I am planning a trip for my family (2-4 adults + a 2 year old) and am considering the week after Thanksgiving.
I intend to stay at the Poly via DVC rentals and of course am obsessing over picking the PERFECT dates to avoid the big holiday crowds.
Am I better off picking the week immediately after Thanksgiving (arrive Monday 11/27) or the following week (arrive Monday 12/4)?
The DVC prices seem to drop a bit once December hits but ultimately my priority is finding the sweet spot to experience the Christmas decorations before the Christmas crowds.
My understanding is that the first 2 full weeks after Thanksgiving are (relatively) quiet. A few folks might extend their Thanksgiving trips into Monday/Tuesday, so I’d do the week after if you’re looking to do a Saturday through Sunday type trip.
My trips are always for a week starting the Monday after Thanksgiving. While it has gotten progressively busier over the years, it’s still very manageable.
I mean, wait… No, it’s horribly busy and everyone should avoid that week in particular
I am not convinced that the first two weeks of December are really all that lower of crowds compared to how it once was, based on our experience this past December. It was quite crowded…and sometimes unbearably so. Of course, better than the week from Christmas to New Years.
There are some things you can do to help, though. The usual, such as RDing and using ETPH helps. But I would hit MK on party days (even if not going to the party), then hop to something else for the evening. Avoid MK the days that have EEH…unless you arrive at MK just as EEH are about to start. Our absolute worst day for crowds (CL8) was when we foolishly went to MK on a EEH day. Hindsight has four eyes.
The first week in December is the most popular week of the year for DVC members, because of the lower points needed. If you’re wanting to rent points for 2023 I fear you’ve probably missed the boat.
Yes I am talking this year - I didn’t think about the fact that it’s going to be popular DVC members. Shoot. I suppose I should submit a request with the DVC rental groups to see what’s possible.
Thank you. That is helpful. Even at the higher price point I think I need to pursue the last week of November if I have a chance of getting a place. Is it fair to say that if DVC Rental Store has no availability, that Davids Rental or DVC Shop won’t either?
So what I posted is the actual DVC availability as of yesterday. Any rental agency will be seeing the same availability. So nothing available Dec 3-8. (That is standard and lake view was also pretty similar in fact a little less availability.) If one agency says they don’t have enough points then that’s when it’s worth trying another agency.
