Would you rather!?!

[tem325]

Okay, so my fiance and I are planning a mini-honeymoon a few weeks after our December wedding. Our work schedules will only allow a big trip over the summer, so we're doing a big honeymoon in July. Since we got engaged at Disney, we want to do a mini getaway to celebrate our marriage shortly after the wedding.

1. Scenario #1: Boardwalk Hotel Wed, 12/16 through Sun, 12-20 a few days after the wedding (We get married 12/12). Free dining. Lighter crowds 17 & 18, but crowds growing (AH this scates me!!!) due to impending Christmas week 12/19 & 20.

2. Scenario #2: Boardwalk Hotel (Or something comparable). No free dining, but possibly lowest hotel rates due to it being January 20-24. Lighted crowds for sure (my parents went this same week this past year and walked on stuff). We went to Disney 12/2013 and saw the Christmas stuff and while it's awesome, it's not a dealbreaker if we miss it.

 

[SnowWhite1015]

If you've already seen WDW at Christmas I'd go with January. Free dining isn't as much of a draw for a short trip, and I hate crowds!

Congrats on your engagement and upcoming wedding. I'm getting married in October and we're honeymooning at Disney too. =)

 

[rsoxguy]

From a philosophical viewpoint, I would choose the non-holiday option. It will allow the two of you to focus on the uniqueness of your love for each other and your newly formed union, as opposed to any given holiday being celebrated by others.

 

[tem325]

Good thinking! This is what the fiance says too! The free dining plan is sucking me in!! ha ha!

 

[sxeensweet]

I would go with December because we go this time often and you would be leaving before the crowds get too heavy. The crowds usually start to get heavier a few days before Christmas give or take. If you leave on 12/20 you would be fine IMO. Also this time of year is absolutely our fave time to go with all the beautiful decorations and lots of holiday festivities etc. Plus I love the Boardwalk as well!!

 

[lunchbox1175]

I would go in December, the holiday lights and activities are awesome, and can only be seen that time of year. Also i believe you would be leaving before the christmas crowds get big. We have gone a few times that week in January, and the crowds aren't that much better than the mid december crowds.

 

[lunchbox1175]

I would go with December because we go this time often and you would be leaving before the crowds get too heavy. The crowds usually start to get heavier a few days before Christmas give or take. If you leave on 12/20 you would be fine IMO. Also this time of year is absolutely our fave time to go with all the beautiful decorations and lots of holiday festivities etc. Plus I love the Boardwalk as well!!

haha.....you beat me to it!

 

[sxeensweet]

I would go in December, the holiday lights and activities are awesome, and can only be seen that time of year. Also i believe you would be leaving before the christmas crowds get big. We have gone a few times that week in January, and the crowds aren't that much better than the mid december crowds.

Plus it can be downright freezing in January and raining (happened before to us as well!) December it can be too as that has happened to us, but it happens a lot more often in January. Something to also think about. It can also be hot you just never know! Haha typical Florida weather can change from one minute to the next just like ours here in Louisiana!

 

[lunchbox1175]

Plus it can be downright freezing in January and raining (happened before to us as well!) December it can be too as that has happened to us, but it happens a lot more often in January. Something to also think about. It can also be hot you just never know! Haha typical Florida weather can change from one minute to the next just like ours here in Louisiana!

Yep! We have had rain and cold, and also 88 and sunny during that week in January, but never had any issues with cold in December.

 

[lunchbox1175]

Also, i think the closer to your actual wedding, the more Magical the trip will be!

 

[Tuvalu]

Yep! We have had rain and cold, and also 88 and sunny during that week in January, but never had any issues with cold in December.

Obviously you were not there the third week in December 2010, with wind chill temperatures in the teens!!

 

[sxeensweet]

Obviously you were not there the third week in December 2010, with wind chill temperatures in the teens!!

Yes we had similar weather in 2012 in December (freezing and windy a few days) and in 2013 it was 85-90 every day in mid December!! You never know!! We have had hot, cold, raining, cool all in ONE trip in December!! Lol

 

[sxeensweet]

Also, i think the closer to your actual wedding, the more Magical the trip will be!

Totally agree!!

 

[Chernaboggles]

I'm inclined to agree with going right after the wedding, because it's a nice special way to kick off married life. You will also probably have more time in the parks, because the parks tend to close early in the off-season (we were there in January and MK often closed at 8).

HOWEVER: weddings are exhausting. They can be very stressful. If you're having a large wedding with a lot of people coming, especially if you have any kind of family or in-law drama, you may find it easier to relax after you get some distance from the event. Give serious consideration (and discussion) to how you and your fiance handle stress and how each of you unwinds. If you're the type of people that need a lot of downtime to recover after a big event, a Disney trip right away may be a bit daunting (unless you're a very laid-back, leisurely sort of WDW vacationer).

Whichever you pick, remember that the honeymoon is the BEGINNING of the married vacation fun, not the end. People love to push this idea that your wedding day must be the VERY BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE and your honeymoon must be the BEST VACATION YOU WILL EVER HAVE.

This is bull$h!t. Do not fall for it.

Your wedding & honeymoon are essentially the kickoff party for the next part of your life. You're at the starting gate of a fun new adventure with a lifetime of possible "best days" and "best trips" ahead of you. That's the part that's really magical.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

I'd pick scenario 1 just because it feels more like a honeymoon when it's right after the actual wedding. I'm a room discount kind of girl, so free dining does nothing for me either way. I do love the holiday decor and I think going at that time of year after you've just gotten married would likely just amplify the special aspects of this trip. I also wouldn't fear the crowds at that time. It normally doesn't get really bad until just before Christmas. Beyond that, weather can be all over the place at both times. I've experienced 20s-30s in both months as well as 70s-80s in both months.

 

[TXDisney]

Scenario 2. We got married at Disney in mid January of 2014. Crowds were more crowded then we thought actually. We did our bounce back in September at the boardwalk. We loved the boardwalk. Especially if ur Epcot lovers like us. Can't beat the location and less kids there, which will be great for a mini honeymoon.