond.

I wasn't referring to any of the other things you mentioned...I was very specifically only talking about the big GCH Gingerbread House. I was simply pointing out that while the Gingerbread House wasn't finished before Thanksgiving, they were in the process of building it from around Veteran's Day. It gave the folks that were there at that point a chance to watch it being constructed, and if the bakers had time, a chance to chat with them.

 

[Sherry E]

I wasn't referring to any of the other things you mentioned...I was very specifically only talking about the big GCH Gingerbread House. I was simply pointing out that while the Gingerbread House wasn't finished before Thanksgiving, they were in the process of building it from around Veteran's Day. It gave the folks that were there at that point a chance to watch it being constructed, and if the bakers had time, a chance to chat with them.

Yes, I got that. I understood what you were referring to, and I was commenting further -- to clarify for the OP and anyone else following along. I had mentioned other gingerbread creations, and to someone who hasn't been there or who may not be familiar with them, they may be confused as to which gingerbread creation is which, or which one goes up at which time.

The lobby gingerbread house -- even in its initial stages -- was not in there when the holiday season started last year (which was after Veterans Day). It appeared shortly thereafter, I think, but it wasn't there on Veterans Day or on the first day of the season.

ETA: Someone in the Christmas Superthread reported walking through there sometime after that point (after the holidays began) and reported that she didn't see the gingerbread house yet - http://www.disboards.com/threads/di...-superthread-4.3215593/page-166#post-52651258. (Looks like she posted on 11/19/14).

 

[figment_jii]

Yes, I got that. I understood what you were referring to, and I was commenting further -- to clarify for the OP and anyone else following along. I had mentioned other gingerbread creations, and to someone who hasn't been there or who may not be familiar with them, they may be confused as to which gingerbread creation is which, or which one goes up at which time.

Yes, which is why I was very specific to say the big GCH hotel gingerbread house. I didn't want people to think I was talking about the smaller houses at Storytellers or White Water Snacks.

The lobby gingerbread house -- even in its initial stages -- was not in there when the holiday season started last year (which was after Veterans Day). It appeared shortly thereafter, I think, but it wasn't there on Veterans Day or on the first day of the season.

ETA: Someone in the Christmas Superthread reported walking through there sometime after that point (after the holidays began) and reported that she didn't see the gingerbread house yet - http://www.disboards.com/threads/di...-superthread-4.3215593/page-166#post-52651258. (Looks like she posted on 11/19/14).

I knew it was not there on the first day of the season or even on Veteran's Day...but I wasn't at my photo archive to see exactly when I saw it being constructed, which is why I said "around Veteran's Day". I looked at my photos and the big GCH Gingerbread House was well underway by the 21st (Friday). That's the first day that I wandered through the GCH while on that trip. So it was probably started on either Thursday or Friday, which are only two or three days after Veteran's Day, so within the "around Veteran's Day" that I recalled.

 

[Sherry E]

Yes, which is why I was very specific to say the big GCH hotel gingerbread house. I didn't want people to think I was talking about the smaller houses at Storytellers or White Water Snacks.


I knew it was not there on the first day of the season or even on Veteran's Day...but I wasn't at my photo archive to see exactly when I saw it being constructed, which is why I said "around Veteran's Day". I looked at my photos and the big GCH Gingerbread House was well underway by the 21st (Friday). That's the first day that I wandered through the GCH while on that trip. So it was probably started on either Thursday or Friday, which are only two or three days after Veteran's Day, so within the "around Veteran's Day" that I recalled.

Veterans Day is November 11th.

 

[figment_jii]

Veterans Day is November 11th.

For some reason I was thinking it was a week later last year!

 

[Sherry E]

For some reason I was thinking it was a week later last year!

It's a holiday that's hard to keep up with (even though it keeps the 11/11 date every year), as it seems like it should be on a Monday or a Friday, and it somehow never seems 'right' when it's on any other day of the week to me! Like this year, for example, the Wednesday Veterans Day seems very out of place.

 

[figment_jii]

It's a holiday that's hard to keep up with (even though it keeps the 11/11 date every year), as it seems like it should be on a Monday or a Friday, and it somehow never seems 'right' when it's on any other day of the week to me! Like this year, for example, the Wednesday Veterans Day seems very out of place.

For some reason I had the 18th stuck in my head as Veteran's Day (no idea why). It's nice when it lines up on a Monday or Friday (for those that get it off, at least!), but kind of weird when it's in the middle of the week. It'll certainly make for an odd school week for some kids (two days in school, one day off, two more days in school, then the weekend).