Considering moving Sep trip to May. Thoughts?

[Calee]

We went to WDW for the first time (well, I went as a child) Sept. 2016. We loved it so much I've been anxious to get back.

I have a Sept. 2017 trip planned and ready. We are staying at CBR on a room discount (had free dining last year) and are getting the $75/night gift cards. We are a family of 5.

My husband and I started tossing around the idea last night of waiting until May (2018) to go instead. Not cancelling our current reservation, just adjusting the dates to May. We could go anytime in May that was best as far as crowds.

Any thoughts? Our major reasons for choosing Sept. last year were free dining and crowds. We don't have free dining this time, so that part is not a perk to Sept. Part of me wants to try May to try a different time of year, Flower and Garden, etc. I am afraid of the crowds being a lot worse though, and afraid of losing our CBR gift cards. It also gives a little more time between trips (we do have the money saved but won't typically be able to swing it every year), although nothing new will be open in May as opposed to Sept. Our oldest will also turn 10 in Jan so we would pay adult prices for him in May.

Any thoughts? Biggest issue is cost, but experience is important too!

 

[Robo]

If the biggest issue is cost...
go now (Sept).

It will very likely be more expensive by next May.

BTW, it would be quite likely (depending on certain factors) that you will actually be able to save more money by NOT using "Free" Dining.

 

[Alesia]

I would pick may (especially early May) over September every single time. The weather is better and the crowds are lower.

If cost is a concern, consider staying offsite. You can get a whole house that's only a 10 minute drive from the parks for under $100 per night.

 

[Calee]

I had heard that early May was low crowds, but when we went in September (second week-so after labor day but before Food and Wine) last year the crowds were pretty much nothing, so I couldn't imagine another time being as good!

 

[vanjust14]

I'd leave it for September since nothing new will be open in May and costs will be higher. You have a good deal with the gift cards. I know you mentioned Flower and Garden but the Food and Wine Festival will be going on in September. I, myself, am looking forward to this on my September trip!

 

[sharonabe]

and afraid of losing our CBR gift cards.

We, too, have the $75 gift cards for our trip this fall. From my understanding, if you change to May, you will probably lose these. BUT if they can somehow change your reservation without changing your reservation #, you could keep them. If it truly is something you want to try, it's worth a call to see what they say. Make sure you are very specific about keeping those gift cards.

 

[anniemae]

May is one of the best times to go. Crowds are very very low, weather is great. Reports of people there last May said crowds were super low. I was checking wait times last may and they were practically nonexistent. I would go in May if we could, but it does not work for us.

The fall is getting more and more crowded. Sept is very very hot and hurricane season.

 

[mamamelody2]

If biggest issue is cost, keep September. That is value season and of course Disney will raise rates next year also.
September will also be best (I think probably by a large margin) for crowds. Especially early/mid September.

 

[DeterminedOne]

I have never been in May, therefore have no advice. You already know September is hot. If it were me, I would be bummed to think my trip is coming up in a few months, but then got pushed eight months out. The waiting is the hardest part.

 

[KrazeeK120]

We just went in May. We were there May 7-12. It was hot (90s every day, up to 95 one day), but virtually no humidity and no rain. Crowds were manageable, although honestly a little heavier than I expected. I thought it was a great time to go. I've never been in September though, so I can't compare.

 

[nkereina]

Good points have already been mentioned. IMO, September will have lower crowds but a benefit to higher crowds is that sometimes park hours are longer. I glanced at Easy WDW's calendars briefly and that looks to be the case in May of this year. Also, May has better weather - not hurricane season and not quite as hot/humid. You'd want to avoid Memorial Day weekend as well. Another benefit of May is that the construction at CBR will be further along and hopefully less intrusive, if that's where you want to stay.

 

[Mopedmom1]

For me, I would be really bummed if I postponed my trip until May only to find out Toy Story Land would be opening just after I left. Since we don't have a date yet, that could easily happen.

 

[The Foolish Mortal]

My partner and I did mid-September last year and crowds were not bad at all. The only time it felt at all crowded was around the F&W festival stands in the evenings. Otherwise, no issues at all.

We are planning to go next May as well and anticipate larger, but not terrible, crowds. If cost is the concern, you should be able to get room and ticket prices now. So compare away. The only other large cost to compare is transportation costs

 

[vinotinto]

If the biggest issue is cost, I would leave the trip for September because it will be a little less expensive than May:

1) May is "Regular" season and September is "Fall" season. The cost for CBR will be around $11 - $12 more per night in May. You can see the 2017 and 2018 rates here:
https://www.mousesavers.com/walt-di...ls/disney-world-resort-hotel-discounts-codes/

2) Your son turning 10 - If you decide to dine at any "fixed" price restaurants, such as a buffet, he will pay the adult price. Not a factor if you are eating a la carte, but I would budget an additional $20-$25 for each fixed price meal in May. He will also pay the "adult" price for his park tickets. Again, this is not a large difference, but it would be $20 -$25.

Those are the differences in costs that you are looking at. You can decide if that additional cost is worth it for seeing a different time of the year and avoiding the peak of Fall's hurricane season.

 

[mindeola]

We have gone in May many times. I love that time of year! Flower and Garden makes EPCOT so beautiful. This past May it was quite a bit more crowded than it has been in years past, but it was still manageable. I think the secret is out though!