Don't know when to travel - April, July or August?!

[Liberator]

A friend of mine just called me and said "what about an Orlando-theme park trip, especially Disney in 2012?"

YES!! SURE!

The bad thing is that I only have time for travelling during German Easter and Summer school-holidays due to the fact that I go to school in the evenings. So that would be:

1. April - 18. April
and
09. July - 18. August.

We want to stay around 14 days.
I think all times will be very crowded times, but what would be the best?
The fact that there will be incredible heat in summer is not a problem.

We want to stay onsite, so what time is more expensive?
Will there be any discounts or free dining promotions?

Hope to receive some good answers and tips.

 

[beccasmom]

Mid to late August is the "slowest" time of those you mentioned. Many US schools return in August and that tends to decrease visits by those with school-age children. However, the park hours decrease as well.

We are DVC members, so I don't know the historical info about prices and packages. But I do know that WDW has often offered Free Dining at that time. Attached is a link to a good site for discount package information.


http://www.mousesavers.com/

 

[GAGirlInVA]

We would choose April out of those choices because of the heat in July/August.

 

[Ashmer]

I'd recommend an April trip. I live in Florida and the heat in August can be suffocating, add to that the large tour groups of chanting girls in July and we try to avoid visiting wdw both of those months.

 

[Be1021]

April because the weather is soooooo much better!

 

[WDW1979]

We want to stay onsite, so what time is more expensive?
Will there be any discounts or free dining promotions?

For weather, I agree with April over August. Early April can still get hot, but bearable. August can be unbearably hot & it rains a lot then.

For crowds, since Easter weekend is in early April, crowds should be higher in early April compared to late July/early August.

For hotel rates, note that April 1-14 are near peak Disney hotel rates due to Easter. End of July/early August will be much cheaper. "Value Season" rates at the value and moderate Disney hotels begin on August 5 (though if you check in a couple of days earlier you will still be given the lower rate for those nights on and after Aug 5).

I have not seen hotel discounts or free dining promotions announced yet for any time after March 2012.

Have fun!

 

[Liberator]

oh that's cool that value-season begins that early.

I think we will travel in August, the price difference between easter and summer is really crazy.

I realized that the prices for flights to the US are really expensive during our school-holidays, but there will be a way for a cheap flight.

And when I read about "chanting girl-groups" I start to think about arm-linked tour groups that everyone argues about on here.


Is the Art- and Animation-Hotel a family-suite-only hotel?
Is it already bookable?

 

[KatieCollette]

April