When is the best time for a Winter trip?

[DarthVader]

New poster here, and I'm planning a trip to WDW in the winter. I had set my dates for 12/05 through 12/14 (ten days). I was notified that as a Disney Visa card holder, I'd get the meal program for free on certain dates. Of course those dates do not include the week I have tentatively booked.

Anyways how busy/crowded is WDW for the week of 12/05 through the 14th? I'm assuming the following week (12/12 through the 21st) is going to be very busy. From what I've read, it starts getting really crazy then.

Another week is November 9th through the 18th. My wife is concerned that while some (all?) the decorations may be up, it may not "feel" Chistmassy" (is that even word?) Given the lower cost of the resort, compared to the first week of December, and free meal plan. I'm kind of liking this time frame.

Can anyone comment on this time frame as well - how busy is it and/or hows the weather in November compared to December?

Thanks in advance.
Mike

 

[DarthVader]

WOW, I had no idea that the week I was originally going was Pop Warner week

I'm so thankful that I changed my reservation to November at this point.

Here's what Mousesavers as to say about it (I'm sure you all are very aware of this but being a neophyte I'm not).

http://www.mousesavers.com/walt-dis...ntly-asked-questions-about-walt-disney-world/

• Pop Warner Week – The Pop Warner Super Bowl and National Cheer & Dance Championships are held at Disney World in early December (2013 dates: December 7-13). The Value resorts and some of the Moderate resorts will be FULL of kids (both football players and cheerleaders – there are 64 football teams and 400 cheer squads competing). Expect a lot of noise if you stay there. This event can cause increased crowds at the parks in the evenings (not during the day, since they are busy competing).

 

[DisneyRoy]

You were going the same exact dates as me and my family (Dec 5 - 14). My sister in law is a Disney Visa card holder and what they don't tell you is that Disney puts out certain dates for the public but the Visa cardholders have other unadvertised dates for Free Dining available to them. My sister in law was able to get FREE DINING for the whole 10 days we are there from the 5th to the 14th. If you really want to go in December (which it sounds like you would prefer) I would call Chase and make sure that the Free Dining is available. If you can get that it usually saves ~$1000.

 

[DarthVader]

I am a Disney visa card holder and I told them as such, and asked specifically about free dining on those dates. I called a day or two before the free dining plan was announced to the public.

Don't get me wrong, I'm so happy they didn't accommodate me, because of the Pop Warner thing going on. What turned out to be a hassle was really a blessing in disguise imo.

 

[tem325]

The last two times I went, it was "medium" and all of the Christmas decor was up for both trips:

1. two years ago, we went for 5 days before the Marathon, Jan 6-12.
2. Last year, we went Dec 11-14 and it was medium too, not too bad.

Know which parks to hit on which days, plan your FP accordingly and you'll get it all in!

 

[DisneyRoy]

Not too worried about the Pop Warner crowds. They don't go in the parks much until later in the day. And we're pretty good about ignoring them in the resorts. Never had any issues so far.

 

[DarthVader]

I've been in resorts when there's something going on and its something if I can avoid I will. Perhaps me and my family aren't too good at ignoring them. I agree during the day, they'll be busy doing their football/cheering thing but when we're chilaxing at night, it could be crazy.

I realize Disney's resorts and/or parks are always busy but I'd like to set myself up for success from the get go and if that means avoiding the pop warner event in the December I'm one step ahead

Enjoy your vacation and good luck

 

[Polyman]

The best time for a winter trip....is during winter. Dec 5-14 is still fall.

 

[DisneyRoy]

The best time for a winter trip....is during winter. Dec 5-14 is still fall.

Unless you're coming from upstate NY like me when winter begins in the middle of November! Weather wise...

 

[LAKid53]

Christmas decorations & lights on the Castle are up in November (up when we went last Veteran's Day). Unless you love crowds or are completely insane, do not go the week between Christmas and New Year's. I think early December is not too crowded. And MVMCP starts in November and runs through just before Christmas.

 

[SMS55]

The weeks you are going are both slower times. Crowds don't pick up til about the 20th or so, or when ever kids let out of school for Christmas break. I've been to Disney in December on multiple occasions from around the 6th, 13th and 18th. All have been great. This past December we went the weekend of the 13th. It was supposed to be Pop Warner weekend, but other than some more people than usual walking around the resort we didn't really notice. The parks weren't any more noticeably crowded. We are rarely in the resort so it didn't matter to us anyways. The parks and resorts will all be decorated for the holidays, so you'll get that benefit. Just know that Magic Kingdom closes early on some nights for the very merry christmas party which is a separately priced event.