Choosing the time of the year to plan vacation?

[DaystarPrincess]

If you had to choose a time during the year to take your family to WDW not during school time but either summer vacation or a holiday vacation, what would you choose? And why? The reason I ask is we are making our plans for another trip but not till 2017. Our last trip was in October for Halloween, loved it but the kids missed some school. They took their homework with them but when my son(highschool) got back to class he had a lot to catch up on so we plan on not doing that again.

 

[Pesky]

what time of the year are the other holiday breaks?

 

[DaystarPrincess]

Easter/Spring break, July 4th, Labor day, Thanksgiving or Christmas. Out of all these holidays I hear Easter is the worse.

 

[ReluctantDisaholic]

We used to do March Break with a couple of days tacked on to the beginning - when the kids were younger we didn't care about missing school, but now that they're in high school and junior high we moved our trips to August. We loved it - it was HOT (although not as bad as I expected) but not as busy as we're used to over March Break, and it's nice being more flexible with the dates and not worrying about what anyone is missing at school. I prefer August out of the times we've gone so far.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Labor Day is your best bet from those dates. It's hot but crowds are not bad at all.

Our kids HATE missing school so we plan around vacations. We typically end up going end of April or end of August.

Both times are awesome and the only reason difference is the heat factor.

 

[kohlby]

When is summer vacation? I'd go at the start of summer vacation if it's in May/early June. I'd go at the end of summer vacation if it's the last week of August/start of Sept.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Summer, definitely! Agree with above - very beginning or very end of Summer, ideally.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

Early or mid June if your school get out by then

 

[Thing 1]

When our oldest hit middle school, we tried to find weeks they were off a few days and plan around those. The kids in our area are off Mon-Wed this week. You could leave after school on the Friday before, or leave 1/2 day on Friday or even miss Friday. You would have through Wednesday or even the whole week if you would be ok if they miss a few days. With Summer, the very beginning or end, depending on when you school starts or ends. Many school in the south go back mid to early August so a late trip can work well if you are ok with summer heat. The week before Christmas is not terrible but the week after is the busiest week of the year. Easter is crazy busy but more kids are out the week after rather than the week before if that matters.

 

[jtopp]

Crazy as it sounds, we have been doing the Christmas holiday week for our vacation. Crowded? Yes. Unfortunately, its the only week we can all get together. Worth it, to have everyone together? YES!!!. Besides, the parks and resorts are all decorated, adding to the festivities. We plan a few special outings (make sure to get ADRs), and otherwise just go with the flow. Knowing its crowded, we don't get upset if we don't do everything on our agenda, but no one has to make up any schoolwork when we return. Also, having a warm weather holiday is a pleasant change.

 

[mzsarah10]

We go the first week of June as soon as school lets out. One year we literally left for the airport from school on the last day. It is hot and crowded but less crowded than a few weeks later in the month.

 

[5stljayhawks]

I would go closest to end or start of school. If you wait to middle summer you are guaranteed crowds, if you go for bookend you may have fewer people in the park. You may also look at long weekend and miss 1-2 days, but usually paying prem at onsite hotels

 

[Aliceacc]

I'm a teacher, married to a teacher, with 3 kids who are all students.

We go over the summer, usually the end of July/beginning of August.

Yep, it's hot. So ordering 2 cases of water is part of the price we pay.

But the days are endlessly long. We start early, spend the morning in not-so-crowded parks, and head back to the resort for an afternoon swim. Then it's back to the resort for dinner and the evening.

With one singular exception (Toy Story Mania on our first trip, with a 90 minute wait) we have NEVER waited more than 20 minutes for any ride.

It works well for us.

 

[monorailsilver]

Summer. We love going on the summer.

I prefer the 3rd week of August and I prefer August as the summer month I go.

The reasons-don't need a coat, pants, long sleeves.

It's swimming weather so our non park days are spent at the pool.

The kids can get soaked and I don't have to worry about them or us getting a cold from being wet and freezing.

Yes it's hot but we plan-we go to the early entry park, leave at lunch time, nap and then return until closing. But we only do parks 2 days in a row.

 

[mrsp1030]

Thanksgiving....we love it then...not too hot, not cold. Swimming weather most days and its already decorated for Christmas. The crowds really are not bad! More tolerable than Easter, Christmas and the crazy summer tourist groups.