Planning 2nd Disney Vacation 2019/2020

[MBurns]

My family is already starting to plan our 2nd Disney vacation when we go our "kids" will be 21 & 15, we are looking to either stay at Caribbean Beach again (if work is complete by then) or my oldest would like to stay at the Poly. Looking at planning a 9 day trip, looking for either mid December 2019 or waiting until January or February of 2020. For our family this is an expensive trip and will take a lot of saving.

Our 1st trip was March 2017, we had a great time but we made the rookie mistake of not spending enough time on property and spreading out park time (we were worn out), we did the full on tourist first time to Florida, 9 day trip Cocoa Beach day 1, Kennedy Space center the next, Disney 6 nights (5 days of parks open to close) and Clear Water 2 days, all during Spring Break crowds. I will NEVER do that again, my DW did not have a Magical time at Disney and really does not want to go back she was overwhelmed with the crowds, and felt when we were at Epcot everything seemed old and out dated and the 1 day we were in the Magic Kingdom it was very dirty and many of the CM were not as pleasant as she thought they would be, for her Disney just did not live up to what she was expecting.

My question is if it was your choice would you go in December or wait until Jan/Feb, and what is the weather like that time of year, I am feeling that if we wait until Jan/Feb hopefully Star Wars will have been open 8 or 9 months (guessing DL Star Wars will open in May to co-onside with the 42 Anniversary of the movie release and WDW will be shortly after), knowing full well that it will be crazy still but hopefully be able to get in by then.

 

[POOHBEAR0623]

Mid-Dec will be more crowded. All the holiday decor will be up if that makes a difference for you and your family. Jan (after the 1st) /Feb is less busy. It's the coolest time of the year but still warm. You don't get the extreme hot you get in the summer usually.

 

[NYCgrrl]

My question is if it was your choice would you go in December or wait until Jan/Feb, and what is the weather like that time of year, I am feeling that if we wait until Jan/Feb hopefully Star Wars will have been open 8 or 9 months (guessing DL Star Wars will open in May to co-onside with the 42 Anniversary of the movie release and WDW will be shortly after), knowing full well that it will be crazy still but hopefully be able to get in by then.

For the best bang for your buck and less crowded time Id concur w/ pp - go in Jan/Feb. Perhaps your DW will like it better in that time frame especially if she's not visiting so many other tourist attractions.
I will say that I'm from New York, not upstate, but the "city" and know a bit about.....less than magical behavior, LMAO. I was well prepped for faux fawning and over the top gushing and found little to none in WD. Just people doing their job and happy to be there. Errrrr, I think my employees were a bit scared of me when I returned home from the mouse house........oops.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

If you can avoid the key January-February holidays (New Year's, marathon weekend, MLK, Presidents' Day, and Princess Half Marathon) the crowds will be lighter.

 

[Tonberry]

If you wanted to do December, I'd go from the beginning of Dec. to the middle. By the time you reach the week of the 17th in 2019, things are really going to pick up and get a lot more busy.
One benefit to December over Jan/Feb. are a little warmer weather. When we went, we had weather around 80 degrees most of the week, but the average for the first couple of weeks in Dec. are around 75. Keep in mind though, that the temps can vary anywhere between the 60's to 80's daytime. Nights can get chilly, usually in the mid-upper 50's.
Other benefits to Dec. are holiday decorations everywhere, gingerbread houses at most of the Deluxe resorts on display, Mickey's Christmas party and the Candlelight Processional. Even if you are not into religion, the Candlelight Processional should be done at least once in your life. It's pretty amazing, especially if you get a good narrator (we had NPH).

Jan/Feb. has a little cooler weather with average temps in the low 70's daytime and upper 40's & low 50's night time. If swimming is important to you, you may not want this time of year.
Like auroraborealis said, avoiding the main January and February holidays and events pretty much gives you one of the lowest crowd seasons of the year. It's generally the cheapest too, with it being value season.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I agree with the others. If you go Jan./Feb., avoiding the holidays, crowds will be much lower. Weather will be iffy any of those months. We went in Feb. 2015 and it was downright cold. We've been the past two Decembers and the weather was gorgeous and warm, but you just can't plan for it. If you decide to go in December, I would be out of there by Friday, December 20. We went Dec. 25 - Dec. 30, 2015 and it was SO crowded. Like, you can't move AT ALL in MK because you are trapped in a crowd crowded. Last year we went Dec. 16 - 21 and it made a world of difference. We will go back this December during that same time period. The holiday decorations are absolutely gorgeous!

 

[KrazeeK120]

Do you have school schedules to work around? I'm thinking of the 21 YO in particular...missing college level courses would be very tough, although missing high school can be pretty difficult, too. I'm just asking because this trip is a long way off and it's something you may not have considered yet.

If you need to work around school, I'd go either right at the beginning or right at the end of break.