Best time to visit the Fort

[Deffenm]

We recently purchased our very first popup camper. It is a 2008 Starcraft Centinial. I LOVE it. We took the camper out for the first time this past holiday weekend. We had no problems and had a great time. It was cold in the evenings a few nights. In the past I would have been making DH upset because I would be trying to steal his heat but this time I just turned on the furnance and the heated matresses. I was warm and toasty. Now that we have our first trip out of the way I really want to plan a trip to the Fort. My question is when is a good time to go? We would have to drive through the mountains (ohio to FL) to get there so I don't think I would want to do that during winter months. DH does the driving not me. I have no problem taking kids out of school either. I am sure once we pick a date I will have lots more questions about camping at the Fort.

 

[twoWDWfools]

Congrats on the new pop up! We loved ours.
Our fave time to go was Oct. We drive from IL to FL so have the same weather concerns with winter driving. Oct is normally great weather along the way and at the Fort.

 

[clkelley]

October is my favorite time to visit WDW also!!

 

[bama_ed]

Congrats, fellow pop-up owner!

I agree with the consensus about fall being the best time to go. A couple considerations:

-with kids your ages they might enjoy going around Halloween. You can do the haunted wagon ride at the fort plus the parks are doing more in the way of theming.

- if you want to see the parks in the Christmas decorations go in the first two weeks of December. Attendance drops off after the Thanksgiving week crowds and the Christmas crush.

- spring break crowds drop off after April 15 or so and don't pick up until Memorial Day time so if you want a spring trip that's is a little warmer.

You'll want weather to ride bikes, enjoy sleeping in the pup with no need for a/c for furnace, swim in the pool, do the campfire/singalong so pick whatever works for you.

Bama ED

PS-born in Akron, OH

 

[ditchdoc1017]

We just got back May 11 thru 18 was great til the ironman came to town.Then got busy. I would do thru the 16 th again

 

[2goofycampers]

Oct. is great, between Thanksgiving and Christmas is great, Jan 2 till middle of Feb. is great.

 

[LarryJ]

Oct. is great, between Thanksgiving and Christmas is great, Jan 2 till middle of Feb. is great.

I agree with the Dec/Jan time frame and this year will be our first for the Oct/Nov time frame. Weather wise the June thru Aug can be brutal.

Larry

 

[RvUsa]

We have been in Oct, May, and Feb/March and I will not go back unless it's Oct. We loved it, perfect weather, great small crowds. I would like to be there for Christmas decorations once, but not sure if it is worth it... LOL

 

[YellowXterra]

Any Time Duh

 

[auntie]

We have been in Oct, May, and Feb/March and I will not go back unless it's Oct. We loved it, perfect weather, great small crowds. I would like to be there for Christmas decorations once, but not sure if it is worth it... LOL

Okay..here's a dumb question, but did it bother you at all that in October it gets dark earlier than say when you went in May? We've only been in May and August, and have heard that October is a nice time to visit.

We'd love to visit closer to Christmas one day also. Have thought about it, but with the holiday's being expensive enough it never seems practical.

 

[RvUsa]

Yeah, with a 5 yr old, never seems to be enough money for everything around christmas. LOL

The light never bothered us, mainly cuz we were there with a youngun at the time, so by late afternoon, he was ready to crash anyway. Besides, I like the parks at night, kinda cool.

 

[g8trmom1]

I think Gatordad would LOVE to answer this one!!

 

[wrongagain]

All depends if you mind crushing crowds and staggering heat, I do.
You have to watch out for holidays, long weekends, spring break, school vacations, cheerleader camp, regional holidays, triathalons, etc.
Beginning of nov or dec for me.

 

[Gatordad]

i like going from 2-4am on tuesdays.

 

[RvUsa]

 

[momoffive]

We're headed back for our 2nd Halloween trip. We've been in May, Oct and Dec. Our fav is Oct. We were at MNSSHP on Oct 30...all Halloween , spent the next day at MGM, had day off then returned to Magic Kingdom and Christmas decorations were up. Wish I had taken the family picture by the tree for the Christmas card that year, just didn't cross my mind. It was cool to see the Halloween decorations one day, nothing on the next day at MK, then the Christmas decorations , all in the span of a week. The weather was fantastic too.
I shouldn't be trying to sell the time so much , I like the smaller crowds too.
Loretta

 

[ntsammy5]

If you go late November/early December, you still can see all the decoratiopns and avoid crowds and the extra expense. We've done that for a few years, both at FW with Debbie and at resorts. It's a great time to go.

 

[Deffenm]

Thank you so much for your input. I think we are going to try to go in Oct. of 2009. I think our kids would love all of the Halloween stuff. I guess I better get planning.

 

[Tent Camping Mom]

We've been to WDW every month of the year except July-September. The only time we've camped at the Fort is March and October. October is our favorite time to camp, also it's the time of the Food and Wine Festival which is a must-do in my book, and MNSSHP is always a blast.

 

[des1954]

Just a word to the wise... October can still be unreasonably warm, AND, it is still within the hurricane season. I'm only saying this because (a) it's true, and (b) October is my second favorite time at FtW, and I don't want it to be so booked that I can't get a ressie.

Actually, the first few weeks in May are pretty nice, as well as after T-giving and the first two weeks in December.

I must really second Gatordad's opinion however!