Lower crowds or better weather?

[abinormal]

I'm trying to decide when I want to plan my family's first trip for next fall. The lower prices and smaller crowds make September attractive, but I am just really not a big fan of humidity and excessive heat. It's nothing I can't handle, I just don't enjoy it.

November sounds more up my alley but I wonder if more people in the parks will negate the good weather. And I do want to be able to swim.

Our kids will be 2 and 4.

 

[Goldilocks07]

Hi, I always run into the same dilemma, as I'm sure the majority of the people on this board will agree. I mean, who wants to be in EXTREME heat or high crowds? Not me.

November will be busy- not high season or anything, but not slow. The weather is temperamental, as it tends to be in the fall months. It can be hot in the day, but definitely cool to cold at night. The temperature REALLY drops at the end of the day. We always need pants and sweatshirts.

The first 2 weeks of December supposedly are the slowest times to go, we can never swing it because my husband is in the retail business- and well, that's a busy time for him. Clearly.
I don't know about the weather then, but I would assume it's the same- high 70s.

Good luck....

 

[jimandami]

We have travelled to WDW is Jan, Feb, April, May, September, and November. The only time I would NEVER return is September. I knows my people swear it's the best time to go, but it was so miserably hot and humid, we just did not feel the magic. The kids were whiny and tired (well, even more than usual). The adults were whiny and tired. The crowds were not low enough to negate the weather, IMHO.

 

[happymommy]

If it were up to me (and it isn't now that my kids' school schedule dictates our family vacations), and the only question was to go in September or November, I would pick September! I've been once then, and many times in late August, and I don't think the heat is as bad as June or July. In November, it may be getting cool (and I don't mind a bit of cool, but I'd rather have it too hot than too cool at Disney). We have absolutely frozen in December (and also a couple of days in March).

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

We have been in November a few times and the weather has always been good for swimming during the day. As for crowds, I don't think it gets really crowded until Tuesday of Thanksgiving week. We could tell a big difference from Tuesday on. If isn't during Thanksgiving it shouldn't be crowded. The Christmas decorations are up during that time and we loved seeing the Osborne Lights.

 

[mrsp1030]

We've been in October and loved it and December also. Now we happened to hit 3 awesome days in December and then the crazy 40-50 degree cold spell arrived. Hot tubs were fun then!

 

[3Gsandme]

I need good weather. I melt when I'm hot. I get cranky and mean. I'm willing to put up with bigger crowds and longer lines to be more comfortable in them.

 

[happymommy]

Are you looking at Thanksgiving, or just some other time in November?

One piece of advice: ENJOY it now! I have the happiest memories of taking my kids at 2 and 4 to Disney!!! No homework to worry about! (Matter of fact, when they were in 2nd grade and kindergarten at a pretty strict Catholic school, they both mysteriously got ill the last week of school, since I called them in sick every day that week. We were at Disney!!).

Just wondering, since I don't think other than Thanksgiving week it will be unbearably crowded in November (but F&W festival runs till early November I think but that's more adult themed and just Epcot which still sounds interested for the different foods).

My DH and I honeymooned in September (months after we got married, but he had to be at his bar review course 2 days after our wedding to study for the bar exam). The weather was beautiful, probably the nicest weather we've had in Orlando. Many times in March we need a sweater (my kids still swim). It's so hit or miss - we've frozen in December (literally, had to buy extra sweatshirts) or we've swam then too. The coldest was one January I went for a quick weekend with my mom and aunt - high was 50 and windy - it was so cold!

 

[mrsp1030]

The only time in November it gets a little busy is veterans weekend running into the following week as that is jersey week.

 

[mrsp1030]

Besides thanksgiving

 

[Moodyzblu]

We have found that early May is both perfect weather and low/moderate crowds since many schools just had April vacation and others are preparing for the end of the school year.
This past May we had 1 little rain shower on our first day and not a drop for the rest of the trip and the temps were low 80's, very little humidity. Perfect.

 

[wiigirl]

If it were up to me (and it isn't now that my kids' school schedule dictates our family vacations), and the only question was to go in September or November, I would pick September! I've been once then, and many times in late August, and I don't think the heat is as bad as June or July. In November, it may be getting cool (and I don't mind a bit of cool, but I'd rather have it too hot than too cool at Disney). We have absolutely frozen in December (and also a couple of days in March).

 

[mm1971]

I'm trying to decide when I want to plan my family's first trip for next fall. The lower prices and smaller crowds make September attractive, but I am just really not a big fan of humidity and excessive heat. It's nothing I can't handle, I just don't enjoy it.

November sounds more up my alley but I wonder if more people in the parks will negate the good weather. And I do want to be able to swim.

Our kids will be 2 and 4.

Both. Go in October! Then you get F&W and halloween as well. Crowds in October are not bad at all and you still have good weather.

If it were September or November, I would choose November since the weather is better and the crowds are still not too bad. In September, the weather can still be hot and humid.

 

[abinormal]

Thanks for the replies. I'm definitely not looking at Thanksgiving. I'm just trying to find the perfect trifecta of crowds, weather, and free dining plan.

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

My favorite time is the last part of September when rates are still at their lowest and I can get to one of the first MNSSHP. Most times the day is warm and nights are cool. I HATE heat and humidity but it never bothered me at the end of September. We wanted to do a December trip to see the Christmas decorations so we went the first week of December and I was really missing the low crowd levels I used to see in September. I vote September a million times over!!!!!!!

 

[BenbowInn]

September is HOT!

We bypassed free dining this year to go at another time because September is just too miserable.

I would rather have larger crowds than intense heat and humidity.

 

[Lindabobinda]

We have been to Disney in September, November, early December and January. We decided to never return in September. Crowds were low, but heat and humidity were high.

We really didn't love January either. It was cold. It was our 6th trip and all of the others were HOT, even in December.

We are trying October this year. We'll see how that goes.

I think it really depends on your heat tolerance. I am one who does not tolerate heat and humidity well.