Choosing time of year to go to DL?

[HannaBelle]

I am planning our 1st family trip (15 people) to DL in 2013. We have done WDW 3 times as a large group. Here is what we have done at WDW so far:
Spring Break 2006 – Beautiful weather with heavy crowds, but not unbearable

New Year’s Eve 2007/2008 – Freezing cold heavy crowds and it got dark way to early! (They had a record cold front and it was in the 30’s a couple of mornings.)

Early June 2011 – Low crowds in the mornings, moderate in the afternoons, but it was hot, way hot…high in the upper 90’s hot all day with humidity of the charts. (This was a record heat wave, oh joy!)

Now, I really want to go to DL in early June b/c the crowds look like they will be in the 4 to 6 range on a scale of 1 to 10 while spring break will be in the 7 to 9 range for crowds. Here is my problem…weather…I absolutely do not want to go when it is hot. I hate to sweat and for my hair to be all frizzy. I get all red in the face and sunburn.

Hydroguy has awesome weather charts and while the weather appears to be bearable in June, it does spike into the 100’s. So, I am leaning heavily towards March/Spring Break…talk to me about the crowds. Will it be wall to wall people where you cannot even walk or just longer lines with longer waits?

We can handle waiting, but really dislike being herded like cattle!

We will be traveling with 7 “kids” ranging from 5 to 19 who will all be in school and are limited to school breaks. None of us are willing to take them out for vacation.

Thanks for the advice! I have read through all of the stickied posts and will read through them again before we make final plans. I am just having the hardest time decided which week will be best. They both have their pros and cons. We will be staying at the Grand California Villas and will do 4 park days. Some of us go commando and some of us relax a bit more, so we will have multiple touring styles and don’t tour the parks in a pack.

 

[LucasandMickey]

I would probably go early June. I dislike spring break in DL. However, if you want to guarantee yourself cooler weather than go Spring Break. Any time you go when school is out, you're going to have crowd issues.

My favorite time of year is October. Nice weather but not unbearable and no crowds!

 

[skiingfast]

Go in the middle of Summer. Crowds are manageable during the weekdays. The Weather in DLR is rarely worse than WDW. Even in the middle of Summer when it can be hot, the humidity is not an issue and the morning and nights are pleasant.

 

[Anaheim boy]

If you're going in early June it can be bearable weather wise. Spring break can be quite crazy on the crowds and you're more likely to get nicer weather in early June than less crowds during spring break. And it only would get hot mostly during the day, as said above, the morning and evenings would be quite nice. It is nothing like Orlando in that sense, the humidity is nothing like FL. Have fun, should be a good time.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

We've done June and it was no where near 100. We wore sweaters and sometimes pants in the morning and evening. if you could handle June in WDW, anytime during the summer in CA will be a cake walk.

 

[HannaBelle]

if you could handle June in WDW, anytime during the summer in CA will be a cake walk.

That is just it, I couldn't...it was horrible...

I have a few months to think it out and it comes down to which is worse. The potential of a June heatwave or spring break crowds.

Thanks y'all!

 

[loveysbydesign]

I def. need help with this!
We were gonna wait til next year but now are thinking of going this year as I can get rt airfare for 5 for $1300.
This would be our 1st trip(to CA/DL) and we hate large crowds/long lines but don't want to miss anything like the Matterhown due to refurbishments. We are open to going anytime from Jun-Aug or Oct., but would really prefer Nov.(would love to see some Christmas decor). Of course I'm sure it will be packed during the summer due to Carsland opening. We would also like to hit a local beach.

 

[lvdis]

That is just it, I couldn't...it was horrible...

I have a few months to think it out and it comes down to which is worse. The potential of a June heatwave or spring break crowds.

Thanks y'all!

I'm certainly not the expert on this, since we were only at DLR once during the last week of July 2010. But, we found the weather to be beautiful. It was even chilly enough in the mornings and evenings to wear a light jacket. I don't think you will ever encounter the heat (humidity) that they get in Florida during the summer. That's what I loved about going to DLR in the middle of the summer! We just about won't go to Florida during that time frame anymore.

 

[waltonmkb]

I would also choose early June. I am from the desert of New Mexico so I'm very sensitive to ANY humidity and I hardly notice the humidity at DL even in the dead of summer (July/August). It's not like Florida where the humidity just envelopes you and you can't escape it...if it's hot in DL, just take a break and sit in some shade and you can totally escape the heat. It can still be warm during spring break and then you're stuck in long lines in the heat

 

[Pinocchio #1 Fan]

As an Orange County native, if I were to move away, I'd plan my DL trips for either February or October, and plan for two weekdays. Like a Saturday thru Tuesday trip. I have been to DL at every time of year imaginable, and this is the way I would do it if I was living elsewhere.

 

[Honeybee1983]

We did go at Spring break time last year and the crowds were heavy! BUT it was not unbearable I would say, just pretty darn exhausting. The one thing I really, really did not like was having to deal with all the teens there with the potty mouths walking around like the OWNED the park. grrrr Personal pet peeve. Dland is supposed to be for all, INCLUDING little kids who don't need to be hearing all the F-this, F-that, you know? This was mid April last year. The weather was good! It was about 75 and beautifully sunny the whole time. The one day that was the best for us was our first, which was a Friday, there was a 30% chance of rain and the parks were DEAD!! AWESOME!! So don't let a little rain ever scare you away! I think the best time to go seems to be the couple weeks between when spring breaks end and before grad nights and summer breaks begin! It's "slow time", but, unlike the fall/winter slow times, it's not refurb time, since summer is right around the corner. Often if you choose to go in the slow winter times a lot of rides and shows will be down, so you can really miss out on a lot. We are going first week of May this time and so far, as far as touring plans says, it should be GLORIOUSLY slow, yet, next to no closures, AND all shows will be up and running! YES! The other things to keep in mind, is that Carsland opens mid-june, so any time really before that (baring grad nights time) will be a lovely time to visit, since most people will be holding off until the new land opens!