DVC for a teacher....August vs February vs April

[rutgers1]

We are trying to figure out when to make our first trip as DVC members. I am a teacher, so I am limited to times when school is out (crowds!). Where we live, we are off all of July and August, as well as Christmas, a week in February and a week in April.

We just did the week in April and had great weather. Crowds were rough, but doable if you went early or stayed late. We went last time in February, and it was a bit chilly but still fun. We have never tried August, yet it appeals to me because I can schedule more than a week, plus some web sites suggest that the last two weeks are actually not "that" busy.

Any thoughts?

 

[Brian Noble]

I know everyone perseverates about crowd conditions, but I've been during both low and high-crowd times, and as long as you have a sane plan (or just follow either Unofficial Guide or Tour Guide Mike) it's really not that big of a deal.

For me, August is one of the few times when the weather in Florida is worse than it is here at home, so I've never seriously considered it.

 

[dgaston]

DH is a teacher too. The time I avoid is April vacation before or after Easter. I personally think that's worse than Christmas to New Years which we have done for 5 years (odd ones). With TGM we find Christmas week is doable.

We are also going the last week of July. We get to the parks early, use AC attractions, get wet, and head to the resorts for the hot afternoons. Then we head back for the later hours and entertainment in the evening.

We also like President's week, although airfare from NEngland is not cheap!

HTH

 

[melk]

We've done the last two weeks in August and it's true the crowds aren't bad. But wow, it is hot! The first time we did it wasn't too bad, then we did it again and it was brutal. We've sworn off August now. We'll try April next year, but I am a little nervous of the crowds.

 

[Halle]

Rutgers 1, am I correct in assuming you're an RU grad (Rah Rah Rutgers Rah)? DH is and we follow all the sports. Back to WDW, August is hot and humid and you are almost guaranteed afternoon storms that come and go and add to the humidity. This past August it didn't rain at all but the five + years before it did. I personally prefer April even with the crowds, parks are generally operating at capacity and stay open later.

 

[La2kw]

DW and I are both teachers too, so we can relate to your question. We have been going in July for years and have always had a great time. It's very hot and humid, but then so is home. We have also gone during Christmas week and it is much, much more crowded than July. I wouldn't do that again. If you can go before December 15 or so, it would be very nice. After that, the crowds get thicker and thicker until Christmas week. July crowds (with the exception of July 4th) are nowhere near as bad. Spring break time is also pretty crazy.

 

[stormer]

When do you go back to school in the fall? I am a teacher also and we go back after Labor Day so we visit Disney the end of Aug. The last two weeks have considerably lower crowd levels as many places have gone back to school already. The third week can be better than the fourth week if the fourth week starts free dining.

We go to the parks early and get a lot done by lunch time. Then it fills up a little, but nothing like the rest of the summer. It is, however, very HOT!!!!

 

[rutgers1]

Halle...Yes, I am a Rutgers grad. You and your husband should visit my site, scarletnation.com. Sorry for the shameless plug!

stormer...We usually start up the first week of September, so I would be looking to hit the last two weeks of the month. Having just traveled in April and braved enormous crowds, I guess I can handle it at any time of the year. As someone else in this thread said, the key is to go very early in the morning or stay very late - and avoid the parks mid day. So, with that said, I think that I might give August a shot. The goal would be to to buy AP's and hit up the park twice in one year.

Teaching is an absolutely awesome profession, and there is no way that I can complain about all of the vacations that we have. But as a family of Disney nuts, having to vacation with the masses stinks. I always get upset when a student misses a week to go to Disney at an off time, but then again, I can understand the reasoning.

 

[Candace]

Another teacher checking in here - As far as your vacations, don't rule out Thanksgiving! In my school district, we get the Wed., Thurs., and Friday off that week. In years past, I have taken my two personal days on Monday and Tuesday, so I could go the Sat. before Thanksgiving, and leave on Friday or Saturday after. That way, I got to see a lot of the Christmas decorations and the weather is just perfect. Crowds are not as bad as Spring Break, either, which also has awesome weather. I just can't do August and September anymore - the humidity and heat are just too much for me.

 

[FLYNZ4]

Halle...Yes, I am a Rutgers grad. You and your husband should visit my site, scarletnation.com. Sorry for the shameless plug!

stormer...We usually start up the first week of September, so I would be looking to hit the last two weeks of the month. Having just traveled in April and braved enormous crowds, I guess I can handle it at any time of the year. As someone else in this thread said, the key is to go very early in the morning or stay very late - and avoid the parks mid day. So, with that said, I think that I might give August a shot. The goal would be to to buy AP's and hit up the park twice in one year.

Teaching is an absolutely awesome profession, and there is no way that I can complain about all of the vacations that we have. But as a family of Disney nuts, having to vacation with the masses stinks. I always get upset when a student misses a week to go to Disney at an off time, but then again, I can understand the reasoning.

That was probably me making the bolded statement above.

We also would do the AP's and we stagger the trips year to year... enabling us to get two summer vacations off of each annual pass. We personally like early summer better than late summer... but we have done both. I think we are going to plan an early September trip in 2009. That should match up with DD1's school calendar. I expect that it will be really hot and humid... but we will avoid mid-day.

Also... we do not enjoy 1 week trips. We generally go for 12 nights (avoiding the end weekends)... which allows us enough time to come home relaxed.

/Jim

 

[TAKitty]

I really liked mid Aug. last year. It was not too crowded. As a teacher I use my two personal days and travel in the first part of Dec. The crowds are very low and it is so nice to get away when the rest of the world isn't.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I've done all of these. I prefer late June or July after the 4th. We did August last year and it was the hottest we've ever dealt with--the pool at YC was bathwater.
One year we were there Dec. 29-Jan. 2. NYE at Epcot was unbelieveable. They pass out horns for NYE and if one more person blew a horn in my ear I was going to commit murder. I had to go back to the hotel.
This past year we did spring break--Thursday before Easter to the Thursday after. If you get to each park at least once at open, you can do everything. Just be organized and don't sleep in. Only one day was chilly (Easter was March). Also, as my kids get older it's harder--cheer camp, summer theatre, football camp. Someone is always missing something if we go in the summer. So next year we are going spring break again--this time the week before Easter, returning Good Friday. In 2010 I hope to go again in summer.
Robin M.

 

[Simba's Mom]

We've done the last two weeks in August and it's true the crowds aren't bad. But wow, it is hot! The first time we did it wasn't too bad, then we did it again and it was brutal. We've sworn off August now. We'll try April next year, but I am a little nervous of the crowds.

I used to be a teacher too (for 25 years, til last year) and I found the extreme heat of late August had its advantage. That is, it forced us to relax and make our vacation more restful-lots of lying around the pool. And isn't that one of the advantages of DVC for lots of people-less comando touring? Another time I usually liked was right after the first of January. My school often started later than others after the holidays, so I'd go the very first week of January-but sometimes it was too cold!