Help! Second guessing our dates.

[seashell724]

Please help me! I am going insane trying to pick dates for our next trip. First time with kids. The plan was to go the first 2 weeks of October. Now I have checked about 4 different crowd calendars and they all say that will be a busy time and end of Oct. would be less busy. I am having a hard time believing this bc Halloween is during this time and I thought it would be busy then. Now my plan is to maybe go Oct. 22-Nov. 5. Does anyone really think this will be slower than beg of Oct?
I'm getting really confused.

 

[Pesky]

Many schools have fall break in the first few weeks in October but I don't know of any who have a fall break over Halloween. That probably accounts for the difference in crowd calendar you are seeing. We are taking our trip over our fall break (around Columbus Day) along with so many, many others. So I can easily believe you will be fine later in the month.

 

[katielafave]

We went October 5-12 in 2013. Columbus Day was the following Monday - the 15th - I believe. It was busy, but not too crazy. I think the dates were rated between 4-6 on the crowd calendar. We tried to pick a recommended park for the day. Overall it was a great trip - good weather, manageable crowds, almost no rain.

 

[powellrj]

One thing that is filling the parks is food and wine at epcot. Also, while my kids are older and no longer in grade/high school, the school they use to attend now has a 2 week fall break.

 

[seashell724]

Okay. We don't have fall break here. Do most schools in the US have this fall break? I might just go later in Oct then. I just thought hte parks would fill up b/c of Halloween but we won't be doing the party this time so maybe it won't be a problem.

 

[Pesky]

Okay. We don't have fall break here. Do most schools in the US have this fall break? I might just go later in Oct then. I just thought hte parks would fill up b/c of Halloween but we won't be doing the party this time so maybe it won't be a problem.

Re the fall break, I think it is pretty mixed, along with the timing of said fall break. It can vary by school district and even by school. For those that do fall break, Columbus day is one of the popular options.

 

[dancemonkey]

I think you'd be ok if you're staying at a Disney resort.

 

[pooh4evr]

We have fall break in October surrounding Columbus Day, which I think is what most schools that have a break do. We have been in October 3 times., each one gets busier. Still doable and all , and NOTHING like this week is but it is not a slow relaxed time that it once was.

 

[HopperFan]

nvm

 

[seashell724]

Thanks for the heads up. Would any of you think end of Oct would be less busy?
We are not staying at a resort. I am more concerned of how busy the parks would be.

 

[kohlby]

We might be going the first week of October so I've been looking at crowd calendars as well - and am also finding that the last week of Oct is less busy. This could mean a crowd calendar score of a 4 instead of a 6 - so less but both are manageable. Weekends are a little more busy. We are looking for possibly going with a group and their week is picked so we're trying to figure out if it's worth it.

As for Oct breaks, none of the schools near me in the southeast have full weeks off, but some have a 4 days weekend sometime in Oct. It does not always go with Columbus Day weekend for all the counties near us. (And is not for our county, as it's usually closer to mid-month).

 

[seashell724]

Thanks Kohlby, I'm glad to hear from someone making the same decision. So hard. Please keep me updated on your thoughts. We haven't been with kids yet so I want to try and get it right.
I also read that the South Americans go more at the beginning of October for their breaks.

 

[kohlby]

Since you've never been before with kids, I'd do your plan of Oct 22 - Nov 5 if possible. A small difference in crowds from the start of the month to the end may make it harder for someone who hasn't toured with kids yet. Also, keep in mind that the weather is generally better at that time than the start of Oct. The start of Oct can still be very hot and it's still hurricane season. However, if doing the end of the month is much harder than the start, then you can make the start work. Since you have a long trip planned, there will be plenty of time to make it work even if crowds are higher than expected.

 

[seashell724]

Since you've never been before with kids, I'd do your plan of Oct 22 - Nov 5 if possible. A small difference in crowds from the start of the month to the end may make it harder for someone who hasn't toured with kids yet. Also, keep in mind that the weather is generally better at that time than the start of Oct. The start of Oct can still be very hot and it's still hurricane season. However, if doing the end of the month is much harder than the start, then you can make the start work. Since you have a long trip planned, there will be plenty of time to make it work even if crowds are higher than expected.

Thank you Kohlby! I appreciate your advice SO much. Either time works okay for us. It is just nailing it down and trying to pick the best time.