Lesser of two evils - when would YOU go?

[halssister]

We are in the early planning stages of our 2017 WDW trip, and trying to decide on the best time to go. Unfortunately, I work for the school system, so I am limited to either our spring break or summer vacation. We drive and it's a 22 hour, two day trip so we don't want to go over the winter break.

Summer scares me because of the heat. I don't do well in heat and high humidity. We went at the end of July last year and were prepared for heat stroke, but amazingly there was a cold snap and rain almost every day, like way beyond normal Florida rain, which actually was preferable to dealing with 90+ degree heat, so we enjoyed ourselves a lot (and came home with a ton of unused sunscreen and several unopened cooling towels!!). But I don't know if we would ever get that lucky again. I also don't love the crowds - I mean, who does, but DS has a disability and crowds can be tough for him. We only do 4 hours or so at a time in the park before he needs to escape.
Our spring break is the very first week of April, and some crowd calendars predict that a lower crowd time than summer, or than the second week of April (maybe due to Easter falling at the start of the third week of April next year?). It would probably be nicer weather, but I'm not sure about "spring break" crowds. Also, everything is dependent on getting at least a room discount, and not sure if they do discounts that time of year.

So if you had to choose between early April, late June, or sometime in July, which would you do?

 

[wilkeliza]

Early April. Not all schools are off at the same time for spring break so that makes it a tiny bit easier and it isn't nearly as hot yet. All options will be crowded but I think the heat makes it even more miserable.


I would adjust to late June if your spring break includes Easter.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

Me personally? June/July, but I love the heat. I have to have temps over 95 to comfortably go swimming. But in your case, April.

 

[Accident]

What's better, nice weather and heavy crowds or hot and humid and just as heavy if not worse crowds?

 

[cdnjason]

I'd go in the summer over spring break, anytime. But, I also live in Las Vegas. So, Florida isn't has hot in the summer as we're used to it being here.

 

[kiramay]

I hate heat so I'd figure out how to do December. I have kids in school and we've gone in December twice. If that's out, try April.

 

[hammie59]

We've gone twice at Easter and once in June and are going back at the end of August this year (mainly because we go for two weeks, drive, and I can't pull ds out of school that long anymore over spring break). I think technically we prefer Spring because we live in Michigan and desperately need the warm up since our springs are basically just an extension of winter. However, on our trip last June, we discovered we actually love Florida in summer cuz we love the heat. But hey, it was 90 degrees when we were there April 2014, so you never know. Crowds seemed pretty much the same though.

PS-We only go if we get a discount of some sort, and that particular Easter they offered one.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

We went two weeks before Easter in 2015 (mid March) and had a very good time. Crowds didn't feel inbearable. There were a couple times that it seemed a little crowded for comfort but definitely not the whole time. The weather was nice. If I didn't have the choice to go during a low crowd time I wouldn't hesitate to do it again (although I wouldn't do a week that included Easter).

And yes, there are room discounts during spring break time. Overall you will pay more than a slower season but if you're flexible about where you stay you don't have to pay rack rates. We got 30% off at POFQ (which is actually not typical for that resort) and in 2016 had a pin code for Poly that was valid during spring break. You can see the previous discounts on, I think it's Mouse Savers. Google historical discounts.

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

I would go as early as I could in June. It will be hot, but not as hot as July and not as crowded as spring break.

 

[skywaywaver]

I would pick early April as long as you weren't going during Easter week. Does the heat affect your son? I would worry about that in July. That being said, we go in August and manage to survive. My feeling is it's hot many times in Florida, I'd rather go when it's less crowded.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Well, I'm planning a trip with my friends (one of whom is a teacher) for the first week in January. Depending when your school calendar falls it can work. It's cool, uncrowded, and you still get a lot of the Christmas decorations up.

But between Spring Break and Summer, I'd probably pick Spring Break.

 

[McKelly]

I would pick spring break - especially if your spring break is not next to Easter. Summer is HOT. My DD wants to go next June for her HS graduation and I am already regretting it, because of the heat. I might try for a deluxe hotel, since I think I might be spending more time at the resort!!

The good thing about going in summer though is there is a better chance Pandora will be open in AK - if that matters to you.

 

[alicat8]

I've done both. April is definitely better for weather and crowds.

 

[aretha30]

In your case since your spring break doesn't coincide with Easter I'd go in April. We go in August every year and it can be hot and miserable or it can be rainy and cooler, you just never know. Since your family does better in cooler temps and lower crowds the best time for that would be April.

 

[lizabu]

April

 

[Shellyb84]

Me personally? June/July, but I love the heat. I have to have temps over 95 to comfortably go swimming. But in your case, April.

Ha! You sound like me! I've barely gotten in the pool this year, waiting for the water to get over 85.

 

[compshu]

April also has F&G and should have the Easter egg display at GF, both of which you'd miss out on in the summer.

 

[PerfessorZ]

I feel like I've only ever gone during busy times (Thanksgiving, Spring Break, Easter), but with information and tips I've gleaned from this board, even at peak times, we've never had the crowds be an issue for us. Planning, timing, and proper use of fast passes meant we've never been on a line anywhere we wanted to go for more than 30 minutes or so.

So with that said, I'd highly recommend going when the weather is most suitable for you & that sounds like April. Odds are it will be just warm enough in the middle of the day to enjoy some pool time, so if you have a 4-hour max clock on your park time, hitting rope drop would mean you could maximize your park time, while relaxing in the water during the busiest/warmest part of the day.

 

[mshanson3121]

We are in the early planning stages of our 2017 WDW trip, and trying to decide on the best time to go. Unfortunately, I work for the school system, so I am limited to either our spring break or summer vacation. We drive and it's a 22 hour, two day trip so we don't want to go over the winter break.

Summer scares me because of the heat. I don't do well in heat and high humidity. We went at the end of July last year and were prepared for heat stroke, but amazingly there was a cold snap and rain almost every day, like way beyond normal Florida rain, which actually was preferable to dealing with 90+ degree heat, so we enjoyed ourselves a lot (and came home with a ton of unused sunscreen and several unopened cooling towels!!). But I don't know if we would ever get that lucky again. I also don't love the crowds - I mean, who does, but DS has a disability and crowds can be tough for him. We only do 4 hours or so at a time in the park before he needs to escape.
Our spring break is the very first week of April, and some crowd calendars predict that a lower crowd time than summer, or than the second week of April (maybe due to Easter falling at the start of the third week of April next year?). It would probably be nicer weather, but I'm not sure about "spring break" crowds. Also, everything is dependent on getting at least a room discount, and not sure if they do discounts that time of year.

So if you had to choose between early April, late June, or sometime in July, which would you do?

I would go in the summer, because you'll have more time, which makes it easier to deal with the heat. If you go over spring break, you'll lose 4 of your 9 days just driving, leaving you only 5 days for Florida. IMO, that's too short of a visit, to spend two days/22 hours driving there. You'll arrive tired, and you'll leave even more exhausted, and have to jump right into work the night you arrive home with lesson planning, and then jump right back into work the next day, exhausted from your break. I live with a teacher, and we drive 28 hours, and you couldn't PAY us to do that. It's not worth it.

If you go in the summer, you'll have much more time available to you. Assuming your husband has 2 weeks vacation, you'll have 16 days available to you, which would give you up to 12 days in Florida. Take your 2 days and drive down, then you can have a day to recuperate and enjoy the resort when you get there. Then jump into Disney the next day.

Now, there's options: I'm not sure when you get out from school, but if you can leave as soon as you get out, June has higher crowds, but it's a bit less hot and definitely a bit less humid than July or August. However, depending on when you go back to school, after August 20th, the crowds drop significantly. So while it will be higher heat/humidity, you won't have the crowds.

Regardless - a summer visit can be very enjoyable. Rope drop all the parks, those first 2-3 hours in the park are nice, crowds aren't bad, and the heat isn't bad. And you can get a LOT done. Leave the park by 12:00 when the sun and crowds are peaking, go back to your resort, and swim/rest/relax. Then, go back to the park in the evening, when the crowds are thinning out some, and the sun isn't so bad. Or, just do half days every day. The beauty of a longer vacation is you can get a 10-day pass for not much more than a 5 day pass, and then you can spend 10 half days.

The problem with spring is - it's still going to be hot (80+ every day, though granted less humid), but because you'll have so much less time, you'll either just have to push through and spend more time in the heat, or else not get nearly as much done if you do want to try and do breaks. A longer visit in the summer will allow you so much more flexibility for coping: half days, afternoon breaks, or taking even 2-3 days completely off from the parks altogether to just enjoy some R&R time. Also, park hours tend to be longer in the summer months, so you get more hours to play. And the summer nights are BEAUTIFUL in the park.

As for discounts, you can get them in the summer I know. But, you could also look at renting a condo at Windsor Hills. It's very close to the parks, a beautiful resort, and much cheaper than staying on site, especially if you're going to do an extended vacation.

 

[outnumbered#2]

We have gone in mid June our last two trips (2014 & 2016). It honestly hasn't been that bad. It's crowded, yes, however if you get to the parks early you can get a lot done. Check out www.easywdw.com and www.touringplans.com. They have great advice that I have used extensively on my trips.