Which time frame would be better Nov or Dec?

[Fishman]

For the last two years our family has gone to WDW for the XMAS vacation. We usually go the week before XMAS and leave a day or two before XMAS. This means we have to take the son out of school for a few days, but no big deal IMO, but big deal in the wife's. DW also complained that the crowds were too large and rough this last year and she got knocked around a bit.
So, she wants to try Thanksgiving week this year instead. At first I thought this would be a good compromise as we would not have to take the son out of school as he would already be out on holiday, but then I read some posts that said things like the Osborne Lights, MVMCP, and some of the lights would not happen until after Thanksgiving. This would put a big damper on things for me because the XMAS season and lights is why I like to go in Dec.
Can you all please give me some comments on the pros and cons of the following dates to help us choose for our next vacation?
Nov 21st in - 27th out

Dec 18th in 24th out (son misses 1 day of school)

Dec 17th in 23rd out (son misses 2 days of school)

Thanks,
Rod/Fishman

[Marilyn Michetti]

Personally, I like the first or second week of Dec. Christmas is in full swing, but the big crowds haven't hit. Of course, I don't have small children to worry about taking our of school.

[ibrowse17]

Agreed! We have gone the second week of Dec now for the past couple of years, and LOVE it! You get all the decorations and Christmas magic of Disney, but not the huge crowds of Thanksgiving and Christmas week. Either way, have a great trip

[CzepielCrew]

We went from the day after Thanksgiving into the following week in 2007. My children lost 1 full week. The weather was perfect and the crowds thinned out to where we had no wait time for most rides by mid week. I would suggest that week to anyone.

[Tinkerbellfan]

Thanksgiving week is one of the busier weeks of the year. While the first part of the week is only very busy, the rest of the week is considered peak.

MVMCP starts in early November.

[Patty]

we went Thanksgiving week a few years back, It was more crowded than I would of preferred, (I like the 5 minute wait times of other times of the year) anyways it definatly was not unmanageble, from what I hear it is not nearly as crowded as Christmas week. We left the day after Thanksgiving because they say Thanksgiving through the weekend is very crowded. But the decorations were up including the Osborne Lights. Although I think Thanksgiving night may be the first night for them, I am not sure however like I said we left on Friday and we saw them before we left. Hope this helps, the weather was perfect too.