Halloween vs Christmas season visit?

[MamaHook]

Hi All

I'm new on here but looking for some advice......

In your experience would it be better to go at Halloween or Christmas time - am thinking cost, crowds, weather, overall experience etc??

Also is there any more going on in Disney hotels if you stay in them at this time, rather than a normal hotel?

And.....just wondered who you found it best to book with. Just taken a very quick look at the Virgin website so not shopped around yet, but it was very very expensive!

Thanks!!

MamaHook

 

[harryk]

What a great forum - thanks for all your replies! Having read everything & spoken to the kiddies, think we'd go for Halloween time.
Not exactly sure yet who'd be going - could be 4, 6 or 10! Very exciting & would love to go this year, although 2015 would probably be more realistic.
Love the planning bit too though - spent yesterday looking at brochures & we cant decide between one of the more basic Disney hotels or maybe a 4* hotel elsewhere. Decisions, decisions!

Have done both - off property and on property. On property is, in my opinion, the best way to go.
Transportation is provided by Disney to all locations. It is very reliable and included in your ticket price - so might as well use ist. If a member of your party gets tired they can return to the hotel and not disturb the remainded of your party. If some want to go into the parks and some want to go swimming in the hotel pools they may and not disturb each other's enjoyment of WDW. It is always a matter of taste.

 

[Tom 55]

Wife and I like to go in September. Our first time was for our honeymoon on 9/9/1979. It is our anniversary and my birthday is Oct. 31. So we go to the MNSSHP when we are there. In 2012 we decided to go in December so we could see DW with all the Christmas decorations. We went to the Christmas party and saw the snow on Main street as part of the parade. Crowd levels were about the same and the cost were about the same. The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is slow enough that we had free Disney dining at both times of year. My only reason that I pick September over December was the weather. I like to go swimming early in the mornings and even though the pools are heated to 80 degrees when the air temp is less than that it is cold walking to and from room. With a number of rides that you get wet like Splash mountain walking around with wet clothes was not as fun. Took a long time to dry.

 

[LAKid53]

I've been for Halloween - wasn't that crowded. Wanted to do Christmas (and yeah, the week between Christmas and New Years, no less - call me stupid), but my daughter wasn't able to get off work so I had to cancel. But we had gone in November so we got to see all the decorations and the lights on the Castle. Yes, I second the recommendation to go a week or two before Christmas. A co-worker went last year and said that because of weather (heavy rain), they moved everything inside and there was no snow or parade. But that the crowds weren't bad.

 

[Raeskull]

Hi All

I'm new on here but looking for some advice......

In your experience would it be better to go at Halloween or Christmas time - am thinking cost, crowds, weather, overall experience etc??

Also is there any more going on in Disney hotels if you stay in them at this time, rather than a normal hotel?

And.....just wondered who you found it best to book with. Just taken a very quick look at the Virgin website so not shopped around yet, but it was very very expensive!

Thanks!!

MamaHook

We usually go last week in October first week in November. That way you get to see both halloween decorations and chirstmas. The halloween party is way better than the christmas one. Also we're from Dublin so we use the site www. disneypackages.co.uk with these you can also book flights from the UK. They have a very reasonable booking fee of about £50 sterling per person. Hope that helps.

 

[JTT]

I like the Halloween party and the Halloween parade better than the Christmas Parade and Party.

However, my favorite time to go is the first week in December. Low crowds and the Chrsitmas decoration are awesome.

 

[kettcobb]

We've been for Halloween and really enjoyed it, not just the parks but being able to see all the houses around Orlando that really go to town for decorations - being from England we don't go quite as mad for it so it's great to see.

We are going for this Christmas and my one concern is how busy it is going to be but I think if you plan for it and expect it then it is easily dealt with.

 

[JillC LI]

The Osborne Lights were incredible and they alone might make me lean towards choosing Xmas time, but without them I would definitely choose Halloween time.