Help me decide between a week in summer, at Thanksgiving, or during Christmas break!

[dutton]

We are going to WDW in early December for 5 days, but this will probably be our last year going this time of the year. Our 2 older sons are getting to the age where it is hard to take them out of school and I work part time for a CPA so I think he frowns on me asking off when I don't work during the summer months ( I work the same calender as my kids). So that leaves June, Thanksgiving week or sometime during my kids 2 week Christmas break. I would like to go to WDW for a week b/c 5 days seems to short. I would also like to try other area parks,too. Are the crowds unbearable? We have 4 kids -- ages 11,9,6,4 next year. I am using Tourgide Mike for this trip and his tips seem flawless and seem like they would work for busy times, too. I would just hate to spend a lot of money and then can't ride half the stuff that was there!! Thanks for any advice!

 

[2belles'mom]

Go the week BEFORE Christmas. We have done this the past several years (arrive around 19th, stay until 27th or so) Crowds are VERY light early on, then build as the 25th approaches. Gridlock after the 25th.

We are getting very brave this year--we are going the week AFTER Christmas, which is the most crowded time of all (kids really wanted to do Christmas "at home" this year). However, we are willing to go to parks at crack of dawn to aviod crowds. We did Early Entry at MK on December 26th last year and the park to ourselves--until about 9:30! But it gave us a good 2.5 hours of walk-ons. Hope to replicate that each morning this year!

 

[Kallison]

We went last week in August and enjoyed it, not too too crowded, weather was pleasant actually. If you get 2 weeks at Christmas I would try for the week before too. I would hate the hectic-ness of getting ready for the holidays though. Have fun planning.

 

[goofy4tink]

It looks like you're from Georgia, so you probably can't do the last two weeks in August. How about the very beginning of your summer vacation? Here in Ma we don't start school until the last week in Aug. at the earliest. We went to WDW last Aug for the third week. It was somewhat crowded, muggy and horribley rainy. But, I understand the rain amounts were unusual. I wouldn't try the week of Christmas vacation. Way too crowded. I would try for the very start or very end of summer vacation.

 

[swilphil]

You might try the first week of the kids' vacation in June. Many schools aren't out yet. Thanksgiving, I think, would be preferable to Christmas Week, which is THE busiest week of the year. I've been Christmas, and it is worse than summer crowdwise. Plus it was too cold for us to swim in the pool although I'm pretty picky about that. I know others swim that time of year.

 

[wilderness01]

When do the southern states get out for summer break?

 

[WhispyPixie]

My choices in order would be....(we have donw all of these)

Thanksgiving.....busy, but not horrible, other than turkey day....warm enough to swim.....get the christmas decorations....just all in all nice!

Summer....good...but very hot.....BUT you get all the water stuff you might normally otherwise not do!

Christmas.....awesome ambience, but heavy crowds, not too much water stuff..

Hope this helps

Pixie

 

[dutton]

We get out this year at Christmas break on 12/19 - 1/5 . That's pretty typical every year. We usually have off the Friday before Christmas and then go back the Monday or Tuesday after New Year's. I am leaning towards June b/c of all the water stuff as all of us love to swim. However, by going in Dec. this year, I seriously doubt that my DH will be up to going again in June. I know that they have the kids stay and play free though until June 12 I think , so it is something I guess I should look into. Just not sure where our finances will be. My 2nd choice is Thanksgiving because then my DH only has to use 3 vacation days and then we can avoid holiday with his family --LOL !!Anyway, thank you all for all the advice!!

 

[TINK61]

My favorite time of the year is the Thanksgiving week. You get value season rates at this time of the year. The weather is great. Very little to no rain at this time. The Christmas decorations are out - so you get that holiday feeling. And, once the vacation is over - you have Christmas to look forward to.