Best time to go during school holidays

[Bonnie]

Hi everyone.

My partner, our two friends and I are planning a trip to DLRP within the next year but this time we've run into the difficulty of one of our friends being a teacher... so we absolutely have to go during his school holidays, which are as follows:

Saturday 19 July - Sunday 31 August
Saturday 25 October - Sunday 2 November
Thursday 18 December - Sunday 4 January
Saturday 14 February - Sunday 22 February
Saturday 4 April - Sunday 19 April
Saturday 23 May - Sunday 31 May

I have done lots of searches on the board about best times to go, but most of the recommended times are (understandably! ) during term time! I would love to go in late June or November but unfortunately it's not a possibility. We have always avoided school holidays in the past so I am totally clueless!

So, wise ones... if you had to choose from the above dates to make a 3/4-night trip to DLRP, which would you go for?

Thank you in advance for any advice!

 

[stargatebarbie]

I work at school also so every trip we have made has been in the six weeks summer holidays on the plus side the parks are open longer ,the fireworks are on and the weather is warm we have never had any problems doing all the things we wanted ,if you use fast past and plan your days its should be fine ,the last time we went was in 2006 so none of the 15th kids go free swhere on so im expecting a few more folk We have always walked around in shorts and t shirts and pretened we are in Florida the castle set against a blue sky and sunshine is beautiful

 

[stargatebarbie]

Oh and I just realised a BIG WAVE as am in HUll as well can you see me im just near tesco,s

 

[Rachie B]

I am so glad you say that

we are going for 3 days in Aug
our eldest is in secondary school now, and i wont take him out for holidays during term time

am quite looking forward to the light nights,and (hopefully!) good weather
but not the queues

I think feb half term would be quieter ?

as in oct you have all the halloween / bonfire stuff going on
and xmas holidays you, bviously have the xmas celebrations / new yr stuff

easter is supposed to be busy ?

We have only been in Oct and July ( both during term time)

but will be interested in other peoples opinions / experiences,as we will only be going during school hols from now on!

 

[britchic4]

I went in Feb half term this year. It wasn't bad, but reading people's trip reports from the last few weeks has made me realise it was busy. Even in EMH we queued 40 mins for Dumbo. Only half of the UK was on holiday then too, the other half was the following week. We were quite lucky with the weather - only one day was unbearably cold.

 

[MazdaUK]

The biggest impact on crowds is French school holidays. We went away to Belgium for the later Feb half term and it was not that busy - the previous year our half-term was early and there was hardly anyone around!

If you check the sticky on this board for French holiday (and check it against public holidays too - those odd days can really catch you out) work around those. And book direct - most places in France get cheaper for the last week of August as the kids are back at school, but UK travel agents don't lower their prices by the same amount. And stay at a Disney hotel to get EMH

 

[Cyrano]

but will be interested in other peoples opinions / experiences,as we will only be going during school hols from now on!

Rachael most of our trips are in the summer and DLP is definitely doable.
Having the benefit of EMH for a short trip... we only used it a couple of times, would help.

 

[dlpSteve]

Saturday 19 July - Sunday 31 August

We've been a few times during this time period and had a great time. The queues were fine - they were far far worse on Boxing Day! The benefits of nice weather and long opening hours far outweighs the crowds which I thought weren't too bad at all.

 

[Bonnie]

Thanks everyone for your excellent advice!

I am now looking at the dates of Tuesday 26th August - Friday 29th August (3 nights) as a possibility. The prices seem to be cheaper during the last week and one or two people have mentioned it as a good time to go.

I love the idea of later opening hours and fireworks.

Thanks everyone - any other opinions would be great too!

 

[Rachie B]

Rachael most of our trips are in the summer and DLP is definitely doable.
Having the benefit of EMH for a short trip... we only used it a couple of times, would help.

thank you

we plan to buy dream APs ,so will use the EMH

 

[Pinkradleygirl]

Thanks everyone for your excellent advice!

I am now looking at the dates of Tuesday 26th August - Friday 29th August (3 nights) as a possibility. The prices seem to be cheaper during the last week and one or two people have mentioned it as a good time to go.

I love the idea of later opening hours and fireworks.

Thanks everyone - any other opinions would be great too!

Hi,

we are also planning on going during this week. Our first DLP visit was during the same period but in 2004. From what I can remember the crowds weren't as bad after the bank holiday. I have exactly the same problem - have to go during the school holidays (oh the stress of having 13 weeks holiday a year) but I found if we planned our days it was ok.

Just remember to have fun!!

 

[jillrobinson]

Hi Bonnie long time no see

Whatever you do don't be tempted into doing a "Christmas Season weekend" to catch Christmas and avoid school disruption, we did last year and it was so busy, never again.

Keep us upto date with your plans.

 

[Sweet Pea UK]

Thanks everyone for your excellent advice!

I am now looking at the dates of Tuesday 26th August - Friday 29th August (3 nights) as a possibility. The prices seem to be cheaper during the last week and one or two people have mentioned it as a good time to go.

I love the idea of later opening hours and fireworks.

Thanks everyone - any other opinions would be great too!

Hey Bonnie

They are the exact dates we are going - except coming back on the Saturday. May see you there!!!

 

[Ware Bears]

Saturday 19 July - Sunday 31 August

The benefits of nice weather and long opening hours far outweighs the crowds which I thought weren't too bad at all.

I agree ~ we've been in August twice and it's perfectly manageable. I like the long evenings ~ I found it hard on our Christmas and Halloween trips when the park shut earlier.

 

[Bonnie]

Thanks everyone!

I am really feeling positive about the end of August now. I was toying with the idea of Christmas but I think the later evenings and warmer weather will be a big bonus...

Thank you - I was a bit lost before.

 

[Rosie]

I will be there from Friday 22nd to Friday 29th - although I will be spending a few days visiting Paris. It seems a few people from here will be there to enjoy the Fireworks!