June or September 2017- Help me decide

[Teamubr]

I need some help. (I know, many of you already figured that out)

I am going back to the Fort next year after DS graduates. The original plan was to do a Fall trip, September'ish. Plans changed and now we are also going to take my sister and niece on their first Disney trip. My niece will be 6 and just starting 1st grade. I thought missing the 2nd or 3rd week of school would be an issue, so I started looking at the first full week in June (3rd-10th). DS comes along last weekend and says it doesn't matter if my niece misses a week of school.

Now I'm torn. I was excited about not having to wait until the end of summer to go, but the crowds will be SO much better in September, as well as the prices.

I know the weather will be about the same and the price difference isn't really a big factor.

What would you do?

And doing both isn't really manageable with DW's time off work. I already thought about it.

j

 

[bama_ed]

This might be a reason to stay away but I might be at the Fort in September with DW around the Labor Day weekend in 2017. If you look at the crowd calendars, the week following Labor Day has some of the lowest crowd levels (everything is relative though) of the entire year. June is sooner, sure. but September is a LOT less crowded. Although in the last 3 years that has also coincided with Free Dining offers which hose up the restaurants if you're into that.

Bama Ed

 

[Teamubr]

This might be a reason to stay away but I might be at the Fort in September

I don't know. I am going to spend a few days camping by you in a month. You may be changing your recommendation to JUNE! after GSP.

If you look at the crowd calendars, the week following Labor Day has some of the lowest crowd levels (everything is relative though) of the entire year.

This is what really has me excited about September. We have only been one time that wasn't either summer or spring break and it was great. Unfortunately it was February and it was cold... I really don't like cold... Even Florida cold.

Looking at the calendar, I was considering June 10-18 to miss the busier Labor Day w/e, but If you are going the week before, that could work too. The place usually clears out byMonday afternoon on a holiday week.

j

 

[peg110]

September is likely to be very (VERY) warm/humid. Not that June won't be either. I have less experience with the June(ish) time frame.

 

[Teamubr]

September is likely to be very (VERY) warm/humid.

I figured the weather would be a wash. Possibly a little wetter with September being prime hurricane season, but I can chance that. Hurricanes usually come and go in a couple of days.

DW saw a pic of an RV resort in the Keys and said we could go for a longer trip and spend some time at the beach AND Disney. She keeps coming up with ideas like this, I may keep her.

j

 

[Boopuff]

I'd go for September. June can be brutal. You didn't say what your accomodations are but if you're tenting... September for sure!

 

[tigger92662]

If your niece is an adaptable kid, and you don't think that it will be an issue with missing school, I'd go for September. You're right, weather is probably a wash, but i'd take the chance with lower crowd levels and get to enjoy more time there. I'm also likin' the wifes idea, couple days in the Keys can't hurt. DW and I were just talking the other day that the kids will both be juniors (DD in college, DS in high school and driving ) in September 2017. We might just join the party

 

[peg110]

Florida Keys sounds cool, but that's a LONG drive from NEPA. Near 1500 miles to Key West! If I had the time (and money) I'd probably do it though. I know the DD would love it. Not sure about the DW though. She's not a "Beach" person.

 

[bama_ed]

Actually, I just realized I might be at the Fort in September 2018, not 2017. Dang, getting old is tough.

Do go in September, though, and tell me what it feels like in the MK on a crowd calendar day rated a "1".

Bama Ed

 

[Teamubr]

I'd go for September. June can be brutal. You didn't say what your accomodations are but if you're tenting... September for sure!

No tents for us anymore. Those days are over. We have a 420 sqft 5er. (who needs a tiny house) that DW says has to have A/C, a microwave and satellite TV.

If your niece is an adaptable kid, and you don't think that it will be an issue with missing school, I'd go for September. ... I'm also likin' the wifes idea, couple days in the Keys can't hurt.

My niece will do fine missing a little 1st grade. She will just be going into Kindergarten this Fall. She has a little stammer and the school has her seeing a speech therapist. The therapist and the Kindergarten evaluator are both saying she will likely be fast tracked into the gifted program. Obviously she takes after her Uncle and not her mother. My first thought was, A gifted program in Kindergarten? Really? But she has been reading since she turned 2 and does pretty reasonable addition and subtraction already. She has been reading the Junie-B books for about 6 months and she's still 4.

Florida Keys sounds cool, but that's a LONG drive from NEPA... She's not a "Beach" person.

Paul, It's about the same from StL. 1400 +/-. I've been to Key West several times. Love the place and I'd move there if I could afford it. Drove from StL every time until a couple of years ago when we flew into Miami. I like flying better, but the baggage fee for a 42 ft 5er is a bit much.

And there's something wrong with not being a beach person. Just sayin'...

tell me what it feels like in the MK on a crowd calendar day rated a "1"

I was just showing DW the crowd estimator for this September compared to June. There really are 1s and 2s during the week. I can't wait.

j

 

[Teamubr]

Here's the pic DW saw on the Forest River Owners forum.

Long Key State Park.
$38.50/night... But impossible to get a reservation.

j

 

[ilovedisneymm]

Isn't September more hot and humid than June in Orlando? But then again, I always prefer the lower crowds over anything else.

 

[rideswithchrist]

I would take less crowds and more humidity than more crowds and heat, but we homeschool and we specifically take vacations in the off season because I don't do crowds well.
We will be there in Sept of this year (hopefully) so I'll let you know how the heat was! I would rather have rain in the 90 degree weather than rain in the 60 degree like when we went in Feb anyway.

 

[Teamubr]

I would rather have rain in the 90 degree weather than rain in the 60 degree like when we went in Feb anyway.

I'm right with you RWC. I've done plenty of wet and cold... I don't like it.

j

 

[rideswithchrist]

I'm right with you RWC. I've done plenty of wet and cold... I don't like it.

j

Much easier for this Texan to cool off than it is to warm up!

 

[peg110]

I would take less crowds and more humidity than more crowds and heat, but we homeschool and we specifically take vacations in the off season because I don't do crowds well.
We will be there in Sept of this year (hopefully) so I'll let you know how the heat was! I would rather have rain in the 90 degree weather than rain in the 60 degree like when we went in Feb anyway.

I am not a "Crowd" person either. While I am not a big fan of waiting in line, I can actually deal with it because it's a crowd that is "Under Control" (so to speak) while in the "Streets" the crowds drive me nuts. It's almost like when in a line, most (sadly not all) folks know the rules and it's fairly calm, but until you get in the lines, it's total chaos. The bigger the crowd, the bigger the chaos, and that's where I really don't like it. Same reason I hate things like concerts and such.

I also agree that cold and wet sucks! We were there in November of 2014 at MVMCP. We saw the parade and then got in line to get photos with the 7 Dwarfs (who RARELY make an appearance individually and certainly not all together). The line was fairly long, but as we were about 20th in line, the rain started. Light at first but then a bit heavier. They had to take the CMs inside. We waited for almost an hour in the rain. We didn't have rain gear but the line had moved enough (as other people have left the line) where we were able to be under one of the "Arches" over near Pinocchio Village Haus. Still the rain didn't let up and we ended up leaving as the temperature was probably down by mid 50s and of course we are now wet. Ugh.

 

[mich1073]

The second week in September is always the least crowded. But that said parks still feel crowded. The fort is pretty much a ghost town though during the week and fill up on weekends with locals like me.

A few years ago, the Tuesday after labor day I kid you not even Epcot was a ghost town as parking in front rows no parking attendants, walking on any ride and Soarin under an hour. Every year it seems more and more people are there. Maybe not crazy crowded but not the ghost town feel it was 5-6 years ago.

 

[Teamubr]

the rain didn't let up and we ended up leaving as the temperature was probably down by mid 50s and of course we are now wet. Ugh.

Oh good! Now I'm having flash backs to Boy Scout camping trips... I've done similar for that "special" thing. The stories are good. The experience is pretty miserable.

I think I've pretty much decided on September. I'll find something something fun to do at the beginning of the summer to hold me over until the Fort.

j

 

[peg110]

I've done similar for that "special" thing. The stories are good. The experience is pretty miserable.

It was miserable at the time, but reflection is always good. We still enjoyed ourselves overall, and despite the failing to get that "Moment" we actually had tickets for another MVMCP 2 days later and got in the line AGAIN. It did "Drizzle" a bit (This time we did have umbrellas!), but we managed to get the picture.

 

[BB&J]

Much easier for this Texan to cool off than it is to warm up!

We will be traveling in June from Texas in 2017. About the only time we can come. I am researching where to stay as we travel.