Cost and crowds: April vs August

[annadreamsofdisneyworld]

In a typical year, are flights to Orlando and Disney resorts significantly more expensive in April than in August? Are there more crowds in April? We are trying to decide between the weeks of April 18 2021 and August 15 2021. Easter will be April 4th. We like the idea of going in April (weather, our birthdays, less waiting until trip), but crowds and prices are more important factors. Thanks for your help.

 

[westie55]

August is generally less expensive all around than April. Crowds those weeks are probably kind of similar but I would think April might be slightly busier for those with late spring breaks. August has become a slower month if there is such a thing. Obviously covid changed everything this year and who knows about next year.

 

[annadreamsofdisneyworld]

Thanks!

 

[Eastern]

I agree that August is usually cheaper and you don't get good prices when it's crowded so I expect it's less crowded as well. But it's hot and very humid with lots of thunderstorms.

 

[happymommy]

I’ve gone both times, and honestly the last two weeks of August had been favorite times to me. My kids didn’t start school until after Labor Day, unlike many states where they start earlier. The crowds had often been very low; one trip Soarin’ was a walk on all day. Yes, it’s hot, but evenings were very nice and cool (to the point that in one off site stay, we bought hoodies at Target for the evenings). It does typically rain in the afternoons, but only for a short time. Prices for lodging and airfare reflected the low season; one trip was 15 nights (offsite at condos I got through Interval’s “getaways”), and used Marriott gift cards for our 10 day park hoppers so tickets were “free”, rental car was a whopping $200 total, ate a lot in the condo, so total trip was about $2,000 for the 2 kids and me. It was a great deal!

 

[oceanmarina]

We have been going every August for over 10 years, it's been getting busier every year. I used to love it when we first started going when it was less crowded, but now the increasing crowds combined with the summer heat makes me want to try a different time of year. I mean the Magic Kingdom is shoulder to shoulder crowded walking in the parks. So you have the heat (it's like walking on the surface of the sun hot) combined with the growing crowds. On our last trip It's a Small World was 35 minutes, etc., to me the ride wait times seem longer every year. The other thing is our last two trips the afternoon storms lasted for HOURS - like soak your sneakers puddles, etc. Our last night we had to forgo the parks due to the torrential downpours & lightning that shut all of the outdoor rides. For me I would put up with the heat to have lower crowds, but like others have said there is no slow time anymore. The thunderstorms can often impact your early evening plans for sure. That has meant rides like Slink Dog / Big Thunder were cancelled due to the lightning closures and we couldn't get another chance to ride them during our trip. So the weather can also impact what rides you get to ride and sometimes less park time. We have had to spend 40 minutes to an hour in the gift shops (with everyone else in the parks) when the rain is torrential. It's not fun to walk around the parks with soaking wet sneakers!

My friend goes every April, it's always crowded that Easter week but like she pointed out to me , waiting on line in April is nothing like waiting on line with the summer heat. She can do the parks all day, but we can't with the August heat (you are soaked in sweat after walking around, the heat is that bad). We definitely will try going April one year so we have something to compare it to as we only have visited in July & August.

 

[Eastern]

We definitely will try going April one year so we have something to compare it to as we only have visited in July & August.

I think anytime of year is cooler than July and August, followed by September. I went in early September one year and I couldn't take the heat. Thunderstorms daily with sideways rain. When the rest of my family went again in August, I stayed home.

 

[CastAStone]

Google “mousesavers” and the name of a WDW resort to see the 2020 prices by week for any WDW hotel. You can assume the pattern will be similar in 2021 (with what date Easter falls on potentially changing some April prices)

 

[Jdreamsdisney1]

I’m considering week before Easter or late August as well! I priced it out and it was about $400 Cheaper with one extra night in August. I have been both times however 2 weeks after Easter. It was crowded but manageable. August has been getting more crowded and the heat!!! I also worry that next summer will be extremely packed because of everyone is rescheduling next summer. If there is a high demand I can’t see Disney giving those good end of summer deals. I am leaning towards April at the moment ........Flower Garden is really beautiful!

 

[Disneyfan754321]

We go in March every year because the weather is so nice..
We are going in October as well this year because we want to avoid any possible hurricanes in August and September.