Category — a. When to Go to Walt Disney World

OVERVIEW

This page outlines November 2010 Walt Disney World crowds, prices, deals and discounts, operating hours, and weather, and then ends with week by week summaries and recommended itineraries.

Early November, with cooling but typically nice weather, low crowds other than the first full week (Jersey Week), and moderate prices, has some of the best weeks of the year to visit.

Thanksgiving week is more expensive, and much more crowded.

The last few days of the month are part of one of the three best weeks to visit Walt Disney World.

November also has two special  parties, the last shows of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, and the first of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, each a special evening event–with its own ticket–that have become  family traditions for many.

However, because of these parties, many of the weeks of the month require changes to the standard Autumn-Winter-Spring itinerary and its To-Do List.  See the notes on the weeks of the month below, or this, for more on required adjustments.

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(This page is one of a series explicating Walt Disney World lingo, abbreviations, and FAQ for first time family visitors to Walt Disney World.)

JERSEY WEEK AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

“Jersey Week” is a partly mythical, partly real crowding phenomenon in early November at Walt Disney World.

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OVERVIEW

(Update: you can find specific forecasts for Spring Break 2011 at Disney World by clicking this link.)

I started digging into Easter and Spring Break analysis as work in preparation for the release of 2011 Weeks to Visit Walt Disney World, Ranked in Order.

2011 has a couple of interesting calendar features.

One is that Christmas Eve and New Years Eve are both in the same week–both are Saturdays. This means that the week starting Saturday December 24, 2011 is gonna be a real zoo at Disney World.

Second is that Easter is unusually late. It occurs on April 24, 2011, as late as it has happened since 1943. I did a fair bit of research to estimate the effects this would have on March 2011 attendance at Walt Disney World.

Some of that research is reflected in this post.

GEEKY DETAILS

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OVERVIEW

This page outlines October 2010 Walt Disney World crowds, prices, deals and discounts, operating hours, and weather, and then ends with week by week summaries and recommended itineraries.

The second half of October, with near-perfect weather (unless a hurricane is nearby), low crowds, and moderate prices, has some of the best weeks of the year to visit.

October is also the peak month for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, a special evening event–with its own ticket–that has become a family tradition for many.

However, because of this party, the standard Autumn-Winter-Spring itinerary and its To-Do List need to be adjusted every single week this month–see this for more on required adjustments.

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DISNEY WORLD’S SPECIAL HALLOWEEN PARTY

While Halloween itself is October 31st of course, Walt Disney World provides a special celebration at the Magic Kingdom many evenings in September , October, and even November.

This celebration is called “Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.” 

At the party, many of the Magic Kingdom’s rides are open, and trick or treating, special events, and slightly different parades and fireworks are offered.

The official Disney World page for this event can be found here.

MORE ON MICKEY’S NOT-SO-SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY

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OVERVIEW

This page outlines September 2010 Walt Disney World crowds, prices, deals and discounts, operating hours, and weather, and then ends with week by week summaries and recommended itineraries.

Also in September is Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, a special evening event–with its own ticket–that has become a family tradition for many.

[Read more →]