Oh dear . . . when to go

[Mrs Dazzle]

Now I'm back out working after my two year break, I am tied to school holidays This is a bit of a rude shock for me since we've always taken DD out of school for May or October tag-alonga-half term trips. (Being school secretary I know that won't go down well at MY school ).

We have the use of a friend's apartment on Fort Myers beach (we love this area of the gulf coast), but with 4 days still left on our hopper passes I know a few days in Orlando will be on the top of mine and my DD's list, especially since this year will be the first in 6 that we've not done a Florida trip (mind you, the Maldives this Xmas makes up for that!).

What I really need to know is - given we're used to going May and October - out trip will have to be either Easter, which is early (end of March) next year, or summer hols (last week July, first week August).

My DH is a sun worshipper so heat for him is not a problem and DD and I have been used to it. What will the temps and crowds be like for both end-March and August?

Having checked Virgin's website just now there's not a lot of availability left, so need to get cracking but just can't decide the best time

As usual, any help most appreciated

 

[UKDEB]

Annie,

Friends went at Easter this year, which I think co-incided with Spring Break, and it was manic. They travelled with other members of their family who have been at Easter before and they said that the Easter/Spring break combination must have been the killer because they've never found it that busy previously. I would check to see whether the same combination will happen next year.

We're going in July this year for a number of reasons. I was a tad stressed about it at first, but now I'm really looking forward to it. It's less than 3 weeks away and, to be honest, I don't care how hot it is, how much it rains, or how heavy the crowds are. I'M GOING TO WDW!

 

[juliebro]

As far as I am aware Spring Break is not a set date. It varies from Uni to Uni and State to State and can start as early as late Feb and end as late as mid April. Difficult to avoid totally at Easter time.

However, with careful planning and good use of Fastpass etc, it need not be too much of a problem.

We have been at or before Easter on all 3 trips and although busy - we still did everything we wanted to.

And we've booked for Easter next year too.

Julie

 

[Hilary]

LOL! Glad to see someone else is dithering over the 'when?' dilema We still can't decide whether to go in July next year or not.

We've been in March / April a few times and went at Easter this year and, although the weather was great, we prefer the weather we've usually had in October. Daytime temps seem to be pretty similar, but the mornings and evenings have definitely been cooler in spring.

As for crowds - well, yes, it was busy. However, we've also hit some days in October when we've wondered where everyone has come from. If you can avoid the parks on the Easter weekend itself, you'll miss the really big crowds, but I think it's generally busy for most of the two weeks either side.

If you're tied to UK school hols and want a Virgin flight, don't hang around!

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Thanks for the comments everyone

I think we're the same as Hilary, we've been spoilt by lovely hot weather both in May/June and October. Especially since DH is a sunworshipper, my fear is it would be a real shock for him if it was a lot cooler.

With regards crowds, I had the plan that if we went at Easter we would do the opposite of our normal trips and head down to the coast first for 12 nights or so, and then head back up to Orlando for 4-5 nights thus missing the really manic Easter crowds, but I've seen what Deb had said and am now thinking may be not

How do Easter time crowds compare to summer?

I am nervous that the temps end July/early August will be a little too hot, speficially given we'll be spending most of our time down the beach. I can also remember my first trip to Florida back in the 80s - even though it was October we had cracking thunder storms every afternoon. Mind you, we all enjoy a good storm, but don't know so much if I would on holiday

Ay ay ay, I can feel one of those days coming on when my whole mind is taken up with planning - or at least trying to decide the best time to go

PS: We can't go any later in the summer as DH is away on business as usual from mid-end August up until 2nd week in September (won't take myself or DD out of school, she starts Secondary in Sept and I'm not allowed )

 

[UKDEB]

Annie,

Try tossing a coin - heads for July, tails for Easter. If you feel either pleased or disappointed with the result, you'll have your answer. Doesn't always work, but it's worth a go.

 

[JohnnySharp]

Hilary's comment is spot on.

If you are flying Virgin book your flights early, we went this year out of school holidays between 28th April - 12th May and the flight both way was full. The year before was half empty.
Tourist rates are obviously having an impact but people want a direct flight so Virgin is the choice.

Think that traditionally the best times to go are late April through to mid May and mid October through to early November.
That's just our opinion though - everyone has their favourite, guess anytime is a great time to be there.

The problem is if you have children the flight prices are really high, Virgin are really taking advantage of the fact that most people can only go during the holidays.

We have booked for next March where we will take our son out of school for one week but he is off the other...our main problem is we just find it too hot in the summer.
My wife just having been made redundant and now getting a teaching job just makes it more difficult, having to go when Joshua is off school but worrying about the weather,crowds and ridiculous fly-drive prices.
Our boy is Autistic, although extremley active - particularly when running to go on Woody Woodpecker at Universal - so (back to the subject) we have to take our own stroller...despite having been so many times for us it's just too much hard work in the summer heat especially if the crowds are high also.
We just lose so much of the pleasure in being there, guess we are all different in the way we like to do things though.

 

[Astrid]

Still umming and ahhing Flower?!

Here's my two pennyworth!! ...

We've been in the lead up to Easter and it honestly didn't seem that busy, plus the weather was great. We were on site and the only crowds we encountered were around the pool at All Stars with all the Spring Break/Cheerleader kids. If you're just going to be at WDW for a few days I'd make it the last few days of your hols. Next year Hampshire school Easter hols run from Good Friday so that would mean that your last few days would be almost two weeks away from the Easter long weekend.

As for July/August, well, as you know, we're going in August next year so you'd maybe have the pleasure of seeing us if you went at that time!! And from my research it seems that the later you go in August the better as the kids in America go back to school again during August. However, I know that Darryl is restricted when he takes his break.

If I had the choice I reckon I'd go for Easter!

HTH

See you soon!

Astrid xx

 

[Hilary]

I've been thinking about this since I posted the other day (see how seriously I take my 'work' here? ) and thought I should add that we wouldn't hesitate to go again at Easter.

It's only the exam schedule that has ruled out the Easter break for us next year (and the next few years after that as well ). If Easter was at all a possibility for us (as our favourite, October, is also a no-go for the next few years) we'd definitely be booking it up.

But I do take you point about your DH needing his sunshine fix - he'll get the sunshine at Easter, but with cooler temps, or he could have the sunshine plus higher temps plus high humidity and rain in the summer - hmm, which would he prefer?

Having said that, we've never been during the summer break ...

I bet that's helped you a lot, LOL! Sorry!