August or January? sigh

[JEANMR1]

We have a 4 night trip booked and paid for in August. This is for my 35th birthday and I'm pretty excited about it. We have the Keys to the Kingdom tour booked that morning.
Now here is my problem - my partner hates the heat and she has agreed to go for 8 nights if we wait until January.
I want to go sooner and I want to go for my birthday - however doubling the length of the trip has a lot of appeal.
I'm so torn....what should I do?

 

[LISAMWDW]

It will be very hot in August! It sounds like your partner would be miserable. There is a big difference in weather from Aug to Jan. Jan you would need to wear jackets/warmer clothing.

 

[Bob P]

Hi,

Not sure anyone here can answer that one for you...sounds like you have to weigh the effect of going in August on your relationship in addition to the 8 nights vs 4 nights!

Good luck...here's hoping you make the right choices!

 

[Claudia Kellenberger]

The super hot heat and the super crowds can make it miserable !

My idea would be to visit the New York City 3 floor Disney Store, for a Disney Fix for your birthday. Even try to get a character signing !

It would be SO much better to wait until January for the big vacation.
Try to avoid the MLK weekend. I'll bet you'll be glad that you waited!

I, myself, will be at WDW for 5 nights, beginning January 21st.

 

[antmaril]

I would choose 8 days in January over the heat and humidity of August in a heartbeat.

We LOVE WDW in January. We went this year the week of January 9th. Weather was in the 70's, sunny, we walked on to the rides - fantastic.

I've been to WDW in the summer - not my first choice.

 

[WDWguru]

January is uncrowded (except MLK weekend) and the weater is gorgeous! I'd go in January over August any day!

 

[cristbaby]

I say January also. The weather is wonderful and the crowds are very low except for MLK holiday week. Eight days sounds pretty good to. I'm sure you could find some other disney way to celebrate your cirthday.

 

[bopper]

Do you have the free dining plan in August?

In August it is your birthday after all!

Would she still be a reluctant Disney vacationer even in January or does she like Disney, but just not the heat?

My DH hates heat, but we have often gone in August because that is a good time between day camp and school starting. They often have incentives to go then, like pay for 4 days and get 7 or free dining.

 

[tink1978]

I would also wait to go until January. You can have a special birthday celebration at home and then have an UN-Birthday party at Disney in January!!

 

[Wendy1953]

I pick January over August anytime (even if the trip wasn't longer). August is much too hot, and also very crowded(crowds lessen towards the last week of August). We went in January of this year, and the weather was great and the crowds weren't there! Took DMIL & DSisIL in January...cooler nights...swimming during the day....no lines to wait on and the availability to change ADR's if we felt like eating somewhere other than where we booked.

We now plan our vacations for Jan/Feb, Apr/May, Oct/Nov, and for a special Christmas visit the beginning of December (uncrowded, less expensive and still decorated for the Holidays)!

We just came back last Sunday, and the temp's were already hitting mid 90's, so I can't even imagine what August would be like.

As another poster said.....celebrate your un-birthday in January in WDW, and go to dinner near home for August!

 

[Skylarr29]

I would def pick Jan if it were me. I can't stand the heat ( go figure since I live in Fla) so I would say jan would be nice. Plus having 8 days you will get alot more done and be able to go at a more relaxing pace.

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

I would also pick January over August. There is also a huge difference in a 4 night trip versus an eight night trip. I believe the longer the trip, the more relaxing it can be.

 

[jo28501]

We fly to WDW on January 15th 2007 for 2 weeks. I know the day we fly out is MLK Day but is it the weekend before i.e. Saturday 13th - Monday 15th that the crowds would be affected? Or will it affect the crowds when we are there too?

 

[Judge Fudge]

I went in January once. The place was a ghost town, and it was freezing(I think it was the year the whole Orange crop froze) in the morning. (I never ever ever get cold, but I had to wear a jacket for this) Even more so, the ambiance (?) wasn't there. To me the crowds are part of the excitement, and I mean that to the degree of going in August, or June, etc...not Christmas week.

Personally I would not go again in January, just didn't feel like a Disney vacation. To each their own though.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We are going for 9 nights in August for my 36th birthday.

The ONLY reason we are going in August is because that was the ONLY week DH could get off work that DS was out of school. DH has to bid for vacation and the bids go in order of seniority so a lot of the "good" weeks were gone by the time it was his turn. I expect it to be sweltering hot and tremendously crowded. But better than not going at all!

Last year we went for 4 nights in January. We were there from Wed.-Sun. before MLK day and the crowds were light, no waiting for anything. The weather the first 2 days was PERFECT. The next 2 days were not so great. It poured rain the entire 3rd day and the 4th day was cold with constant mist. We were so miserable after dinner on our last night we skipped IllumiNations and went back to the room just to get out of the mist. We felt like 4 nights was way too short.

We went back last October for 9 nights and it was glorious! It rained on us the last afternoon because Hurricane Wilma was coming, but the rest of the time the weather was gorgeous. Crowds were very manageable, we went to Food & Wine fest and MNSSHP.

I know how disappointed you would be to postpone your trip, but the longer stay will give you more time to see things and enjoy yourself. We felt so rushed on our short trip. We felt like we HAD to go out in the pouring rain so we weren't wasting a day but none of us were happy about being soaked! Dealing with a cranky partner the whole time would drain some of the magic, I would think. Maybe January would be a better time to go, and you can plan something else for your birthday.

 

[TinkGirl]

We love WDW in January! Crowds and resort prices are low and the Fla. weather actually feels good. In eight days, you can do about everything in Jan. We have never had much rain during our winter trips, but the temperature can really vary. We've had anywhere from high 50's to 80's. I'm hoping to get a job with the school system next year, so I'm afraid our Jan. trips are over.

 

[JEANMR1]

Thank you everyone for your input. I really hate waiting until January but I think it is the right thing to do for us. Also, I was promised a kick butt 40th in 5 years whereever I want to stay. (Probably because I said if you don't want me to cry all week when I turn 40, I better be in Disneyworld)
Anyway, I think we will go in January.
Thanks again everybody.