HELP - I'm getting a headache!!

[traceycooper]

Ok i've had the virgin preview brochure & after comparing it doesnt appear to cost much more (at first i thought it was really expensive - till i looked around!!)
Trouble is i cant decide between 6 week school hols or christmas (which would mean waiting for main brochure).
Any thoughts on the best time to go with these 2 times????
I figured summer hols we could go for longer, but it will be really hot. Christmas will proberbly cost the same as 3 or 4 weeks in summer & crowds will be bad & weather unpredictable.
At the moment i'm leaning towards summer, going the first week of school hols, which would be end of July, for about 24 nights. That way we can pace ourselves in the heat!! We have never been at either of these times before so any advice would be welcome.
Any ideas on the pros & cons of this as well as Christmas
I think i might wait & see if they do 15% discount at Easter as they did last year.
Thanks

 

[Miffy2003]

Wow, this is a really tricky question and it will depend on what the most important parts of a holiday are to you


Christmas is brilliant for the following reasons: MVMCP, Osborne Lights, all the wonderful decorations, the Candlelight Processional and cool weather (this may be an advantage to you or a disadvantage depending on your viewpoint ) Plus side is that it tends not to rain!


Things we didn't like so much about Christmas were the horrendous crowds and the weather. But we like to swim in the evenings and we hit a particularly cold snap the December we were there. In 23 nights we only had about 3 days where T shorts an shorts were possible. It was thick coats and hats for a few of the evenings (no kidding!). You could well not be qas unlucky as we were though! As to the crowds, if you can get out early enough in the Xmas holidays you might get a few days of it only being moderate crowds

As far as summer goes I would definitely choose end of August over July. Reason being that by this time, a lot of the US schools have gone back (and after all they impact the crowd levels far more than us Brits). We like to go out around August 12th and come back just before term starts again. It is extremely hot and humid but there are workarounds to that and the payoff is the reasonable crowds. Oh and I love swimming at night in the pool, and the evening are just wonderful - everything lit up but it is still lovely and warm

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

hi there. Went last year in August with DH & Dd. It was hot! Although we all loved it - we stayed on site & came back on an afternoon to swim & relax. If you can go later in August the crowds sometimes aren't too bad. It wasn't when we went as some USA schools had gone back. We also went into the parks early - especially MK to get on the rides.

We have also been at Xmas & once again thoroughly enjoyed it. The atmosphere is brilliant with everything trimmed up for Xmas. If you don't mind taking the kids out for a few day either fly before they break up or just after Xmas day to get cheaper flights. This year some are costing £350 -£450 so it's worth checking.

As you said in Dec weather can vary - but we normally get a few water park / beach days. You will need a coat though as it can drop cooler.

hope this helps.

 

[stitch&ariel]

Hi there!
I went in December last year with my mum and sister. Being in Disney at christmas was amazing with all the decorations, osbourne lights, parades and shows! We also went to MVMCP which was a good night! However it was really busy and when we went the weather wasn't too good. It was quite cold and we were unable to go swimming! It also meant that the lines for the buses back to our hotel (pop century) were huge which was a bit annoying!
All that being said I would still go again at christmas as we had an awesome time!

 

[tartangirl]

I think you'll have a wonderful time whenever you go.

We go every summer for the following reasons:
- we get to go for 3 weeks, after 2 weeks I'm just not ready go leave.
- weather is guaranteed to be warm
- cheaper than other school holiday times (as Scottish schools break earlier than English schools we can go in Summer before the price goes up too much)
- parks are quieter than at Easter & Christmas

I would love to go over Christmas as I think it would be wonderful but it just seems so expensive and with the parks being extra busy and the weather variable I dont think the extra atmosphere I expect is there over the festive period is worth it - for me.

Over the summer you do need to plan your day, get up early to hit the parks, takes regular breaks from the sunshine/rain in the afternoons. This suites us perfectly and there are plenty of things to do in the afternoons (shop, read by the pool, shop, cinema, shop, smaller attractions, shop etc.).

 

[traceycooper]

Thanks for the info everyone
We went late November 2004 & saw all the christmas decorations, candlelight prossesion & osbourne lights (my absolute favourite!!).
I think it will be summer if we can save up in time (we are going October this year)
I work in a school now so i have to go school hols, if they renew my contract, hoping to find out next week - fingers crossed, if they dont we wont be going

If we do go end July beginning August, how bad are the crowds?
We have been end of May beginning of June & that was really hot, is july/august much hotter than then - i just cant imagine it being any hotter than that

 

[Miffy2003]

If we do go end July beginning August, how bad are the crowds?
We have been end of May beginning of June & that was really hot, is july/august much hotter than then - i just cant imagine it being any hotter than that

The crowds are pretty busy end of July / beginning of August, but there are of course ways to work around that. Plus you do have longer opening hours at the parks.

I have never been at the end of May but looking at the temperature gauges July / August seems hotter then May and also the humidity worse (which makes it feel even hotter).

 

[stitch&ariel]

Crowds don't usually bother me that much anyway I will queue for a ride and if I'm not that bothered about the ride I'll just leave it! I just love being in Disney so I'm happy anyway

 

[angel659]

Hi

We are thinking of going in Oct 2007 after being told we cant go in May 2007 due to sats.

We have been in May, June, July, Aug (1992 with parents) and October. October was the best time for me closely follwed by May

How bad are the crowds in the last two weeks in August. We went in the beginning and it was awful. It has put us off going again in August. How long are the waits for rides etc...

 

[stitch&ariel]

We have been in the last week of August and found that the crowds weren't that bad obviously you have bigger queues for the bigger rides but we would go again at that time it suited us well!

 

[Miffy2003]

How bad are the crowds in the last two weeks in August. We went in the beginning and it was awful. It has put us off going again in August. How long are the waits for rides etc...

We find the crowds very low (relatively) in late August. Headline rides you will have to queue for but most things were only 10/15 minutes wait. Things like Star Tours were a walk on.

 

[traceycooper]

well it looks like we are going for christmas now, sat down & did some adding & realised if we booked 6 week hols we would have only been back 5 or 6 months before balance would be due again!!
So christmas gives us longer to save up!! So now i have to wait until the main virgin brochure comes out, has any other tour operator got prices out yet for christmas 2007??
Oh well more time to do my favourite thing.....plan!!

 

[Frances999]

If we do go end July beginning August, how bad are the crowds?

We were there from August 1st - 15th last year and the crowds were not as bad as I expected. Yes, it was busy, but it wasn't excessively crowded (as it was when we visited over Christmas/New Year). I love the summer for the long opening hours (EMH at MK meant it was open to 1 (or 2?) am!!) and the great weather.

 

[uktigger]

hi tracey
we have booked with thomas cook sig for middle of october 07 maybe you could try them and see if they go up to december