Help! New Years or Summer trip?

[Rockclimber]

Hi,

I am a long time lurker, few time poster. My wife and I just purchased at AKV in February. After taking 4 trips to WDW in one year, I figured it was about time we made the jump to DVC. We have yet to take our first DVC trip, but we are so excited. We already have a short HHI trip planned for July 11-13 and a VWL trip planned for Sept 20-27.

We are trying to plan a big Grand Villa Trip with my whole family. The problem is timing. My brother is a teacher and can't get off during the school year, which is when we normally go. I orginally thought we would plan a trip 12/28/09 through 1/2/10. The kids wouldn't miss school and my brother also isn't teaching. But after reading about the Holiday crowds I am reconsidering pushing the trip back until the summer of 2010.

My question for anyone and everyone is 1)
How truly bad are the crowds between Christmas and New Years? His kids (4, 6) have never been to Disney and I want them to see and do all they can. Bottom line is I want them to have a magical experience.

2) What would you do?

Some things I have also considered are that it will certainly be easier to get a GV during non holiday times. By that time, hopefully Kidani and all the GV's will be completed. The points we would use would actually be about the same.

Another plan may be to go around Thanksgiving '09. 11/21 through 11/28. My bro actually has off that time. We could stay 7 nights instead of 6 and it would use the fewest points. But again I am concerned about the crowds.

Are those holiday times really really crowded? We have been spoiled by going in Sept every year, so I am not sure what to expect.I just want my brothers kids to enjoy WDW.

Thank you so much for your input. I love these boards and have found them invaluable over the years.

Dave

 

[CarolMN]

The week between Christmas and New Year's is the absolute busiest (most crowded) of the year. It is a very magical time to visit WDW, but I would NOT recommend it as a first visit for anyone - especially if a large part of the fun will be the parks and the rides & attractions.

IMHO, the crowds Thanksgiving week are comparable to the busier times of the summer. The first part of THX week isn't very crowded, but it becomes busier and busier, the closer to Thanksgiving that you get. Th, Fr & Sat of Thx week are quite crowded in the parks.

The least crowded time of the summer is the second half of August. Many of the Southern states begin the school year in August (rather than after Labor Day, which is the more common start time for the Northern states.

Given the ages of the children, I'd pick summer over your other choices. The kids will definitely be able to spend time in the pools (which some prefer even over the parks) as well as at the AKV resort (which is reported to have some great activities for children). If you plan properly, you'll be able to do most everything in the parks without too much "line time". I also think you will have an easier time booking a GV in the summer than you will over either Holiday week, which are both very, very popular DVC times.

Above is JMHO. Others will chime in and perhaps give you a different opinion.

 

[starbox]

My worst trip to WDW was the New Year's trip I took. Crowds were awful and the weather was just nasty - cold and dreary and drizzly rain on and off the whole time. I can handle getting wet in the summer - but not when there's no sun to dry or warm you up. I'm just not cut out for the unknowns of a New Years/January trip: Will everyone be healthy? (probably not since it's peak cold/flu season) What's the weather going to be like? (it can vary from t-shirt warm, to freezing cold - and anything in between).

I MUCH prefer summer travel - when I know I'll avoid being cold and wet (my unhappiest combination).

 

[Rock'n Robin]

As a teacher I have been at both times. If we had done our first trip over Christmas we would never have gone back. We had a great time, but we had done most everything already so we didn't feel "cheated" by not getting to do major things. Summer is hot but I see you are in NC so it wouldn't be a big deal for you to deal with--June and July are easier to deal with than August in that regard.
Robin M.

 

[Safari Queen]

We started two trips on 1 Jan and were so unhappy with the crowds, we pretty much stayed at the resort until the crowds left 3-4 days later. I'm claustrophobic, so i was terribly uncomfortable shuffling along in huge crowds. DH refused to wait in long lines. All we did was run to MGM for the Osborne lights and to MK to see the decorations and Wishes. The holiday season is great when you've been many times and can just enjoy the special holiday look and feel. If you want to see a lot of attractions and can stand the heat, go in the summer, early or late.

 

[Rockclimber]

Thank you so much for the input. It seems unanimous. In our situation, the best decision will be to go in the summer. This is how I was leaning as well. I really needed your advice in order to convince my wife first, and then start working on the rest of my family. I have run the Disney marathon twice and have seen the mostly decorated "World", but the crowds were pretty light. I think this gave my wife a false sense of the parks not being very crowded. Our kids (6 and 8)have gone numerous time, but since my bro's kids have never been, we were probably going to do the semi-commando style in the parks.

The biggest bummer about the summer is we are going to have to wait 6 more months!

I am going to forward this thread to my brother and his wife, so if you have any additional bits of advice or opinion, please keep them coming.

Thanks again,
Dave

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

How truly bad are the crowds between Christmas and New Years?

The best way I can explain it is that it is like being at a sporting event or concert and when it ends everyone all at once heads for the exit. Thats what it is like at the parks all day, everywhere and you cannot escape it until you leave the park itself. I have only experienced MK at full capacity once and will be greatful if I never have to do it again.

What would you do?

I would plan the family trip for the end of August with everyone. But, I would also talk to my brother and say "me and the wife are going to wdw in late Jan for a romantic get away and I wanted to "thank you" in advance for volunteering to watch our kids".

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I would ask your brother when school starts before you plan a big trip at the end of August. My school starts Aug. 20! I think your family trip would be better mid-July, perhaps after the "special dining rates" time has come and gone, since it will be his kids' first time and you will probably want to do character meals.
Robin M.

 

[starbox]

As a teacher - I think you are making the right decision! I know I don't really relax until summer - and although I've given in to the desire to go to Disney twice in January (waiting till summer seems like an eternity in the fall.....) - to be honest, I've regretted both trips. I told DH that I can handle being at a crowded park, and I can handle being rained on, and I can handle being cold - but not all three at once. It also seems like I am almost always sick over Christmas break - I don't know if it's just being exposed to so much at school that last week before break combined with end of the semester stress or what, but I'm usually in "recovery mode" during winter break.

We travel twice every single summer in early June (as soon as school gets out) and late July/early August (the week before teachers report for pre-planning). Early June consistently has the best weather and lowest crowds.

 

[Rockclimber]

But, I would also talk to my brother and say "me and the wife are going to wdw in late Jan for a romantic get away and I wanted to "thank you" in advance for volunteering to watch our kids".

That is a fantastic idea! By waiting another six months we would need to use some banked points anyway. The one problem though is he is in PA and I am in NC. Help come up with another idea for him to repay me, after all he is my brother, he needs to pay up ; it's not like I'm expecting my parents to repay us.

 

[Rockclimber]

I would ask your brother when school starts before you plan a big trip at the end of August. My school starts Aug. 20! I think your family trip would be better mid-July, perhaps after the "special dining rates" time has come and gone, since it will be his kids' first time and you will probably want to do character meals.
Robin M.

I am not familiar with the special dining rates. What are they? I know about the dining plan and before we were DVC members we had taken advantage of the free dining. Maybe it is something we would be interested in? What are some pros and cons about the special dining rates?

Dave

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Most of the buffets now have 'holiday pricing' for high-demand periods. For this year the summer period ended July 5. I can't find the list that says what the dates are for next year, but I think it goes a little later in July. They just charge more. It also is over Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.
Robin M.

 

[bookswin]

I have been all times of year and, though it may not help you in this case, the week before Thanksgiving has been the best for us.

1. Not hot and not cold, but still way up in the 70s.
2. Crowds relatively low.
3. Christmas decorations up.
4. You can actually get a dinner reservation less than 180 days out.

For example, arrive Wednesday the week before Thanksgiving and leave the day before Thanksgiving, as the mobs arrive.

August, if you aren't used to heat/humidity, can be brutal, even debilitating. Hydrate those kids and yourself and get into the shade or pool in mid-afternoon.