Advice please!

[Kay2397]

Trying to decide on our next trip. Here are our options:

1. Dec 18-23 free dining, flights would be $900 round trip for our family of 4, we would have 5 days in the parks.
2. Feb 13-20, might be able to get a room discount, 6 park days, flights are expensive right now but will probably drop in a few months.
3. March 27-April 3rd, Easter/spring break, we would have six days in the park, haven't priced flights yet.

We have visited in the past presidents week 2013 and Thanksgiving week 2013. We have two daughters ages 4&7. Trying to find the best time to get back. I would love to get some opinions!

 

[kmv]

Of your dates I would choose February first. That is because normally their are very low crowds and I would say you should definitely be able to get a deal closer to the date.

Second I would choose December. I have never been in December to see Disney all decorated for Christmas, but it will probably be very busy.

Third Spring break....I have been during this time and the crowds are HORRIBLE!

 

[klarlee]

If you're looking at it purely from a crowds standpoint, February is the least crowded and December is the most. It all depends on how much weight you put on crowd predictions. I personally have been that same week in December you're considering and it was crazzzy crowded! Loved the Christmas decorations but crowds were HUGE. I've never been Spring Break time. The best trip was January after the holiday crowds disappeared (I think it was around the 7th).

 

[maryj11]

If you could go the week before in December it would be better, the closer you get to Christmas the busier it gets. We went in the days right before the 18th a few years ago and it wasn't bad. Actually it was my favorite trip to Disney because of all the Christmas lights and decor. It was beautiful and the parade at MK was awesome along with the Osborne lights at HS.
I have not been in Feb. so I'm not sure.

 

[sharonabe]

Feb is likely to have some kind of promo, but it won't be as good as free dining.

So, you need to decide which is more important to you....lower crowds (Feb will still be crowded as that is President's Day, but not as crowded as the other two) or better price. Unfortunately, you won't have plane and pkg prices for Feb until later.

I think I might go ahead and make the Dec reservation with Disney. That will ensure you get free dining if you decide to go then...if you wait, there may not be anymore rooms available. You'll have to pay your deposit. But then I'd keep my eye out for the Feb promos and flight prices. If it looks like the prices will get close to what you're comfortable with, I'd change. I'm pretty sure you can apply what you've paid toward a changed reservation.

 

[Kay2397]

Feb is likely to have some kind of promo, but it won't be as good as free dining.

So, you need to decide which is more important to you....lower crowds (Feb will still be crowded as that is President's Day, but not as crowded as the other two) or better price. Unfortunately, you won't have plane and pkg prices for Feb until later.

I think I might go ahead and make the Dec reservation with Disney. That will ensure you get free dining if you decide to go then...if you wait, there may not be anymore rooms available. You'll have to pay your deposit. But then I'd keep my eye out for the Feb promos and flight prices. If it looks like the prices will get close to what you're comfortable with, I'd change. I'm pretty sure you can apply what you've paid toward a changed reservation.

I may go ahead and book for Dec and then rebook if we can find Feb prices that are similar. We do love all the Christmas Decorations. We have never done a MVMCP either but we also have two small girls and we don't want Christmas to be rushed. We wouldn't be arriving home until late on the 23rd. I would have to have all my Christmas preparations done before our trip. If for some reason our flights were delayed, I would hate to not be in our own home home for Christmas. This is my biggest concern.

Thanks for the feedback

 

[queenofhartz]

One note about February...watch out for President's Day. Apparently, some schools get an entire week off during the week of President's Day, and this really contributes to elevated crowd levels during this week. So, I've heard about some people expecting lower crowd levels in February and getting slammed with crazy crowd levels because they selected President's Day week.

We are also looking at February. Good luck!

 

[Kay2397]

One note about February...watch out for President's Day. Apparently, some schools get an entire week off during the week of President's Day, and this really contributes to elevated crowd levels during this week. So, I've heard about some people expecting lower crowd levels in February and getting slammed with crazy crowd levels because they selected President's Day week.

We are also looking at February. Good luck!

When we visited in 2013, it was actually during Pres week bc my daughter was off for the week from school. Some days were busier than others but we found it manageable. We can only visit during school vacations due to my job and my daughter's school calendar.