Best time of the year??

[Debs5angels]

I am trying to plan our next Disney vacation. We have never gone any other time then in August and would like to go a different time of the year.

My question is how is the week after Christmas in 2004 as far as crowds, weather and price? Or am I better off going the week my kids are out of school in February 2005? If we can wait that long! Any information would be very helpful!

Thanks,
debs5angels

 

[BrianD]

Week after Christmas:
Crowds - the largest of the year.
weather - can be pleasant, can be cold, at least though its not hot!
price - most expensive of the year, unless you time it right. For example this year, if you can checkin by Dec. 26, you get MUCH better rates.

February:
Crowds - crowds should be much lighter, unless you go Presidents week, then its pretty crowded (nothing like Christmas).
weather - can still be unpredictable, but overall pleasant and not too cold.
price - 1st half of the month cheap, 2nd half of the month expensive.

As much as I love Christmas at WDW, if you can't go during the first three weeks of December, then I think I would pick February, just because its not as crowded.

 

[Debs5angels]

Thank you BrianD for your quick response. What do you think about the week of or the week after Thanksgiving?

debs5angels

 

[shakespear]

We are also going christmas 2004. We have gone during christmas for the last 3 times.

I am getting a little tired of the park at christmas time.

Stay during the value season, you will save a fortune!

Its not hot, no lines, but the parks close early.

Nobody there that speaks english at that time though.

 

[Prince Eric1]

If you are willling to pull the kids out of school, we have always went around January 4-6 and returned on the 8-10. Both times the crowds were minimal and you don't need a fast pass. The parks are opened shorter hours but you don't really need long hours because there are not waits. The weather can be unpredictable with some days being hot and others needing a sweat shirt. Its also value season so this year i got the all star hotels for $49.00 a night.

 

[psu1978]

If you are willing to take your kids out of school, the first two weeks in December are great. Everything is decorated for Christmas, the crowds are really light, and it's value season. The only problem can be the weather. We went last year 2nd week of December and had some cool rainy weather. But we never had to wait in any lines and the decorations and Christmas parade were fantastic.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[wilderness01]

The week of Thanksgiving is good until 2 days before the holiday. Then from Wed through Sun it is very crowded. May have alot of rain this time of year as well. However, the holiday decorations are up and are very pretty.

 

[decker96]

We have some friends that went the last week of Feb. 2003 and they said it was very crowded. They stayed in a time-share and the manager told them the best time to go was in January or the first two weeks in February. Our friends said the weather was nice though.

 

[HeyMickey]

Originally posted by Prince Eric1
If you are willling to pull the kids out of school, we have always went around January 4-6 and returned on the 8-10. Both times the crowds were minimal and you don't need a fast pass. The parks are opened shorter hours but you don't really need long hours because there are not waits. The weather can be unpredictable with some days being hot and others needing a sweat shirt. Its also value season so this year i got the all star hotels for $49.00 a night.

Prince Eric1: What kind of resort discount was that? I'm looking to go that week in 2004, and I'd love to get a rate like that.

 

[Dan Murphy]

The week after Thanksgiving is great, this year will be my 5th in a row. Value season starts, crowds are low, weather is great, decorations are all up, hard to top all that!!!!! Enjoy!!!!

 

[Prince Eric1]

It was a code that i gave them that i got off of mousesavers and from this site. I heard that they may be cutting back on the codes or making them target specific, but if you are not already check Mousesavers.com and a couple of months before you go the codes come out if they are offered. If not, you pay around $59 a night which is still great with the disney transportation. I booked the hotel ahead to make sure i got a room and called and added the code on later. I also saved money by getting the tickets ahead at ticketmania and booking the flight seperate when the fares got down.