Please help me decide the best time to visit "the mouse".

[EToo]

I need some opinions on the following. We tried to get ressies for mid march concierge 14th floor Contempoary and they are booked. Now we need to choose the 28th of Feb.- March 6th. or April 9th - 16th. Do you think its worth taking the kids out of school for a week to miss the crowds? Our daughter is developmental delayed and uses a wheelchair some of the time. I'm wondering if the earlier date wouldn't be better. I do hate for my son to get behind in his 8th grade class. Also is it warm enough to swim in early march?
Thanks for any suggestions you might have.
EToo

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

Etoo

I don't know about taking your children out of school. But I believe the very best time of year to go to WDW would be the first two weeks in May. It's warm without being to Hot and crowds are light.

Oh! WELCOME TO THE DIS

 

[MiaSRN62]

We usually take our kids out of school to vacation for various reasons. I'm a nurse in a very busy Delivery Room and it's nearly impossible to get any time off during the summer or holidays. I've been turned down for my vacation requests in the past---even after having paid airfare and all. My kids feel the sacrifice of having to complete homework while on vacation is worth it because the parks are so much more uncrowded and you can really appreciate all the parks have to offer. They're usually caught up with their studies within a couple days of returning to school. Our district automatically grants 5 days off during the year for family vacations which I think is great because summers and school break times don't always fit into everyone's schedules (i.e. mine ! lol). I know some will disagree with pulling kids out of school for a vacation, but we've often tried to make it an educational experience as well. Epcot offers alot of literature and information on many different topics if you visit the Guest Relations department inside the park gates. My children have done short reports and presented them to their teachers in the past on Epcot and also Sea World. I think it's a very personal decision (and don't wish to start a debate) whether or not to take your kids out of school. For us, it works.
Secondly, the WDW experience during off season is so much better. You can really appreciate everything more without all the mobs like you get during the summer and holidays.
Early March is usually warm enough to swim, but not always. I was there around that time frame in '99 and it was only low 70's and very breezy most of the time, but the day before we were to leave it hit 90 and was steamy. So that was quite a fluctuation.
My in-laws vacationed in mid March in '98 and it was cool & rainy----they required jackets. But then again, March can be 90's so I think you have to be prepared for anything.
Good luck with your decision.

 

[GailT]

I've been down there in April and it was nice, not to hot, just right. As far as taking your son out of school I have done that, I figure his trip is also a learning experience. Usually his teachers were positive about me taking him away for a week excpet when I took him to Australia, they thought I was crazy taking him out 10 days. I didn't listen, did what my heart told me to do and I had the best trip ever (I won the trip) and he is now in his 3rd yr of college. Go, have fun and just follow your heart, some tomorrows never get here.