Normally Dec. traveler. Is free dining in summer worth it?

[angeluna]

I have a pin code for December which is when we normally travel. (35%-40% off). Was wondering if free dining (3 adults and 1 junior) would be worth the crowds and heat instead?
Another piece to this puzzle is that I will have one child in elementary school and one in his first year of college. Between the kids schedules and mine we would only have 5 days in the parks in December, but could do 10 days in the parks in summer.
What to do, what to do?

 

[Karlzmom]

The one time we did a "hot" month trip was in Sept and that was more than enough to turn me off ever going in the heat and humidity. I swear I can see and do more in less than half the time without the weather sapping all my energy. We went when crowds were "low" and it was still brutal. I can not even imagine trying to manage the crowds along with the heat. For me, December would be my choice everyday and twice on Sundays!

 

[Lynzer4]

The last 3 times I have gone have been in August. It doesn't really bother me. Its no hotter there then it is at home for me. You just have to be smart. Our plans always have the "inside" rides mixed into the hottest part of the day to help.

I personally would go for 10 days if the heat doesn't bother you. BUT I can say that I have always wanted to go during dec. to see the christmas decor.

Its a hard choice.

 

[nicki.momof3]

NO WAY - we have tried Aug. 2 times and it is not worth it. I just booked a Dec. 2011 trip (we were there Dec. 2010).

We also love April.

 

[gabriellyn]

I see you are from Ft. Worth, so you are no stranger to heat. I am from Houston, so our summers are more humid, more like Florida summers. We have gone twice in late December and twice in the summer - once in June and once in August (for FD). I didn't have a problem with the heat, but DH was another story. He asked me why we were going on vacation to a hot and humid place when we LIVE in a hot and humid place. But he is the kind of guy that starts sweating when the mercury hits 70, so I can understand why it's not his favorite time of year.

Bottom line - if you don't take well to the heat, don't go. If heat doesn't really bother you, then go for it! I wouldn't mind going again in August, but DH won't do it. Not even for FD, which saves us a ton of $$$.

 

[DCbride]

When you go in the summer you have to schedule your day differently- up early, leave around noon and then back around dinner. So more time is spent at the resort swimming and relaxing. When you go in the winter you basically stay all day (unless you have little ones napping)

I totally understand not being flexible with the college student, but would your elem student have any flexibility and be able to take a few days off? We have done 5 days in the past and I never felt that it was enought time.

 

[SPOERLX3]

When you go in the summer you have to schedule your day differently- up early, leave around noon and then back around dinner. So more time is spent at the resort swimming and relaxing. When you go in the winter you basically stay all day (unless you have little ones napping)

I totally understand not being flexible with the college student, but would your elem student have any flexibility and be able to take a few days off? We have done 5 days in the past and I never felt that it was enought time.

I agree 100%. You have to schedule your days totally different. The parks are open ALOT later in the summer months than in December so you have plenty of time to go back to the hotel in the hot or go to one of the water parks then spend the cooler parts of the day at the park. In December it is absolutely BEAUTIFUL but the parks close early. You would not want to leave the parks during the day since your time is limited. AK is only open 9a-5p and MK closes 2-3 times per week at 7 for the MVMCP. W have gone twice in December, three times in March and once in August. With all this said, if I could have 10 days in August vs. 5 in December.............this would be a hard one. But I think 10 days in Disney with free dining would win my vote. However.....my family would disagree. My daughter said that she would never go back to Disney in the summer.

Note: we are from Mesquite, TX (just about 30 minutes from FT Worth---HOWDY neighbor)so we are used to the heat too.

 

[JJsmama]

We have to go in the summer these past few years because school schedule/ living overseas. Actually, I do not think it is so bad. It is hot, yes. The way we do WDW, we deal with the heat. We are early risers and are always there by RD. We do EMH-AM if possible. That way we have 3-4 hours before the crowds really arrives and the heat gets unbearable. We almost always take an afternoon break either in the pool or in the room / hotel and then do a leisurely dinner. We go for at least 6 nights. It wouldn't work for shorter because we don't spend all day in the parks, but the way we do it is really enjoyable. In general, the summer crowds were sometimes lighter than the Spring Break crowds. I think once we went in January and it was nice to be so empty, but that is not an option for us these days. Bottom Line: If summer is a better choice for your budget and schedule, the heat is not so bad. 10 days of morning touring plus afternoon pools and leisurely dinners sounds better to me than 5 days commando anyway.

 

[cluelyss18]

Since I haven't been to Disney in 11 years, but that was in the summer, I would never do it again. Unless the heat has changed, I'm all set with standing in the middle of Main St pouring powder down my shorts. But that's me.

On another note, I noticed people saying the parks are open/closed at different times during the year, I did not know this. So what would the schedule look like for mid May?

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Since I haven't been to Disney in 11 years, but that was in the summer, I would never do it again. Unless the heat has changed, I'm all set with standing in the middle of Main St pouring powder down my shorts. But that's me.

On another note, I noticed people saying the parks are open/closed at different times during the year, I did not know this. So what would the schedule look like for mid May?

The WDW calendars are released 6 months in advance. The current May calendar is up on all Disney sites and here on the Dis.

www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/hours.htm

 

[lustergirl]

in hot weather we aren't much of eaters so december is definitely much better.

 

[lemondog]

We have been in July (hotter than hades) and last March for spring break (VERY cool for that time of year...highs in the low 60s).

We prefer summer. We like a more relaxing day. Go at rope drop, stay thru lunch, go back to hotel and swim/nap, then go back to parks later afternoon or early evening.

The main reason we hated March...we couldn't swim! It was literally too cold. The kids tried one day because the pool was heated, but it was so brutal getting out they didn't try it again.

 

[Deb123]

10 days definately, like someone else said, it may be hot, but plan your day accordingly. Some of our best times at Disney are going back to MK (after a resort swim and nap in the afternoon) when they have the Magic hours from 11 to 2 am (sometimes 3 am!) Very, Very nice in my opinion. 5 days is just. not. long. enough. not whenyou have the option of going 10.

 

[Linda T.]

We love the summer - we used to go in June but we have found we love July better. Yes, it is hot and humid but we just go back to the room in the afternoon relax and swim and then return to the parks in the evening.

 

[StuckInKS]

We were there before and after 4th of July and it was HOT. I'm not sure if it was hotter than our summers, but standing out in the sun all day, day-after-day gets to you. If we were to go back during the summer (we prefer early and mid-May, Dec might be too cold for beach time, which we have to have) I would:

• Do the DDP, possibly the DxDDP, so that we would have someplace cool to sit down and relax.
• I would also consider letting my family sleep in, getting some pool time in and then hitting the evening EMH hard (AK till 8, DHS till 11 or 12, EP till 12 or 1 and MK till 2 or 3) That way we could go after sunset and still have several hours to hit the rides. My kids' internal clock is based on how long they've been up, so if they sleep late then staying later isn't a problem. AK would be the only one that this would cause a problem with; we would just have to suffer that day.
• Since we would also be doing shorter days, we would need at least a 10 day stay. But if it is during FD, then that may be doable.

If it came down to 5 days in Dec or 10 days in summer, I would absolutely do the 10 days in summer. Of course, preferably I'd like to do both.

 

[angeluna]

Thanks for all the replies so far. As of now it looks like it's going to be July for us. We can take two weeks off work and take our time driving there and still get in 10 days at WDW. As my husband said, we can be hot in Texas or we can be hot at Disney. I'd rather be at Disney any day, any way. At least I know going in how to tour and what to expect. That helps a lot!

 

[kelma]

We have been in July (hotter than hades) and last March for spring break (VERY cool for that time of year...highs in the low 60s).


The main reason we hated March...we couldn't swim! It was literally too cold. The kids tried one day because the pool was heated, but it was so brutal getting out they didn't try it again.

So funny, when we went in March it was in the low 90's and packed! We said we'd never go back then.

We've never been in December, but went in January of 2010 and it was in the 20's and 30's

Apparently we bring the crazy weather with us, so just as a warning, we're looking at early Oct. this year

Kelma - mom to 2 little princes and 2 little princesses

 

[SHOREDAD]

We went August 2010, with DS 11, DS 4, DS 2. Also met my two sisters there. Have to say I agree with all the advise about the heat. I asked a lot of questions on here and got great advise. I will try to find the thread and post the link on here. We followed many of the recommendations that were posted on the thread and have to say it was worth the preparation. We woke up early got the parks and did as much as we could before lunch. had lunch either in the park we were in or back at the resort food court. We then took a nap or swam, whichever anyone wanted. We then had a dinner ressie around 7 each night in a park or ate in the food court before we headed back in. We would leave for the parks around 6 and sit for dinner then spend a few hours on rides and shows in the parks at night. Seemed at night the lines were very light. We took advantage of EMH and fast pass. got some before we left the park in the morning and used them later at night.

The two worst parks for heat for us were Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom.

Best advise was to wear proper clothing and drink a lot of water!!

 

[SHOREDAD]

Here is the thread, I got a ton of advice! Really Really helped!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2470356

 

[dhardawa]

We got an amazing deal in August a few years ago and went. I vowed that I would never go back in August again even if the trip was free. We went late in August so the crowds were light but it was miserably hot. No one could really enjoy the parks. All we did was look for shade or air conditioning. Never again. Now, I go November - February.