I am a scaredy-cat. I cannot watch Halloween movies without screaming, Mickey’s Not So Scary is a little too intense for me, and I don’t even go near Disney’s primary rival, Universal Studios, when they have their haunted houses up and running. All of this is to say that I am glad that Orlando is putting Halloween to rest for another year (at least, until August 2020).
Regardless of my fear of Halloween, decorations like the Mickey Pumpkins and the lanterns that say “See You Real Soon” show that Disney and the DVC community are celebrating a season that deserves attention. However, once the clock strikes midnight, and Halloween turns into November 1st, it’s full-on holiday mode. We start getting the parades, shows, costumes, lighting, and everything that reminds people that the holiday season is upon us. But, for DVC owners, what does this mean to you?
I think we can all agree that there’s nothing better than driving up to your home resort, or checking in at a DVC Resort, and hearing “Welcome home!” But do you put up your holiday decorations almost two months before you actually celebrate? For those who celebrate Christmas, how many of you buy your tree in early November? I would hope very few (or else there may be a bounty of dead trees by December 25th).
All of this is to say that when you come home, you desire someplace comfortable and familiar. That is why, ideally, Disney would have a transition period, even for two or three weeks. During that time, you can come home to the Disney World that you know in love, or, as I call it, “Disney Classic.”
Do you agree that we should revert back to the normal Disney (especially in the Magic Kingdom) for a period between Halloween and the holiday season? Either way, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below, over on DISboards, or in our DVC Fan Facebook community!
There are some of us that the only way we can do any celebrating of Christmas at Disney is that first week in November. This happens because we have jobs that keep us at home helping make your Christmas shopping, special events and charitable activities function for you. And even then we don’t get all the special things Disney provides just one month later.
I love that they flip from Halloween to Christmas so quickly. One of my favorite memories was taking my three kids trick or treating at Magic Kingdom and Fort Wilderness. Then the next day doing Christmas pics in both places with far less crowds then during the holidays and cheaper rates to stay at the Fort.
No i do not agree, for us overseas travellers who can not go to Disney every other week as we are not locals the idea of being able to book a 14 day holiday and time it right to catch the end of Halloween and then catch the beginning of Christmas appeals to many overseas travellers.
If you open this gap then you could only catch one of these magical times and for some it may only be a once in a lifetime trip.
So I think the idea of a gap of 7 days between the two is great.
You could argue why start Halloween in August.
Using your example Halloween would only be around for a few days and the same with Christmas and then not everyone gets to enjoy these times at Disney.
For my family Disney has it spot on and we hope it never changes.
I love that Disney starts the Holiday Season early because that means if I can’t make it there in December I can still get in the Holiday mood in November. This year we are doing a Very Merry Christmas Cruise and then going to WDW after for a few days. I can’t wait to see both the Disney Magic and WDW decorated in the Holiday finest!!
There is a limited time between the holidays for people to enjoy the decorations. Disney is not the only one to decorate early.
They really can’t put off decorating for any major holiday. There is way too much to do to get everything ready and out on Display. I was backstage at MK visiting a friend one September. They were working on Christmas trees. Every tree was cut from a larger tree into a perfect shape. Then were then sprayed with green flame retardant paint. Then lights were attached to the tree with green wire ties. Then they put on ornaments, all of which are permanently attached to the tree. Now think about how long it takes to do one tree, and then multiply it by how many trees Disney has. It’s a lot. Now, imagine everything else they do. The wreaths, the garlands, the lights. They used to start setting up Osbourne at least as early October. And don’t forget, they only put stuff out at night, when there aren’t a lot of guests around.
There isn’t any way they can wait until after Thanksgiving to decorate like we normal people do; they would still be putting stuff out into February.
While I love classic Disney, that time between Halloween and Christmas is a sweet spot out here in CA crowd wise to enjoy the decor and the land. We have an annual 5 day trip to Disneyland every mid November just for the holiday decor and the delish Festival of Holidays food at California Adventure. We are locals but for this trip we stay on site. Walking through downtown Disney and hearing the classic holiday tunes, the festive holiday decor… combining with Disney and it’s a nastalgic carefree and magical journey back to childhood- the feeling off Christmas and Disney. 🙂 we don’t care too much for Halloween either, but still make it to Disney for the food. (I am starting to see a trend) 🙂
Nowadays, Disney does things for the money and not for the love of Disney. The Halloween parties are an example. The more parties, the more money. It’s no different than them having all the festivals through out the year. More festivals, more money. I’m sure they’ve increase the “limited” number of tickets to these parties (Halloween and Christmas) just to bring in more people and thus more money. See where I’m going with this? So, having a break between holidays might mean a break for guests, but Disney doesn’t want the breaks. I’m surprise Disney hasn’t started up some type of Spring Easter party?
There’s one thing Disney does better than anyone else, and that’s a totally immersive experience. That goes deep for the holidays. I have been there at least twice for the Christmas decor, and once for the changeover period. It’s pretty incredible when you consider the logistics. For me, there are plenty of other times to enjoy Disney being “just Disney.” Bring on the trees, the lights, the music…I’m ready!
Sadly 100% correct.
My opinion differs from this article. “Disney Classic” can be had all other times of the year. We do not personally decorate for Christmas until as close to Christmas as possible. However, as DVC members who are not local, we love having that extended window to enjoy Halloween or Christmas or both. One of our favorite times to come is at the end of Halloween. We get to enjoy the fall decorations and then a week of gradual changeover to Christmas — best of both worlds, plus Food and Wine to boot.
Holidays are special times at WDW, but I don’t want to see Halloween or Christmas more than a month in advance of the holiday. Parties and decor for Halloween shouldn’t occur until October 1 and the week of Thanksgiving for Christmas. Everyone jokes that it is always festival time in Epcot. In Magic Kingdom we aren’t far from half the year being covered with these two holidays.
It’s never too early to start celebrating the holidays! Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away and its great to have the holiday decor in full swing for those visiting in November, its one of the most special times of the year. On a side note, you left me scratching my head on the “intensity” of MNSSHP!
I love having the holiday stretch from Halloween through Christmas! I cannot always go after Thanksgiving so this is my way of kicking off the season’