If you could travel anytime....

[mmouse1239]

Hello all. Planning to retire from teaching in one year and two months (but who's counting Anyway, I have decided that, as my retirement gift from DH, I would like to take a two week trip to FL - one week in Disney and one week on a cruise. I really don't want to travel in the summer. However, I was thinking sometime in the fall. Any suggestions from you experts? I'm so used to having to travel around/during school vacations, that I've never had the ability to travel whenever I wanted to. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[squeezle]

My favorite time is late October/early November. Lower crowds, (generally) good weather, and Food & Wine.

 

[anniemae]

My absolute favorite time is beginning of November. Low crowds, beautiful wether, cool nights warm afternoons Perfect for park touring. Just love it.

 

[Dan Murphy]

The couple weeks following Thanksgiving.

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[LovePug]

Early December or early November are my favorites. December is a bit more risky on the temperatures, though. In November, try to avoid the week of Veteran's day.

 

[teddygurl28]

If you start your Disney trip right before Halloween into the first week of November you should be able to catch the Halloween party 30th or 31) and the first Christmas party (nov 7) two holidays in one!

 

[NH-to-FL]

Congratulations on your upcoming retirement! I retired last August and am enjoying every minute. For visiting Disney, I agree with either late October/early November for the Food and Wine Festival or early December for the Christmas holiday decorations. Over the years we have enjoyed both of those times. December does have the risk of have a cool, perhaps cold day but that never stopped us. We are not cruise people so I can't comment on the best time for that.

 

[Hannahinwonderland]

The first week in September (at least last year) was completely dead: even the most popular rides like Soarin' and Toy Story Midway Mania had, at max, 30 minute waits. If you're looking for a time where you can walk on most rides, it might be perfect.

 

[AshleeH]

The weeks after Thanksgiving would be my all-time favorite. I wouldn't object to the lower crowd level post-New Years either. And I would love the January weather!

 

[MomofKatie]

We loved the end if October/beginning of November. Great weather, good hours, low to medium crowds, Food & Wine festival, MNSSHP, and the possibility of seeing some holiday decorations going up.

Another good week is the full week before Thanksgiving week. You can enjoy the holiday decorations, MVMCP, and the crowds are pretty low. Weather is great!

 

[YawningDodo]

It depends on what you like!

My top picks are:

Early- to mid-September. With kids having just gone back to school, it's a low time for crowds (though it'll still be hot). Put your trip toward the middle of the month and you should be able to catch the Halloween festivities without the Halloween crowds (I personally prefer Halloween over Christmas at WDW, but it's a matter of taste and both are good).

Early November or early December. Steer clear of the weeks of the actual holidays; you want to hit it at a time when the Christmas decorations are up and the party nights have started, but avoid going at a time when people are traveling for Thanksgiving or Christmas itself. If you go in November you'll be there for Food and Wine; whether or not that's a good thing again depends on personal taste. F&W is a great opportunity to sample all kinds of snacks, wine, and beer from around the world while strolling the World Showcase, and I've had a fun time at it. On the other hand, Epcot is much more crowded than usual during the festivities.

Mid-January to mid-February. If you don't care about water parks and you're not particularly interested in holiday parties, this is the time of year I remember being the lowest for crowds (take that with a grain of salt, as the last time I was there in January was 2010). If you're from a less tropical state, it'll also be the most comfortable weather-wise, though it may be too chilly for water parks or for riding water rides without full rain gear on and/or a full change of clothes waiting for you. If you go early enough in January, many of the Christmas decorations will still be up...but be sure to give New Year's some breathing room so you don't catch the tail end of the holiday crowds.

 

[PaintsWindColors]

Went to Disneyland the first week of December 2015 (DLR has more commuter crowds and typically higher park visitors for a smaller space, in my opinion) and it was one of the least crowded, most enjoyable trips I've had. If Disney World is the same then I would recommend early December. But I'm also going to Disney World in mid-September so I'll have a comparison for next year!

 

[GWhitten98]

I would go the last week of October and the first week of November. You get fall weather, lower crowds, Food and Wine Festival, MNSSHP with fall decorations and MVMCP with xmas decorations all in one trip....it would be my ultimate!

 

[biondagirl]

September. Low crowds and humidity. If I could catch MNSSHP and Food and Wine, that's a bonus!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

October would be my first choice for Halloween and the Food and Wine Festival, but I also love early December for the holidays and the spring, (just avoid Easter!) for the Flower and Garden Festival.

 

[mmouse1239]

Well, I guess I should clarify.....we are going this year the week following Thanksgiving for our grandbabies' first trip. This will be our third or fourth trip during that time....we combine Thanksgiving with personal days for a nice, long trip. (I only get 3 each school year, so I have to save them Anyway, I was kind of leaning towards Sept., because I could really get some happiness out of watching school start without me It's not that I dislike my job or my students.....I'm just so overwhelmed with testing and regulations. Teaching is nothing like it used to be.

 

[MomofKatie]

September is good for crowds, but bad for heat and humidity (the height of hurricane season, too). If you don't mind the "hot and sweaty" factor, it can be a great time to visit.