Planning Trip For First Timers

[DarthGallifrey]

Greetings All!

I am taking two of my friends to WDW in 2020 as a wedding gift and I am looking for some advice on when to visit.

I originally was planning for mid September as it should be far enough away from the opening of GE but I am concerned about it being during hurricane season and would hate to have this canceled as it is such a special trip for me.

So, my question is when would the great WDW hivemind recommend going? Should I push it back to October to avoid the hurricane season and stay far enough away from the opening of GE or push it up? I would prefer a time when crowds aren't *too* crazy but I have scheduling and the FP+ system down enough that I don't see crowds causing much of a problem. I would love to go in Feb for the Princess Half again but my concern would be the closeness to the opening of GE.

Anyways, thanks in advance to everyone!

 

[sharonabe]

Well, it is OCTOBER right now, and hurricane Michael just hit, so October doesn't get you out of the woods for the chance of a hurricane.

For lowish crowds and cooler weather and less chances of a hurricane, I'd shoot for the week before or after Thanksgiving.

 

[MommaBerd]

As stated above, October is still hurricane season. September is hot, but if you go the week after Labor Day, that’s historically been a slow week. Mid-to-late October is potentially cooler weather, but it seems crowds have been on the increase in October. (Saying that, we are planning a trip next October ourselves, but we have to coordinate with nephews’ school schedule. But, I also prefer the possibility of cooler weather in October.)
Finally, I agree with the PP’s suggestion of the week before the week of Thanksgiving or the week after; traditionally that has been a slow time. (This is when we have gone in past years.) However, I suspect that SW:GE will be opening around that time. Not sure how much help this is except to add to your data collection.

 

[Klayfish]

I wouldn't worry about hurricane season. WDW is pretty far inland and fairly safe from them. Even if on the really off chance one comes through, the odds of WDW being closed more than a day...or half day...are very, very small. If you want to go in Sept, go for it.

 

[DarthGallifrey]

As stated above, October is still hurricane season. September is hot, but if you go the week after Labor Day, that’s historically been a slow week. Mid-to-late October is potentially cooler weather, but it seems crowds have been on the increase in October. (Saying that, we are planning a trip next October ourselves, but we have to coordinate with nephews’ school schedule. But, I also prefer the possibility of cooler weather in October.)
Finally, I agree with the PP’s suggestion of the week before the week of Thanksgiving or the week after; traditionally that has been a slow time. (This is when we have gone in past years.) However, I suspect that SW:GE will be opening around that time. Not sure how much help this is except to add to your data collection.

November seems like it may be a good option. This is a trip for 2020 so SW:GE will have been open since Fall 2019. I am avoiding WDW in 2019 haha. I am also thinking about doing Feb 2020 to do the Princess half again and going DCR in the Fall 2020

 

[MommaBerd]

November seems like it may be a good option. This is a trip for 2020 so SW:GE will have been open since Fall 2019. I am avoiding WDW in 2019 haha. I am also thinking about doing Feb 2020 to do the Princess half again and going DCR in the Fall 2020

OHHH! I totally overlooked that detail about going in 2020! We really do love going in November. We’re from GA, and most of the years we’ve been, it’s been warm enough to swim and go to a water park. But, it’s also not face-melting hot!!!

The advantages of going the week after Thanksgiving is that you will see the Christmas decorations (though some are up the week before Thanksgiving Week), including the resort gingerbread displays, and I *think* that is when the Candlelight Processionals begin, too, if that is something you all would be interested in.

 

[DarthGallifrey]

OHHH! I totally overlooked that detail about going in 2020! We really do love going in November. We’re from GA, and most of the years we’ve been, it’s been warm enough to swim and go to a water park. But, it’s also not face-melting hot!!!

The advantages of going the week after Thanksgiving is that you will see the Christmas decorations (though some are up the week before Thanksgiving Week), including the resort gingerbread displays, and I *think* that is when the Candlelight Processionals begin, too, if that is something you all would be interested in.

No worries! I don't normally plan ahead QUITE that far haha but since I am taking other people with me I want to be prepared. I'm going in Dec this year so it will be my first time experiencing the holiday decorations and events at Disney

 

[dakotix]

Well, it is OCTOBER right now, and hurricane Michael just hit, so October doesn't get you out of the woods for the chance of a hurricane.

For lowish crowds and cooler weather and less chances of a hurricane, I'd shoot for the week before or after Thanksgiving.

We did the week before Thanksgiving in 2014 and the place was mobbed and COLD. We go end of February or first week of march now.

 

[DarthGallifrey]

We did the week before Thanksgiving in 2014 and the place was mobbed and COLD. We go end of February or first week of march now.

I was sort of leaning towards end of Feb to do the Princess Half again and catch the Flower and Garden at Epcot which would free up Sept to finally do the half in DL Paris. My concern with that is the closeness to the opening of SW:GE and I would need to see if my friends could take more time off - just depends on when their honeymoon is

 

[friedela]

I wouldn't worry about hurricane season. WDW is pretty far inland and fairly safe from them. Even if on the really off chance one comes through, the odds of WDW being closed more than a day...or half day...are very, very small. If you want to go in Sept, go for it.

What about flights in though? Wouldn't they be affected if there is a hurricane?

OP: We went in Feb this past year and it was a perfect time, the weather was warm (hot for us, but we are Canadian, lol), ZERO rain, crowds weren't too bad.. we are in the midst of figuring out the same dilemma: do we go during hurricane season, or wait until Feb 2020 again and risk insane crowds because of GE's opening. It's a tough decision.

 

[Klayfish]

What about flights in though? Wouldn't they be affected if there is a hurricane?

Sure, that's definitely a possibility. My thought though is that the odds of that happening are pretty low. Besides, flights can be affected by normal t-storms or other weather events. DW had a flight from ATL to Philly cancelled a few months ago due to a strong cold front passing through the Northeast. You could also miss time from getting sick...to me it's a similar idea. Unlikely to happen, but a possibility.

 

[MommaBerd]

We did the week before Thanksgiving in 2014 and the place was mobbed and COLD. We go end of February or first week of march now.

I was referring to the week BEFORE the week of Thanksgiving, not Thanksgiving Week. We have never found it crowded until the weekend before Thanksgiving, and even then it has never been terrible, in our opinion.

 

[dakotix]

I was referring to the week BEFORE the week of Thanksgiving, not Thanksgiving Week. We have never found it crowded until the weekend before Thanksgiving, and even then it has never been terrible, in our opinion.

Yea that's the week we went. It was Nov 11th-20th. It was crazy busy and very cold. We're talking 50s for highs. Not to say that is predictive but given the huge amount of money being spent we just feel that time of year isn't a good fit for us.

 

[sharonabe]

Yea that's the week we went. It was Nov 11th-20th. It was crazy busy and very cold. We're talking 50s for highs. Not to say that is predictive but given the huge amount of money being spent we just feel that time of year isn't a good fit for us.

Well, to be fair, that week that year you had Veterans Day, the marathon, and Jersey week all rolled into one. That doesn't typically happen and that week just before the week of Thanksgiving is one of the least crowded (relatively speaking) weeks of the year.

As for temps, they can be all over the place from the beginning of Nov through Feb.