Help choosing 2018 trip

[Davin_Felth]

Hi all,

My DW and I are taking the kids to Disney World for the first time (everyone in the family is a Disneyland pro). We're trying to choose between two times to go.

One option is to go March 31 to April 8th for Spring Break. We like that the weather will be more pleasant, but we're worried about the crowds (Easter is April 1st in 2018).

Our other option we're considering is August 18 to 28. It looks like the crowds will be a bit lower then, but since we're from the northwest we're concerned about the heat and humidity. For August, we're including two extra days because we figure we'll need an extra relaxation day and another day for hitting the parks since we figure we'll be spending more time at the resort during peak heat during the day than we would in April.

What we're wondering is, how much worse spring break crowds are. Is it worth dealing with the worse crowds to avoid the summer heat?

Thanks for all the advice!

 

[Accident]

Toy story land is suppose to open in 2018 but nobody knows more than that. I'd probably favor the later date just to have a better chance of it being opened (I can't see them not having that opened for summer but april might be too soon as they tend to open things at the end of a season when they say "spring" so mayish opening if they are targetting opened for summer). Your point on weather is a very valid though.. I find bigger crowds and nicer weather to usually be more pleasant than big crowds and really hot. There is no low crowds so dont' go by crowds for when to come, choose what works better for your family.

 

[Boski]

It will be HOT in August but I think that is the better date crowd wise so that would be my vote.

 

[Robo]

One option is to go March 31 to April 8th for Spring Break. We like that the weather will be more pleasant, but we're worried about the crowds (Easter is April 1st in 2018).

Sensible to be worried.

 

[Hopefully]

I would never come over Easter break. It is shoulder to shoulder people in the MK in afternoons. One of the most crowded periods of time. Truly unpleasant to us.
August will be HOT and HUMID. Your plan is a good one. Hit rope drop, then out of the parks for a air conditioned rest or a swim right after a QS lunch. Then we do a sit down dinner ADR and back to the parks in the cooler evening.
Good Luck

 

[ArwenMarie]

Yeah Easter week will be sky high crowds but gorgeous weather most likely. August will have lower crowds but atrocious weather. Tough call. There are a lot of threads on here about August weather if you search. It's bad. It's not just hot. It's the hottest hot and the humidity feels deadly. And the daily thunderstorms can wreak havoc with the afternoons. I would be very honest with yourself about how your crew will do in the extreme heat. Some people do fine, some can't deal.

 

[alliecat523]

We've gone over Easter and it's crowded but manageable. You'll need something of a plan and may have to wait for things, but it will still be a great time. I would actually choose this over August. While it would be less crowded, the heat would be just too much for me.

 

[ldo]

if you got at Easter, go early in the AM, make your FP+ for 11-1, then leave the park by 2 and you'll be OK. Go back to a park after dinner to ride 1 more ride, shop, walk around, fireworks. If you plan to stay in the parks all day, it gets very crowded. In Aug, you'll need a long break with AC or to get out of the rain midday/afternoon, as well. We go at both these times, love the weather in April, but have always had a great time in Aug. But, we are used to the heat.

 

[skuttle]

I would vote for Easter. We went for Easter a couple of years ago and we didn't find it bad at all. I guess we read so many horror stories and people saying to never go during that time, that we were expecting the absolute worst, but we loved that trip. One of my favorites in a while, actually. The only thing I didn't like was that the room and some meals were more expensive.

Yes, it was very crowded, but with lots of planning, use of 7am EMH, and FP, we had a great time and didn't feel like we missed out on anything. I really can't think of a time when we thought, "OMG it is so crowded we shouldn't have come." Maybe we are just more easy going than others. LOL! We were there the Wednesday before Easter through the Friday after Easter.

The weather was perfect. We went swimming every day. We stayed at WL so we took adavantage of the MK boat and went back to WL to swim mid-afternoon some days. We did 7am EMH at the parks every other day. We got SO much done during those 2-3 hours in the morning, which really let us free up fast passes for later in the day. We would plan which land/area we would tackle during EMH mornings, and then make FPs for later in different lands/areas. Our kids were younger so we didn't late EMH, plus those tend to be more crowded.

Epcot is BEAUTIFUL for Flower and Garden. Plus, there are food booths like a mini food and wine which DH and I really enjoyed.

We've been in June, 4th of July and early August. If I can help it, we avoid summer. It's just too darn hot and humid. Plus the summer thunderstorms. And I'm in Louisiana so I'm used to it! However, i wouldn't hesitate to go back for Easter!

 

[IrishNYC]

I hate heat and crowds, but for a trip like that I hate crowds more. I would pick August.

 

[Murron]

Yep...I'm another vote for August.

 

[Robo]

i wouldn't hesitate to go back for Easter!

The point needs to be made that SOME years, Easter will have fewer insufferable crowds than other years.
It can depend on the economy, and just upon what date Easter falls that year.

If its a year when Easter falls within the timing of a majority of Spring Breaks, and/or many guests find that they have some extra money in their wallets, WDW is not a pretty thing to experience.

 

[Boski]

Passover also falls in line with Easter in 2018, more food for thought.

 

[skuttle]

The point needs to be made that SOME years, Easter will have fewer insufferable crowds than other years.
It can depend on the economy, and just upon what date Easter falls that year.

If its a year when Easter falls within the timing of a majority of Spring Breaks, and/or many guests find that they have some extra money in their wallets, WDW is not a pretty thing to experience.

You can say this for almost any time of year. It always varies, even for regular holidays that are the same date every year, depending on the day of the week they fall, along with the economy.

 

[Robo]

You can say this for almost any time of year. It always varies, even for regular holidays that are the same date every year, depending on the day of the week they fall, along with the economy.

I agree, in general, but Easter has the most (and broadest) changeable timing of any significant "busy time" at WDW.

 

[ibela]

I love late August because of crowds but the heat is brutal. We plan on midday pool breaks every day. With the lower crowds, you can do that and still accomplish a lot.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

Id say oct or dec if you could somehow swing it but if these are the only dates I say aug just make sure you have hat sunglasses, buy water ahead of time and have umbrella to try and help keep sun off you too.

 

[Anal Annie]

We have done 2 spring break trips and many, many August trips. The crowds will definitely be lower then. Since you're not WDW veterans I would say to go in August to avoid the crowd frustration. You don't know the layouts & the length of the queues here may be different than what you're used to in CA. You're also not used to having to pre-book your FP's with the Magic Bands & MDE here - the extra planning can be difficult & tedious. It can be really frustrating to have to spend 2+ hours waiting in standby for everything and that's what you'd be doing at Easter. As newbies you'll get a lot more done in August. JM2C.

 

[DWillowBay]

Of your two choices, I would opt for higher heat/humidity...and the possibility of completed new attractions...over Easter week HANDS DOWN! That's just me, but better temperatures does not balance out large crowds for my comfort. I can manage the heat with indoor attractions, time at the pool, water parks, etc. But managing large crowds is just very difficult for me. JMHO

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Late August. We've done it twice. Yes it's hot but doable. Rope drop, midday breaks at the pool, back to the park in the evening. My kids love pool time! Never ever would I do Easter break. I don't think I would go even if the trip was free. That's how terrified I am.