Best time to visit during the summer?

[halssister]

Does anyone have any input on the best (better) time to visit during the summer? My family (myself, DH, and almost 12 yr old ASD son) went to WDW for the first time for DS's 9th birthday at the end of September, and it was wonderful! The weather wasn't too terribly hot and the crowds weren't unbearable. We've been saving Disney Rewards dollars on our Visa and think we may be able to visit again next year; unfortunately, going during the school year isn't an option this time, as I now work in a public school as well and cannot get that much personal time off. So, we are trying to decide between going as soon as school is out (2nd week of June) or at the beginning of August, right when the value season starts. Money is a consideration, but so is heat and crowds. Lines aren't my biggest concern, as neither of my 'boys' (DH and DS) will go on many rides; on our previous trip, it was mostly seeing shows, with just a couple rides thrown in here and there. We were out of the parks by about 2:00 every day and spent the afternoons hanging at the resort (POR) walking around or in the pool. Any thoughts? When would YOU go, if those were your only choices? Thanks!

 

[geek+nerd]

I'm a teacher, too. Last year, we went early-mid June when school got out. This year, we went June 29-July 9.

I say hot is hot. It's hot in June and it's hot in August. Personally, I would go with the start of value season. It's always good to save money, and maybe that way, you can treat yourselves to something special (Dining with an Imagineer or one of the tours).

 

[Schmeck]

The closer you can go to September, the less crowded it is. Look at the park times for August - there's a spot in the middle where park hours get a bit shorter. If you can go around/after that time in August, the crowds are more manageable.

 

[halssister]

Thank you! We go back to school by mid August so probably looking at the first or second week. Maybe we will get lucky and have unseasonably cold weather next year!

 

[HopperFan]

I would pick August. Many schools in Georgia (driving distance) start returning to school early August so I know I wouldn't plan a trip there with school around the corner. Value Season a huge plus. And having gone the end of May/first week of June this year and usually going in Sept each year ..... it felt like it was crazy hot but I think the difference is by August/Sept my body has adjusted to summer heat. In early June it had not so it was very uncomfortable (and crowded compared to Sept). There really is nothing in August negative that would make me pick June over it.

 

[Mrs.Malone]

I really prefer August over June for many of the reasons mentioned above.

Do remember that in August you're getting into hurricane season. We were there in mid-August one year when a hurricane hit. Disney of course handled it beautifully and we still had a wonderful trip, but there were headaches with changing air travel arrangements and so on. That's the only possible negative I can think about choosing August instead of June.

 

[halssister]

Great input, thank you! Air travel won't be an issue as we will be driving (DH won't fly). Not that I'd want to drive during a hurricane either, of course! . There was one threatening when we were there the first time, fortunately it changed course and didn't head toward us like initially expected. We did get one day where it rained from about noon until around evening, causing a major meltdown for DS who just wanted to get in the pool.....we just let him spend about an hour in the bathtub playing instead!

 

[lanejudy]

Thank you! We go back to school by mid August so probably looking at the first or second week. Maybe we will get lucky and have unseasonably cold weather next year!

We were in Orlando in early August once several years ago - I just remember it being very hot and humid. It rained (downpoured!) every day in the early afternoon, which just left it feeling more humid.

But I have never been in June so I don't know how August compares, just thought I'd mention our August experience. We prefer winter vacation times - does your school have a winter break that isn't around the holidays? We have a week in February, but I know not all regions of the US have that time off.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[halssister]

We only get two weeks off for the Christmas holiday, and single days for Presidents Day and MLK Day, so that's not an option unfortunately. We do get a fall break that is a long weekend, and I considered that, but we need two days drive time each way, since DH can't handle flying and also gets carsick if he doesn't drive (and he can't do 20 hours straight of driving, go figure haha!). Also not sure about flying with DS, he refuses to even get on any transportation other than in a car or bus so I imagine a plane would be out of the question......we took him to see an air show and he started to panic on the way there thinking we were going to put him IN the plane!