Newbie that needs your help! Please..

[karabear1125]

Hi everyone,

I'm so glad to have found this board! Everyone is so helpful and knows their stuff when it comes to Disney.

My Dh and I have decided to take our 3 year old to DisneyWorld, the problem is we're not sure when to go..our dates that he can take off from work for a week are between Oct5-Nov30. My birthday is on Nov. 25th so that would benefit us, but that is also thanksgiving week, plus I'm not sure how the weather is in November; I was actually thinking about the week before thanksgiving, how are the parks then? Not sure where we will stay, we've been there 4 years ago with just us and stayed offsite but I'm thinking this time with a 3 year old, it may be better to stay onsite, am I wrong?

Anyways, I'd like to know from you Disney pro's when would be the best dates from the above we should decide on, regarding weather, crowds..I'm sure my 3 year old will want to swim and play in the sprinklers on our 'off' day, I would just hate for it to be too cold and I'm a paranoid mom as it is and don't want to worry bout him getting sick from it being to cold outside and in the water! LOL

Sorry this is longwinded, but any help or tips is really appreciated!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

October is a great time to go. Not a lot of rain, and very little crowds (compared to, say, June).

Thanksgiving is not as good of a time to go. The crowds start getting worse then.

I would suggest trying to get as close to your start date (Oct 5) as possible.

Also, welcome to the boards Have fun!

 

[MarkinNM]

to the DIS!!!​

 

[MRNsMommy]

Of the times I've been to WDW, October was the absolute best! Great weather and low crowd levels!
I've never been in November or around Thanksgiving, but I hear it is VERY crowded then. The friends we're going with in May went this past Thanksgiving and said it was miserable!

As for whether or not to stay on-site or not...I have a four-year-old, and we took her last December and I can't imagine if we hadn't been on-site. It was so much easier for when she got tired.

 

[karabear1125]

Thanks so much for the warm welcome! I knew I could count on you guys!

I kind of figured as much about November, just wanted to get it confirmed..I've never been to Disney in our winter months here, only in April and like I said that was about 4 years ago..so this is going to be an experience with a 3 year old!

So I'm thinking maybe Oct 5-12?? What does everyone think about those dates? Is it really rainy then or anything I should know? They don't seem to have any hotel/air prices for so far ahead? I'm hoping airfare should be reasonable..

That's the only reason I'm considering staying at the resorts is because of him and the convenience of going back to the room on site for nap time; now to figure out a decent price resort on site. Anyone have any ideas, I have looked around and the Polynesian looks really nice yet really pricey. The value resorts don't intrigue me as much, maybe cause it looks to much like a motel and seems like a really loud place? lol I'm probably wrong!

For those that stayed on the resorts did you get a rental car also from the airport or did you just take the Disney shuttle? Any input on that would be great also!

I was actually contemplating driving down (16hrs) haha but there's no way I'd make it to Disney SANE! ..granted that's what we did with me and DH, but with a little one, I'm not sure.

I'm sorry for all the questions! Thanks again everyone for all the advice and for being so helpful!

 

[Metro West]

 

[imLissy]

we used to go in the begining of November, and it wasn't crowded at all, but sometimes it got really cold. I have pictures from one trip where I'm wearing sweatshirts and sweatpants every day But I was too hot in October this past year when we went and it rained every day and it was more crowded. I prefer November. But definitely do not go thanksgiving week!

 

[gszen]

October is a great time of year to go. The weather is great and the parks are not overcrowded. If you want to enjoy the pools with your child go when it will be the warmest. Enjoy!

 

[RoYo1]

just wanted to say definitely stay in an onsite hotel you get advantages like extra magic hours and complimentary bus service

 

[Br'er Fox]

I went last year in October. It was actually the weekend MNSSHP was ending. We arrived Friday and did the parks Saturday and Sunday. The parks were pretty empty since the party had already ended. Our longest wait for a ride was on Soarin' while waiting for a reservation at Rose and Crown, we had to wait for 20 minutes but got to play the cool game in the cool. Other than that wait we used fast pass wisely and ran through the other lines.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Also, if you are interested in the dining plan, you must stay onsite.

But it really is personal preference. I love staying onsite. I don't have to get in my car once until it's time to leave.