Best time to go

[sirvin12]

What is the best time of year for Disney World? We have never been and would like to plan a trip for the next year or two. I would like to keep the budget, weather, and crowds in mind.

Thanks!!

 

[Disney-Chick]

Hi sirvin12. My family usually goes the first few weeks of Dec. We find that the weather isn't to hot, the crowds are not to bad and I love the Christmas theme. I have gone this past February and the weather was hotter than the Dec/Jan trip we took and the crowds weren't to bad until President's Day Weekend hit. Once Tuesday came around it started to calm down. Here is a link for you to also review for suggestions

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/waltdisneyworld/

Good luck with planning.

 

[Hootch]

to budget, here is a list of dates to avoid due to premium pricing for Disney resorts posted by Mousesavers.com.

The periods to avoid in 2012 are listed below:

* New Year - January 1
* Marathon weekend - January 5-7
* Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend - January 13-15
* Peak Season/Presidents Day weekend - February 16-25
* Peak Season March 9-31 (especially weekends)
* Easter - April 1-14
* Summer at the Value and Moderate resorts - June 1 - August 4 (especially weekends)
* Fall weekends - September 28 - December 20 (especially Columbus Day Weekend, October 5-7 and Thanksgiving weekend, November 19-22)
* Holiday Season - December 21-31

http://www.mousesavers.com/disneyresorts.html#offseason

These dates can also be used as a proxy for crowd levels. Disney knows when demand is high and extracts a premium.

There are a number of sites that have historical weather information and the information is presented in different ways. Here are a few.

http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/fitness/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USFL0615

http://www.intercot.com/infocentral/weather/dailytemps.asp

http://www.plan-a-magical-vacation.com/disney-world-weather.html

http://www.*************.com/Temperatures and Attendance for Disney World.htm

One thing to remember about crowd levels is that Disney will adjust hours relative to crowd levels. For example, we usually go in June. It's common for the MK to close at 11:00 PM at the earliest with PM extra magic hours (EMH) going to 2:00 AM. We had one or two nights this year when it closed at midnight and one night it was open until 2:00 AM without EMH. We take breaks for swim or naps during the hottest parts of the day.

We go in June mainly because the kids are in school. If I had my preferences, I would probably go in November the week or two before Thanksgiving, right after Thanksgiving or the last week of April/first week of May. I would rather have a chance of hotter weather than cold weather.

 

[sammyann]

Hello!
I have been in early May...week before Presidents Day in February....week of Veterans Day in November and the first week in December! All weeks have been lighter crowds and PERFECT weather! I mean...we may have just gotten lucky...but it has always been nice Happy Planning!!

 

[aleshad01]

I have been to Disney in July, Sept., and Dec. and Sept. is my favorite time to go. It's still hot and humid but the crowds are very low.

 

[karlacorley]

We are going for our first time and will be going the first week in March. My 3 yr old son is on an Epilepsy medicine that prevents him from sweating so we cant go during the summer months and hubby doesnt get vacation until the middle of Feb.

 

[Azrael]

I love October and everything Halloween. I enjoy seeing everyone dressed up and all the fall festivities.

I also enjoy early May as well. I'm tired of Jan/Feb because we haven't had good luck with the weather. It's been pretty cold over the last couple of years.

 

[AlexanderLin]

I think the best time for Disneyland is the August~

 

[Squidgyness]

I've been in July and August, out of the two I'd say July. Hotter but less humid, IMO. August I remember as being Slightly less busy.

Then again, many of these trips were before Tour-Group season took off and free dining was offered, so crowds may have shot up since the last time I went.