Right time of year to plan our 1st WDW trip?

[Cindie-rella]

My husband & I are planning on our very first DW trip together next April 17th thru the 27th 2005. It will be in celebration of our 25th wedding anniversary! He is not as excited as I am about going because he has never been there. He thinks it's just a hugh amusement park. (Boy is he in for a surprise!) He really has no idea what to expect. He is like a big kid so I,m sure he's going to love it! He doesn't care for large crowds and is pretty much miserable when the humidity gets really high. I want to make sure I plan this right so my hubby enjoys it enough to want to go again in the future. My question? Did I plan going at the right time(April 17 - 27) for low crowds and a little lower heat & humidity season. He doesn't mind heat in the 80's just high humidity with it. This is my first time planning a trip here and I will be needing alot of help along the way. Thank goodness for this forum!
Thanks, Cindi

 

[susy]

April is definitely NOT a good time to see WDW at its best. It will be hot and VERY crowded (spring break). It is also peak season and all the rates will be at their highest.

If I could recommend a time, it would be immediately following the Thanksgiving weekend. The crowds are very low between Thanksgiving and Christmas (everyone's in school), the decorations are all up, the festivities are going on, AND it's value season (lowest rates). It is soooo much nicer to visit the parks when it's cool and no crowds-you will be able to walk onto pretty much all the rides.

Visit wdwig.com for resort photos, restaurant menus,planning info.

Mousesavers.com is good for discounts

Even though it is just adults, I highly recommend doing a character meal. They are a lot of fun!

Alos, stay onsite if at all possible. It's sooo magical!

 

[Cindie-rella]

What I read on another Disney site tells me the end of April is less crowded. But I imagine my best advice is going to come from the people here on the discussion board that have actually experienced it. I really cannot get away in Nov. or Dec., I'm too busy with my business. Actaully Nov thru Feb. is out of the question. March is a little hectic for me too but if I had to I could probably get away then. I copied what was said on the other site about when to visit DW :
MOST CROWDED TIME OF THE YEAR
Christmas through New Year's

EXTREMELY CROWDED
Easter Week (Before and After)

REALLY CROWDED
Fourth of July Week

CROWDED
Spring Break (first week of March until mid April)
Memorial Day Weekend
Summer Break (second week of June until second week of August)
President's Day until the end of February

A GOOD TIME TO GO
End of April
Second Week of February
Labor Day Weekend

THE NEXT BEST TIME TO VISIT
First Week of February
Beginning of October until Thanksgiving
Week before Christmas

BEST TIME TO VISIT
January
September
First two weeks of December

Actually the rates came down from "Peak season" to "Regular season" the day I'm booking in. Maybe it would be better to book in 1 week later and that would take me into the first week of May?
I thought about Sept. but that's hurricane season and it's supposably still"very" hot. Getting even more confused

 

[mareed]

My concern for you is that late April can be very warm, and yes, it will also be very humid. Checking Accuweather.com for April 2004 temps shows 80 - 88 for the actual highs. While I was not there, I'm from Houston which has similar weather, and I'm sure that it was very humid, so those temps in the 80's will feel more like 90's. The average high temp during this time is around 84.

But, it will be impossible to avoid the heat & humidity if you can't go from Nov - Feb, so I say stick with your April dates and plan on an afternoon swim or nap during the worst of the heat! Maybe you'll get lucky and a cold wave will go through while you're there! And remember that April won't be anywhere near as bad as the summer heat & humidity!

 

[susy]

Beginning of May is not bad crowd-wise. It will be hot, but visiting the parks in the morning and evening and spending your afternoons in the pool would take care of that. March-April is spring break. The Very end of April might be okay and the rates go down from peak to regular.

 

[Cindie-rella]

Thanks for the advice. I probably will stick to my April plans. I do want it to be somewhat warm so we can swim. The lower 70's would be too cool. I think I'm just being too paranoid trying to do everything to make this just perfect for the hubby. I am surprising him with this whole trip so I just want to make it right. Thanks for your help gals. I'll be posting lots more help questions in the future I'm sure. Cindi

 

[disneyatl]

I think the best time to go to WDW is in October. The weather is perfect and the crowds aren't that bad. The downside to this time of year is the parks aren't open as late as other times during the year. Also, you can still go to the waterparks in October. It's still warm enough to do so.

 

[KevinFSU]

Crowds and heat don't bother me, I'm a native.

However, if I had to pick one time of year as the only time I could ever go, I'd go one of the first couple of weeks in December. Christmas time is a great time to go to WDW.

 

[sarahsmom73]

Remeber, Easter is in March in 2005.. That may ease crowds a bit!

We went over Easter this year and with the right attitude and some planning it was FANTASTIC!

 

[Timster]

I would suggest September. Right after Labor Day most kids (US) are back to the school books. Temp has not been bad. Just have to worry about hurricane's.
Enjoy!