July better than June?

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

We are planning our first DLR trip for Summer 2014. I have been furiously reading posts, particularly Hydroguy's DLR Guide for WDW Vets, Weather Patterns at DLR, and How to Make the Most of a Summer Visit to DLR. While we don't need to pick our dates yet, I feel better when I have a better command of my planning than I do right now.

We can travel mid-June through mid-August - it is just too far to pull the kids out of school to make a trip to CA during the school year. We could do spring break, but that is always Easter week for our school district, which seemed to be a bad time to go.

At WDW, June is clearly the better time to go (although we have done July). It is not as hot in June, and crowds are a little lower because some northern schools are still in session. We just got back from WDW two weeks ago and had a great trip with reasonable weather and reasonable crowds.

I can't figure out if June or July is better at DLR. I want to avoid grad nights, and I know some APs are not blocked out in June. But I'm guessing APs get blocked out on dates when overall crowds are expected to be higher. So is it helpful to go during blackout dates, or am I just exchanging AP crowds for out-of-town and non-AP crowds?

From looking at the DVC point charts (we are not DVC, but I can't find a chart of "seasons" for the resorts at DLR like I can at WDW), it looks like rates might be a little cheaper in June. I know cash seasons and DVC seasons don't necessarily correlate, though. And it won't be as hot in June, but even 85 degrees with low humidity in July would be a gift - it was 103 here yesterday and very humid.

So DLR vets - if you could visit in mid-June or mid-July (middle of the week, not Fourth of July week), which would you choose? Or would you go at Easter?

Sorry this is so long, and thanks for the opinions!

 

[PinkBudgie]

Personally, I prefer July. We are going the third week of July this year and always choose a date in July. One year we went several days before and after the Socal AP summer blockout and let me tell you the difference was like night and day! It was much less crowded after they were blocked. Especially first thing in the morning. In June summer isn't really in full swing until about the middle of the month. You have grad nights and also middle schools visiting during the day for an end of the year trip or 8th grade grad trip. The mornings and evenings are usually a little cooler in June. In July all the attractions are up and running (minus any unforseen breakdowns). July can be hot but never humid.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

well easter has both So Cal and So Cal Select days blocked off for the entire week before and after...temps are really good but theres always a chance of rain at that time...several refurbs going on...and even though they are blocked off in july, that is typically when a lot of people do their summer vacation...july/aug....also, the latter part of june they are blocked out as well...so there are pros and cons to it all

being that you come from wdw background, I think you are going to find that so cal temps in july are NOTHING compared to even June in FL..as pinkbudgie said...june is cooler than july but also deals with grad nites, middle school grad. and several schools are still in up to end of first week in june, schools may still be in session..refurbs may or may not be going on till about mid june....you also, have the option to leave mid day and go back to hotel for pool time or nap time..so its kind of hard to say which one would be better...for me personally, i would rather deal with june...i always make sure im going during a time when there are little to no grad nites during that particular week..but mainly i go because its cooler...also, I have rarely had to deal with major refurbs at all during june...

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Thank you both! Grad nights end June 21 in 2013, so if they keep the same schedule, they would probably end June 20, 2014. The last week of June is blocked for SoCal Select APs but not SoCal APs (at least this year). So it looks like either the week of June 23 or sometime in mid-July would be best. July 4th is a Friday in 2014, so I can see that impacting two weeks. July would have both SoCal APs blocked out.

I am having a hard time imagining the weather - 85 with low humidity is April here, and it is awesome. It's hard to imagine being at Disney in July and not sweating as soon as you walk out of your resort!

I'm not sure when we will get back to CA, so I should probably not consider spring break. Even though refurbs can happen in the summer (no Test Track for us last month ), I'd like to improve my odds if I can.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

I am having a hard time imagining the weather - 85 with low humidity is April here, and it is awesome. It's hard to imagine being at Disney in July and not sweating as soon as you walk out of your resort!

right???


I'm not sure when we will get back to CA, so I should probably not consider spring break. Even though refurbs can happen in the summer (no Test Track for us last month ), I'd like to improve my odds if I can.

that kind of surprised me that they would refurb TT in june...crazy....ive never had issues with DL doing refurbs in summer months ie..end of june, july and aug...i dont think you should let that make or break your decision...everything is usually running...i think last year in end of june through most of july Matterhorn was refurbed...other than that i dont think it will be much

 

[HydroGuy]

June can be hit or miss as you are figuring out. And whether the AP surge is an issue depends heavily on anything new being opened in June. At this point I can't see anything major opening in 2013 because nothing is underway. So I would not worry nearly as much about the blockout issues in 2013.

However, 2014 is another year out and I suspect something bigger will be coming out then. So the blockout issue will be back unless and until Disney starts shifting the AP issue. With the AP price increases perhaps they are trying to reduce the number of AP holders?

I am more comfortable with July because you know what you are getting. But then I do all the things discussed in the threads you mentioned which include early arrival each day and afternoon breaks. For those who can't make that happen then summer months can be crowded, hot and frustrating.

As I have said elsewhere, I would choose a summer visit over any other time of year. I love that there is no rain and fairly reliable weather.

Bottom line is July will give you a more consistent experience. June will continue to have lumpy attendance issues with grad nights and some AP holders exercising their right to visit DLR in June.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

June can be hit or miss as you are figuring out. And whether the AP surge is an issue depends heavily on anything new being opened in June. At this point I can't see anything major opening in 2013 because nothing is underway. So I would not worry nearly as much about the blockout issues in 2013.

However, 2014 is another year out and I suspect something bigger will be coming out then. So the blockout issue will be back unless and until Disney starts shifting the AP issue. With the AP price increases perhaps they are trying to reduce the number of AP holders?

I am more comfortable with July because you know what you are getting. But then I do all the things discussed in the threads you mentioned which include early arrival each day and afternoon breaks. For those who can't make that happen then summer months can be crowded, hot and frustrating.

As I have said elsewhere, I would choose a summer visit over any other time of year. I love that there is no rain and fairly reliable weather.

Bottom line is July will give you a more consistent experience. June will continue to have lumpy attendance issues with grad nights and some AP holders exercising their right to visit DLR in June.

Thanks! It does seem like July would be best, but it seems so contrary to my usual WDW planning that I am second-guessing my research. We always get to WDW parks before rope drop and would do the same at DLR (which should be easier since we are East-coasters ). We always stay onsite at WDW, but I am still investigating onsite vs. offsite at DLR. We would definitely stay within walking distance, though, so we could take breaks.

I'm glad we didn't try to do DLR this summer because we would have gone in June and landed right in the middle of CL opening. It will be exciting if there is something else new in 2014, but it will all be new to us!

 

[PinkBudgie]

New things opening is another reason I like July. This year I knew CL would be opening in the "summer" so we picked later July hoping it would be open by then and we would miss the crazy first days. Even in years when there is nothing big coming, there could be some new show or parade or refurbishment that may not open until at least mid-June. I like to give summer a chance to settle in!

I'm looking at WDW for June of 2014 which seems odd to me to but from everything I've read it seems the sooner the better at WDW. So I know what you mean about feeling backwards.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I'm looking at WDW for June of 2014 which seems odd to me to but from everything I've read it seems the sooner the better at WDW. So I know what you mean about feeling backwards.

Definitely June at WDW if you have to go in the summer, unless you can go the very end of August. Crowds drop off in the last part of August, and WDW usually offers free dining from late August through September. Free dining may or may not be a good deal for you, depending where you stay and how many people are in your group - sometimes room only discounts are better. August is brutally hot and humid, though, and so is September.

We had more rain than usual this year in June, but you can count on hot and humid with thunderstorms and an increasing chance of hurricanes as the summer progresses.

Most refurbs at WDW are done by Memorial Day. BTMRR opened Memorial Day weekend after an extensive refurb, and it is like a new ride - smooth, with all working parts! The FL expansion should be completed by summer 2014 - the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is the last piece, and it is supposed to open early-ish 2014.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Definitely June at WDW if you have to go in the summer, unless you can go the very end of August. Crowds drop off in the last part of August, and WDW usually offers free dining from late August through September. Free dining may or may not be a good deal for you, depending where you stay and how many people are in your group - sometimes room only discounts are better. August is brutally hot and humid, though, and so is September.

We had more rain than usual this year in June, but you can count on hot and humid with thunderstorms and an increasing chance of hurricanes as the summer progresses.

Most refurbs at WDW are done by Memorial Day. BTMRR opened Memorial Day weekend after an extensive refurb, and it is like a new ride - smooth, with all working parts! The FL expansion should be completed by summer 2014 - the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is the last piece, and it is supposed to open early-ish 2014.

Oh good! We'll be able to see FL after it's all finished. I don't know what it looked like before, but I'm sure new attractions are always good! It will be just DH and I. We are both teachers which is why we need to go during the summer. We also would have more available days than if we went during another holiday. Sorry, didn't mean to turn it in to a June at WDW thread.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Sorry, didn't mean to turn it in to a June at WDW thread.

That's ok! That is a subject I can talk about with some intelligence!

This is a great thread to keep up with the FL expansion progress:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2622159

 

[PinkBudgie]

That's ok! That is a subject I can talk about with some intelligence!

This is a great thread to keep up with the FL expansion progress:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2622159

What a great thread! I saved it to my favorites to check back on it. Lots of great info. Thanks!

 

[las3888]

My vote is by far for July. We are very frequent visitors to WDW and have only gone to DL a handful of times. A few years ago we visited in June because we have DVC points and it saved us a ton (versus July and August). After our June experience though, we are more than happy to pay the extra in points and will be traveling this year in July. I wish somebody had told us about the area's weather before we booked June. There is a phenomenon called "May Gray and "June Gloom" during June. Maybe it isn't always like this, but for us it was very aptly put. We never saw sun, and we were never able to go to the pool (unless you like swimming in the low 70's with no sun out...brrr...). It was definitely not a "summer" vacation to us given the weather. After several days it really got old. I longed to see the sun.

We have gone once in July and it was BEAUTIFUL. It is definitely not what you are thinking of for WDW (we have experienced summer at WDW many times). It was low humidity, 80's, sunny, just what you would expect California to be like.

I personally couldn't tell a difference between the crowds in June or July, at least in our experience.

I hope this helps you with your decision!

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

My vote is by far for July. We are very frequent visitors to WDW and have only gone to DL a handful of times. A few years ago we visited in June because we have DVC points and it saved us a ton (versus July and August). After our June experience though, we are more than happy to pay the extra in points and will be traveling this year in July. I wish somebody had told us about the area's weather before we booked June. There is a phenomenon called "May Gray and "June Gloom" during June. Maybe it isn't always like this, but for us it was very aptly put. We never saw sun, and we were never able to go to the pool (unless you like swimming in the low 70's with no sun out...brrr...). It was definitely not a "summer" vacation to us given the weather. After several days it really got old. I longed to see the sun.

We have gone once in July and it was BEAUTIFUL. It is definitely not what you are thinking of for WDW (we have experienced summer at WDW many times). It was low humidity, 80's, sunny, just what you would expect California to be like.

I personally couldn't tell a difference between the crowds in June or July, at least in our experience.

I hope this helps you with your decision!

Thanks! It helps a lot!

 

[Magalex]

Everyone is making me so excited for next July 2013. It will be our first DL Trip. We are also June WDW guests. So for other people telling us that July is better at DL is kind of strange. I know we want sun for CA, we live in Pittsburgh so there is many months we have the "June gloom" (say about all 12 months)