Newbie questions

[None Prouder]

Hi everyone

I'm new here so apologies if I am asking stupid questions. I am planning my family's first trip to WDW and I would be grateful for some help on a few basic questions. It will be me, DW, DD5 and DS3. My possible dates are early-mid Feb 2005, mid April 2005 (about a week after Easter) or at a push mid-October this year (although room availability seems very limited for the things I want)

1. Is early-mid Feb cold? It doesn't look like it is the kind of weather to be able to spend time in and around the pools.

2. If we went around 04 April 2005 (a week after Easter) for a week would be swamped by sprin breakers. I have seen the discussion on another thread but it is for later in April.

3. Is mid-October the ideal time for a combination of weather and lack of crowds?

3. I really want to give my kids a view of Cinderella's Castle from the room, but as far as I can make out there is no way of guaranteeing this in any of the resorts. Am I missing something here?

Thanks in advance for any help you experts can give me.

By the way, this Board is great.

None Prouder

 

[dawgfan]

February, I would imagine, is much too cold to really enjoy the pools. They are heated but I just cannot get into pool mode at that time of year. I am from Georgia though and it is hot here much like Florida in summer. I have a pool in my backyard (not heated). It is too cold for me but the kids have been in it since the start of April and they have loved it. They admit it is cold but not so cold they get out. The parks have limited hours at this time of year and some attraction may not be open. February tends to be somewhat gloomy and can be rainy as well. There are some dates in February that I understand can be crowded.

As for times of the year to go, October probably has the best bet for weather and crowds. This is probably the best bet for you. April with Spring breakers is trickly. This is true even for late April to some degree. The later you goi in April the better off you will be.

I have never stayed there but from what I can gatehr teh Poly has the best views of the castle however there may be no absolute way of assuring that you will get the room of choice. Someone may be able to help more on that topic. If you went at a low period like October your chances of getting what you want are certainly better.

 

[Micca]

Welcome to the Dis None Prouder Of the dates you mentioned I would choose October. I believe the weather would be ok for pools, and the crowds would be smaller than April. Caveat: October is a popular time for group travel at WDW.
I believe there is quite a bit of convention business going on at that time. Attendance won't be light, but it won't compare to the spring break crowds in April.

September is even warmer(and therefore better for water activities) and less crowded. If you were to come in mid to late September, you would probably be very pleased(too hot for me though!).

For a castle view, there should be something for you at the Contemporary

 

[Scoootch]

HI THERE!

Early Feb. can go either way with temps but overall it's one of the best times to be in WDW IMO. Some days can be really warm like around 75 and the next day can go down to 50 or so, so you need to pack for anything but that being said, we went Feb1 - 5 last year and it was wonderful! Hardly any lines at all and the temps for walking around the parks were great! Pool weather is kind of iffy - they do heat the pools but the air can be chilly. If you luck out with a day that's in the 70's, going to the pools can be really nice but you may end up with days that are more like 50 or 60 so it's kind of a "hope for the best" if you do go in Feb. Being there at that time is definetly wonderful though as far as going to the parks. Just be sure to avoid presidents day week - this falls in Feb. and that week can be as crowded as going during spring break!

Mid-Oct. is also a great time and can be wonderful weather wise as it's still in the 80's that time of year. It isn't horrible as far as crowds - it's about medium crowd level. It's a popular time of year for many people who go to WDW so you may or may not have a hard time booking. If you book far enough in advance, you shouldn't have any problems though As for your wanting a view of Cinderella's castle, they do not guarantee anything but you can put in a request for "castle view" and they usually do their best to fullfill it. Book lagoon view at either GF or the POLY or ask for MK view if booking the CR.

As for an April stay - I've found that there is about a 3wk window between when spring break ends and all the kids down here in FL get out of school in May and that is one of the best time periods to be at WDW as well. As a previous poster mentioned, the later in April, the better. Spring break/Easter is THE WORST time of year next to Christmas time as far as crowds go.

My favorite times so far to be at WDW are 1st week of Feb., Anytime in Sept. or the 1st 3 weeks of May.

HTH's some. Welcome to the Dis!

 

[K & D Mickey]

We returned this past Feb 21-28,2004 -- the 1st weekend we were there was 80's and the pools were busy. BUT by Tues, Wed rain all day but still warm enough for us Nebraskan to wear spring clothing... BUT then Friday the 27th we were buying $8 dollar ski hat, mittens for our 2 year old because so cold and wrapped his legs in our hotel towel... but it was our last day and had several days left on hopper passes ( which I know we can save which we still have a total of 6 days left for 2005 winter trip)

The 1st weekend of our trip was also seemed crowds were up more then our usual January trips - was told because New Orlean residents hit WD while MGardi is going on.

MY favorite time is 2-4 week into January... Have went in the fall also but ran into school breaks in the Florida area.

Hope that helps by our experience... Since from the North like Winter trips to break up the snow/ice/cold.

Have a magical time!!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

We hit the pools and water parks year round. They are heated and as long as you have something to wrap up in when you get out, you'll be fine. And if there is a hot tub, so much the better. You can't lay out at the pool or water park when it is cool, but you can swim and stay submerged.

You can get a view of the castle from a Lagoon view at the Polynesian. Not a large view, but a view. You can see it change color at night. We stayed in the Tahiti Bldg (formerly Moorea) back in 97 and had a castle view. Also, the GF has castle views.

Early April can fall into Spring Break and Easter vacation time. Mid-October can fall into Columbus day weekend. Also you have the Halloween party at the MK during October (that is way fun).

 

[None Prouder]

Thanks guys. The community aspects of Boards like this never cease to amaze me. What did we do before the internet?

Armed with your extremely useful replies I have just booked in to the Poly and BC for 5 and 4 nights from 17 October this year. I'm going to go to the beach for a couple of days in the middle. I couldn't get concierge so I have economised and gone for garden view. Maybe I will upgrade later.

Thanks again.

None Prouder

 

[Micca]

That should be good. You're missing Columbus day by 1 week

 

[dimoe]

I am in the same boat trying to decide if i should go in Feb or late April. I think it will be late April. It will be our first trip there and I am so excited love planning!
So my question to all is which week in April is the best one to go to avoid spring breakers??
thanks Diane

 

[Scoootch]

Originally posted by dimoe
So my question to all is which week in April is the best one to go to avoid spring breakers??
thanks Diane

The last 2 weeks in April should be fine Temps are better too. It's 76 right now and it's 10 am (I'm about an hour and a half from WDW) - suppossed to be 86 in Orlando today.

Have fun!

 

[dimoe]

Thanks I figure one of the last two weeks of April we will be off. ONe year and counting. I am wondeirng how do I get a cool counter??
thanks Diane

 

[Scoootch]

Here is the link for the trip counter - just follow the instructions

http://psiklops.brinkster.net/CDTimers/CDTimerGen.htm