Which is the best time to go?

[Bella Granger]

My family and I have been thinking about going to Disney World sometime next year or the following and are not sure when it comes to crowds, weather, and park hours which time would be the best time to go Early January, Early May, Early August, or Early September or October.

 

[Bob P]

Hi and to the DIS!

If you are looking for lighter crowds, your best bets are September, October, January (after the weekend after New Year's) and May. August will be the most crowded of all the time frames you mentioned above, but it will not be wall-to-wall. And because August will be the most crowded it will also have the longest park hours.

As for weather, well...what do you like? May is usually very pleasant by Central Florida standards. But it might be hot by your standards. August and early September are relentlessly hot and humid (but we have gone in August many times and love it). October, in general, is somewhere between May and Aug/Sept. January might be pleasantly warm during the day and cool at night...BUT it can also be near freezing in the morning and in the 40s during the day. You can plug your possible dates in at this website for recent weather history:

http://www.wunderground.com/tripplanner/index.asp

Hope this helps....

 

[rob4059]

I love sept/oct.
You still have the hot weather, which I believe is a bonus for enjoying the parks and resorts so you can use the pools and water rides.
The parks are empty (compared to august anyway)
Its still the cheapest time of year.
They do a great job with the halloween holiday so you have an added element of theming and fun that doesn't otherwise exist. christmas would have this too but that time of year falls short with my other points.

 

[crissy1974]

We've gone in Sept, Aug and Dec. We really liked December, but it was very tough with the holidays right around the corner. This year we are going 9/29 - 10/6. I've read that the crowds are VERY LIGHT during this time (with the exception of the weekend). I also read that the average temp for this time of year is around 82 and not much rainfall (compared to summer months). Another reason we are going at this time is because my daughter will be turning 5 on Oct. 3rd. Do you have any b-days during those times that you are considering going???? Disney goes all out for b-days!

 

[crissy1974]

We've gone in Sept, Aug and Dec. We really liked December, but it was very tough with the holidays right around the corner. This year we are going 9/29 - 10/6. I've read that the crowds are VERY LIGHT during this time (with the exception of the weekend). I also read that the average temp for this time of year is around 82 and not much rainfall (compared to summer months). Another reason we are going at this time is because my daughter will be turning 5 on Oct. 3rd. Do you have any b-days during those times that you are considering going???? Disney goes all out for b-days!

One other thought to September/October. All the kids have gone back to school, so I am guessing most parents won't pull their kids out the first month or two of school. Just something to think about.

 

[CandyHead09]

OCTOBER/EARLY NOVEMBER FOR SURE! In fact I HIGHLY suggest it!!! Amazing weather it's springlike not too cold and not terribly hot eather nice gentle breeze :]

It's especially great for halloween or if you love christmas (I belive the first christmas party is on the ninth for the last two years?) theirs also the food and wine festival at epxcot which is great you can sample stuff from all around the world and not have to make reservations haha!

REMEMBER! ALWAYS start at the very back of the park in the morning and work your way back towards the front as the crowds come in they do everything in the front of the park first and work their to the back while you'll just have finished that section this causes pretty much no wait gurantee.

If you have a park hopper go back to your hotel in the afternoon nap, swim, get some lunch and then head back to the park and see all the things you really enjoyed or stuff that wasnt top priority that you didnt see.

 

[scarlet_ibis]

I love early September.

 

[Bella Granger]

Thanks for all of the advice. I was leaning towards September or October and its nice to hear a lot of you say its a good time to go. My mom's birthday is in September and mine is in October.