Please help me decide!

[jdd]

Okay, we really want to head back this fall, and here is my dilemma. Do we go during free dining (mid-Sept) or should we wait until the fall break (late Oct/early Nov)??

The big reason for going in Sept is, of course, the free dining (and the rooms are cheaper too - value season instead of regular season). Also, if we go during fall break, the kids will miss trick or treat at home - I know they can still go at Disney, but they have so much fun at home...

We've done Nov twice in the past, and loved the weather, the crowds, etc. Also, in Nov we would drive which would save us some $, and the kids would miss less school (2 days instead of 4)

Can anyone give me a crowd comparison? Also, is it brutally hot in Sept? These may be my deciding factors.

One more opinion, please. Either time, would you do two rooms at a value or one at a moderate? We have 2 adults and 3 kids (11, 8, 3 in the fall) so we'd have to stay at POR.

TIA for any input!!

 

[skipperkim]

I didn't find it overly hot in late Sept. I'd do it again if I weren't going in Dec.

 

[KatMark]

We were there September 1 - 9 last year It averaged 94 a day with very high humidity. We compensated by drinking lots of water, taking our mist fan and taking afternoon breaks at the resort to swim and/or nap.

 

[jdd]

We were there September 1 - 9 last year It averaged 94 a day with very high humidity. We compensated by drinking lots of water, taking our mist fan and taking afternoon breaks at the resort to swim and/or nap.

That's what I'm afraid of. My kids are pretty miserable in the heat too

 

[stopher1]

We were there the last 3 Sept's - and my DW has said NEVER AGAIN. I didn't find it too hot, but she did, and the kids did too. FD is definitely worth the price. You pay rack rate on the resort, but the cost differential on the package total makes it worth it. I'd run the numbers on the cost differential between the cost of a package with FD vs. not, and estimate the cost factor for driving vs. flying, and see which one works out better. My guess is FD.

 

[lmhall2000]

I'm all about trying it all...trying new resorts, trying new times of the year...how else will you gain a preference? I've been in July (never again), February (good but too cool for swimming), September (our favorite), November (good but cool nights, I really like not having to bring jackets at night!

I'm waiting for that December trip but free dining keeps me in September this year....have fun whichever you choose..maybe with the savings you get with Free Dining you could upgrade to a Deluxe (the Poly is GREAT and the rooms are much bigger, you can also stay at CR garden wing for cheaper than Poly and with it being slow you might get upgraded to tower, we did! )

We have 5 in our family and love the bigger rooms/bigger beds access to monorail MK that the Poly and Cr offer...we're trying YC this year..just to try something different!

Tara

 

[jdd]

..maybe with the savings you get with Free Dining you could upgrade to a Deluxe (the Poly is GREAT and the rooms are much bigger, you can also stay at CR garden wing for cheaper than Poly and with it being slow you might get upgraded to tower, we did! )

We have 5 in our family and love the bigger rooms/bigger beds access to monorail MK that the Poly and Cr offer...we're trying YC this year..just to try something different!

Tara

Thanks! Actually, we wouldn't be going at all this year without free dining - I don't think we can manage the upgrade to a deluxe! We really enjoy the values (I know, don't cringe). We're hardly ever in the room - just to sleep, and my boys just love the "Disney-ish" feel of the values.

Since you've been there at both times, do you think it's more crowded in Sept (with free dining) or November?

 

[jdd]

We were there the last 3 Sept's - and my DW has said NEVER AGAIN. I didn't find it too hot, but she did, and the kids did too. FD is definitely worth the price. You pay rack rate on the resort, but the cost differential on the package total makes it worth it. I'd run the numbers on the cost differential between the cost of a package with FD vs. not, and estimate the cost factor for driving vs. flying, and see which one works out better. My guess is FD.

I'm trying to work all that out right now. There are so many factors - if we drive we have to hit a hotel part way (we're about a 15 hour drive), so that adds up. It's hard to tell what the airfares will be in Sept - Southwest is currently only booking through Aug.

Also, if we do November, I know we'll want to do MNSSHP, which probably adds another couple hundred

Anyway, it's a fun decision to make either way

 

[KatMark]

That's what I'm afraid of. My kids are pretty miserable in the heat too

It didn't really "bother" us (although as we have gotten older--55 and 50, we notice it wears us out a little sooner). We just knew that in order to be able to go to closing time that we needed a break. We really don't mind the heat--it sure beats the cold and snow in Chicago!

 

[jdd]

-it sure beats the cold and snow in Chicago!

Very true - it's been a long, cold winter in Pittsburgh this year!

We went in May one year, though, and by about 10am the kids were asking to go back to the resort to swim! It was hot Weather in March and November was just about perfect - crowds were outrageous in March (of course, that was our first trip, we didn't know anything, and it was right around Easter!)

 

[addsomebling]

We are going the week after Thanksgiving this year. Can you tell me if they have offered any discount tickets, room rates or free dining for that week in past years? I'm hoping for something as we are staying at the POLY and we ususally stay at a moderate. Thanks for any help you can give.