Need some feedback please!

[Canucky]

Hello all, new member.

My girlfriend and I have decided to go to WDW next year, before we have offspring, with the intention of having a bit of adult fun without any additional "two-legged strings" attached. I haven't visited the World in over ten years and she has never been further south than New Hampshire. I'm sure we'll return someday with ankle-biters in tow.

I've done a lot of research already, reading several guides (my favorite seems to be the Unofficial Guide to WDW 2001 and 2006) and having spent hours on the internet.

We're going to stay at the Wilderness Lodge. I know the downside is the location relative to the other theme parks (other than MK), but everything else is a plus to us.

Our main concern is the time of year to go. Our criteria? Weather, crowds, and a (relatively speaking of course) lack of children.

We are NOT going during hurricane season. I worked in the travel industry and I know first hand the number of vacations ruined (or at least dampened) by flipping a coin in September. Summer is out: too hot, too crowded once school is out. January and February (like Oct-Dec), though less busy, might be a little too chilly. March break and early April have peak rates and of course are very busy times. We think May is a good time to go: it's just after March break, it isn't too hot yet, parents are a bit more hesitant to take their kids out of school for a week or two when there is only a month or two left to catch up. Most of the guide books show a marked drop in park attendance from late-April to late-May, though resort rates are the same at this time as they are all summer.

Opinions? I'm under no illusion that there is a real "off season" at Disney, it's a matter of whether 35,000 or 70,000 people show up that day. I also know that there are always kids everywhere, so I'm not expecting quiet meals and a calm pool every morning. Everything's relative! But is my reasoning sound by anyone's experience? Also, what kind of hours do the parks usually keep during May?

Thanks in Advance,
Canucky

 

[spiceycat]

May is okay. May has the flower/garden festavial.

but I really like December - early Dec - the parks aren't too crowded.

and everything is decorated for Christmas.

I would also suggest Oct/nov - even with hurricanes - because the food/wine festavial is perfect for you.

WDW is generally closed when a hurricane is in the area. but it is generally up and going the next day. WDW and WDW resorts are constructed to with stand hurricanes.

I happen to love WL/VWL. I think it is a very romantic resort.

 

[1000th happy haunt]

Wilderness Lodge is probably my favorite hotel on site. I love taking the boat ride to the Magic Kingdom.

If you're worried at proximity to the other parks, you can rent a car. That makes it easy to experience restaurants in other locations. On our last trip DH and I were wondering where to get some dinner. So we took a quick drive to POFQ, looked at the menu and nothing appealed to us. So we popped in the car and headed to Olivia's.

Disney transportation is OK, but I like the freedom of a car. You can't easily use Disney transportation to get from hotel to hotel (unless you're on the monorail loop). And it can easily take an hour to get from point A to point B.

Since you'll be at Wilderness Lodge, I recommend taking the carriage ride in the evening (not the hayride, the carriage ride). It leave from the front of WL and takes you on a nice ride through the wooded areas of the resort. You can call 407-WDW-PLAY to make a reservation. In December the carriage has an overlay to look like a sleigh.

 

[okapi]

Late April/May is good - there are "discounts" at that time, but it's dependent upon Spring Break. Keep in mind that you have to research not only when grade school kids are out of school in your area, but also there is Spring Break for colleges AND Disney is famous for having Special Events at that time such as the CHeerleading Competitions, etc. Also, Disney gets an influx of teenagers from South America during their "breaks."

If you decide for Early Sept/Oct, still tanning weather, you're likely to see less kids as many return to school about that time. If you're concerned about weather, I hear you can purchase trip insurance.

Don't rule out early Dec./Jan./Feb. except for pres. day weekend - weather is usally mild 70s which is wonderful coming from the North and does a lot to chase away winter blahs.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

October is NEVER chilly in Orlando--the weather is perfect (actually a bit hot toward the beginning of October!). I consider October the perfect month for WDW. The beginning of November should be fine but after around Nov. 15th you may have some cool (not cold) evenings, in the 60s mostly.

All bets are off in December--we have gone when it was in the 70s and when the temp was in the 40s! You just never know. Same with January. Cold weather would never stop me from going, though, because the weather is still beautiful.

February and March are very nice. April is very busy and too warm for me. Have gone in both May and September and both months are too hot for me, so wouldn't dream of going in June, July, or August--I reserve those months for the beach, where I can jump in the water to cool off!

Crowd-wise, the best months (IMO) are November through February, but October isn't bad either.

 

[4Gus-Gus&Figaro]

We love going in May! You can run into some warm weather, but it's usually not too bad. Crowds are manageable. And the Flower and Garden Festival makes Epcot even more beautiful than normal.

I understand that early December is a really wonderful time to go, but we've not been there at that time (yet), so I really can't give an opinion.

Whenever you decide to go, you'll have a wonderful time! How can you not? - It's Disney World !!!

Karen

 

[Disney Dee]

The week after thanksgiving is my fav time to go to DW. the holiday crowds are gone for afew weeks, and the decorations are great! We went in the pools every day our last trip, and the crowds were very light. It was actually warmer then when we went in april

 

[tinkerbela]

january is actually a good time of year to go to WDW. and being that you are from new hampshire, you'll appreciate the warmer weather in january if you go to WDW during that time. we're in jersey so we feel your pain when it comes to january weather. in WDW, the temperature are about hihg 60 to low 70's. it's very comfortable. cool enough to wear a light jacket. at night, it's about the high 50 to low 60's. still very comfortable. the crowds are small. so the lines are shorter. you get to see more and do more because the kids are in school. i love going to WDW in january.

 

[Canucky]

New Brunswick Canada, not New Hampshire, think further North and surrounded by water

Thanks for the tips, but I think we really would prefer to go in early May as opposed to late fall or mid-winter. I know you may think I'm crazy, but we actually do want it to be rather warm, as my girlfriend has never been in a place with "real" heat. Also, May isn't humid like mid-summer is but you're still averaging mid-80s and park total park hours are a bit longer. I've also heard that certain rides are more likely to be down for maintenance during off peak times.

Canucky

 

[spiceycat]

May is off season. So some rides may be down then.

Dec is less lightly to have rides down - Thanksgiving was just over and Christmas (their busiest season is just around the corner).

but hey if you want hot. May should definitely work for you. Orlando is always going to have higher humdity - one side if the Atlantic the other side is the Gulf.

I think you will love the flower/garden show. It is not the food/wine event - so it doesn't attract as many people.

May also has their graduation nights - you don't want to be near the MK for these events.

there is also my favorite event at WDW - Star Wars Weekend which does attract a lot of people to the Studios.

 

[Terk-1]

I'd strongly recommend the beginning of December. All the parks and resorts are decked out in all their holiday trimmings and it is just a beautiful time to go. Crowds are not that bad and neither is the weather. Another recommendation would be in November before Thanksgiving. The weather and crowds are not bad and you can do the Food & Wine festival.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I asked a CM last week what her favorite times of year would be to go, and she recommended late April/early May or early November. According to her, after Thanksgiving the crowds levels aren't dropping like they used to. As she said, "I think the secret about visiting WDW in early December has gotten out."

 

[poohqueen]

Hey Canucky, another fellow New Brunswicker here. Where in NB are you from?

Any way to answer your question at hand, I went early May this year and just loved it. The crowds weren't too bad, we didn't have to wait very long for any ride. The weather was awesome, we only had rain once, and it was in an evening for only a few mins. The flower festival is beautiful, I really enjoyed it.

In my opinion, for whatever it is worth...lol... I think May is a good choice.

 

[Canucky]

Hey Canucky, another fellow New Brunswicker here. Where in NB are you from?

Any way to answer your question at hand, I went early May this year and just loved it. The crowds weren't too bad, we didn't have to wait very long for any ride. The weather was awesome, we only had rain once, and it was in an evening for only a few mins. The flower festival is beautiful, I really enjoyed it.

In my opinion, for whatever it is worth...lol... I think May is a good choice.

Thanks for the extra encouragement, I'm thinking we're going to have a good time first week of May.

And I'm in Saint John, yourself?

Canucky

 

[poohqueen]

You are welcome for the extra encouragement...anything I can do to help...

And to answer your question I am in Fredericton.