Graduation trip, need some advice please!!

[IheartRapunzel]

Ever since I've started my freshman year in college, my parents have been promising me a trip to Disney for my graduation. I am happy to say, I will be graduating in May of 2016!! My mother just sat me down and talked with me about it, asking if this is something I still wanted since it was promised to me. My answer when it comes to a Disney trip will always be YES!!
So now I need to figure out when to go. I am not a big fan of Disney in the summer. I used to do it all the time when I was in high school, but once I experienced fall and spring I would never go back to that heat and high crowds. Based on my school calendar it seems like the only real options I have would be to go in May, after my graduation or during my spring break. I also have a winter/christmas break but I have read that can be the most busiest time of year to go.
So here is where I need the disney experts advice! Based on crowds, weather, and expenses would it be best for me to plan for May or March? My now finance surprised me last year and took me for spring break. It was the week of March 7-13 (which happens to be when my spring break is this year!) the weather was great, and crowds weren't bad at all. It was a very special surprise trip since we got engaged
I noticed that Easter is in March this year, would that affect the crowds? Also, since my family is going in September (without me!! ) they will not be going with me on this trip. Which is why cost is a big thing as well. I love disney, but I know it can be expensive. They are willing to pay for me to go, but obviously anyone else who would like to come along would have to pay for it themselves. Which can be a problem since most people I know are broke college students like myself.
I would love for my fiancé to come along with me, since Disney now is a special place for us. But he is also a student, which means he does not have a lot of money. The money that he does get, he has been putting away because he wants to go to take me to Disneyland for the very first time next November! and honestly he really really wants to go to Blizzcon and compromised with making it something for the both of us. and to be perfectly honest, as much as I would LOVE to see and experience disneyland, this may not work out as well. As of right now I am not sure what my plans are after graduation. I will either be looking for a job and working or going to grad school if I get in. I have a 4.0 gap, so I don't think it would be too hard for me but you just never know these things.

So now that I have told you a few details, what would you suggest I do? Knowing my mother, this is only going to be offered to me once, I can either take it or leave it. I would feel pretty crazy giving up this opportunity. But i just don't know how to make this all work out. This is where the disney experts come in at. please please please help!! I feel so lost

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I would consider January. My oldest son just graduated HS and cannot make our Sept. trip because of college, but he doesn't go back until mid-January so he is accompanying us on our trip for the runDisney events at that time.

 

[IheartRapunzel]

I never thought about January! I will have to look into how long our winter break is. thank you for the suggestion
so it looks like our classes begin again jan 11th. anyone know when the christmas crowds start to die down?

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

If you're only choices were March or May, I would say May. Because of early spring breaks this year r/t early Easter, I would think crowd levels would be far more manageable in May. ( I took a peek at a couple different CC and it seems I might be right .). The good thing about May as well, is you're DONE with school. No more exams, no papers hanging over your head-DONE!
Now talking money... There are a million ways to save at WDW. You could probably do the trip in a budget with your boyfriend for not a whole lot more than what your parents will already be spending. If he could come up with his food and park ticket $ you guys could probably be OK. I would stay on property, only because of DME and all the other free transportation. Stay at a value resort... IMHO. Hope thus advice helps!

 

[IheartRapunzel]

If you're only choices were March or May, I would say May. Because of early spring breaks this year r/t early Easter, I would think crowd levels would be far more manageable in May. ( I took a peek at a couple different CC and it seems I might be right .). The good thing about May as well, is you're DONE with school. No more exams, no papers hanging over your head-DONE!
Now talking money... There are a million ways to save at WDW. You could probably do the trip in a budget with your boyfriend for not a whole lot more than what your parents will already be spending. If he could come up with his food and park ticket $ you guys could probably be OK. I would stay on property, only because of DME and all the other free transportation. Stay at a value resort... IMHO. Hope thus advice helps!

thanks so much for your input and advice. I will definitely be looking into these options

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

Of course, if you must go by yourself there is a ton of info on the single and adult travel forums. You may even arrange to meet up with some other single dis boarders and share a meal or two. There are many folks who love Disney and don't have a travel companion. Just a thought...

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I never thought about January! I will have to look into how long our winter break is. thank you for the suggestion
so it looks like our classes begin again jan 11th. anyone know when the christmas crowds start to die down?

EasyWDW has the crowds dropping on Sunday, the 3rd in 2016. We check in on the 5th as my son doesn't have to be back in school until 1/24.

 

[IheartRapunzel]

EasyWDW has the crowds dropping on Sunday, the 3rd in 2016. We check in on the 5th as my son doesn't have to be back in school until 1/24.

nice! thanks for this info. i'm trying to do as much research as I can myself but you are all being very very helpful thanks again so much

 

[kadrachb]

We went May last year for my boyfriend's graduation, May this year for my birthday, and we are going May next year for my college graduation, too! May is a great time to go. Just keep in mind if you have an apartment at your college and need to move out by a certain date (Like, I graduate the 8th, and will have to be out of my apartment by the 24th - even though my two roommates aren't moving out this May). This meant for me that the week we went last year I couldn't do, because I don't have a large vehicle to move things with, so it's going to take me a couple trips to probably move my stuff out. Another thing, if you're looking into grad schools now, I know some programs I was looking into (that didn't require letters of recommendation or a GRE score - but these were biology courses, I don't know anything about other subjects) say the start date for the year is like June 1st (just another thing to be thinking about!)


I hope everything works out!

 

[IheartRapunzel]

We went May last year for my boyfriend's graduation, May this year for my birthday, and we are going May next year for my college graduation, too! May is a great time to go. Just keep in mind if you have an apartment at your college and need to move out by a certain date (Like, I graduate the 8th, and will have to be out of my apartment by the 24th - even though my two roommates aren't moving out this May). This meant for me that the week we went last year I couldn't do, because I don't have a large vehicle to move things with, so it's going to take me a couple trips to probably move my stuff out. Another thing, if you're looking into grad schools now, I know some programs I was looking into (that didn't require letters of recommendation or a GRE score - but these were biology courses, I don't know anything about other subjects) say the start date for the year is like June 1st (just another thing to be thinking about!)


I hope everything works out!

my school is about a 10 min drive from home, so I saved some money just staying at home for now. Thank you for mentioning the grad school starting date, i didn't even think of that! I know my school has a program where you start in the summer and graduate a year early, so if I can i would want to try to get into that.
how is the weather in May? I feel like it would start to get really hot, maybe I'm wrong

 

[IheartRapunzel]

I looked into my options and for me and one other person to go its...
Jan 2016
3,166

march 2016
3,429

may 2016
3,725

 

[kadrachb]

my school is about a 10 min drive from home, so I saved some money just staying at home for now. Thank you for mentioning the grad school starting date, i didn't even think of that! I know my school has a program where you start in the summer and graduate a year early, so if I can i would want to try to get into that.

Yeah, my school doesn't offer any graduate programs in my degree. You should definitely look into your school's programs though! Because since you're already enrolled, you probably won't have to take the GRE.

I'd also like to say for May, you can catch the back end of the Flower and Garden festival - which is absolutely lovely!

 

[2Monkeys]

I looked into my options and for me and one other person to go its...
Jan 2016
3,166

march 2016
3,429

may 2016
3,725

That looks pretty high! My DD and I are going in October for 6 nights, 5 day park hoppers and are only paying $1600, but we did get free dining. Are those numbers including the dining plan? You could probably save some $$ by paying out of pocket.

I vote for May out of those choices! We have gone twice the week before Memorial Day and it was great! Fairly low crowds, not too terribly hot. It got super crowded Memorial Day weekend, but we were leaving, so it didn't bother us!

Hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[IheartRapunzel]

Yeah, my school doesn't offer any graduate programs in my degree. You should definitely look into your school's programs though! Because since you're already enrolled, you probably won't have to take the GRE.

I'd also like to say for May, you can catch the back end of the Flower and Garden festival - which is absolutely lovely!

no we don't have to take the GRE and we get charged as an undergrad if we go. So it's kind of hard to give up the opportunity. As I said, I may not get in but to me it's worth a try.
I loved the flower festival. it was beautiful. I saw it last March <3

 

[IheartRapunzel]

That looks pretty high! My DD and I are going in October for 6 nights, 5 day park hoppers and are only paying $1600, but we did get free dining. Are those numbers including the dining plan? You could probably save some $$ by paying out of pocket.

I vote for May out of those choices! We have gone twice the week before Memorial Day and it was great! Fairly low crowds, not too terribly hot. It got super crowded Memorial Day weekend, but we were leaving, so it didn't bother us!

Hope you have a wonderful trip!

the prices I have came from disneyworld.com and yes it includes a room, park tickets with hopper (Because I use that option a lot while I am there) and a dining plan

 

[IheartRapunzel]

I got to talk to my fiancé about everything tonight and he's totally up for this trip to celebrate my graduation. Yay!!!

He thinks we should try for Jan. or May. I was wondering if we went in Jan will some of the Christmas decorations still be up? Is there anyone who has gone during Jan. or May that can tell me what the crowds and weather are like during these times?

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

Have never gone in January, but went in May at end of Flower and Garden. It was great! Really really good weather (Enjoyed a Typhoon Lagoon day) and low crowds. Not yet humid, warm enough to swim, and Epcot was stunning... We were there at the same time as Star wars weekend in DH, but we did am DH and pm MK, so completely missed the crowds. We were there 9 days so had a pretty good cross reference. However, I have NEVER been in January, and crowds and prices would be even lower, I imagine. But I don't think its really warm enough to swim. (Living in a cold climate, I want to be able to have some water play on my vacation). I was actually quite shocked at how low the crowds were. Hope this helps! And BTW, CONGRATS on your achievement of college graduation! Sparkle on!

 

[kadrachb]

May that can tell me what the crowds and weather are like during these times?

May is very nice for weather, but it can get hot! Not as hot as July or August though. The first time we went in May, we went the week after Memorial Day Weekend (went on a Tuesday, left on a Sunday), and while it wasn't packed, there were many more kids who got out after memorial day. This year we went the 12-19th, and we did see a difference in crowds versus last year, not as many children, but more couples and parents with college students. We also saw much lower wait times this year than we did last year with the difference in the week of May.

When I was little we went in February (towards the end, my parents took me for my birthday) and it was too cold to swim then. From what I've read, it depends on where you live and how you deal with the cold on swimming. So if you really want to spend time at your resort pool, you might want to consider this!

 

[IheartRapunzel]

January is the cheapest but i was hoping if i were to go then i could see the christmas decorations. after a little research it seems that wouldn't happen.
the weather may be cooler but it won't be as cold as it is at home (big plus) and crowds should be low.

I like the idea of May as well since I will actually be done school at that point. I was just concerned with the heat and crowds. It got a little hot some days during my spring break trip this past March, and knowing my fiancé is not a big fan of heat and crowds.....

decisions...decisions!