Planning an early Nov 13 trip: Advice Needed.

[MacVenture]

I had a couple of question regarding a early Nov trip and I was hopeful of some advice from anyone that has been to WDW during this timeframe. We are planning to stay for 8 days at the BC.

1) What has been YOUR experience at the pool (or for that matter ANY pool) in Nov? Is the pool water warm? Did you incorporate a resort only day to really enjoy the pool? My wife is concerned the pool may be to cold to take full advantage. One of the key decision points for selecting BC was the pool. Her point (which is valid) is why pay extra for the BC if our kids (8, 6,and 5) can't enjoy the pool.

2)Typically, do the water parks or water rides closes during this time frame?

3)What are some of the EXTRA (tours, Pirates and Pals, etc) events that are worth considering?

Thanks in advance!

 

[DisneyDebNJ]

I had a couple of question regarding a early Nov trip and I was hopeful of some advice from anyone that has been to WDW during this timeframe. We are planning to stay for 8 days at the BC.

1) What has been YOUR experience at the pool (or for that matter ANY pool) in Nov? Is the pool water warm? Did you incorporate a resort only day to really enjoy the pool? My wife is concerned the pool may be to cold to take full advantage. One of the key decision points for selecting BC was the pool. Her point (which is valid) is why pay extra for the BC if our kids (8, 6,and 5) can't enjoy the pool.

2)Typically, do the water parks or water rides closes during this time frame?

3)What are some of the EXTRA (tours, Pirates and Pals, etc) events that are worth considering?

Thanks in advance!

We always visit Disney in either late October or early November.. and the weather is usually in the mid to high 80s during the day and mid to high 60s at night. We do visit the water park, and always plan a day at the pool before hitting Epcot at night. Last year was on the cool side (last week of Oct) and did the pool once. As far as extras we have done several (our fav was dolphins in depth but VERY pricey)

 

[BigRedDad]

Weather can be hit or miss. It is an iffy time of year. The good thing is that odds are you will get some pool days during a 1 week stay, maybe not all of them.

 

[OldYeller]

We were there the first week of Nov. 2011. Days were warm and sunny but the nights were pretty cool(sweatshirt weather, too cold to swim). It was a little cool in the shade in the afternoon by the pool. BLT seemed to block a ton of the sun as it became later in the afternoon. Kind of had to migrate to chairs in the sun. As long as you were in the sun, it was fine. I've never stayed at BC but have walked by the pool and it didn't seem like there was a big shade issue there.

 

[GeoDonJac34]

We have always visited mid October, but this year we are looking at early November. I also have some concerns about the temps. Don't like the idea of carrying around a sweatshirt in case it gets chilly. The water parks should all be open during your trip. They do shut down if the weather is bad for the day. I am not thrilled that daylight savings will take an hour of sunlight away, but hoping some Christmas decorations will be out to offset some of the weather stuff. As for swimming, I think if you are coming from colder temps the Florida weather will feel great, and the kids won't feel the cold like we do.

 

[DizneyPryncess]

We visited this past November, the week before Thanksgiving. We were able to use the pool at Wilderness Lodge several days, it was probably in the high 70's on average if I remember correctly. A few days were a bit cooler for us, and we didn't hit the pool, but the weather was still really nice & other people were in the pool.

We didn't set aside specific days for the pool. Usually we needed a park break, and we'd go back and take DD in the pool for a little bit. When we didn't have kids, we did set aside certain days that were "resort" days. But with DD, we have to take breaks from the parks.

All the water rides were open & people were riding them. Not sure about the water parks, as DD is too young for them. I can't imagine why they wouldn't have been open though. I do think the early morning & evenings would have been a little cold for them, but mid-day would have been fine.

Our favorite tour is Keys to the Kingdom - definitely worth checking out. I also loved the Segway tour in Epcot, but I believe I saw something about it being discontinued. I think the new trek in Animal Kingdom sounds awesome too, but I haven't actually done that one yet. =-)

For other extras - look into getting tickets to La Nouba in Downtown Disney. Very good show. If you stay at BC, you can rent surrey bikes & ride them in a loop around the resort boardwalk. We had fun doing that. In the evenings, they show movies outside on a big screen on the beach. You will get a schedule when you check in. That makes for a relaxing evening!

Have fun!! =-)

 

[MacVenture]

Thanks all for the information and sharing your experiences!

 

[HouCuseChickie]

We arrived this past year probably just after the dates you're considering. We checked in on Nov 15th and it was way too chilly to use the pool...well, at least that's what most of us felt. We saw maybe 4 or 5 people hanging out in Stormalong. Still, you really never know what you're going to get with temps. We seem to be blessed and cursed with cooler temps during fall/winter trips. Ex- we had temps as low as upper 20s when we went in December of 2010, but that same week a year later had temps in the 60s-70s. From the years I lived in FL, Nov is kind of the same...i.e. you're more likely to have mild temps that could make pool time possible, but you just never know.

 

[luv]

November is usually warm. I'm still using my pool on a regular basis. Disney heats their pools, so it is always easy to swim in them...but in the winter, it can be darn chilly getting out! Unless it is unseasonably cool, early November is swimming weather. Even mid-November is generally OK, if you're determined to swim. I tend to stop using the pool around mid-late November...but I will if I really want a workout.

I never took an entire day off to be at the pool. 3-6 hours is enough time for me. I'd take mornings or afternoons off, but I never spent 12 or 14 hours at the pool. If I was at WDW, I was going to parks every day! That was me. Some people do take entire days off to "enjoy the hotel." I don't know what they do and cannot imagine myself finding enough stuff to do at the hotel that i could enjoy and entire day out of the parks...but if it's good for them, I'm all for it!

Whatever works for you - whatever YOU like best - that's what you should do. It's your vacation. Follow your bliss.

 

[melflip8]

1) What has been YOUR experience at the pool (or for that matter ANY pool) in Nov? Is the pool water warm? Did you incorporate a resort only day to really enjoy the pool? My wife is concerned the pool may be to cold to take full advantage. One of the key decision points for selecting BC was the pool. Her point (which is valid) is why pay extra for the BC if our kids (8, 6,and 5) can't enjoy the pool.

2)Typically, do the water parks or water rides closes during this time frame?

3)What are some of the EXTRA (tours, Pirates and Pals, etc) events that are worth considering?

1. For Florida, it is VERY rare that you would get a full 8 days of it being cold, or cool in Florida. Worst case, 2 maybeee 3 days that is MIGHT dip down in temps, but then it should regulate out to be warm enough for the pool. I am fairly sure the pools are heated to, or at least some of them are at BC. If you are ok with the slight chance of not having 8 available pool days, then you should be fine, I would just expect to see how the weather is when you are there and pool it up as you get the chance, which you will.

2. Same for the water parks, even in the winter time (now) they close for 1 maybe 2 days at a time, and the weather comes back up to being warm, for example, they were closed for 2 days earlier this week, but this weekend it will be 82 (here in Sarasota, 1.5 hours SouthWest of the World).

3. Extra Tours for the Kiddos: A cheaper tour is the Living with the Land tour, they kids will get to release ladybugs and see how fruit grows, plus see baby alligators andddd all for about $20. Tour is only about an hour and a half, so should be great for their attention span.

Have fun on your trip!

 

[RedDad]

We have been several times in November and October and the weather can be hit or miss. There were days when it was 80 degrees, and some days when we needed a jacket. For the most part, it has been nice and we had no problem using the pools.

Just my opinion, but any time we go for more than 4 days we take at least one "off" day to hang at the pool. We typically try to stay at a deluxe with a nice pool for this reason. Usually after 4 days straight of hitting the parks hard we're ready to just relax for a bit. That said, usually we'll do something in the afternoon of our "off" day, like UNI or a water park.

 

[RedDad]

As for extras do to during Nov - depending on how late you'll be there you may want to consider Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at the MK. I think it started the 2nd weekend in Nov this past year. It's a separate event that you'll have to pay extra for, but very fun if you're into Christmas - the parks are all decorated, snow on Main St, hot chocolate, etc. We loved it!

 

[bethymouse]

It's hit or miss at the water parks at all times of the year: storms, etc...
The pool water is heated, but we always catch a cold somehow. We still have lots of fun though! Great time of year to go!