Best of the worst times

[BraveLittleToaster2]

Trying to plan our next trip but with our oldest in middle school now we would prefer for him to not miss school.

So which of these is the best of the worst times to go? If it matters we will have a toddler with us too.

We could go:
October - Columbus day weekend

November - over veterans day weekend

April the 2nd week

February over presidents day wknd.

Which would you choose? It will be a hard transition for us as we are used to going in january when crowds are fairly low. Though we have been in august in the past but hated the heat!!!

 

[NJ Goofy]

We go quite often during "Jersey Week" which is the week before Veteran's Day weekend. The weather is rather nice, most of the Christmas decorations are up and the crowds are not too crazy. We've been there for President's weekend and it was crowded but not over the top, but the weather was too cool for water rides or swimming. October could still be very warm in FL and I think the 2nd week of April would obviously fall in a lot of people's spring break so it would be pretty busy.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

When does school start back? If you can go late in August it's usually not too bad, especially the last week before Labor Day.

 

[hakepb]

I would avoid the week before or after Easter at all costs. (So that probably kills April, 2016. In 2017, Easter is April 1 so the 2nd week of April would actually be great!)

October and November are nice if you do MNSSHP or MVMCP. If you skip those events, then those times are a bit of a pain.

 

[999DoomBuggies]

Trying to plan our next trip but with our oldest in middle school now we would prefer for him to not miss school.

So which of these is the best of the worst times to go? If it matters we will have a toddler with us too.

We could go:
October - Columbus day weekend

November - over veterans day weekend

April the 2nd week

February over presidents day wknd.

Which would you choose? It will be a hard transition for us as we are used to going in january when crowds are fairly low. Though we have been in august in the past but hated the heat!!!

Feb can be a little rough, same with April.

You really can crush a park even on level 10 days if you use the right touring plans.

BTW, just skip school. Missing days from school sucks but really isn't that big of a deal. I promise that college will not be hindered from missing some days for a disney trip. Best memories of my life were going with my grandmother to WDW during school times. I now have several grad degrees and even taught and researched at the university level.

 

[BraveLittleToaster2]

Isn't easter in march this year 2016? So how would april be then?

We prefer not to go in august due to the heat, though we always used to go in late August because of the low crowds.

Thanks! We have always taken them out of school in the past but I feel like a whole week of work in middle school may mean too much catching up.

 

[999DoomBuggies]

Isn't easter in march this year 2016? So how would april be then?

We prefer not to go in august due to the heat, though we always used to go in late August because of the low crowds.

Thanks! We have always taken them out of school in the past but I feel like a whole week of work in middle school may mean too much catching up.

We did last weeks of august, last year. Very low crowds but the heat totally sucked, just like you stated. Humidity is a wicked beast.

 

[leebee]

For 2016, I'd do the 2nd week of April. Easter will be over, so no crowds from there. It's pretty late for college spring break, and Patriot's Day isn't until 4/18 so you won't have to contend with public school vacationers from the northeast- but I don't know if other parts of the country would have that week off. However, I'd definitely do the second week of April in 2016.

 

[BraveLittleToaster2]

A bit disappointed in how expensive the flights are for april...unless you wanna leave really early or get in really late. Bummer!

 

[disneypanda11]

I vote to go around Veteran's Day. Last year we went the week of Veteran's Day (M-F) and really enjoyed seeing the start of all the holiday decorations. The weather was perfect and the crowds were SO manageable! The weekends may draw slightly greater crowds, but still, I think weather and attraction wise it's a great time to go!

 

[brazzledazzler]

My vote: Veteran's Day or President's Day! Look at the Disney Parks crowd calendar floating around online; pretty good estimate. Choose whichever is the lowest attendance!

 

[UrsulaTime]

I'm not an expert, but I wouldn't leave the decision totally up to monthly crowd calendars (September and October of this year had unexpectedly high crowd levels). I say go with whichever time REALLY works best for you, and then use the daily park recommendations on easywdw.

Happy planning!

 

[Kathryn777]

I would pick 2nd week of April given how early Easter is

 

[spiceycat]

feb - president week starts the spring break season - so it and April are definitely more expensive. that said spring time at WDW is amazing - everything is lovely. both would be much more crowded that what you are used too.

Oct = is not only MNSSHP but the food/wine festival - so both Epcot and MK are busier - but it is not to bad.

Nov - Veteran Day - looks good.It is after NJ week and before Thanksgiving - so hoping it will work. the food/wine stops Nov 16 - VD is Nov 11 - so you can't avoid it. also pretty sure that MNSSHP is over - but think that MVMCP would have already started.

 

[kohlby]

Veteran's Day. The crowds really weren't any different from normal non-peak times. If you can't do that week, then the second week of April as it won't get in the way of Easter week this year.

 

[kohlby]

As for April flights, give it some time. I've been price watching hoping to fly my newphews to Orlando and the prices are double what I'd expect - BUT, it's still early so those prices will drop. When booking flights, sometimes not looking way in advance is helpful. I'd still book a couple months in advance - as I like things planned out and the choice of lots of flights - but 5 months ahead is too much to get great rates sometimes.

 

[Nancyg56]

Isn't easter in march this year 2016? So how would april be then?

We prefer not to go in august due to the heat, though we always used to go in late August because of the low crowds.

Thanks! We have always taken them out of school in the past but I feel like a whole week of work in middle school may mean too much catching up.

My DD stopped taking our DGD out of school in Middle school too. WE did that three years ago and she really struggled to get back up to speed, so we also need to plan for those best of the worst times.

WE chose the last week in AUgust this year and the heat was pretty bad, but we hit the parks at RD, planned TS lunch in DHS and Epcot, went back to the resort in the afternoon and headed back out at night. I admit it is going to take some time to forget the heat and humidity!

I would avoid Easter break. Maybe Add a day or two around Veterans Day?

 

[DG25]

Another one who needs to rethink taking my DGD out of school. We went in late aug/early sept this year, she missed 4 days of school, she never really caught up, until the next quarter. So I moved next years vacation up to May/June, hoping it won't be hugely bad, because she gets out of school last full week in May, which I am sure is really early compared to other schools, she is 5th grade now. The only thing I can't figure out is why, TIW is not good most places those weeks, crowd levels are not at its worst, like in March and April, and those weeks are good. They are no where near as bad as Christmas, Easter and thanksgiving, which are other days that TIW are not discounted. It is not food and wine, so anyone know why TIW is blocked during that time, but with the increase, I doubt I'll buy it anyway.

 

[librarymom2007]

When does school start back? If you can go late in August it's usually not too bad, especially the last week before Labor Day.

We went late August this past summer and the heat was HORRIBLE. Never again.

I vote Veteran's Day. We went during that Jersey week one year and crowds weren't too bad.

 

[SnipsNSnails]

You may run into spring break crowds 2nd week of April. Here in MI our spring break is April 1- 10 so if you are talking after that you might be OK. I would probably choose November, if it were me.

Ours are still in elementary so we don't mind taking them out for a few days but we try to combine it with existing days off to minimize it. I look for those odd days off that aren't standard for other schools in the area. We have Feb 26th & 29th off for some reason so we decided to use that long weekend for our trip so they only miss 4 days for an 8 night trip.