Best Time to go to WDW w/ Children

[Believing is Seeing.]

So I'm thinking of planning a trip with my cousins family and my family to WDW. Their kids live up in the new england region up north. That is really the only time I can think of that they could come down and not have a HUGE crowd... They have Feb 15, 16, 17 off. I was thinking if they flew down Friday February 12th and depending on the crowds leave before the 17th.

What do you guys think about February? I need your help, I've never been in February before!

Please!

TIA!


Edit: Just realized it's Peak Season. That may change things? What do you think? I posted a poll, what do you think is the best time to go crowd wise? It's multiple choice, so you can choose more than one month.

If you voted, why do you think this is the best time to beat the crowds?

Thanks!

 

[smphbear]

It is Peak Season because that is President's Day Week. That is usually a very crowded week to go. We were there the week before President's Day week this year. The Friday before was our last day in the parks. We could see a tremendous difference in the crowds. It is a time when many schools are off for the week so it is popular. If it is the only time to go, just have a good plan.

 

[Believing is Seeing.]

It is Peak Season because that is President's Day Week. That is usually a very crowded week to go. We were there the week before President's Day week this year. The Friday before was our last day in the parks. We could see a tremendous difference in the crowds. It is a time when many schools are off for the week so it is popular. If it is the only time to go, just have a good plan.

Okay. I dont know what to do now. If school wasn't a problem... What would be the best time to go to WDW?

 

[woodkins]

We are from NY & that is the week when all NE schools are closed. We were at WDW for Pres. week last year and it was PACKED! Total nightmare. Maybe they can do a Thurs-Mon vacation and then the kids only miss 3 days of school? That is what we typically do. That being said Jan. is always good around Martin Luther King day (we have off for MLK so that is one less day of school that would be missed if you can plan around that).

 

[Believing is Seeing.]

We are from NY & that is the week when all NE schools are closed. We were at WDW for Pres. week last year and it was PACKED! Total nightmare. Maybe they can do a Thurs-Mon vacation and then the kids only miss 3 days of school? That is what we typically do. That being said Jan. is always good around Martin Luther King day (we have off for MLK so that is one less day of school that would be missed if you can plan around that).

Great idea, Woodkinds. Is January a pretty light crowd around MLK? Thanks for your advice.

 

[smphbear]

I wanted to tell you that this year President's Day week and Mardi
Gras week are the same. A lot of people from this area go
to Disney for the week

If you could go in January, that would be better.

 

[El&Asmom]

From a pure low crowd level with good weather for swimming, I would pick Sept. We have been over MLK, and will be going again this year, and it's also a great time after the holiday is over. It is a little more touchy as far as weather goes as it can be very nice but cold as well. We love Sept for low crowds. Unfortunately we now have a child in grade school, and don't want to pull her out the first month of school.

 

[natnelliesmom]

How old are the kids? I have always believed it's better to miss a few days of school and enjoy the vacation, then go when everyone else is there and have long lines and no available ADRs.
If at all possible- it would be best to pick other dates.
-Sarah

 

[Believing is Seeing.]

I wanted to tell you that this year President's Day week and Mardi
Gras week are the same. A lot of people from this area go
to Disney for the week

If you could go in January, that would be better.

Ooh, okay! Great, thank you very much!

 

[Believing is Seeing.]

From a pure low crowd level with good weather for swimming, I would pick Sept. We have been over MLK, and will be going again this year, and it's also a great time after the holiday is over. It is a little more touchy as far as weather goes as it can be very nice but cold as well. We love Sept for low crowds. Unfortunately we now have a child in grade school, and don't want to pull her out the first month of school.

Okay, thanks for your advice. I really appreciate that. I'm thinking either January, Sept, or Oct now. I'm glad I started this thread.

 

[Believing is Seeing.]

How old are the kids? I have always believed it's better to miss a few days of school and enjoy the vacation, then go when everyone else is there and have long lines and no available ADRs.
If at all possible- it would be best to pick other dates.
-Sarah

One is going into 5th Grade and the other is going into 9th. They took them out in 2007 for a couple of days in December and they're upset they did because they crows were terrible! I'm hoping to make it up to them by doing WDW right. Thank you very much for your wonderful advice.

 

[mjkacmom]

One is going into 5th Grade and the other is going into 9th. They took them out in 2007 for a couple of days in December and they're upset they did because they crows were terrible! I'm hoping to make it up to them by doing WDW right. Thank you very much for your wonderful advice.

I have never hesitated to take out my kids in elementary school, but there is no way I'd take them out in JH and HS - they'd be lost when they got back (and I'm basing this on dd12, all vector classes, high honor roll student).

 

[angela1044]

We were there this February and left on the President's Day weekend because in Canada we also get a long weekend.

The parks weren't busy until the long weekend and that worked out fine because we left on the Sunday. Also, the weather was awesome. No rain all week and it was perfect temp.

 

[Fabinva]

We were there this past January 17-24, it was COLD (in the 20s) and we saw many Brazilian tours that made it a hassle to get to a character or fast passes a few times. We were expecting low crowds and did not get that.
I would pick October just cause September still hot and to avoid storms.
Good luck.

 

[chrisw127]

Unless it's a holiday weekend or there's a big event in the parks or nearby (like the super bowl), your best bets are early May, September after labor day, the first part of December (although it gets more crowded every year, and January.

Everyone raves about September, but you still have to deal with the heat and the threat of those pesky hurricanes.

 

[Believing is Seeing.]

I have never hesitated to take out my kids in elementary school, but there is no way I'd take them out in JH and HS - they'd be lost when they got back (and I'm basing this on dd12, all vector classes, high honor roll student).

Thanks, I'm not sure how it will work out. I know the 5th grader will be fine but we will have to see about the one about to go into HS.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Believing is Seeing.]

We were there this February and left on the President's Day weekend because in Canada we also get a long weekend.

The parks weren't busy until the long weekend and that worked out fine because we left on the Sunday. Also, the weather was awesome. No rain all week and it was perfect temp.

If we end up going then I think we will avoid that long weekend.. The weather is very nice, I agree.

Thank You.

 

[Believing is Seeing.]

We were there this past January 17-24, it was COLD (in the 20s) and we saw many Brazilian tours that made it a hassle to get to a character or fast passes a few times. We were expecting low crowds and did not get that.
I would pick October just cause September still hot and to avoid storms.
Good luck.

BRRRR!! Thats crazy! No thank you.. Haha. I like to enjoy my trip and not having to wear a ski parka on Peter Pan.. Haha. And not catching a cold.

Thank You!

 

[Believing is Seeing.]

Unless it's a holiday weekend or there's a big event in the parks or nearby (like the super bowl), your best bets are early May, September after labor day, the first part of December (although it gets more crowded every year, and January.

Everyone raves about September, but you still have to deal with the heat and the threat of those pesky hurricanes.

Why after Labor Day? Is that because thats RIGHT before kids go back?

And I like the first part of December as well, but it seems to be getting really really crowded...

 

[cmusschoot]

I would vote for early December...I have done both.

Holiday decorations are up and fireworks are early (if you have little ones with an early bedtime).

A close second wold be end of Sep./Oct. low crowds and warm enough for a dip in the pool.

I had a trip planned for Dec this year...then found out i was expecting and would not be able to travel that late in my pregnancy...so I had to switch it to end of Sep.
Enjoy!!!