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

 

[Tiggertoo56]

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

Hi and welcome to the boards!
I've been at both times and prefer Halloween, although Christmas is wonderful - but that is personal preference. Done 4 Halloween visits and one Christmas. When I go again this year 7 of us are travelling from UK and arrive 30th October so that we can do MNSSHP and also try to do MVCP before we leave. Crowds are vey busy nearer to Christmas - but we went mid December and this wasn't too bad.
I presume you're from the UK as you mention Virgin? We've used Virgin most times, but have a local travel agent who gets the best deals fo rus. Last time we flew with Virgin, but used Walt Disney Travel Company for the rest. This time flying with BA and using WDTC for the rest - have good deals. Also depends on accommodation - if you want to stay on site look for Meal Deal Plans. Disney Hotels have the whole experience - and having never stayed off-site would not contemplate doing so.
I would suggest you look around for what you want and choose the time which suits you best - Oct/Nov is slightly warmer than Dec too. Hope that some of this helps

 

[Arty Cordova]

Christmas isn't bad at all if you go early December Tuesday-Thursday. If not, I recommend the Halloween party.

 

[Disneydreamer23]

I love Christmas but I would have to say Halloween time is my favorite I usually go late September the crowds are very low the heat isn't a killer and the Halloween party is amazing christmas time is really nice with all of the decorations but its a hit or miss on crowds I've also been there in December for last 5 years and two years was cold and three years it was warm and I would rather just know for sure that it's not going to be cold when I go

 

[HouCuseChickie]

I've been while the Halloween décor and the Christmas décor has been up. I prefer the Christmas décor; however, due to crowds- I wouldn't go right at Christmas. The first time we went for the Christmas décor, it was an early December trip. It was great because it was post parade taping, so even the MK tree was up. We also went just before Thanksgiving once...while most of the holiday décor was up (watched the hotels transform overnight) things like the Epcot storytellers, Candlelight processional, etc. were not going on just yet. Still, Osborne Lights, castle Dreamlights, MVMCP, and the various gingerbread creations and trees were up at this point. Weather can be all over the place in Nov and Dec if you go for the Christmas décor (we've had 80s and we've had 20s). Oct and Sept are obviously going to be warmer (i.e. could see it hit the 90s).

 

[Poofiesdream]

We go for both Halloween and Christmas. We go around the 3d week of October for the Halloween Party and the 2d week of December for the Christmas Party. If you go on Halloween day it will be crowded also if you go the end of the 3d week in Dec. to New Years Eve it is really really crowded! I prefer Christmas to get me in the mood. Being empty nester's and no relatives around for the holidays can be depressing so we go to Disney! We only live 3 hours south of Disney so we go 3 or 4 times a year. Now that my husband is retiring this year we will go even more.

 

[SMS55]

Both are good times to go. School is going on so the crowds aren't too bad as long as Christmas break hasn't started. If you like Halloween then October is a great time to go because the parks are decorated with Halloween decorations and you have the Not So Scary Halloween Party. Keep in mind it's a separately priced event and the Magic Kingdom is closed early those days, so plan accordingly. If you love Christmas, then nothing beats Disney in December. The parks are decorated for Christmas and so are the hotels. Crowds will be ok til about the 20th when kids let out of school. Then the crowds increase very quickly til they are unbearable from about the 24th through the 1st. If you go the first two or three weeks there are no problems. During Christmas you also have Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. Like the Halloween party, it is a separately priced event and the Magic Kingdom closes early on those days. I prefer December but it's because we love Christmas. You'll definitely go back home in the Christmas spirit. There are lots of lights everywhere. There are events around the parks like the candlelight processional at EPCOT. I think we've seen the last of the Osborne Spectacle of Lights at the Studios though.

Weather in October is the transition month. Early October can still be warm and humid with the summer pattern. By the middle it starts to change and by the end of the month the humidity has dropped it's very comfortable at least by us native Floridian standards. December has cool mornings and the afternoons are pleasant. Although we can get the occasional cold front and ti can dip into the 30's. You might arrive and it's around 80 degrees in the afternoon and then the front passes through and it's 41 the next morning. Weather is always unpredictable down here so you'll need to check the weather forecast as the trip approaches so you know how to pack.

 

[Mukta]

Those of my two favorite times of year, so it is hard to pick.

To see the Halloween stuff, I like September when the crowds are low.

To see the Xmas stuff, I like early December when the crowds are low.

I haven't had much luck with weather on any of my trips, but that is how Florida is sometimes.

 

[FitzherbertFreak]

As others have said, if you go in earlyDecember the crowds will be less, as well as the price. Both are great times to go, but IMO, I'd chose Halloween. October less crowded (unless you go on the exact day). Plus, if you're considering going to a party, I'm a way bigger fan of Mickey's Not So Scary Hallloween Pary. The parade and fireworks show are just awesome! Do you know what hotels or what type (Delux, Moderate, Value) are you considering? How many people in your party? Any kids? There are always big deciding factors for newcomers -IMO.

 

[me_stitch]

we wen't December 8th-15th once and Sept. 28th-Oct. 8th another time. We enjoyed both trips but I have to give the nod to October just because of the Food and Wine Festival. We are going this year the first week of November to catch the F&W Festival and to see the Osborne Family Lights, also a must do. Love the decorations during Christmas.

 

[MamaHook]

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!

 

[alissafalco]

You could always do both if you time it right. If you go on Halloween on the 31st and into the first week of November, you can experience the park decorated for both holidays. The Christmas decorations go up over night on nov. 2 or 3rd.

 

[zurgandfriend]

Our favorite time of year is the week after Thanksgiving, nice weather and hopefully less crowded except for the weekends and everything is decorated for the holidays.

 

[MamaHook]

Had no idea you could go to both, thanks!

 

[JillC LI]

Been there mid-October for Halloween and early December for Xmas. Both were great trips in their own right. Crowds were about the same. Decorations at the Park were great for both. We got free dining on both those trips which was great. In October I preferred the weather and loved the Food & Wine Festival. Also loved dressing in costume as a family for MNSSHP. In December I loved the Osborne Lights. We didn't attend MVMCP but saw the fireworks from the observation deck of the California Grill. You can't go wrong either way.

I find Kingdom Konsultants extremely helpful in booking WDW trips at no extra cost, and they will get you any discounts that are released after you book.

 

[popcenturylover]

These are both great times to visit! In 12' we went in late September. We went to the MNSSHP & got to enjoy the F&W Festival. Crowds weren't as low as I thought they'd be. This past December we visited the 1st week in December. The decorations were beautiful (especially at the Deluxe resorts) & the Osborne Lights were AMAZING!!! The Candlelight Processional was also beautiful! Again, crowds not as low as expected but, not bad with FP+. We always book directly through Disney.

 

[Mark Cluff]

Something else to bear in mind when planning if there are more than 4 of you travelling I would consider staying offsite at a villa. There is even an entire topic devoted to it on here! It is a lot cheaper if that's a consideration tho you do miss out on the magic a little. We are going in late May early June with 6 of us staying in a villa. We have never done Halloween but would love to. We did Xmas a few years ago and loved it. We flew out on 28th Dec for two weeks the first week was mad busy the second week was empty. If you plan all your attractions for the second week after soaking up the atmosphere shows and parades in the first week then you will have a great time. Enjoy the planning!

 

[Minnie1976]

I've done both and would pick Halloween. The Halloween party is great and so is the parade. You also have the Food and Wine Festival at the World Showcase which I really enjoyed. I don't know when it isn't crowded in December anymore. We were there the 1st week of December this year and crowded. The 2nd week was the Pop Warner Football. Then you start with the kids getting out of school for Christmas.

We went in February this year and couldn't' believe how crowded. I wouldn't know when it isn't crowded anymore except maybe the beginning for September when the kids are just getting back to school.

 

[Captain Jack Sparrow]

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 went during Christmas in 2012 - 2nd week. Weather was nice. A few cool nights were perfect. Then decorations in the resorts and parks are unbelievable. We are going back this year. 2nd week of December. Never been for Halloween but I doubt we ever go anytime except for Christmas ! It's THAT awesome !!

 

[Captain Jack Sparrow]

Oh

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

Oh and if u do go I highly recommend the Candlelight Processional in Epcot - amazing