Deciding when to go- summer advice?

[Forevryoung]

I decided that my next Disney trip must be with my cousin who will be 5 in April. Her parents will never take her and I think this is the right age for us to go just the 2 of us. She's an avid traveler and usually an easygoing child.

I just don't know when to take her-

I work "teacher schedule" (without the summers off) but I get 2 weeks vacation "anytime". I want to have 5 days in the parks.

We are both night owls; give her an afternoon rest and she is good to go until 10pm and beyond.

She is definitely not an adventurous child when it comes to trying new things although she is very tall. I'm not going to push her onto any rides she doesn't want to go on- we will be back.

With just the two of us going at her pace, do you think it would be too hot and miserable to plan a summer trip? Any experience?

I'm thinking in the middle of August, before she starts Kindergarten (NY school calendar) and I go back to working a crazy schedule.
Thanks!

 

[Bob P]

Hi,

If you are going to go in the summer months, crowds are lowest the first two weeks of June and the last two weeks of August. The heat will not be low though!

 

[DISNEYNV]

If I had to go during the summer I would go in late August.

 

[DisDreaminMom]

It' awfully hot in August, even after the sun goes down. If you are not used to high humidity, then kid will be miserable. If you can be very early riser AND go to bed super late, this might work, but from personal experience, you'd better make sure kiddo has one of those always set alarm clocks in her little head that makes her wake up early no matter what, or you risk having her be so exhausted that she sleeps in every morning and you are stuck with half-time hours at the parks.

I have one kid that can do this and one that cannot. Even with a nap, it can be tough unless she's an early riser. And plan on a stroller unless she's an energizer bunny. (You may need one too!). You just don't realize how much the heat and humidity wipes you out...

 

[liznboys]

We've gone a few times in the summer now and plan to go every summer indefinitely. It is totally doable. I do think it depends on the person though, and their heat tolerance. Anyway, we hit the parks early and then in general we leave after lunch. Then go back later or do something non-park the rest of the day. Or, we have a no park morning, then go later in the day. We don't do as many outside shows and parades where you sit in the sun for a long time.

 

[Forevryoung]

Thanks guys for knocking some sense into me. She is NOT a normally early riser and definitely likes to take her sweet time getting ready. But, I'll wind up bugging her to be at rope drop no matter what.

She lives in NYC, so the heat/humidity is a new factor (she also has asthma... probably should take that into consideration). I was there at the beginning of June in 2005 and it was hot but manageable for me.

I'll talk to her parents (my aunt is a teacher) about letting her miss 2 days of Kindergarten of a 3 day weekend in the Fall (Friday/Tuesday kind of thing)... I honestly don't know what the answer will be.

I would rather do this right- If I don't, it will be awhile before I attempt to do it again!

 

[james'mommy]

It was god awful hot and soooo crowded last August. My husband vowed to never go during the summer season again.

 

[marybrat]

We usually go the last week in August. Not crowded, but very hot!