Pro's & Cons of each month to visit Orlando

[Chilly]

A popular question often asked by new comers to this forum is "What is the best month to go to WDW?" so I thought we could all put our knowledge together and come up with a definitive guide to the Pro's & Cons of each season. I have split the year up into 12 sections, not one for each month because for example the beginning of December is very different to the Christmas Period. Please vote in the poll for your favourite time to visit and reply to this thread with the Pro's & Cons. Please only comment on months that you have actually experienced yourself. I till then copy your comments into this first post so everyone can read them easily.

JANUARY & FEBRUARY

Pro's Park's are very quiet, Christmas decs are still up, Cheapest time of year to go, some rides were walk on. The flight was half empty, walking around the parks without melting, No rain

Cons bit cool or very cold, Quite a lot of rides get closed for rehab in this month, cold can close rides

MARCH & APRIL

Pro's Low crowds, Nice and warm but no humidity, Low rainfall, Low crowds

Cons Have to make sure you avoid Easter as crowds do pick up closer to easter you get, if you catch spring break or various events (grad night etc)parks can be busy, Can be cold especially in the evenings in March

EASTER

Pro's

Cons crowds

MAY

Pro's less chance of rain, low humidity, low crowds, Star Wars weekends, Garden festival at Epcot

Cons no 'theme'; your holiday has been and gone by the time summer rolls around, 2 major holidays in the month being Mother's Day and Memorial Day, if you catch spring break or various events (grad night etc)parks can be busy, Gay days are in May making things a little busier

JUNE

Pro's very hot with little rain, longer park hours due to the summer, crowds are too bad

Cons Americans are on holiday already so can be busy, lots of tour groups, humid, Start of hurricane season.


JULY

Pro's Gorgeous weather, middle of holiday season so hardly any ride closures for rehabs, 4th July Fireworks

Cons HUGE crowd levels, Brazilian tour groups galore. Thunderstorms practically every day and boiling hot. Everywhere is busy. Malls, parks, restaurants etc etc.

BEGINNING OF AUGUST

Pro's Gorgeous weather, decreased crowd levels

Cons Higher chance of hurricanes etc, more rain and thunderstorms

END OF AUGUST

Pro's Still hot, less crowds, no time to be taken out of school, free dining

Cons End of Summer feel, less atmosphere, some things closing, reduced hours and parade days, Humid

SEPTEMBER

Pro's Hot, low crowds, free dining, value season, cheap room rates, Halloween decorations, MNSSHP

Cons Higher chance of hurricanes etc, more rain and thunderstorms, humid, Shorter park hours, LOVE BUGS

OCTOBER

Pro's Nice weather, low crowds, MNSSHP, Halloween Horror Nights at Universal, food and wine festival at Epcot

Cons its winter when you get home, Most people have had there holiday (some even 2) before you get to go on yours, not as quiet as it used to be, Columbus day can busy up the parks

NOVEMBER & BEGINNING OF DECEMBER

Pro's low crowds building the nearer you get to xmas, xmas decorations, MVMCP, Storms are usually few and far between due to decreased humidity

Cons Weather can be mixed, Don't go for thanksgiving! It will be like Christmas week!

CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR

Pro's Beautiful decorations, special parades & fireworks

Cons Expensive, high crowds, might be cold

 

[torsie24]

OK - so I've only been in October!

BUT

1 - Crowds were low, and very very managable

2 - Weather was great! Only rained once, and always plenty hot enough for water parks

3 - MNSSHP is on!

The only con I can think of (and it isn't one to me) is the Halloween decor down Main Street. If it's not your kind of thing.

We are planning to be back in October 2013 and then each alternatate October after that! Yay october!

 

[Rohais]

I went in July in both 2005 and 2007 and then August/September in 2009

July

Pros: Gorgeous weather, lower level of rain though still thunderstorms to keep the humidity down - though they only really tended to occur in the afternoon and not for very long at that

Cons: Tour groups mainly from South America, HUGE crowd levels and unbelievable wait times

Late August

Pros: Gorgeous weather, significantly decreased crowd levels and queue times

Cons: Higher chance of hurricanes etc, more rain and thunderstorms

(Early) September

Pros: Even lower crowd levels and wait times, similar weather to July/August. Crowds go even lower after the Labour Day weekend, usually at the beginning of the month. MNSSHP. Much less expensive compared to the previous months

Cons: Labour Day weekend pretty hectic

 

[disney_princess_85]

May

Pros- hardly any rain; low humidity; low crowds
Cons- no 'theme'; your holiday has been and gone by the time summer rolls around

September

Pros- very low crowds; consistently hot temperatures; free dining is often on; Halloween decorations
Cons- higher possibility of rain and storms; extremely hot and humid

 

[scottish mum]

June

pros, very hot with little rain, longer park hours due to the summer

cons, Americans are on holiday already so can be busy, lots of tour groups

July

pros, middle of holiday season so hardly any ride closures for rehabs,

cons, very busy

and this could be a pro or con, 4th july fireworks which are brill but with that comes heavy crowds

Sept

pros, low crowds but still hot weather, free dining offered, cheaper time to travel, MNSSHP and decorations

cons, can be a lot of afternoon rain. Shorter park hours

 

[dixonsontour]

I've been to Florida (but not always disney) in the following months

Late February - was a bit cool for me tbh - didn't have the same Florida feel. Did universal and it was quiet.

First week May - lovely time to go, hot not too hot and low humidity. Universal was the quietest we had ever seen it - there is virtually no one in our pics!

early June - not Orlando but we were up near Pensacola for a few days at the end of a deep south tour. Hot and humid more like September - I remember the rain flooding the road.

July - first trip - too hot and very busy at Universal but I didn't know any better.

September - hot and humid but we don't mind the afternoon thunderstorms. Used to be our preferred month before we had DD due to cheap flights and low crowds.

End Nov/Dec - been twice now just after thanksgving. Weather can be mixed but low disney crowds building the nearer you get to xmas. Lovely xmas decorations and extra's like MVMCP.

December xmas week - flew out on boxing day. Weather was nice but crowds at Universal absolutely heaving.

Without school holiday restrictions i'd go early May, September or early December.

DD starts school this time so we are trying October half term - looking forward to halloween decorations and MNSSHP.

From now on will be October or August. Don't think I can cope with crowds at xmas, easter or July.

 

[darthtatty]

May-
pros
The crowds are good
usually the Star Wars weekends start end of May

cons
Lots of rain, some days non stop.


great thread, pleased to see end of August is doing so well.xxx

 

[Red-Snapper]

Voted for End August

Pros
Still hot, less crowds.

Cons
End of Summer feel - less atmosphere, some things closing, reduced hours and parade days.

 

[disney_princess_85]

Ive a couple of times in May and its rained loads.

Yeah, there are always going to be exceptions. Someone will probably come along and say it didn't rain at all in August/September! May is known for its low rainfall (compared to the summer months).

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

May - love it! Have been three times now. Hot weather without the humidity as low rainfall. Fairly low crowds as long as you get yourself organised. This is our fave month to visit!

June - been three times. Wouldn't do it again unless no other option as we experienced very bad rain two out of three visits.Very humid. Crowds heavier than May.

September. Been twice. One trip heavy rain a lot, one trip no rain. Humid all the time though. Seem to remember crowds very low, but haven't been this time of year since 2002 so could have changed!

Am looking forward to seeing what people say about October as trying that for the first time this year, and also December as we are talking about booking a "last minute" (6 months out!!) trip to see the decs etc.

 

[buzz for boys]

We have only ever been at the start of March and I do love it at that tem of year !

Pros
Low crowds
Nice and warm but no humidity
Low rainfall
Low crowds

Cons

Have to make sure you avoid Easter as crowds do pick up closer to easter you get !

 

[T16GEM]

Voted for November

Pros- Nice weather
Christmas Decs start to go up
Lowish crowds

Cons
Don't go for thanksgiving! It will be like Christmas week!

The last few years we have been in January

Pros - Low crowd levels
Christmas decs are still up for quite a while
Cheapest time of year to go

Cons -It can be very cold - I mean frost on cars and having to wear your thermals!
Quite a lot of rides get closed for rehab in this month - we haven;t been on splash mountain in the last 6 years!
If it is a cold spell then the parks tend to close the big coasters as they cannot run on icy tracks, this happened a lot to us this year.

Have been in August, September, March / April too but that was a while ago so a lot of factors have probably changed since then, so won't bother posting about those.

 

[scottishgirl87]

I'm probably going to repeat what other's have said here but I've been in both May and October and would certainly go back in either!

May
Pro's - Low season meaning low crowds, great weather, low rainfall
Con's - 2 major holidays in the month being Mother's Day and Memorial Day, and as someone else said you go on holiday, come back and everyone you know still has there's to go (very depressing!), oh also alot of school trips at this time!

October
Pro's - Halloween Horror Nights at Universal!
Con's - Can't think of any as it was 7 years ago we went in October

 

[kazpaul]

voted for october

october-pros
halloween celebrations,lower humidity and less rain and crowds
cons
its winter when you get home!


november-pros
once again low crowds
cons
can be chilly at night


april-may-pros
we have only been once late april early may but the weather was glorious
cons
if you catch spring break or various events (grad night etc)parks can be busy


june-pros
well you are on hoiliday!
cons
rain rain and more rain (and lovebugs and humidity)

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

We have been at a few different times - here are our thoughts

Late August
Pros - very hot ( if you like it ), crowd not too bad, parks open long hours.
Cons - Humid = frizzy hair, can have a lot of rain.

October
Pros - Halloween party, food and wine festival at Epcot, lovely weather, crowds ok.
Cons - cant think of any!

December
Pros - Decorations, shows, lower crowds (early December), weather not as intense.
Cons - manic crowds near Christmas, weather can be cooler.

 

[DjdBrit]

This is a hard question to anwser because its so subjective I live in the US and would avoid certain times of the year for different reasons.

Things I think about:

School vacations, not all school are out at the same time here, alot of the Southern States get out of school for summer mids May, while were I am in MA we don't get out till mid June. The return time is also affected, lots of states go back to school 2nd week in August, some are more like the traditional UK summer that go back the beginning of september.

Spring breaks vary as well, while our week off is always 3rd week in april (and some week in feb), others are off around Easter and it can be very diferent depending on where you live.

I have been end of April and the beginning of May and found MAy to be better, we have been 3 times during this period and only seen one rain storm, in over 3 weeks.

I am currently planning a trip for August 2011, going at the end of the month, to avoid the majority of the "crowds" but then you add the potetial of Free Dining I also wonder how my kids will fair in the heat and humditity.

I would love to go at the end of september as the weather is more tollerable and the crowds are low but I cannot take my kids out of the beginning of school.

I know plenty of people who hve been during Jan and Feb and its been chilly, if I am going to Florida I want sun..... So it all really depends on whether you want certain holiday event or seasonal attractions. Good luck and Happy planning!

 

[mollies_mum]

September:
Pros - Low crowds, beautiful weather
Cons - LOVE BUGS! This is the reason I will never go in September again!

We are trying the last 2 weeks of October next year mainly for the Halloween stuff

 

[DjdBrit]

September:
Pros - Low crowds, beautiful weather
Cons - LOVE BUGS! This is the reason I will never go in September again!

We are trying the last 2 weeks of October next year mainly for the Halloween stuff

I am from Notts, Hello there

 

[wedreamofdisney]

So glad to see that there is hardly any CONS in October!!

We go on the 15th and I was worried that it wouldn't be warm enough for the water parks

I know it was mega hot in October last year, but that isn't going to be the case every year.

I think of 1 more CON though.......Most people have had there holiday (some even 2) before you get to go on yours

 

[wideeyes]

January
-Pros The weather was better for my DD, some rides were walk on. The flight was half empty. It was nice walking around the parks without melting.
No rain
cons- for 2 days it was freezing and I missed the lizards.

September
- pros, cheap room rates, free dining. MNSSHP
cons - HOT, love bugs, heavy rain and storms .