If you had to choose between these dates, which would you choose?

[boygirlmama]

We have four possible times to be able to return to WDW in 2014 due to DH entering medical school in mid-January and having to work around when he can go.

1) Early January 2014 (1/2-1/8)
2) Spring break 2014 (3/10-3/16)
3) May 2014 (5/4-5/10)
4) August 2014 (middle of the month)

We last went in January/February 2013 and enjoyed it. The weather was sunny but not too warm. The crowd levels were great. I cannot imagine dealing with heavy crowds and too hot weather, but I'd love an honest opinion. Which time would you choose to go?

 

[DisneyGal24]

Early January or early May. Less crowds + less heat = AWESOME!

 

[MSSANDRA]

I would choose #3. We have found the 1st week of January VERY busy, Spring Break will be very busy and August will be very hot. Early May is a good bet.

 

[EagleScout]

I also vote for early may - avoid heat of august and crowds of spring break, but still warm enough to swim. We went the week of mothers day this year, and it was great. For some reason, that Monday was very crowded at mk, but all other days were very manageable (and we are far from rope-drop)

 

[SweetMissy]

We've gone the 1st week of March before and the weather and crowds were perfect (can be a little chilly in morning/evening). A couple years ago we went the 1st week of January....weather was nice (chilly evenings) but the crowds were insane...I would never do that week again. May and August....way too hot! So my suggestion would be March. We went this year in April and it was super hot!

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

Early January.

Spring break is horrible crowds.

May in Orlando is boiling hot.

August is like the surface of the sun.

I have been in January and it was perfect park weather.

I went at the end of January though. Going on the 2nd you might still run into some crowding left over from Christmas.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I would prefer May out of those dates, for the weather and decent crowds.

 

[boygirlmama]

Thanks for the feedback so far. I know our family and I know we don't like huge crowds (DH gets claustrophobic) and get very crabby during hot weather.

For early January, are the pools heated? And if so, can anyone weigh in on whether the water is really swimmable then? (I may need to ask in a different thread)

 

[timandjanl]

I think the pools are always heated to 82. I would go in May. Have fun!

 

[shannon006]

May, definitely

 

[boygirlmama]

Thanks! Looks like it's between January and May. I have a few days I can move it by in January too if that helped with crowds. We're still discussing which resort to stay at too and that might factor in. There's a bit of a price difference in the two times.

 

[ready123go]

I would pick #1 or #3.

We have been the last 3 years around Christmas. Weather is great. Crowds seem to thin out after the weekend following New Year's Day. You will probably have crowds until Sunday afternoon/evening and then it will drop off.

If you had the option, I would suggest late January/early Feb. We used to go then, for a week. Can only manage a long weekend now due to business . The weather could be "nippy" to "OMG I can see my breath" (no exaggeration), but the parks were completely empty (shh - our secret) .

Re: pools - I think it's too cold in January and even DH (who is basically a blast furnace) thinks it's too cold.

 

[dhardawa]

May as a first choice. January as a second.

 

[jadelane1]

I would do early May also.

 

[amym2]

Expect early January to still be VERY crowded. Most schools don't start back until Jan. 6 or so because of when Christmas falls. Unless you can push your trip back by a few days, I wouldn't attempt January. There's really no way to predict whether you could swim then or not. We've been to WDW late Dec and had great weather and we've been the same time and frozen our tails off.

I'd also choose early May.

 

[mm1971]

We have four possible times to be able to return to WDW in 2014 due to DH entering medical school in mid-January and having to work around when he can go.

1) Early January 2014 (1/2-1/8)
2) Spring break 2014 (3/10-3/16)
3) May 2014 (5/4-5/10)
4) August 2014 (middle of the month)

We last went in January/February 2013 and enjoyed it. The weather was sunny but not too warm. The crowd levels were great. I cannot imagine dealing with heavy crowds and too hot weather, but I'd love an honest opinion. Which time would you choose to go?

I would choose early May. We like to swim and do the water parks. Not sure it will be warm enough in January. If May were not an option, then early January.

 

[disneypolybride2008]

hi. i would vote for January. Those were the dates of our first trip to Disney in 2005 and we loved it. It was crowded, but seeing all the decorations was amazing.

We did late April once, and that was good to go to the Flower Fest at Epcot. It was crowded with tour groups and they'd all sing and chat waiting to go on the rides and it felt like the whole place was all the same group and we were stuck in the middle. They also locked their arms together and pushed me and DH apart from each other leaving Fantasmic.

Also, the biannual love bug infestation happens in the spring. We got it in Sept and it was un-real. I would check for when they are suppose to be there before deciding on May. Also, prices are higher in Spring Break time.

I would agree with you that the summer heat makes those months avoidable.
Going in a/c then out in the heat, then in a/c, then out in the heat is no fun.

Go for January! Have a great time either way

 

[luvmy3]

I'd pick January but that is because I'm in NY and would love a break from our winter weather.

 

[GagesMama]

Taking into consideration crowd levels and weather, I think May is the best option. It won't be miserably hot, and schools aren't out yet (at least down here) so it seems like the best option.

 

[jennylyn_b]

We go every May and Oct/nov. May is lovely. The crowds are too bad but it is HOT! Not super humid yet but hot. Upper 80s to low 90s during the days. I usually always recommend it but since your family has an aversion to heat this may not be a great choice.

Early January would probably be best for you out of the choices.