Please help me!!

[rbramblett]

I have been planning our first WDW vacation for months now. We had been planning to go in September 2009 for my DS 10th birthday. And because of the possiblity of free dining. Well with the 3 nights free and the $200 gift card promo, thinking of going in February instead fro DS 6th birthday. My questions are these. If we go in Feb. can we swim? Or will it be to cold. And for those you lucky souls who have been, which month would you choose. I also wondering if I may be "wishful" thinking that Disney will offer free dining again. Please help me decide.

 

[koolaidmoms]

If we go in Feb. can we swim? Or will it be to cold.

Depends on how hearty you and your children are and if the pool heaters are working. We have gone in December and January and swam. Others think we are nuts but if you come from 10 degrees and lots of snow you think WDW is tropical! We go to the pool and swim (once the heaters were not working and it was too cold even for us!) then make sure everyone has shoes, lots of dry towels and can run real fast back to the room.

And for those you lucky souls who have been, which month would you choose. I also wondering if I may be "wishful" thinking that Disney will offer free dining again. Please help me decide.

We just chose January because of work schedules and school vacations. We are also planning a Grand Gathering for November but could not pass up this deal. September is a great time to go too. Most likely WDW will offer free dining. I think they already have for International travelers but I don't know about US. Anyone know?

Hope this helps some.

 

[catne]

Can't help you with the February questions...but can tell you what we like so far. Well, we really like going the 3rd week of May, maybe the 4th week. Summer weather, but not incredibly hot yet, and not horribly crowded either. Usually before hurrican season so while there may be some rain, it's not the storms which hang around for days like the weather systems that spawn hurricanes. And the parks are usually busy enough to have some longer park hours & such, but not unmanageably long lines everywhere.

We went just this past September, and managed to dodge hurricanes (guess the week before we were there was terribly wet - drenching downpours that went on & on for hours every day.) And I think they got some the week after we were there, too from the hurricanes. But we just had mostly hot & humid (one day had a few hours of light rain.) September was hotter than May. But after Labor day weekend the crowds were very nice...morning EMH was a treat at most parks, even the evening crowds were quite manageable. But the hours were shorter right after Labor Day, and you did not have an Evening EMH every single night.

 

[WriteDisney]

I have been planning our first WDW vacation for months now. We had been planning to go in September 2009 for my DS 10th birthday. And because of the possiblity of free dining. Well with the 3 nights free and the $200 gift card promo, thinking of going in February instead fro DS 6th birthday. My questions are these. If we go in Feb. can we swim? Or will it be to cold. And for those you lucky souls who have been, which month would you choose. I also wondering if I may be "wishful" thinking that Disney will offer free dining again. Please help me decide.

As you can see from my signature.. I went from February-March of last year.. We were able to get some swimming in.. however.. the weather is quite unpredictable.. so while I would pack a suit for this time of year.. I wouldnt depend on it with any certainty.. weather for us was 70s most of the week... very warm and nice.. no need for a jacket at all day or night.. however the last day was quite cold.. probably in the 50s/60s.. and we definitely needed a jacket that day..

were from the northeast.. so anything remotely warm is just *wonderful* for us.. we went in september this year and absolutely loved it.. but there is something special about going from freezing to warm

in terms of free dining... you really wouldn't know until.. april.. if September is going to be a free dining period.. we picked up a "bounce back" offer while we were there in September 08.. so in Sept 09 we get free dining

Do you have AAA? They offer some hefty discounts that you can depend on.. but the deal for the spring (4 days/3 free) is prob where you can save the most money.. depending on when you go...

I think *any* time is a good time to go to disney... we loved february and september.. but each has drawbacks and positives.. Are you considering either February or September for free dining?

 

[SydneyFalco]

As you can see from my signature.. I went from February-March of last year.. We were able to get some swimming in.. however.. the weather is quite unpredictable.. so while I would pack a suit for this time of year.. I wouldnt depend on it with any certainty.. weather for us was 70s most of the week... very warm and nice.. no need for a jacket at all day or night.. however the last day was quite cold.. probably in the 50s/60s.. and we definitely needed a jacket that day..

were from the northeast.. so anything remotely warm is just *wonderful* for us.. we went in september this year and absolutely loved it.. but there is something special about going from freezing to warm

We went in January and swam at night. But keep two things in mind: one, it was a chilly walk back to the room. Two, we're from the Ottawa valley, which makes January in Orlando more like May in Mexico to us.

 

[MomPOM]

I've been to Disney the first week of February and I'm about to go again at the same time this year. When we were there the mornings were very chilly. So much so that we wore sweatshirts and I put sweatpants on my son. Eventually, by midday, we shed those layers and the weather was very nice. Evenings were cooler but not as bad as the mornings. You can probably swing the swimming if you do it in the afternoon. I think hubby and my son went in the pool at AKL once but that was mainly because we were just out and about all the time.

Nothing beats the crowds in early February though. I'd go during that time whether I could swim or not.