When to go...Oct/Nov/Dec...

[Woodcourt]

So, we are trying to figure out when to visit the World this next year. Winter/Spring (early 08) is out, dont want to visit during summer...so we are looking at fall/winter...so this is what we are thinking. We LOVE Disney at Christmas. We would love to be able to go then, but we started talking about maybe going in October or November...any thoughts.

We are going for sure for a week in Dec of 2009, so should we go for Christmas or try to hit another time. Any specials usually released?

We like the idea of Food & Wine Festival, but with little bitty ones, we dont get to spend as much time at Epcot as we want and get to when they are not with us. WE dont know that we can enjoy it as much as we would like. Also, I like the idea of MNSSHP but will it be too scary for little ones. Our kids will be 6,4 and 2/3 and we have friends who will travel with a one year old.

So...any thoughts to help guide our discussion here? Thanks in advance!

 

[lilprincesskymberley]

my dm, dd, db and i are going to disney this year over Christmas and from what i've heard the atmosphere is excellent but it can become very busy, so it depends how well your children cope with a lot of people. I have also been to disney in october and it was excellent, not too hot didn't have to wait long at all in any queue's for rides. Overall i am really looking forward to disney at xmas for the atmosphere but the parks are much less busy in oct!

hope this helps

 

[lpandorf]

I've been both mid October and mid-November. Both great. In October it was warmer. Both trips we could still swim and were in shorts all the time. The Halloween party was lots of fun. It was somewhat crowded but not as bad as when we were there in June last summer. If my work schedule would accomodate it I'd love to go back in October, but just has not worked out past two years. We went the week before Thanksgiving last year and going again this year. The weather was cooler so we missed swimming comfortably. Well, the kids were fine in the heated pool, but I was not and it's just not fun for me to swim when you need a jacket when you get out. But it was so festive in November. All the decorations were up. We were at Wilderness Lodge and it was beautiful! And the Chrismtas party was fun, too. It was fun to shop at DDT, as well, looking for holiday gifts.

 

[MickeyNicki]

There is nothing like WDW during the holidays...if you are for sure going in 09 then I would say go in late Oct for Halloween and the F&W event

 

[Woodcourt]

Thanks for the advice....anyone esle?

 

[DisneyFans4]

DH and DS just got back last week since DH was on a business convention and they said it was crowded. Between the F&W Festival and a holiday the parks were crowded. December is beautiful with all the decorations but also very crowded, worse than our visits in Aug. and Oct. Expect very long waits for rides and fastpasses running out by noon. I'm not sure about Nov. because I've never gone but I work at a school and alot of people are going since it's teacher's conventions the first week of Nov.

Just go and enjoy because after all this is WDW so always anticipate crowds.

 

[DVC Grammy]

Usually, the week after Thanksgiving is relatively quiet (for WDW ), and the Christmas decorations are already up. The weather is generally mild, and overall, it's a wonderful time to go. With such young ones, you'll have many opportunities in the future to go at more crowded times when they're better able to cope with the hustle and bustle.

 

[Marc A.]

We just got back from a trip 10/13 to 10/20 and we thought it was pretty crowded. Not too much to never do it again but we will try either the week after or two weeks after Thanksgiving in 2009. I would guess it would be less crowded. Probably more crowded as you get closer to X-mas.
Ideas?

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

Try the first week in October if you can. If you could check in on one of the last days in September you may be able to get one of those great September rate and extended it thru your October stay. We did that a few years ago and got free Dining plan and was able to use it for some F&W booths for snacks. I would say our peak wait that week was 45 min for major attractions but a little planning/fast passes and we avoided those waits adn that was on the weekend days.The crowds were not BAD but were not as low as early september and we got to attend a MNSSHP. It was great. It is not scary at all and i think even the smallest kids would enjoy it. There are more charectors out and the shows are great.

 

[Conan the Librarian]

Short answer: YES.

Longer answer. All three months have their charm. I think I prefer December. We camp at Ft. Wilderness and the cooler weather makes things more comfortable.

 

[soccer mom]

October - No, can still be pretty hot/humid/rainy - still hurricane season.

November - Yes, especially the week before Thanksgiving Week. We have always had beautiful weather in December and crowds should be pretty low, especially that week before Thanksgiving week.

December - Yes, chance of cooler/cold weather, but the festivities and decorations make up for it.

So, I guess I would vote for November, especially if you're going in December next time!

 

[Cleokitty]

We like December. October was still hot and humid when we went. We've never been in November. The weather in December was cool at night (and sometimes downright cold) but nice, nice, nice during the day. The crowds were less in Dec than our Oct trips also. Hope this helps.

 

[Ashley Kees]

Try the first week in October if you can. If you could check in on one of the last days in September you may be able to get one of those great September rate and extended it thru your October stay. We did that a few years ago and got free Dining plan and was able to use it for some F&W booths for snacks. I would say our peak wait that week was 45 min for major attractions but a little planning/fast passes and we avoided those waits adn that was on the weekend days.The crowds were not BAD but were not as low as early september and we got to attend a MNSSHP. It was great. It is not scary at all and i think even the smallest kids would enjoy it. There are more charectors out and the shows are great.

Unfortunately, you cannot do this anymore. Your rate is now based on each day, not the first day of your stay. However, my understanding is that if you check in on the last day of free dining, that WILL be extended throughout your stay.

 

[danjoan14]

This year, we're going the week before Thanksgiving. Our neighbors were there last year at that time. They said that the days were warm, and the nights were cool. The crowd level was very low as well. If you're planning on going in October, remember that the Southern schools have a fall break during that time. We hit that during the Columbus day week a few years ago. The parks were crowded. Also, this year, the first week in November is Jersey Week. And from what I hear, Thanksgiving week is a nightmare! Last year, we went the week before Halloween. Fall break was over, and the crowd level wasn't bad. This year, this is our first time going in November. I'll be sure to post on how the crowd levels were when we return.