Best time---Oct. or May?????

[3kidsdisney]

I was planning my family trip to Disney for October but just found some great rates for May and thinking of changing my plans. Anyone been to disney in May??/ Is is really hot---how about the crowds??? We have been there in October and loved the weather and MNSSHP, the crowds were there but not too bad. Us air has specials leaving from Phila. for $98. round trip--with 5 of us going, I can save almost $500 in air fair alone. Any suggestions is appreciated, thanks----ps i was looking at the week of May 17th for this trip, Ann

 

[jenjenmouse]

Hey 3kids,

May is my favorite month to go. We went May 2001 and 2002 and there was not a drop of rain at all. We are from Texas so the weather wasn't a problem, I mean it wasn't too hot. It was great for swimming. We did need a little fan and drank lots of water. The best part is it is not crowded at all. Most every thing is walk on especially if you know what you are doing. I'd vote May for your trip. Whatever you decide I hope you have a great time.

 

[JKanownik]

I went May and Oct of 2002 and May in 2003. Here are my experiences for both:

May is definitely my favorite time to go for personal reasons. It is my DH's birthday month and our anniversary month. We love the Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot and Star Wars Weekends at MGM. We find it to be pretty hot, but we try to take breaks and have one of those spray bottle fans. It has never rained too much in May while we have been there. The crowds are not too bad either. We find that mid May is better than the end of May for crowds. You will have to take advantage of Fast Pass.

Oct tends to be less crowded and a little cooler. Plus it is the month for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. When I was there in Oct, it rained for 1 hour of 1 day and we were having a sit down lunch at the time so we missed it completely. Don't get me wrong though it is still pretty hot. We wore shorts and tank tops everyday and did have the need to use the spray bottle fan. As far as crowds, we only had to use Fast Pass for the major attractions and lines for the minor attractions were hardly ever more than 15 minutes.

Like I said before, May is definitely my favorite time to go, but Oct is nice too. You are looking at slightly higher crowds and temps in May. It all comes down to what is most important to you. Either way, you are going to WDW and you will have a great time!

 

[SamanthaL]

I only went once in May 1999 near the end of the month and it was too hot and humid for us (99 degrees!). Every Floridian said it was not normally that hot but it didn't help. The crowds were more than we are used to also. We prefer Oct.

 

[wdwphanatic]

... and it was too hot for us! We went mid month (16-20 or so) and it was 90-95 degrees every day and rained on several occasions. For some reason, if you go in Sept. or Oct. and it's that hot you can deal with it better, as you've lived thru a long, hot summer already... Well, that's my theory anyway!!! I have 2 friends who went the first week of May, and they basically said the same thing -- too hot and sticky for park touring!!!

As far as the crowds are concerned, I found them to be low to moderate. Definitely higher than late Jan/early Feb, when we usually go, but not too bad. I guess I was just so uncomfortable, that I didn't have as much energy to deal with even moderate crowds!

Good luck deciding what to do... I'm sure you'll have a great time no matter when you go! And I hear you on the great rates for May -- airfares from here have been phenomenally low!

Happy planning,
Sarah

 

[3kidsdisney]

I appreciate all the input and i booked my trip for May. We will be there May 18-25th. Air was only $98 round trip and with 5 people, we save almost $500--now i am going in 5 weeks instead of 5 months. That is the best part--I cannot believe we will be there--now i have to book my PS for a character meal for the kids---thanks again, Ann