Holidays at Disney questions

[mac41099]

I am starting to plan for our next Disney vacation this year. Normally we go in September to avoid the crowds. We rarely encounter any wait times for rides, so that is why we enjoy September timeframe.

However, this year we would like to go in November/December for 2 reasons. One, we want to see all the Christmas decorations, which we have never seen in person. Two, we are having our 2nd daughter in a couple weeks and would like to wait until she is 10-11 months before going on vacation.

So, here are my questions. We'd like to go during down times at the parks and avoid the crowds, so what are the best weeks to go? I know that Thanksgiving is horrible, as well as week after Christmas.

When do they put up all the Christmas decorations in the parks, so we'd know the earliest time in November that we could go?

When are all these pop warner, cheerleader, etc times occur so we can avoid them at our stay? Nothing against them, just want to lessen the crowds.

We will stay at a DVC and our prefernce is Wilderness Lodge with Beach Club choice #2. Do they do a good job at decorating and are those good choices for that time of the year? We've stayed at Boardwalk before, but in Sept.

Thanks

 

[slowbee]

I would recommend waiting till the 2nd weekend in December. You will miss the WDW Christmas Day Parade taping that is going on.

We went in 05 during the taping and this past December the weekend afterwards.. and the crowds are better.. and the MK Tree is back where it belongs.

We're plaiing on our trip this year again in December and looking at the weekend of Dec 8th.. figuring we would miss the tapings.

 

[wdwlvr]

My husband and I were at WDW Dec. 2-8 and that was right during Pop Warner so avoid that week.

In 2005 we went Nov. 6-10 and a lot of the Christmas decorations were already up including the Christmas trees at all 4 parks. I do know that this past year Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party started the middle of November and that is something you don't want to miss.

Hope this helps. Have fun! :xmas:


Last Trip: Dec. 2-8, 2006 All Star Sports
Next Trip: Dec. 18-24, 2007 All Star Sports

 

[Aurora23]

Your best bet would be Nov25-Dec2 and then Pop Warner hits right after. Then Dec10-22 would be my next choices. I've been there right after Thanksgiving until the week before Christmas. Like you, I would not brave the holiday crowds. But since a lot of people think these are the "slow" times, word is catching on. Happy planning!

 

[luvGoofy]

We went this past December and it was so beautiful. We went the second week of December (the 10th to the 16th) and didn't really encounter any crowds until the 15th which was a Friday night. We did the Mickey's very Merry Christmas party on Tuesday night and the Candlelight Processional on Thursday night and it worked perfectly. The weather was great also, high 70's during the day and 60's at night. The week before this was pretty crowded due to the Christmas parade taping and pop warner and the week after I think picks up due to the Holidays approaching but this week seemed pretty perfect.

 

[swimmom]

We have gone the week before Christmas and a long weekend the second week in December. The second week in December was best. The week before Christmas wasn't bad, but in got more crowded each day closer to Christmas.

The Christmas decorations at WL are great. They put up a huge tree in the lobby. The whole theming at WL really adds to the holiday feeling.

 

[tink68]

Wow! This is almost the same question I was about to ask. We are looking at going on Dec 15th-20th. Is this a good time or too close to Christmas? We have an 11 yr old who cannot miss too many days of school and another who will be about 2 1/2 at this time. This will be his first trip and our first time to go during the holidays. We normally go in October but would really like to see the holiday decorations. I would really appreciate some info on this subject also. Thanks!:xmas:

 

[mac41099]

Sounds like the best time to go is the 2nd week in December. After Thanksgiving sounds good, too, but I'd rather be in the middle of Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Thanks for all your advice and help. I'll use it to put in a reservation for Wilderness Lodge next week or so.

 

[SweetPea]

We went this past December 2-9. This was pop warner week, but if you're staying at a DVC, this won't be an issue for you. They are busy for most of the day and then showed up at the parks late in the afternoon and evening time. However, even with this going on, we barely had to wait in line for any ride. Most of the Christmas decorations were up by this time. I was dissappointed, though, that the MK Christmas tree did not show up until our last day there. We couldn't figure that out. The weather was also strange that week too. One day we were sweating and the next we were freezing. We also did MVMCP on Tuesday night and this worked out great. We have also been the full week before Thanksgiving. The weather was beautiful and a lot of the Christmas decorations were up, but not all. From talking to CM during our trip, the week following Thanksgiving and the 2nd week of December (after Pop Warner) are the best times to go. Enjoy!

 

[Highland_Holly]

We were at WDW November 30-December 9 and had NO issues with the pop Warner crowd... we really saw very few of them in the parks. I think it is only an issue if you are sharing a hotel with them.

We had a wonderful time... very low crowds... nice weather... Christmas fun! I liked the timing because I still could enjoy Christmastime at home the weeks prior to the holidays. If we had gone a week later and come home, say, the 16th, I would have been a total nutjob having only 8 days until Christmas. The unpacking and laundry alone took me 3 days! JMHO

Holly

 

[TTFN-Tiggger]

I was there this past holiday. Nov30-Dec3. Crowds were not bad at all and we were leaving as Pop Warner was arriving. I am looking to visit again this year at the same time. And it is amazing there at this time of year!!