Nov. or Jan. with four kids?

[myhoney]

We are planning our trip, and are waffling on when to go. We are pushing to go Nov. 2016, hoping that there is free dining. But we are planning a trip, regardless. We originally were looking at Jan. 2017, as the last week in Jan. is an easy week for us to pull the kids from school. (Not MLK week, the following week.)

When I look at crowd calendars, early Nov. isn't bad (4/5/6s), but the last week of Jan. is low (2s and 3s). We have four kids, who would be 11, 9, 4, and 3 when we go. I'm trying to decide if free dining (and the battle for ADRs/FPs) is worth it, especially with the little ones, or if we push it to Jan. when it is a little less crowded? The last time we went was in Nov. 2011 during FD, and it was great! But we only had 2 kids then, ages 4 and 6. That was also before the new FP sytem. We walked onto almost every ride then. When I read about scheduling 7DMT FPs, I'm a bit nervous. With the little ones, I want flexibility, and I'm afraid with the free dining crowd, I won't have it.

I did estimate quotes for both. There isn't a huge difference, since DH will only go with DxDDP. We would be paying to upgrade to deluxe even on the free dining. With FD, we could afford to get 2 mods and have queen beds for everyone with DxDDP. In Jan., with rack rates we would get a suite at AoA for the same price with DxDDP. DH and I would at least have a queen! And I would assume there would be some kind of promotion in January...

What do you recommend?

 

[BostonJP]

The lower crowds in January would seal the deal for me! I have never experienced Florida weather in January, though, but the weather has been beautiful every time I've been there in November.

 

[myhoney]

Well, we are from Buffalo, so I think I am safe in assuming that Florida weather in January will still feel warm to us!

 

[kteeter]

We love going the end of Jan. yes the weather can be a bit cooler but I am from Minnesota so that is nothing... we pack a sweatshirt for am and pm and jean and t-shirt for afternoon. Might even go for a swim if it near 60 mid day. Plus no heat exhaustion. The crowds are easy to navigate through and rides are walk on to maybe 20 min wait, sometime more headliners, Space Mt. BTM etc.

 

[tmh43]

Personally I love theme parks in cool weather! And it will be a nice break from the snow in January. We're going in November for DS's bday, if it weren't for that we'd probably have planned based on lowest crowds alone.

 

[mandis77]

I agree, I love Free Dining too (and am currently planning to go next year) but I am so curious to do Jan/Feb. I have a friend who ONLY goes in January. Weather is touch and go - you will probably need to pack a sweatshirt for the cooler days/nights. The only catch is a lot of rides go down for refurbishment that time of year so keep an eye out for that.