Better Time to GO?

[ashleybea1]

Im busy planning a surprise trip to Disney World for my boyfriend and me and I need help picking a month. I am thinking either February or September.
Which month would I be able to get better prices, less crowds, etc. Basically pros and cons of the two months. I would be going next year in 2015.

Thanks for the help!

 

[fuzzlekins]

It depends on the particular week and what type of weather you like. September would be much warmer than February. We love going in February because it's typically comfortable walking around and not very rainy. Water parks and water rides make no difference to us. If they're important to you, then September would be a better choice. In September, you could also catch MNSSHP. Both months have low crowd times as long as you avoid certain high crowd days.

 

[MrInfinity]

Both Feb and Sep are low crowd months. Either would be a great trip!

Feb will be cooler. Sep will be HOT.

Feb will not be rainy. Sep you'll get afternoon showers regularly.

Feb will have ride closures for refurbs. If there is any "must-do" ride for you, you are most likely to miss it in Jan-Feb.

If the rides are most important, and any closure would be a deal-breaker for you, go in Sep. But in Sep, it will be hot, hot, hot, and you'll get hot, muggy rains in the afternoon. Not deal breakers, but expect delays till they pass.

If you want to hit the pools, then Sep will be hot pool weather, Feb not so much.

Overall, Feb will be cheaper. It is about the absolute cheapest season. But those ride closures... if some rides are closed it would kill our trip, thus we don't hit Febs.

For 2 adults w no kids, between those two, I'd pick the Sep. It's not that much hassle for adults to deal w a rainy afternoon. On the other hand, it'll be hot pool weather, and hanging out w hot nights by the pool will be awesome.

Feb will be slightly less on the crowds... but Sep is right behind them, so crowds only "light" instead of "very light" = not a whole lot of difference.

We loved our Sep trip.
Enjoy!!

 

[tcherjen]

Both times are great.

 

[karly05]

I've only done February (3 years in a row now), but here are my pros and cons on that:

Pro: I do believe this is the cheapest time of the year for resort rates. I go in the week leading up to Presidents Day (this year, it was Thursday 2/6 through Wednesday 2/12) and the crowds have been very manageable. Even in 2013, when I was in MK for Mardi Gras, it wasn't horrible. I don't use the pools/water parks, so I'm not worried about swimming weather. Average temps when I go are lows in the low 50s, highs in the low 70s. I consider this just about perfect. 2013 was spot-on and beautiful. 2012 had a couple of really cold mornings (30s), but the rest was beautiful. 2014 had 2 days that dripped rain off and on and never got out of the 50s, but the rest was beautiful. Out of 3 Feb trips, this year was the first time I saw any precipitation.

Con: Splash Mountain will almost certainly be closed! This is one reason I'm seriously looking at late April for 2015 (Easter is early that year). Snow/winter weather can impact getting to FL. The day I flew down, I connected through DFW and it was SNOWING there - we had to be de-iced! My sister told me after the fact that, the day before I flew back, they were canceling flights from MCO-DFW because of winter weather in Dallas! So that's something else to consider.

 

[mesaboy2]

September has consistently lower crowds. February has Presidents week, and is a big draw in the middle of the month. September only has Labor Day early in the month, and it is easily the least-crowded holiday weekend of the year.

September has heat, humidity, and the slight potential for tropical storms. February has cold.

 

[AmyB2006]

I don't know about better prices, but weather wise, I would choose February. Any week but President's Day weekend and maybe skip Princess Half Marathon weekend. But any other time yes.

September might be slightly better crowd wise, but horrendous heat and humidity compared to February.

 

[catne]

Have gone February and September many, many times (see signature!)

February...generally dry season, generally warm. That said: this year was a big exception. Had both colder than normal and warmer than normal (in the same week!) Also this has been a very wet January & February for Florida. So that must be considered a possibility. It is major ride refurbishment time, though, and water rides will often either be down for painting, etc. OR they are closed because it's too cold. Also often too cold to swim in resort pools. Crowds can be extremely low. For example, we were at WDW this past week, Saturday 2/8 until Wednesday evening 2/12. Went to all 4 parks...DHS, Epcot & Animal Kingdom probably about a "2" on the crowd size. MK on Wednesday maybe a "3". OUTSTANDING.

September...still FULL SUMMER in Florida (highs in the 90s, with extremely high humidity), and it is prime hurricane season, too (that's where all the rain comes from: it is the storm season in Florida) It is completely possible your vacation can be wrecked by tropical storms/hurricanes/tornadoes in September, so keep that in mind. The summer storms in September can wreak havoc on transportation (major flight cancellations are possible, and not just in Florida, but all the "connector" hubs for major airlines too.) So your flights could get cancelled. (Though the same is true for flying in February, as this year has shown...1000s of flights cancelled due to crazy winter weather.)

But...September usually has the lowest hotel rates and the best discounts (that's when the original free-dining discounts started...to bring patrons in during hurricane season) The crowds can be remarkable empty in September. Labor Day weekend can have crowds, especially at Magic Kingdom (popular with locals) But the week after Labor Day can be crowd size 1s and 2s. If you go 2nd week of September you can get tickets for Halloween party and will find it is small crowds for Halloween party.

I would say...if you don't mind hot, and you want to swim at resort, do water attractions and maybe a water park then go in September.

If you don't do heat/humidity, don't care about swimming & water rides...then go sometime during the last week of January (Not MLK Jr. holiday weekend, the week after that) or the first two weeks of February (leave before Prez Day weekend) The rates will be almost as low as September, and can have great low crowds.

 

[PACVII]

September is great and into October. February also perfect time to go. Just really depends on what you want to do. Halloween party is great in October and a bit cooler but not always. September great for swimming and crowds a bit lower but not all the time. February is nice a light jacket most days will work even when the locals wear gloves. Lol. I had on shorts.

 

[frozengurl]

I say September! Yes, it's still summer in FL in September but it's FL.... Of course it's hot! But you have pools! And you have AC you can always jump into when you need a break from the heat! My FAVORITE time of year to go to a WDW though is October~ it's still hot but it's a tad bit "cooler" you can still swim! MNSSHP!!! Low crowds but not as low as Sept & Feb. No matter what, you'll have a blast!

 

[hops&dreams]

I personally think feb is better. Crowds are lower, prices are lower weather is less predictable, but it for sure wont be swelteringly humid, as sept typically is.

Also remember Brazilian tour groups are present in feb, and that you'll also have to plan around Presidents' Day and the princess half marathon.

If he's a football fan, remember the QB that wins the Super Bowl always shows up the Monday after the big game for a few hours at MK. Just a slim chance of seeing him, but still kinda cool.

I think you've done a great job narrowing to these two times though. My friend and I constantly go back an forth about it. She always plans for Late sept into the first week of oct, and we (my family) plan for jan/ early feb. it comes down to this: wed rather deal with the cold, she'd rather deal with the heat. We end up paying the same and she stays moderate, we say deluxe.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[ashleybea1]

Thanks everyone for the replies so far!
I am leaning more towards September because it gives me more time to save up for it.
But I also saw that there is something called free dining around that time? I really do not know anything about it I haven't been to Disney since 2010 and I did not plan that trip. So this is my first time planning a trip really.

 

[wendybeth75]

If you are staying onsite and are interested in free dining then September has been historically when this discount is given. I have never been in February and cannot speak for it. Sept=low crowds, but sometimes its still pretty hot. I think you cannot go wrong either way.

 

[ashleybea1]

I am planning on staying onsite. Most likely at the Art of Animation Resort (I want the little mermaid room. Favorite disney movie)
I just dont know if the free dining is the best way to go or what not.

 

[Itinkso]

I am planning on staying onsite. Most likely at the Art of Animation Resort (I want the little mermaid room. Favorite disney movie) I just dont know if the free dining is the best way to go or what not.

AoA Little Mermaid rooms have always been blocked out of specials and discounts. You may want to check on the Resorts board to see if anyone has received free dining while staying at AoA in September.

I'll be at AoA this coming week and special rates (1/2 marathon, AAA, CM, etc) were not available for LM.

 

[ashleybea1]

AoA Little Mermaid rooms have always been blocked out of specials and discounts. You may want to check on the Resorts board to see if anyone has received free dining while staying at AoA in September.

I'll be at AoA this coming week and special rates (1/2 marathon, AAA, CM, etc) were not available for LM.

Thanks for that tip. Is it jsut AoA that blocks it or do the other value resorts as well?

 

[Itinkso]

Thanks for that tip. Is it jsut AoA that blocks it or do the other value resorts as well?

AoA because they don't need to discount because people, like us, will still stay there!

 

[fuzzlekins]

Regarding free dining ... the last two Febs have had Stay, Play, & Dine which winds up being similar in cost to free dining. We've used it the last two stays and it saved us hundreds over no discount. For the price of a non-discounted AoA room, you can probably stay at a moderate resort. And if it is during free dining or S/P/D, you wouldn't have to pay to upgrade to DDP from the QS plan. Just something else to consider.

 

[ashleybea1]

How many months in advance do they announce when free dining and this stay. play and dine?

 

[Amanda25]

September is definetly a low crowd season. First weekend sept may get busier due to labor day holiday. Late sept u may b able to do Mickey not so scary Halloween.