For you off season visitors - would you not go at all if you couldn't go off season?

[loriandmatt]

ok - we are generally yearly visitors and always (except one horrific trip) off season visitors. the heat isn't really the issue for us, it's the crowds. WE HATE THEM. not so much the standing in line thing, as we are pretty good at fastpasses and such, but masses of people moving about. That coupled with the simple math of more people = more of a chance to come across a rude butt head. we have a very low tolerance for butt heads - we both work around them (him a cop and i work with doctors - sorry to the docs out there, but the ones i work with are very rude and egotistical) and that is why we keep choosing to vacation in a close to perfect fantasy land.

anyway - becase of DS getting older, taking him out of school is not so great anymore.

OK - fine. His school starts later in Sept, we will go in mid to late Aug, or very early Sept. (avoid the parks on labor day weekend and we should be set.)

BUZZZ - wrong answer! now he wants to play football. practices start in August. The first coulple of weeks are the most critical as that is when the coach determines their skill level and pegs them for a playing position for the rest of the season.

SO - now we either give up on my WDW obcession all together or i suck it up and go in June or July.

Part of me says i would rather not shell out that kind of cash to be there with all those crowds and have a not so great time. the other part of me says, any time is better than no time.

If you are a hard lined off season visitor - what would you do? any of you ever go in June or July and not hate it? is any time in June or July better than others or is the entire two months a sea of people?

- lori

 

[kimmikayb]

Hi Lori....I guess I consider myself a hardline off season person. I went once in early August and hated it. We are just like you, the heat we can tolerate and take precautions, the lines we can deal with. But the stupid, rude people send us over the edge. Not being able to walk without touching other people another one of our dislikes. I swore never to go in the summer again. I can't imagine the extremely busy times like 4th of July and Xmas. We're on our last years of taking the kids out of school too. I'm going to take advantage of it. But in 2008 or 2009 we are going to be there in the summer...agggg! We're going in late May, early June so it might not be THAT bad. So like us, just plan it during times when it is the least busy in the summer. Don't go over the 4th and be prepared mind body and soul.

 

[Sylvester McBean]

we don't even go to Orlando in July, let alone any of the parks. early June still isn't too bad, just like later in August. I'm like you - there more people in the crowd, the bigger of chance to run into a jerk. and it's those incidents that make you think about the heat and the wait times that much more.

 

[joece]

You can still enjoy the world with all these lines and here is how:

Do more of the little things that make the magic
Use Tour Guide Mike
Do your research and plan out those day carefully.
World Showcase.

 

[RobInBigKC]

I don't think we're going to go at all but we haven't had to make that choice yet.

Our next Disney trip would normally be in 2008 or 2009 and our oldest DS will be in High School when GPA really matters and I don't think we'll feel comfortable pulling him out of school.

Last Saturday, 2/18, we were in Magic Kingdom and had to leave at 2:00 for the very reason you stated. It was hard enough just walking through each section of the park (went back at 8:30 that night though and it wasn't bad and by 10:30 it was great -- most had left!).

We've definitely been spoiled with our early December, late January, mid-February trips. I don't think I could do the summer rush!

-- Rob

 

[loriandmatt]

at least i am glad there are others out there that are like us - hate the jerk factor that goes along with crowds.

i may consider taking him out of school the last week or two so we can get there in early june. after final exams are done, how much are they really getting out of it anyway other than just complying with the state requirements for school days? none of the kids are focused those last two weeks.

that may just be my WDW mania talking though.

- lori

 

[123SA]

The first time I went was July 03, MK only. Next Jun 04 and last year May. Each trip was so much better than the previous one. In my experience, yes June is a whole lot better than July. May was fantastic. We are going in Dec this year --the kids will be in 1st grade and preschool so I am ok for now taking them out. You definitely have a dilemma. What about taking him out of school but for shorter trips? Say a Thurs to Sun trip in December and May? Of course that is double the airfare if you fly.

 

[GGOOFY1]

I have been in the same boat for the last couple of years. Sept, Oct and March are my favorite times....Once my DD(19) and DS(16) started high school those months are out. DS playes hockey and baseball which really limits our travel (except for sports!!) Last year he had a bb tournament at the WWOS the end of July. I found myself going to the parks and doing my favorite rides and going back to the resort. I don't feel the need anymore to hang out at the parks from open to close. I know that I will be coming back, so I will have a plan of what I want to do and when I run into a few of those buttheads I head back to the resort swim, take a nap, or just sit on the balcony and read. We did use EMH and stay late, which was nice.

 

[magicmaster]

We always go during off season. Since we do not have kids and have our own business we go whenever we want but only in off season to WDW. We went in August once with family and will never ever do that again. I don't know what was worse the heat/humidity or crowds. People are also much more rude as the heat index rises, so it is not a good combination.

September is still hot, but not as hot but the crowds just do not exist. If we could not go during low season, we just would not go. It is just not worth it as you are paying peak prices to stand in line, be trampled by strollers, pushed by people and get rushed in restaurants. It is not a matter of $$ for us, but a matter of fun. WDW or any place for that matter is not fun when "everyone" is there. We go everywhere when most people do not.

We are heading to Las Vegas this monday....just in time because everyone is going home on sunday. Timing is everything, we got the room, restaurants and shows we want last minute. WDW in Sept is the same...peaceful, not rushed and much more relaxing. We have never ever used fast pass.

 

[SamSam]

DH and I only go off season, for the reasons you mentioned..Plus we don't tolerate the heat of July and August. We have been in almost every month, our favorites being Oct/Nov. Having said that, we have also gone in the first part of June and found it very doable. The earlier in June, the better, both for crowds and for weather.

 

[maxiesmom]

We are in the same boat too. This will be our last October trip as one big, happy family. My sister's oldest will be in 9th grade this year so this is the last big off season trip for them. So after this fall, if we want to go all together, it will be during the summer! And as the family trip planner, I have warned them that it will have to be a longer trip in order to see and do all that we will want to do. And much more expensive! I can't imagine not going at all! That would be horrible!!!

 

[MinnieGirl33]

ok - we are generally yearly visitors and always (except one horrific trip) off season visitors. the heat isn't really the issue for us, it's the crowds. WE HATE THEM. not so much the standing in line thing, as we are pretty good at fastpasses and such, but masses of people moving about. That coupled with the simple math of more people = more of a chance to come across a rude butt head. we have a very low tolerance for butt heads

Are you sure we weren't separated at birth?

Short answer is I would go but drastically limit the time (if any) I spent in the parks.

 

[johnvree]

I prefer the off season. Like you, I have to plan around my kids' school schedule. Unlike you, my kids do not do Fall sports.

Would we go in June or July? Absolutely. One caveat though. I would only go if it was a long vacation - at least 10 days. I would go into the vacation knowing that we were not going to get much done each day due to heavier crowds. I think that would bother me if we were only going to be there 5 days or a week. We'd feel like we were not getting enough done for the money being spent. On a longer vacation, I think that would concern me less. Sure, the longer vacation would be more expensive. But at least we'd feel like we got everything done that we wanted to.

 

[MrsMud]

The only way I would go during peak season is if I won a free trip! I hate crowds in general, and I especially hate long lines to get on a ride. I definitely feel like we wasted money if we don't get to do everything we have planned. We are planning our last off season trip to WDW in late Nov. to early Dec. (even though that is supposed to be a slow time, I'm worried that we have been spoiled by Universal's FOTL access, and will be in for a rude awakening). My daughters will be in 5th and 3rd grade. After that, I really don't think we will want to take them out of school for more than 3 days, so I think we will start changing our vacations to cruises and island getaways where we are not so affected by crowds. Trying to get in all of our WDW trips now while we can!

 

[Boater]

Some one from Philly saying:

That coupled with the simple math of more people = more of a chance to come across a rude butt head. we have a very low tolerance for butt heads -

 

[Sylvester McBean]

that may just be my WDW mania talking though.

be careful of that, it makes you do things you don't want to do....

 

[loriandmatt]

Some one from Philly saying....Originally Posted by loriandmatt: That coupled with the simple math of more people = more of a chance to come across a rude butt head. we have a very low tolerance for butt heads -

yea - i know, but when you live with it every day you have two options. you either build up a tolerance to it or you have a heightened irritation to it. We are the latter. can't stand the jerk factor. (kind of like snow. i grew up in pittsburgh - snow out the rear. to this day the sight of snow falling makes me shutter in disgust. I never got used to it. We have already determined that as soon as DH retires we will be moving to Fla. I need fall to end in December or late January and spring to start in early February. NO WINTER!)

- lori

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

I have always been in the off season and so this will be my busiest visit I am sure.
I wanted the week before Memorial day since my DD gets out of school May 22, but My Cousin's kids do not get out till May 25 so I decided to put the trip off a week.

We check in on Sunday May 28th...I know Memorial day itself will be busy,but then we hope it calms down after the Holiday weekend is over.

We are staying May 28th through June 3rd.

Look at the Positive points of early June!!

1) not all schools are out yet!
2) parks are open later!
3) you know it will be warm enough to swim and sit by the pool!
4) more times for parades and night time activities!

We have a plan and will be at the parks at opening!!

Have a good attitude and you will be ok...That is what I keep telling myself!

 

[Karnak]

Would I go to WDW if I could only go during the heat/crowded/days-of-summer? When I was younger, probably so; but not these days.

Nowadays I plan two solo visits to WDW each year, neither during the real hot months.

The first during baseball spring training season, which is in March. I'll spend three nights at Port Orleans-French Quarter, see two games, and visit the parks a bit.

This second trip is planned for the nights of Monday, December 4, with departure on Saturday, December 9.

The summer months for me? No thanks!

Enjoy.

 

[MulanMom]

Glad to see we are not the only ones grappling with this issue. Our kids are only in 1st & 2nd grades but DD has a learning disability that long absences from school doesn't help. We're going middle to end of June this year mainly to celebrate their birthdays. Went mid to late August a few years ago and thought it was an okay time to go. I've no idea what to expect in June.

BTW, seems we run into rude people no matter what the season at WDW. The number of incidences increase when crowd levels do. I really try to remember all the nice and courteous people we encounter in the parks to combat the negativity. But sometimes it just gets so darn overwhelming!!!