My 1st Post - My head is spinning...

[wmsinks]

Wow - What a great message board for all the Disney info. DS and I are planning on taking our 6 year old twins to Disney in 2008.

Can anyone tell me what month is the best to go? I don't want to go during the holidays, but we are open to the remainder of the year and don't mind taking the kids out of school for a week to go. I'd like temperatures no higher than mid to upper 80's as I hate the heat and humidity.

I was thinking we would try to go when the free dining is offered, which I believe is usually in the fall???? When is that announced? Is it hard to get reservations that time of year since the dining is included? Is it really crowded? If so, we will happily pay more and go during a different time.

I'd appreciate any input from you Disney experts!!! I guess step one for me is just fining out when to go. TIA!

 

[PrincessFan0809]

Hi! I just wanted to let you know that my husband and I took our kids for 12 days September of this year for free dining. I believe they offered the free dining around April. It was for stays booked by some date in June for trips taken like the last week of August to September 22, or something like that. However, if you don't like heat, then you can not go in September. It was hotter than I can explain. Also, the crowds were moderate...I guess a lot of people knew about the free dining. Hope that's helpful!

 

[lovetoscrap]

Welcome to the DIS!

Trying to go when it is cooler can be tricky. We went the first week of December a few years ago because wanted to go when it was cooler. It ended up being a freak heat wave in FL and ended up being over 90 the entire week! Even those from FL were complaining about how hot it was!

Free dining has been offered every year in August, September and maybe the first week or so in Oct--typically the most humid and hottest times. Probably not a good choice if you prefer temps below 90.

I have been in late April, just after Spring Break season and that was not bad. I went this year in the beginning of November and that was beautiful weather--I highly recommend that. If you prefer it much cooler then you might consider late Jan early Feb. I have been in early Feb and the temps were very nice. But we didn't go on 'wet rides" like Splash Mountain and Kali River Rapids because it was just too cool to walk around wet. Jan/Feb is also usually not a bad time to take kids out of school. Not a lot of major test prep is going on so the schools are not very resistant.

Crowds those 3 times were also quite managable.

Make sure you check out all the other trip planning boards. There is a ton of information.

 

[LISAMWDW]

Welcome!

 

[Disneychix]

I would agree not to go during Sept if you are looking for cooler temps. It's still very HOT in September! We went in late Oct and had good weather one year. You'll also have the Halloween party that I'm sure 6 yr olds would LOVE.
Have fun planning!

 

[kaylajr]

Hi and Welcome

We have taken the kids and gone in Feb, March and Oct.

All three had managable crowds we thought and the temps were pretty nice
the trip in March actually ended up being pretty cool for a few days and we needed sweatshirts( which of course we left back at the house we rented and had to buy $60.00 Sweatshirts at AK but that is another story )

We have not yet tried the free dining but it is on our to do someday list.

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

Hi & welcome

We have been in December a few times & find the weather cooler & not humid - although it is warm enough some days to go in the pool. Of course, you don't get the free dining, but if you go early Dec you do get all the beautiful holiday decorations & the crowds aren't bad.

 

[disneyloveNY]

Welcome We have been in Feb and the weather was great although the evenings get quite cool so be prepared. There were no crowds anywhere.

 

[Pirates4me]

Hi & Welcome aboard

We have gone in April, May and October.

April is our favorite time. warm but not humid. Very little rain and jsut a good experience.

May was nice but it was too warm for a Vermont raised Disney fan. Don't get me wrong, it was sunny and warm, I just couldn't get acculamated(?) to the hot weather. Right now its really cold here on Cape Cod and would trade hot weather in a second.

October was also very nice. Warm during the day and cooler at night. Crowds were great. Only problem we would have to pull our kids out of school to go in October.

Any time is fine if you want it to be. Don't overbook yourself and don't think that you are going to be able to see and do all that is Disney on your first trip. Remember its a vacation

 

[solferino]

Welcome We have been in Feb and the weather was great although the evenings get quite cool so be prepared. There were no crowds anywhere.

Clearly you didn't go during President's Week. Never again will we make that mistake.


As to the free dining to the OP, I believe in 2008 it's been offered as a bounceback trip to those who were there for it in 2007, so I don't know if it will be available to the general public or not.


Like the last trip, this upcoming trip we'll be there in January and I'm really looking forward to it. I've also really enjoyed the beginning of May, but the January schedule works better for us so that's what we'll stick with. I understand that sometimes the weather can be unpredictable, but anything is better than 12 deg like it would be at home.

 

[Micca]

Nice to have you with us. You might want to look around at the various threads on the topics you have asked about. Just about all of the answers are here, and if we can help further, please ask.

 

[Jrabbit910]

Hi & welcome to the boards! imo: Free dining is a wonderful thing so putting up with the stickiness & rain if fine by me ... most of the time I am eating in a nice cooled a/c restaurant. .. but if you dont like that kind of weather then do not book in SEPT... I have found that Early NOVEMBER is a wonderful time to go... weather is perfect... crowds are usually low; they start decorating for the holidays... all in all its a wonderful time...

 

[lighttech]

Welcome and happy planning.

We went in mid November this year, and I loved it. The weather ranged from 60 at night to 70ish during the day. The crowds were manageable, and we made it for the very start of the Christmas decorations which were amazing.

We had one really cool night that I wish I'd had a heavier sweatshirt for, but the rest of the nights, people were in the pool when we got back to the hotel. (Heated pool, still too cold for me, but I'm always chilly.)

Just be careful of all the special events that time of year. The "Wonderful Weeks of Disney" (special offers) can be fantastic, but they are worked around "Super Soap Weekend", The Wine Festival at Epcot and several unofficial Football and Pop Warner events.

Good luck!

 

[lighttech]

Welcome and happy planning.

We went in mid November this year, and I loved it. The weather ranged from 60 at night to 70ish during the day. The crowds were manageable, and we made it for the very start of the Christmas decorations which were amazing.

We had one really cool night that I wish I'd had a heavier sweatshirt for, but the rest of the nights, people were in the pool when we got back to the hotel. (Heated pool, still too cold for me, but I'm always chilly.)

Just be careful of all the special events that time of year. The "Wonderful Weeks of Disney" (special offers) can be fantastic, but they are worked around "Super Soap Weekend", The Wine Festival at Epcot and several unofficial Football and Pop Warner events.

Good luck!

 

[scjo68]

We love the last week in January. It can be cold, but never really freezing. It can get warm, but I don't think it's been above 80 for us.

Crowds are generally low. One warning: during low season, they usually close a few attractions for scheduled maint./ refurb. But we have not yet run out of things to do.

 

[tchan03]

Welcome to the board!

 

[AstroNATHAN]

welcome!

 

[.:Disney.:.Freak:.]

A very good time to go is in the end of October--early November the crowds aren't bad and if you go durring the Halloween time, you can get tickets to MNSHP(Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party , which is a blast for the whole family). But, if you don't mind crowds and you don't mind missing New Year's Eve and New Year's I would suggest to go durring that time. There is a thing in MGM Studios called the Osbourne: Spectacle of Dancing Lights and that is definatley the best part of the trip (that and the food ). But, a few good places to eat are Coral Reef, Le Celier, Cinderella's Royale Table (for dinner), California Grill, Crystal Palace, Chef Mickey, Scifi Cafe, Brown Derby, Boma's, and 1900 Park Fare. A good place to stay (if it's your first time) is Port Orlean's Riverside. We went there for our first Disney trip and absolutely loved it. If your willing to spend a little bit of extra money I would try and stay at the Grand Floridian or Animal Kingdom Lodge or even Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa.


Hope this message can help you plan your trip.

 

[LoveMinnieandMickey]

This is my first post too! The boards do look wonderful don't they!
Our favorite time to go is in September.

 

[tchan03]

Welcome Lovemickeyandminnie!