Need DVCers opinions: best times to visit

[twinklebug]

Having been to Disney multiple times in August even in hurricanes and loving not only the weather but the parks I had assumed all of summer would be pretty much the same experience. Oh how wrong I was not to listen to those who warned... July is nuts. Even EMH was overcrowded (though this might have to do with the elimination of wristbands?). I cringe at the idea of returning again next July, but part of the plan in buying APs this last trip was that we'd get in that extra trip after school ends next year.

That said - I trust the opinions and experience of our DVC members to know when the absolute best times of year to visit.

I'm limited to the school vacations with kids in Middle & High School, and don't dare have them miss more than two days MAX (and make those the days right before or right after a vacation break)

I believe, for me, the best times break down to February vacation and mid to late August, but am hoping late June so I have a little peace of mind for next year LOL

 

[fers31]

I voted for May, October, and December.

 

[rentayenta]

I voted for May and Sept because that's when I have been and found them both awesome and uncrowded but warm. I also voted for October because our next trip is Oct 2010.

 

[Disneypirate85]

We go in July for the week of the 4th and always a Christmas trip. Even tho shorter trip in Dec is always so beautifull with the decorations...Shawn

 

[Greysword]

If not missing school is the most important, then the non-summer/spring break time to go is around Christmas break, IMO. Usually, classes seem to slow down a week or two before the holiday (right after Thanksgiving), so if your kids missed this time, they probably won't be missing much (especially the day before the break) and they will have time to make up the work before returning in January.

In addition, Florida weather is usually fantastic in December. It is cold with blue skies (unless a front moves through). WDW has their Christmas decoration up, which is great! This is also considered a slow time for Disney (the first few weeks of December), as many kids are in school to the vacation date (which can vary by district).

Those are my thoughts and reasons. Thansk fro asking!

 

[RLRDA]

OP, since you already know that late August is a good time (and I agree) I voted for - 1)May, 2)October and 3)November (not Thanksgiving week though) since those three time frames have nice weather and low-ish crowds. I don't think that helps you much since you need to travel during school vacations.

 

[liznboys]

We have gone all three summer months multiple times now and June is our favorite, then August, then July.

We went last year over Christmas (December 19-28) and it was fantastic!! We found the holiday crowds don't get large until the 23rd/24th. It helped that Christmas fell later in the week, so we could do a weekend to weekend trip and the first half of the trip the crowds were not bad. And we left before the big New Years crowds came.

 

[CaskPeg]

Having been to Disney multiple times in August even in hurricanes and loving not only the weather but the parks I had assumed all of summer would be pretty much the same experience. Oh how wrong I was not to listen to those who warned... July is nuts. Even EMH was overcrowded (though this might have to do with the elimination of wristbands?). I cringe at the idea of returning again next July, but part of the plan in buying APs this last trip was that we'd get in that extra trip after school ends next year.

That said - I trust the opinions and experience of our DVC members to know when the absolute best times of year to visit.

I'm limited to the school vacations with kids in Middle & High School, and don't dare have them miss more than two days MAX (and make those the days right before or right after a vacation break)

I believe, for me, the best times break down to February vacation and mid to late August, but am hoping late June so I have a little peace of mind for next year LOL

twinklebug
I voted for November, December, and April. We always enjoyed the fall of early November and December....loved the decorations, the christmas music, and such. Also with family in the state we could hop on and hop out of the properties. Mostly the atmosphere is the best....summer is too hot and crowded if you can avoid it. Does your school system allow one family vacation during the actual school year as ours does? You might check to see if they honor it on all the levels of grades...and that might be an option.
CaskPeg

 

[thelionqueen]

I voted for May, October, and December.

Same for me and in that order!

 

[DiznyDi]

I voted for May, October, and December.

Me too!

 

[twinklebug]

No June or July votes and I'm the only one who voted August! Hm, this is not looking good for our End of June stay I may not have the choice though - just make sure we're at a resort we love and could spend all day at if we don't want to face those crowds.

CaskPeg, I'd LOVE it if my school district would have a week off for vacations like yours does - where do you live? I think it's time to move! hehe. Software can be developed from any location. Just kidding, I need to stay put for now.

 

[mikeandkarla]

First two weeks of June are great. After that until mid August is HOT and CROWDED.

 

[beccasmom]

February, May and December ---

February - the first two weeks are fairly crowd-free and the weather is certainly better than ours at home!

May - love the beginning of the month. weather is usually pleasant even if it is warm. gets crazy at the end of the month with the holiday - been there, done that!

December - the holiday decorations are awesome! can't depend on the weather, but the chances of truly hot/humid conditions are pretty slim

We'd like to avoid the summer months but cannot right now because of school commitments. We are going next month and I know the weather will be oppressive. But we are drilling for it now in southeastern PA, so maybe we'll be ready for it!

 

[liznboys]

No June or July votes and I'm the only one who voted August! Hm, this is not looking good for our End of June stay I may not have the choice though - just make sure we're at a resort we love and could spend all day at if we don't want to face those crowds...

I didn't vote because my answer to "when is the best time to visit overall" is different than my answer to "when is the best time to visit during school breaks". During school breaks, I'd pick June, August and December (Christmas week, NOT New Years), as those are the times we've gone ane enjoyed them. We haven't tried Thanksgiving week yet but I think we will...

For overall I'd say early March, May and October.

 

[DenLo]

I didn't vote either as we have only been to WDW in March, April and June. Springbreak would have the best weather. However the crowds the week before and after Easter are horrendous! This past April we were there a few days before the Easter crunch hit and boy what a difference! We vowed never to come again around Easter. Our March trips that were not around Easter were crowded but similar to the end of June crowds.

The best June time for less crowds was before the points change from Dream to Magic Season. June 1 - 10th was less crowded. We noticed each day starting with the 11th the crowds increased day by day. Unlike at Easter it was a gradual increase. We left on June 15th. But have have stayed in late June (left by the 26th) and crowds were similar to what we saw on June 15th.

 

[DebbieB]

I voted April (late April, although early May is good too), October (Food & Wine), December (first week).

 

[JimC]

January if you want a quiet trip with lower attendance and cooler though very nice weather

May for flower & garden when attendance is lower then Spring Break; generally warm but not hot & humid weather; pre-rainy season

October, November and December for nice weather; medium attendance

October for food & wine

Early December for holiday festivities

 

[pennst8r]

Used to be October was a nice, quiet time with 10 minute waits for rides. Not sure how it will be this year with Free Dining.

 

[TINKERIFIC]

I picked December (1st half), January and February (outside of Pres weekend) because of weather and low crowds.

 

[GrumpyBelle]

I voted for March (spring break), December (Xmas break), and August. We usually go during the last 2 weeks of August and have enjoyed it very much--especially the last week of August (even through the hurricaine). Crowds aren't bad and the heat isn't unbearable. I picked these 3 so that the kids don't have to miss school--I am in the same boat. This year we went 7/21-7/28- we had developer points that had to be used before the end of August. The crowds and the heat were both insane. We bought annual passes this year to minimize our year to year expenses so that means we have to go earlier next year. We plan on going over spring break--I know that the crowds will be crazy, but hoping to get through it with slightly cooler temps. DS is starting high school in August so he absolutely cannot afford to miss very much school (plus our district does not permit absence for vacation even if you turn it into an educational experience).