Can you tell me when is the best time to go to WDW??

[bettyann29]

Im trying to figure out when is the best time for us to go next year.. My first choice was over Spring Break but my kids and my boyfriends are in different school district and therefore not on springbreak at the same time.. so the only other time we can go is when it is really hot... Is it best to go the last week of May for 1 week or is it best to wait and go in June?? This will be a trip for next year not this year.. I know there are gay days around this time, which doesnt bother me in the least but the crowds is what Im trying to avoid.. I figured if we went the last week of May I will get an extra day since I get off for Memorial day but wondered if its less crowded in June.. Ha.. I figure thats a joke..

HELP... I have been in March before and that is what I really wanted because crowds werent bad at all.. we've been in July before and it was soooooooo crowded AND hot that I know I dont want to do that again..

 

[Merriwind]

To me, it would be a toss-up. First, they are both going to be hot, but if you're coming from TX, I would think that wouldn't be as big an issue as for some. Last week of May, just about all the southern schools are out by then and Memorial Day usually brings in bigger crowds. But, by June, schools are out everywhere.

I think that regardless of which week you choose, having a good touring plan is going to be essential so you can be ahead of the crowds and beat the heat. I like the Unofficial Guide's take on tackling the parks. I've read good things here about Tour Guide Mike too. You'll really want to be at the parks in time for opening. You can get so much done in the early hours and it will be cooler. Take a break around lunch when the crowds have all arrived. This would be a great time to hit the pool at your resort. Then return to a park later for dinner, fireworks, etc. You should have long park hours to work with during both of those weeks.

Enjoy!

 

[Poohbear123]

I heard in Jan. after the 5th is a good time to go, any other time, its hot and crowded.

 

[addicted2disney]

We go twice a year.. once in january and over Thanksgiving.
We go towards the end of January or very early February. We love this time of year. The crowds are really low!! The weather can be iffy... We have had it range from 30 degrees to 82 degrees. We are from PA so ANY Florida weather is better than ours in January!! Thanksgiving has become are 2nd favorite time to go. This year will be our 3rd time! The are heavier crowds over the weekend, but getting to see the parks decorated for Christmas is great. We do the MVMCP ( did it twice last year) they make it snow on main street and have a great special christmas parade. the characters are dressed up in scarves and such. There is also the Osbourne Lights in MGM, the christmas story tellers are in Epcot. They have tree lighting ceremonies, and the parks have holiday themes to their parades. We have thanksgiving dinner at one of the parks. Its a great time to see Disney. This year should be even better with the celebration going on as well! I cant wait!!
iF YOU ARE trying to go with no crowds... try the end of January. Just dont go over Martin Luther King weekend... OR go the first week of December if Christmas decorations are something youd love to see too. Crowds are low and the hotels are value priced at both times..

 

[bettyann29]

unfortunately our times to go are somewhat limited as we both have children and we have to be able to schedule it around them.. they are all in school and we're trying to keep it where there is no school time missed.. We normally take a family vacation every year and normally we take his kids out of school and work around my kids times out of school since their school district is more strict on missing school time.. ex: they can make up work missed but the highest they can get is a 70.. so if they would have made a 100 its a 70.. if they would have made a 90 then its a 60 and so on.. his kids school has always just let them make up work with no problem.. we just got back from a family cruise in March and one of his kids teachers would not let her make up work, so it became a problem and now we have to work around that.. and of course they are getting into higher grades so its harder to make up what they miss.. so anyways thats the dilemma.. The only times we can go would be last week of May, anytime in June, July or first of August and then in November.. Well July and August are out for me because its just miserable with the heat.. Ive been in July before.. Its extremely hot in TX but the air is different and it seems much hotter.. So it was looking like Last week of May but now Im thinking November would be better.. I know the parks arent open as late but the weather will be better and Im sure the parks will be busy but surely not as busy as summertime.. and then theres the Christmas decorations and such.. Its so hard to decide...

 

[Laurajean1014]

The best months to go may not be applicable for you: January, late October, early November, early December and early May.

Late May through early September tend to be more crowded and weather to be in the 90's and higher. It also tends to rain during this time.

I hope this helps you.

Laura

 

[addicted2disney]

Bettyann29-
I go off season both times ( although they just changed Thanksgiving weekend from value season to regular) but once the weekend is over, the crowds drop. What is great about going off season, is that even though the park hours are shorter, so are the lines, so we get so much done. When there are no crowds, you can get on most everything with barely a wait. There are a few exceptions, like Test Track, and thats when you use fast passes. What we like to do when the parks close early is hop over to Epcot. Its always open until 9 or 9:30 off season. Id you go late enough in November, you can go to the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. The ticket is extra, but you stay at the Magic Kingdom from 7pm - Midnight. Its so much fun and they make it snow on Main Street. They have a special parade and special fireworks that go around the park. They also have the new extra magic hour evenings, which lets you stay at certain parks 3 hours after closing time. That is for people who stay on property I believe. So, dont let earlier closing times matter.. if its off season, and not a holiday weekend, there will be no crowds. I have become so spoiled with not having to wait much at Disney, that when we just went to Hershey Park and I had to wait over an hour for the Storm Runner rollercoaster, I was really irritated!!! lol

When in November would you be able to go? Over THanksgiving? Our school is off 6 days over thanksgiving. So we go then and the kids dont miss any school.