HELP! These are my dates I can go...when would YOU go?

[kangareaux]

Convention and Thanksgiving Monday - Friday, November 24 - 28, 2008 (5 Days)

Christmas and New Years Monday, December 22, 2008-Monday, January 5, 2009 (11 Days)
Classroom resumes Tuesday, January 6, 2009


Mardi Gras Monday & Tuesday, February 23 & 24, 2009 (2 Days)


Easter Friday, April 10, 2009 - Friday, April 17, 2009 (6 Days)


Mardi Gras falls after a weekend so it's possible I could swing a sick day or 2 to *supplement* those days off.




When are the crowds the lowest. And what is your idea of *low*. We did Disney the week before thanksgiving break and everything was walk-on. I know I won't get that with these dates, but I want to come absolutely as close as possible! Lowest crowds i can get. (We don't wait well....LOL!)

Also, I found a calandar with crowd levels for Disney last year. Ic an't find any for Universal...or even the one I found last year for Disney. any ideas where I could find that?


ETA: *summer* is also an option. Essentially June 1st through August 1st. But I'm afraid it will be really hot and wall-to-wall sweaty bodies. *ick*

 

[kangareaux]

Bunping...

anyone?

 

[macraven]

2 for 1 posting happened.......

 

[macraven]

Convention and Thanksgiving Monday - Friday, November 24 - 28, 2008 (5 Days)

Christmas and New Years Monday, December 22, 2008-Monday, January 5, 2009 (11 Days)
Classroom resumes Tuesday, January 6, 2009


Mardi Gras Monday & Tuesday, February 23 & 24, 2009 (2 Days)


Easter Friday, April 10, 2009 - Friday, April 17, 2009 (6 Days)


Mardi Gras falls after a weekend so it's possible I could swing a sick day or 2 to *supplement* those days off.




When are the crowds the lowest. And what is your idea of *low*. We did Disney the week before thanksgiving break and everything was walk-on. I know I won't get that with these dates, but I want to come absolutely as close as possible! Lowest crowds i can get. (We don't wait well....LOL!)

Also, I found a calandar with crowd levels for Disney last year. Ic an't find any for Universal...or even the one I found last year for Disney. any ideas where I could find that?


ETA: *summer* is also an option. Essentially June 1st through August 1st. But I'm afraid it will be really hot and wall-to-wall sweaty bodies. *ick*

if i had to chose:

1st: february
2nd november if it is prior to tday itself.
3rd: december
4th: spring break.

wait, i wouldn't even consider spring break

if you go in august, you could go early morning and leave by noon to enjoy the pool at your hotel.
then return back to the parks around 4ish.
parks are open later in the summer time.

it is hot then but you already know that.


for me, i have gone during some of the times you mentioned.

i prefer sept/early oct which i do a lot. a lot less rain and hhn happens
and i like early may around mothers day time.

first week of june is fine since i stay onsite.


last week of august and beginning of september are low periods at the parks except for weekends.


everyone has an opinion and reason for the time period they go to universal.
if you have kids in school, you work around that schedule.

you work around the dates you can get vacation from work.

you work around the ideal weather or events for your needs.

i'm sure other replies won't be like mine.

 

[kangareaux]

if i had to chose:

1st: february
2nd november if it is prior to tday itself.
3rd: december
4th: spring break.

wait, i wouldn't even consider spring break

if you go in august, you could go early morning and leave by noon to enjoy the pool at your hotel.
then return back to the parks around 4ish.
parks are open later in the summer time.

it is hot then but you already know that.


for me, i have gone during some of the times you mentioned.

i prefer sept/early oct which i do a lot. a lot less rain and hhn happens
and i like early may around mothers day time.

first week of june is fine since i stay onsite.


last week of august and beginning of september are low periods at the parks except for weekends.


everyone has an opinion and reason for the time period they go to universal.
if you have kids in school, you work around that schedule.

you work around the dates you can get vacation from work.

you work around the ideal weather or events for your needs.

i'm sure other replies won't be like mine.

Thanks. Well, I work for my kids school, so it's totally around the school schedule... LOL!

And I just realized that Mardi Gras is out. I forgot that DS starts JR-High this year, so I won't have him miss any days.

I could possibly swing the end of may though. Last week... Is it insanely crowded then?

 

[macraven]

the latest i have been to universal in may was leaving on memorial day.
that first monday of the last week of the month.


it wasn't bad. much better than early august, way better...


why don't you read some of the trip reports based on the dates they went.
it will give you an idea what they have encountered in the past.
go thru all the pages they have on that forum to find the dates you need to check out.

i'm not trying to avoid helping you, just having been to all the holiday times at all.
i fly out of o'hare in chicago.
the weather is too bad at some parts of the year to guarentee my flights would depart when they are supposed to. especially end of nov and dec and january.
flights get delayed or canceled too many times.
either a storm on the west coast comes in delayed and then my flight on that line is delayed, etc.......

 

[kangareaux]

the latest i have been to universal in may was leaving on memorial day.
that first monday of the last week of the month.


it wasn't bad. much better than early august, way better...


why don't you read some of the trip reports based on the dates they went.
it will give you an idea what they have encountered in the past.
go thru all the pages they have on that forum to find the dates you need to check out.

i'm not trying to avoid helping you, just having been to all the holiday times at all.
i fly out of o'hare in chicago.
the weather is too bad at some parts of the year to guarentee my flights would depart when they are supposed to. especially end of nov and dec and january.
flights get delayed or canceled too many times.
either a storm on the west coast comes in delayed and then my flight on that line is delayed, etc.......

Ya know I never thought of reading trip reports for the times I need. DOH! LOL!

 

[Tizzy_Meliss]

I can only speak of Thanksgiving week, I go on those same days, the week before T-day starts and leave the day after, we can walk on pretty much all of the rides with our FOTL access. The day after, forget about it, they start piling in to the parks.

The weather was beautiful too when we go, not to hot. In fact two years ago the weather was so cool in the mornings we bought gloves for our girls!

Hope this helps!!

 

[kangareaux]

I can only speak of Thanksgiving week, I go on those same days, the week before T-day starts and leave the day after, we can walk on pretty much all of the rides with our FOTL access. The day after, forget about it, they start piling in to the parks.

The weather was beautiful too when we go, not to hot. In fact two years ago the weather was so cool in the mornings we bought gloves for our girls!

Hope this helps!!

Thanks everyone! We decided on the week BEFORE Memorial Day. Hopefully it won't get packed until the friday before. HOPEFULLY...I understand my plan could backfire, but I have no choice but to plan around the school schedule now. And, on the bright side, it gives me more time to plan and save!

Now to just find some good cheap hotel rooms. (Don't laugh TOO loud! )


ETA: We went to WDW the week BEFORE the week of Thanksgiving last year. (We were able to check the kids out with no problems) WONDERFUL! All the rides were *walk-on* until the saturday before TG. The weather was BEAUTIFUL! It rained ONCE while we were there...we were in tomorrow land and when we got back to the other side of the castle, it was obvious that it had rained there. But not where we were in Tomorrowland!

 

[GinaBean]

Thanks. Well, I work for my kids school, so it's totally around the school schedule... LOL!

And I just realized that Mardi Gras is out. I forgot that DS starts JR-High this year, so I won't have him miss any days.

I could possibly swing the end of may though. Last week... Is it insanely crowded then?

I also work for my kids' school, so we have to work around their schedule, and my dd is also starting middle school and cannot miss any days.

We are going Dec 27 - Jan 2. We chose these dates because of school/work and because I am graduating from college in December. This is a CELEBRATION vacation!!!!

 

[macraven]

I also work for my kids' school, so we have to work around their schedule, and my dd is also starting middle school and cannot miss any days.

We are going Dec 27 - Jan 2. We chose these dates because of school/work and because I am graduating from college in December. This is a CELEBRATION vacation!!!!

congrats!!

 

[GinaBean]

congrats!!

Thank you! I am very excited. I am graduating at the young age of 39!