Best School Holidays To Go in

[timtunes]

We,ve been going in Autumn half term for the last few years - stealing a few days from term time like the bad parents we are....

Anyway was wondering is this the best school holiday to go in or do others have different views (having a regard to cost, crowds etc)?

Cheers

 

[2Tiggies]

April has always worked for us. Once a good deal in the school hols, last year better deal stealing a few days as add-on like you do.

This year we did October, again pinching one week of term time to tag to the official hols.

Personal preference, I think I prefer Easter but we had a great time this year in October and are doing autumn again next year, not so much because of prices but mostly because I couldn't save for another trip in 6 months

 

[dixonsontour]

October worked well for us this time as DD gets 2 weeks holiday.

Reasons we chose October over other holidays

1.July/August - too hot for us and too busy. Flights are silly money.

2.Easter - too busy and you've also got to go the rest of the year with no holiday

3.Xmas too busy and weather cooler/hit and miss. We've also done early December 2 times so have seen all the xmas decorations etc.

 

[timtunes]

Any supporters?

 

[dixonsontour]

Been end of feb before DD and weather was fairly cool.

Main draw back is it's presidents holiday in US - if you look at touring plans.com crowds are high all week like easter or thanksgiving.

 

[cliveywolves]

Hiya,

We like last week August & 1st week Sept, D/D gets back to school just in time for new term, the crowds are not mad crazy and its breaks the year up nicely plus the flight prices drop quite a lot for that time of the months... The weather is very warm still but we dont really mind that shorts and tshirts all the way !!!

 

[wayneg]

Any supporters?

Tying it in Feb for the 1st time, I didn't know it was Presidents weekend until yesterday but we are not going into Disney so not too bothered.

Done all the other holidays.

Xmas is a little quieter upto Xmas day but then crazy from Xmas day thru New Year, not a time to go if you want hot weather as some days struggle above freezing(others days 70+) not a good time to visit if you want to do a lot of rides, Soarin hit 6 hours last time we were there but if you want to see the parks and resorts at their best Xmas is the time to go its a great time to visit.

Easter again silly crowds, weather can be mixed, not my fave tiime to go but you can go for 2 weeks without losing school days(unless you get stuck with ash cloud as we did this year)

May, always seem to get bad rain when we go in May but warmer temps. Considered it for next year again but in middle of DS AS level exams so went for Feb instead.

August we love the weather, hotter the better, we can go for upto 25 nights(only 23 next year) crowds managable but too hot for some and expensive airfares unless you find a bargaain.

Oct, by far best time of year to go, perfect weather, low crowds, low prices, still get free DDP if wanted, food & wine festival, Haloween events. We took DS out of school for 2 weeks every Oct to make 3 weeks away incl school hol from him starting Junior school until his 1st year at high school, don't advise that for everyone but it worked very well for us.

 

[2Tiggies]

Been end of feb before DD and weather was fairly cool.

Main draw back is it's presidents holiday in US - if you look at touring plans.com crowds are high all week like easter or thanksgiving.

Temperatures are a big factor for us, so I didn't even put the cooler months. Most kids want to have plenty pool time. Some are less bothered by not swimming when the weather is cool but I know my own DD would MAKE me get into ice cold water because she associates outdoor swimming with a holiday

Also, depends how long you go for and how much time your kids have off school and how many days you are willing to take them out.

No right or wrong answer. Personally I would weigh up what is most important to you for your trip (weather, crowds, school terms, etc). Once you have one or more times of the year selected, then have a look and see which of these best suit your budget.

 

[JulieSharp]

Easter is now our chosen time, mostly because the weather we find almost perfect, lovely sunshine without the high humidity, I don't necessarily agree the weather can be mixed, but in fairness it depends on when Easter falls. I should probably just say my favourite time is April.
It is busy for a few days but that's not really a problem, we have been many times and can just work around that or do other things, we never spend all day at any of the parks anyway. We enjoy relaxing at the villa just as much as anything else in Orlando.
If you can just pinch a few days from the school holidays you can also go for at least 2 weeks. If you can go earlier and miss the Easter weekend like we are doing next year because DS's school break up very early, then it's an even better time to go.
I can see why October appeals, but it's only a 1 week half term break and because of that not IMO a good time to go. May is the same.

I would go July and August every time because of the lengthy school holidays which make it the best time to go, but it's just too hot for me and my son.
Although we have been a few times in the summer it's just not worth it as we lose some of the enjoyment, though it doesn't bother my husband too much.

Never been at Christmas time, and whilst the parks I am sure look great all lit up for some reason it doesn't appeal to me. I would rather be home with the family.

February - too much of a chance of the weather being unreliable or cold.

 

[alibeau]

HI

Our last three trips have been in Jan and Feb. We loved going at this time of year, springlike weather, even hot at times, low crowds, great availability on flights and villas and so we would use the half term week and add a week on. However, this Feb we took the girls out of school for 7 days and managed to go for 19 nights but we were so disappointed with the weather this time that we will not be returning at this time of year for now.

Also as the girls are getting older (7 & 5 for our next trip) they are better able to cope with the heat so this year we have booked to go for 16 nights at Easter and for 26 nights in August We don't intend to do too much at the parks at Easter as I believe it is super busy.

Also, I feel much better about not taking the girls out of school. Their teacher and school had no problem at all with us taking them out but stupdily I did feel rather guilty

So once we have been at Easter and in August I will be able to compare the times of the year for trips, perhaps the crowds and heat will send us back to booking for Feb I guess I should add that I think the weather this Feb was unusually cold.....

Good luck with your decision.

Ali

 

[Shazzie B]

We've just got back, been Late March/April (Easter), Late May/jun (Whitsun), Last 2 weeks Aug/early sept & Mid Dec (flew home 23rd Dec).

October has definately been my favourite. Apart from Harry Potter & Epcot World Showcase (due to Food & Wine Festival) nearly all rides were virtual walk-on. Major rides TSM etc. busy but easily fastpassable (is that a word).

Weather was great, no rain. Warm enough for t-shirts/shorts early am & pm then nicely hot during the day. (In Dec queuing at turnstiles was chilly!!).

Next trip to WDW plan for Oct too - but not until 2012

 

[alisonbestford]

Feb has been good but a little cool on occasion.

We love April

Trying Dec for the first time this year so have no idea what to expect

 

[timtunes]

October does work best - just want to get that longer block of time

And also find an excuse to go back sooner

DS & DD spent the weekend doing scrapbooks of their October trip - it makes all the expense worthwhile when you see how much it is enjoyed........

 

[janiebubble]

I've been twice at February half term - both times we've been lucky with the weather (first time didn't anticipate it - was washing the one pair of shorts I'd taken 'just in case' on a daily basis almost!)

Both times it was Presidents week - but it was the quietest I've ever seen the parks - I'm a teacher so can only travel in school holidays (and no adding a couple of extra days for me I'm afraid!) so my comparators are Easter week and summer holidays. It was way quieter than those, even the 'end of August' weeks were many US schools have gone back.

I remember the first time we went at Feb (1998) the longest we waited for anything was 15 mins with the exception of ToT. We were walking straight back on to Splash Mountain for example. Last time (2008) it was busier ... there were still big queues for Soarin' for example but we did everything we wanted to do without much queuing (but bear in mind I was with a 62 year old and a 71 year old so they weren't up for much in the thrill ride department!!)

February would be my choice if I had longer off work ... but it means I have to get those Saturday flights and they go verrrrrrrrrry fast and aren't cheap!! We got a great miles plus money deal last time but I've not seen one as good since

 

[Ware Bears]

Our first two trips were end of March/April ~ we took the girls out of school for the last few days before the Easter holidays and the weather was just perfect (hot without being humid) with only one day of rain each time.

Last trip we went over Christmas, again going just a few days before the end of term to keep costs down. I loved being there at Christmas with all the decorations and Christmassy stuff but I didn't like it getting dark so early.

 

[loobylou44]

We have been twice in February for 2 weeks(taking the children out of school the week before half term) - and we loved it. Presidents day falls on the third Monday of the month and both times we went we were there the 2 weeks prior to that and found it very quiet. The first time we went we had temps in the 80's, and the second time temps were more like a warm spring day in the UK ( we did even have frost one morning) but there was blue sky every day and sunshine.
Last year we went 14 to 28 December (again taking the children out of school for the last week of term) the weather was very hit and miss and it was very cloudy, and from about the 18th December, when local schools broke it got increasingly busy.
We loved being in Florida for Christmas, but probably wouldn't do it again, whereas we would definitely go in February again - the weather is better and the crowds are much lighter in our experience.