planning first trip

[nicola]

Hi, We are just beginning to think about planning our first trip to WDW- DH, me, DD 2 and DS 6. I guess the first question is when is the best time to go. We are not worried about our son missing time off school and can therefore go during any month. We would prefer to go during low crowd levels and this along with weather conditions will be our two deciding factors. We were thinking of Sept or Oct until I read the thread and realised that this is hurricaine season. Does anyone know what other month would have less crowds? What about April (not Easter) or May and what would the weather be like during these months? I would prefer not to go over the Christmas season.O.K. Next question. We want to stay in a private villa with pool. Have been looking through some of the websites but its a bit like finding a needle in a haystack-too much choice!! Can anyone recommend one that they have stayed in? Not worried too much about distance to parks (within reason). Would like an oversized pool with generous patio and southfacing and private ie overlooking conservation area or golf course etc..Onto my final question does anyone know cheapest airline flying out of Belfast or Dublin. Checked Ryanair and they seem very reasonable. Thanks for your help in advance!!!

 

[nicola]

Sorry I meant aer lingus not ryanair

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Hi Nicola,
If you are able to choose your time to visit I would go for either Mid April through to early May or mid October through to early November.

This way you will find the crowds not too bad and the weather hot but very bearable with it not being too humid, also rainfall shouldn't be too high either.

Finding the right villa can be hard because of the large choice available.
Would strongly recommend you stay in Kissimmee just off the 192.
This will mean you are close to Restaurants,Supermarkets plus good access to Disney and the I4.
You definitely want a South facing one and preferably with a fence around the pool area too.
The main areas for the villas are the Formosa Gardens and Poinciana Boulevard locations, we have stayed at Indian Creek at FG, this March, and also at Indian Point and Cumbrian Lakes at PB(where we are staying this august).

FG area is ideal as you are just a couple of minutes away from the 192, PB is a bit further away but still a decent location.

A couple of websites that give good choice are : www.villas2000.com and www.vr360homes.co.uk

These are the links to homes we have stayed at:
www.vr360homes.co.uk/villas/matchett - we stayed here in March
www.cumbrianlakesvilla.com - we are staying here in August
www.vr360homes.co.uk/villas/floridamagic4506 - stayed here last year

Good luck, please send me a pm if you have any questions.

 

[nicola]

Thanks 'johnnysharp2'. That information is very, very helpful. Those sound like good times to go. I will be checking out the villas shortly

 

[bozzly]

Having said that johnnysharp, I went this April and the first week was fine crowd wise but the second week ( april 14-21st ) the parks were very crowded with queues of an hour +.

In 2002 we went in october and that was a fantastic time to go. The weather was hot and the parks not crowded. We walked on most rides without a queue.

 

[nicola]

Bozzly,

When in Oct did you go, near beginning or end? What was the humidity like in Oct? Was there much rain? Is it hurricaine season? (Sorry for all the questions)

Cheers

 

[kevin harrison]

I always go in September, just as all the kids are back at school, crowds are normally very light. We've always been very lucky with the weather, I think we have lost 1 day to rain in our previous 3 trips.

 

[bozzly]

Bozzly,

When in Oct did you go, near beginning or end? What was the humidity like in Oct? Was there much rain? Is it hurricaine season? (Sorry for all the questions)

Cheers

we went on the 9th october for 2 weeks and the temp was around 30c. As for rain, it rained 3 times, each in the afternoon for around 30mins thats all!!
and no, its not hurricane season

 

[carolfoy]

Hi Nicola, I went last year last October, 20 for 2 weeks, weather was brilliant, no rain no storms, excellent time of the year crowd wise as well

 

[jen_uk]

Hi Nicola,
I always go in mid November, the weather is great and the parks are quiet. It does get busier over Thanksgiving Weekend but then the are usually special things going on to celebrate it which is nice. Plus at the end of Nov all of the Xmas decorations go up which are amazing and Magic Kingdom Xmas party is on which is worth seeing.

Jen

 

[kellyglv]

Hi Nicola,

For the first time this year we are going in the middle of the holiday season (having to take the kids out of school for 10 days at the end of June).

We have been early May, Halloween break and late November/early December previously. Each time the queues for the rides were light but I would say that the Nov/Dec time is the best to go. The Christmas decorations are up and the weather is still very pleasent. The only thing about flying at that time of year is that there are no direct flights from Belfast. We are travelling on the 17 June this year with Airtours direct to Sanford from Belfast - the flight carrier is Monarch. It means that there is only a nine hour flight - no connecting flights or hanging around in airports.

My brother is travelling 4 days after us, he is flying from Dublin with Delta into Atlanta and then onward to Tampa. He is travelling down from Newtownabbey to Dublin the night before and staying overnight in Dublin airport. May have got the flights at a reasonable price, but not worth the effortf or me as it adds on a day at either end of the holiday for travelling.

 

[sharon78]

Hi Nicola,
We went on our 1st trip to the World last year,We went the last week of Oct,1st week Nov(2 weeks) as everyone else we had a fab time, the weather was fantastic we were in shorts and T-shirts/Vest tops every day we had no rain.
We also went to MNSSHP on the 31st which if you visit in Oct is a must,it really is a great night.
As for villa's the info you've already been given sounds great.

Happy Planning

 

[nicola]

Hi Kellyglv,

Thanks for the info. We are actually going to Disneyland Paris for Christmas which is beautiful. They have snow (fake) coming down in Main Street and the weather really lends itself well to creating a Christmasey atmosphere. If we can afford it we would ideally like to do DLP each year for 5 days at beginning of Dec for Christmas season and then a holiday to WDW once every 18 months or so (if we could make our pennies stretch that far). I have narrowed it down to Sept-Oct or April-may time. How much did you pay for your flights if you don't mind me asking? Aer Lingus through Dublin seemed to be the cheapest when I checked several months ago but it looks like they won't be operating after Jan 2006. Can I ask you how far in advance do you normally book your flights?

Cheers and thanks for your help

 

[kellyglv]

Hi Nicola,

We booked in May last year with Going Places in Abbeycentre. We took a package in the Quality Inn Plaza on International drive. Ther are 11 of us going (7 adults 7 4 children) - total price was around £6600.00, which includes 2 x 7 seater minivans, including car insurance. We found the flight only price from Belfast to be very expensive.

I suggest you shop around for a package - unless you can find somewhere at a reasonable price for accomodation, flight only is expensive.

 

[LeCras]

Having said that johnnysharp, I went this April and the first week was fine crowd wise but the second week ( april 14-21st ) the parks were very crowded with queues of an hour +.

In 2002 we went in october and that was a fantastic time to go. The weather was hot and the parks not crowded. We walked on most rides without a queue.

It's worth bearing in mind that April is Spring Break for a lot of places in the US so the parks are likely to be busier. Things calm down again at the beginning of May.

The quietest time to visit the parks would be January, September and December.

Hope that helps,

Charlotte