May or October? Crowded? Hurricanes?

[amee]

We are just about to make some ressies, if possible and had decided May or October would fit in our schedule/budget......then we heard that these months were right in the middle of "hurricane season"!

What are peoples experience with going at these times weather-wise and crowd-wise? I would hate to book at a time known for terrible weather...although obviously there is no guarantee on that!

thanks!

Amee

 

[Richyams]

WDW is too far inland to see any real serious devestation. The odds of getting hit by one while you are there are miniscule.

The odds of your flight being delayed or canceled are a wee bit higher.

I would pick October over May for sure. I think the crowds are slightly higer in may, but October has many things going for it. The Food and wine Festival, the weather, and the crowds will all contribute to a better time.

 

[Colexi's Mom]

We've been in May twice and are going again this year. Hurricane season starts June 1st, so it's not in May. Another perk of May is it is the Flower and Garden Show in Epcot. The crowds aren't bad, and the temperatures are warm (usually 80-90). The last 2 times we went in May, we didn't have a drop of rain!!

 

[wdwnut]

hi: we've done both and they are great. it really depends on which part(s) of the month you will go. we went last october and had a great time at the food and wine festival as usual. the weather is a bit cooler and we did have a bit of rain, but it was fine. we've done late october/early november 5 times and may 6 times. we like each for different reasons. the first two weeks of may are wonderful-warm with relatively low humidity and not that crowded. the cooler temps in october are great for animal kingdom as well, but the food and wine festival is what really draws us.

 

[amee]

thank you! Its so nice to have a good place to ask qwuestions!

Amee

 

[btuftee]

Late October is a great choice... as the month wears on, the crowds thin, but the weather is still warm (but not too hot). Weather-wise, May is slightly warmer and wetter, but October does include hurricane season (in 1999, I arrived at WDW the same day as hurricane Irene! To be honest though, it was great... it really cleared out the parks!). Not sure on how May and October crowds compare... they're probably similar, given that the weather is comparable and kids are still in school.

 

[mom_rules]

I vote for May. We've been several times and had very little rain, beautiful 85+ weather and very moderate crowds. My favourite time to go.

 

[n2mm]

OK, we do both every year. We love going in May. Warm enough to unfreeze our cold winter bodies. Flower and Garden shows and Flower Power concerts. Moderate crowds, more school kids, but still my most favorite time to go (get my best tan). Not much rain either.

Always go October too! Food and Wine festival, this year motown concerts too. Weather is great, but can get rainy if a depression comes in. Crowds are slightly lighter, depending how close you are to Columbus day or Halloween. Halloween parties the last couple of weeks of October. Either way, both times are the best times to go. For us, May 3-17 A/S Music and Oct. 23-Nov.1 Dixie Landing. Got a couple of other trips in there too! Empty Nesters and loving WDW!! What can I say.

 

[donna in Oz]

Wow . . this is a tough choice!!

We were there in early May 2002 ; the lush landscaping which accompanied the Flower & Garden Festival just blew us away. We're not gardeners (by any means !! ), but our pictures are just breathtaking. Great weather, light crowds . . . great trip!!

However, we usually go in October. As someone else mentioned, the Food & Wine Festival is great, and if you go later in the month, you might also get to enjoy MNSSHP!! Crowds are lighter at this time, too, and it's still warm enough to wear shorts/T-shirts and to swim. The weather is fickle, though; one time it rained on us 8 out of 9 days in October, but the next year, we never saw a drop. Just be prepared either way!!