April 2020 or May 2020? Help me figure out our vacation dates please!

[Wallyworld81]

My husband and I had planned on going back to Tokyo and TDR May 14-23, 2020 (the most perfect week in my opinion) but his parents just told us they booked a cruise during that time (we can’t both be away at the same time due to pets) - so now we are trying to replan our dates. Ideally we wanted May because of the weather- Golden week starts 4/29 and goes through Wednesday 5/6- do you think the crowds will dissipate by Friday the 8th? I was thinking of flying out on the 7th which would get us to Tokyo Friday afternoon the 8th, we would stay in the city till Sunday night or maybe even Monday morning and then do Disney Monday/Tuesday the 11/12 till Friday/Sat the 15th or 16th. I am questioning if the crowds could still be bad? Would locals extend golden week into that weekend even though most of the country has been off for the full week? Is this a horrible idea?

Another window would be leaving Thursday May 28, getting to Tokyo the afternoon of the 29th, doing the city till Sunday night and then Disney Monday June 1 till Friday June 5th and go back hike sat night- but I’m worried about the weather. I know June starts rainy season and humidity and I’m guessing it feels like Florida in the summer which is not enjoyable at all! Lol

Or!! Third option- April 16-25th But is that too cold? April temps are usually highs of 60-65 with lows of 50-55, but a friend of ours went this past April and it was in the 40’s at night! Not ideal for park touring

Any advice would be most appreciated!
TIA!

 

[indoshakespeare]

Yes, golden week crowd tends to extend to the weekend. Better to avoid it. I would go with the late May - early June option option.

 

[gelatoni fan]

I think it's better to go the weekdays after golden week rather than the first week of June:
1. In June, it's possible that the Spring event will be ending while Tanabata has not started yet. If there's no event, that means fewer shows and special food items.
2. right after golden week, there are usually lower crowds while the crowds may pick up again at the beginning of June
3. June can have unpredictable weather - it can rain pretty hard in Tokyo.

 

[Wallyworld81]

Yes, golden week crowd tends to extend to the weekend. Better to avoid it. I would go with the late May - early June option option.

We would def be avoiding the parks during the weekend! We have avoided them our past two trips, spending the weekend days in Tokyo itself exploring. My main concern was if people would be taking off the weekdays after golden week - My gut says no, but I'm not so sure

 

[Wallyworld81]

I think it's better to go the weekdays after golden week rather than the first week of June:
1. In June, it's possible that the Spring event will be ending while Tanabata has not started yet. If there's no event, that means fewer shows and special food items.
2. right after golden week, there are usually lower crowds while the crowds may pick up again at the beginning of June
3. June can have unpredictable weather - it can rain pretty hard in Tokyo.

I have heard that the week after golden week tends to be quieter because so many people have gone during golden week itself. We are def planning on just staying in Tokyo during the weekend to avoid the large crowds that the weekends always have! Do you think that Monday the 11th the golden week crowds will all be over?

 

[gelatoni fan]

Very few Japanese people extend their golden week vacations. Crowds usually drop to low the day after golden week ends.

 

[greenkai3000]

We went to TDR on our first visit literally the day after Golden Week. The rides were all walk on for us. We did however go during the middle of the week so it worked out perfectly for us. I highly suggest you look at the crowd calendar posted on TDRExplorer.com and the dates they will be doing ride closures. I wouldn't want to miss out on riding Journey, Tower of Teror, or Indy if I were you. Same for Pooh's Hunny Hunt, Splash , or Small World.

 

[Princess Madeleine]

We went this year right after Golden week ended and the crowd levels and weather were perfect. There was an announcement yesterday that the BatB expansion is going to open April 15th, so I think I would try to go in May to avoid any opening week crowds if you're there early in the April dates you gave.

 

[LovesTimone]

I prefer to travel when it's cooler, that's just us though... Being hot and sweaty is not what I call a vacation... I live here in Central Fl... dealing with the heat and humidity is a daily thing... I want to be able to go and enjoy touring, and vacationing... without looking like I just ran a marathon, or that someone dump a bucket of water over my head...

I vote for cooler weather every time...

We are planning for November 2020...

 

[Wallyworld81]

I prefer to travel when it's cooler, that's just us though... Being hot and sweaty is not what I call a vacation... I live here in Central Fl... dealing with the heat and humidity is a daily thing... I want to be able to go and enjoy touring, and vacationing... without looking like I just ran a marathon, or that someone dump a bucket of water over my head...

I vote for cooler weather every time...

We are planning for November 2020...

We went 11/1-11/10 last year and the weather was great! A little chilly in the morning so we had to wear a light jacket but by 12pm it was about 65 in the sun. Perfect touring weather! The year before that we went 11/24-12/2 and it was a little too chilly! Had to keep our coats on all day long and in the morning and as soon as the sun went down we needed hats and light gloves!

 

[LovesTimone]

We went 11/1-11/10 last year and the weather was great! A little chilly in the morning so we had to wear a light jacket but by 12pm it was about 65 in the sun. Perfect touring weather! The year before that we went 11/24-12/2 and it was a little too chilly! Had to keep our coats on all day long and in the morning and as soon as the sun went down we needed hats and light gloves!

Thanks for the info... We were leaning toward Thanksgiving, into December... as it gives DH an extra day off... more time is always a good thing... we really want to see the parks dressed up for the holidays... So from what I have read, and info from other Dis'er and friends and family, That all the decoration will be up by Thanksgiving, and the plan is visiting the last part of our trip which will put us into December... which I am worried that it will be to cold by then... I keep playing around with the date's...

I was planning on jackets, and layers for us... I always take a scarf, hat and gloves with us for the just in case's... Which we have needed in the past, When we were in Paris last year, it was suppose to be in the 60's... not so much, most day it was in the 50's dropping into the 40 once the sun went down... I was so glad that I packed a few long sleeves to go underneath lightweight sweaters and long sleeves for more warmth, and gloves, and long socks... I bought few pairs of knee socks for my boots, which really worked out great, I wore then under my jeans with ankle boots, they really kept my legs warm, and they were easy to take off if I got too warm... It's funny how you learn tricks like this when you travel...

Did you visit the parks when the holiday decorations were up? thoughts?

 

[Wallyworld81]

Thanks for the info... We were leaning toward Thanksgiving, into December... as it gives DH an extra day off... more time is always a good thing... we really want to see the parks dressed up for the holidays... So from what I have read, and info from other Dis'er and friends and family, That all the decoration will be up by Thanksgiving, and the plan is visiting the last part of our trip which will put us into December... which I am worried that it will be to cold by then... I keep playing around with the date's...

I was planning on jackets, and layers for us... I always take a scarf, hat and gloves with us for the just in case's... Which we have needed in the past, When we were in Paris last year, it was suppose to be in the 60's... not so much, most day it was in the 50's dropping into the 40 once the sun went down... I was so glad that I packed a few long sleeves to go underneath lightweight sweaters and long sleeves for more warmth, and gloves, and long socks... I bought few pairs of knee socks for my boots, which really worked out great, I wore then under my jeans with ankle boots, they really kept my legs warm, and they were easy to take off if I got too warm... It's funny how you learn tricks like this when you travel...

Did you visit the parks when the holiday decorations were up? thoughts?

We were in Tokyo the first few days of our 2017 trip and then in the parks from 11/27-12/2 and all the decorations were up!! They also had out all the seasonal merchandise and food as well (We had left nyc on thanksgiving day so we had two extra days off from work we didn't have to use to count towards our vacation!)

We wore the heat tech shirts from Uniqlo under our long sleeve shirts or sweaters and then we also has the thin Uniqlo ultra light down jackets as well. In the early morning and when the sun was down as long as I had that combo on, along with thin gloves and something covering my ears I was comfortable.

 

[LovesTimone]

We were in Tokyo the first few days of our 2017 trip and then in the parks from 11/27-12/2 and all the decorations were up!! They also had out all the seasonal merchandise and food as well (We had left nyc on thanksgiving day so we had two extra days off from work we didn't have to use to count towards our vacation!)

We wore the heat tech shirts from Uniqlo under our long sleeve shirts or sweaters and then we also has the thin Uniqlo ultra light down jackets as well. In the early morning and when the sun was down as long as I had that combo on, along with thin gloves and something covering my ears I was comfortable.

That is sorta what we are leaning on doing... incorporating Thanksgiving into our trip, so that will give us a extra day... It will be fun to see what kinda Thanksgiving meal we have next year in Japan... so fun...

We saw the Easter decorations at Disneyland Paris... and they were so cute and with all the flower's blooming everywhere is really was just beautiful... We love the seasonal decorations... and seeing Tokyo Disneyland all dressed up for the Christmas Holiday's will be special to say the least...

I am going to try out the heat-tech from Uniglo this fall, We are heading to visit family and are going to Grandfather mountain and it will be very cold and windy.. I like the idea it is thin, so it should not bunch or ride up... DH is warm blooded... I am going to get him a one to see if he like its... when we were in Paris, I had brought him 2 long sleeve T-shirts, which he said I won't need that and that I put in the luggage anyway, which in fact he did need and did wear, and we had to wash them, along with my long sleeve T-shirts... couple of times... we both hated that they bunched and rode up, so this might be the answer...

Does the heat tech sorta keep the wind from blowing right through you?

I know that I am going to need something for our ears, DH is very picky... and okay so am I... so this will be a challenge to find something for the two of us... living in Fl. we really don't have need for something like this... any suggestions.. As well finding gloves for him... he is a big guy and has really large hands so another issue to figure out before we go...

 

[Wallyworld81]

That is sorta what we are leaning on doing... incorporating Thanksgiving into our trip, so that will give us a extra day... It will be fun to see what kinda Thanksgiving meal we have next year in Japan... so fun...

We saw the Easter decorations at Disneyland Paris... and they were so cute and with all the flower's blooming everywhere is really was just beautiful... We love the seasonal decorations... and seeing Tokyo Disneyland all dressed up for the Christmas Holiday's will be special to say the least...

I am going to try out the heat-tech from Uniglo this fall, We are heading to visit family and are going to Grandfather mountain and it will be very cold and windy.. I like the idea it is thin, so it should not bunch or ride up... DH is warm blooded... I am going to get him a one to see if he like its... when we were in Paris, I had brought him 2 long sleeve T-shirts, which he said I won't need that and that I put in the luggage anyway, which in fact he did need and did wear, and we had to wash them, along with my long sleeve T-shirts... couple of times... we both hated that they bunched and rode up, so this might be the answer...

Does the heat tech sorta keep the wind from blowing right through you?

I know that I am going to need something for our ears, DH is very picky... and okay so am I... so this will be a challenge to find something for the two of us... living in Fl. we really don't have need for something like this... any suggestions.. As well finding gloves for him... he is a big guy and has really large hands so another issue to figure out before we go...

The heat tech shirts did not bunch or ride up at all - It helped that we bought them in a size that was tight on us (meaning I would not wear it in public without something over it, because it hugs every roll possible! haha). So my husband got an XS and I got a Medium. We bough 3 each and it was perfect. It honestly wasn't very windy at all when we were there so I can't speak to that point, but I know it did keep me warm without ever feeling a shiver while outside, and didn't feel like I was overheating when we were in an inside attraction or restaurant. I was just 100% comfortable.

For ear coverings, I don't mind cute hats so that's what I used and my husband used one too. But they do have those earmuffs that go around the back of your head instead of traditional ear muffs that look like a headband. Below is a link of what I mean if I am not being clear enough
https://www.amazon.com/Warmers-Clas...t=&hvlocphy=9003638&hvtargid=pla-824905869267

 

[LovesTimone]

The heat tech shirts did not bunch or ride up at all - It helped that we bought them in a size that was tight on us (meaning I would not wear it in public without something over it, because it hugs every roll possible! haha). So my husband got an XS and I got a Medium. We bough 3 each and it was perfect. It honestly wasn't very windy at all when we were there so I can't speak to that point, but I know it did keep me warm without ever feeling a shiver while outside, and didn't feel like I was overheating when we were in an inside attraction or restaurant. I was just 100% comfortable.

For ear coverings, I don't mind cute hats so that's what I used and my husband used one too. But they do have those earmuffs that go around the back of your head instead of traditional ear muffs that look like a headband. Below is a link of what I mean if I am not being clear enough
https://www.amazon.com/Warmers-Clas...t=&hvlocphy=9003638&hvtargid=pla-824905869267

Thanks for the link, this looks like something my DH would wear... I have a warm wear headband, it's like made out of fleece sorta and its goes all the way around the head and is soft that one of the reason I liked wearing it...... I gave it to my daughter so I will have to look for a new one or two for me, and more than likely have to get DD one as well, her In Law's live in Ohio and they normally visit between holidays when its cold outside... Glad to hear about not over heating while inside, that's what I was wondering about...