End of May or End of August - Which would you choose?

[JulieSharp]

Hiya

As you may be aware, we have a Ds with severe Autism (unable to speak, read or write with lots of care needs) aged 16 but mentally 4. We were sent the new government legislation to unauthorised absences. We haven't been to Florida for 5 years so we are ready to go next year.

If we book May then we will have to ask for 10 days off school, the weather is better for us as the sun is not so intense. In August we would have to ask for 4 days off but it is very hot. August is approx £500 more than May

Which would you choose ?

 

[2Tiggies]

With the info you've given above, I would go for May. I think your crowd levels in late May will be higher than in August but if the weather would make it easier for Joshua, that would be a deciding factor for me.

Would the school not make a concession for you given that these are special circumstances? I'd certainly view it that way

 

[zippy99]

We have been in August for two years and the weather is HOT plus chuck in the rain. We have 2 teenagers 13 & 15 who can get agitated in with the heat and humidity, without understanding your son's condition fully if he struggles to communicate I wonder whether the heat could be too much of a stress for him. Whilst I have never been in May if the temps are better I would go for this.

Personally - I would not worry about the government legislation - just because a school can no longer authorise an absence does not constitute that a fine will follow. You know what is right for Joshua and if the governors of the school refer your case to a local authority who then decide that a fine is due deal with it then - otherwise select what is best for your boy.

 

[~Piglet~]

I would choose May too. We are planning to go back in 2015 and regardless of the legislation taking a trip during the Summer hols does not appeal due to the weather and cost.

 

[catherine]

We've never been in May, but having just spent 3 weeks there in Aug I would definitely go with May. We (DH 2 DDs 19 and 15 and me) have all said that we would never go again in Aug. The crowds weren't too bad the last 2 weeks but the heat and humidity just about finished us off! We normally go between Oct - Dec so it was quite different for us!

 

[disneyholic family]

i agree - with what you've described, i would go with May.
The crowd levels are probably higher at the end of May (americans start taking their kids out of school at the end of the year without a second thought - especially as you get around memorial day), but the weather is more comfortable in May than August...

i assume you know that you can request a Guest Assistance Card (GAC) to help you out with the line situation. I don't know if the GACs will be revised by the time you go, the rumor is they will be, but i suspect it will only actually happen once the magic bands are fully implemented.

You'll still be entitled to a GAC, but they'll work slightly differently than how they do now. But they will still be very helpful to those of us who need them.

 

[darthtatty]

Ive been end of May a few times and got to say end of August.
The weather in May has been awful for many years, people complain about it each year. even this year had loads upset as it was constant rain and rides & show closes were ruining the holiday for people.

I hate hot weather but loved August. Sure its considered hot but just be sensible, walk through the shops, drink plenty, keep out of the sun during the strongest time of the day. Theres a lot of air con, so that helps too.

 

[tinkerpea]

Ive been end of May a few times and got to say end of August.
The weather in May has been awful for many years, people complain about it each year. even this year had loads upset as it was constant rain and rides & show closes were ruining the holiday for people.

I hate hot weather but loved August. Sure its considered hot but just be sensible, walk through the shops, drink plenty, keep out of the sun during the strongest time of the day. Theres a lot of air con, so that helps too.

Really?? Oh dear now I'm gutted we just booked for may! We go on the 10th have a 4 day Disney cruise then 18 nights at SSR so many said the weather was great, we always go September to October but its our twins bday in may and dh wanted to do star wars wk end and see flower festival. Really worried now as rain would ruin it for me, tat would be £12,000 of washed out fun

 

[pascalstongue]

Really?? Oh dear now I'm gutted we just booked for may! We go on the 10th have a 4 day Disney cruise then 18 nights at SSR so many said the weather was great, we always go September to October but its our twins bday in may and dh wanted to do star wars wk end and see flower festival. Really worried now as rain would ruin it for me, tat would be £12,000 of washed out fun

Don't worry! We were there May this year and the weather was beautiful. We only had one afternoon of heavy rain. We didn't have any issues of broken down rides etc. the only disappointment was the teacup ride was closed for refurb. Star Wars weekend and flower and garden festival were both fabulous. You will have a great time!!

 

[marypoppins81]

Are the may crowds really that bad? I looked in detail at touring plans and other than 3 days for memorial weekend it looked loads better than August. We booked may 2014 rather than August for this reason.

 

[kevin harrison]

Does the cost of the saving outweigh the cost of the fine?

If I could afford to go, being in the same situation as you - as you know I would go when I wanted.

Why only May or August?

 

[Pootle]

Hello, I'd been wondering how you and Johnny were getting on only recently

I think you work in a school too Julie so maybe that explains why May or August. If not - even as a retired teacher - I'd agree with pp; go when it suits you best and blow the government legislation!

Otherwise, I too have had extremely hot weather, grey skies and lots of rain at the end of May/beginning of June and so I would probably opt for August, even though it's far from ideal. In fact, we are likely to be doing the same thing as you next year, travelling from Manchester too

 

[flortlebap]

I experienced a May wash out last year (9 days solid rain) so you couldn't pay me to risk May/June again. I would pick August any time - better weather and less crowds.

On the plus side the weather has been so bad in May the last few years that statistically you'd be VERY unlucky to see that type of weather this year!

 

[edinburghlass]

Don't worry! We were there May this year and the weather was beautiful. We only had one afternoon of heavy rain. We didn't have any issues of broken down rides etc. the only disappointment was the teacup ride was closed for refurb. Star Wars weekend and flower and garden festival were both fabulous. You will have a great time!!

I think we were there this year at a similar time to you and the afternoon it rained we were at Discovery Cove, good place to be, free drinks while we waited on the lightening to pass over

Two Mother's Day in a year for me, 11 May next year, celebrated at Epcot to watch the Flower Power concerts, last two years its been Peter Noone and Herman's Hermits, great fun and the addition of food and drink stalls to the F&G festival this year was an added plus.

I remember reading of the bad weather in July this year, continuous rain every day rather than brief showers and it being colder in Florida than it was in the UK

Booked again for next year for two weeks from 3 May

 

[disneyholic family]

Really?? Oh dear now I'm gutted we just booked for may! We go on the 10th have a 4 day Disney cruise then 18 nights at SSR so many said the weather was great, we always go September to October but its our twins bday in may and dh wanted to do star wars wk end and see flower festival. Really worried now as rain would ruin it for me, tat would be £12,000 of washed out fun

average rainfall in orlando in may is 84 mm
average rainfall in orlando in september 160 mm (and in October the average is 86 mm)

you never know what the weather is going to be in orlando, no matter when you go..

except that you know it will be unbearably hot and humid in the summer....

but rain and even temperature any other time of year is unknown..

we've been there for non-stop rain at various times of the year..
we've been there for non-stop drought at various times of the year..
we've been there for snow in december one year and then the next year at the very same time it was so hot we went to one of the water parks...

and we've been there during a hurricane when the parks were closed...

etc etc etc


you just never know.....whenever you go it might be great, it might not...

again - average rainfall in may is 84 mm
while in september it's 160 mm

so based on the average, there is a MUCH higher chance of rain in september ...

try not to be upset...
and if it rains, you can still go to the parks...
you can still go on a cruise...
and by the way, if it rains in orlando, it doesn't mean it will rain on the ship...but in any case, the ship is a blast, rain or shine!!

 

[JulieSharp]

Thanks for the replies - John is fine thanks Moira.

I would rather go in April as the weather is ideal, but prices are high.
What I didn't mention is that we are really looking at the Thomson Dreamliner, as Joshua has fallen ill on long flights and we think he may find it more comfortable on there.
Hence our dates are more limited and we also want to upgrade to PE - again to try and make the whole experience easier.

DH says June can be very wet , haven't been back then since honeymoon and we were also considering Discovery Cove, it's years since we went there and that day was ruined by the rain.

We have been so many times we should be able to decide our own plans easier, but son's issues make it harder.

Anyway thanks a lot, some great replies though still no nearer deciding.

 

[disneyholic family]

here's the website i was looking at for weather averages in orlando

http://www.holiday-weather.com/orlando/averages/may/