Sep. or Dec., I really could use some advice!

[RussellDisney]

I've been in July, September and December - December is the best BY FAR. July was my first trip in 1978 and even as an 8 year old I thought it was too hot. December was my second trip in '93 and it was just about perfect. My brother and I went for my 24th birthday and had a blast. The weather was perfect, able to swim in a heated pool at night, but our last day was at MK and it was the coolest - 60's in the morning, 70's by the afternoon. SM made for a bit of a chill! September was hot in '05, and with the DW, DD and DS we had a few heat related "incidents"!! We're going second week of October this year, as that is DD's fall break from school. I'm hoping for a little cooler weather this time.

 

[fortheloveofamouse]

Thank you for all the very helpful info. I think we will be moving to the first week of Dec. I hate to give up the free dining but since we have a ressie for 2 rooms if they release a code as they have done in the past, we will just about break even. My mom wll be enjoying this trip with us and she has Lupus. I fear the heat will be too much. It does get warm here in KY, but we go inside. I don't want to pay big bucks to be grumpy in the Happiest Place on Earth!

 

[grumpymakesmehappy]

We went last year in Sept for the free dining and my B'day! I'm from Memphis and used to 85-100 degree temps and high humidity. We took a break to swim (them) and nap (me) for a few hours a day and we were good to go again. I'm sure if you're from the east or cooler areas it'll really have a hard impact on you. I didn't take too many pictures of the family though, we were just to shmultzy in them.

Edited to add: the crowds on the weekend before labor day were pretty low. We didn't have a memorable wait for anything. Maybe 10-15 minutes tops. The restaurants were very crowded. We waited much longer for meals than for the rides.

Hey 2manypets! DH and I got married at the Memphis Zoo in June of 05! We got lucky. A cool front moved in and the temps were mid 80's!!! Don't you just love that Memphis heat? Being from south makes dealing with the heat/humidity at WDW so much easier.

 

[rlduvall]

My friend and I just decided to cancel our free dining in September and move our trip to the 1st week of December, also. We were both worried her rheumatoid arthritis would flare up significantly with the heat. Will lose some savings, but December is a really fun time to be there. Guess I need to change my countdown clock.

 

[AmberI]

I'll be sticking with Sept this year. My DH did BMT in TX june-aug and lived. I was there with my DD (she was 2 1/2) for 10 days and it was hot, like 80 at 6am. I had fun doing things and stayed indoor when it was midday. I hope it will be the same in FL, just this time all have more water People go in july so we can make is through sept.
My next trip will be January.

 

[Kristina]

I just canceled our trip for this September and we had free dining but in all fairness although we would have saved a lot of money (over 15 nights) I was dreading the heat. We experienced it in 2005 and while MNSSHP was fantastic fun I do remember I said never again in Sept. Now everybody is different and if I were fitter perhaps I would handle the heat better but it really wore me out. We are holding out for December also . December is so wonderful not just for the weather but the parks are beautiful too with all the Christmas decorations. We love it at that time!
Other than December I'm really anxious to go during one of the Pirate and Princess parties because they sound wonderful!

 

[ElizabethB]

Don't forget that there is always a love-bug infestation some time in September!

 

[WDWVillain]

I plan ono still going in Sept...the 10th-19th. I am not doing the parks much, so I plan on sitting my the pool all day, and taking in the sites at the AKL. I have been in Aug......it did not bother me at all. It HELPED my chronic arthritic pain and my asthsma. I am also very used to sitting in the blazing sun on the beaches around here in 85-90 degree weather tainning for up to 8 hours. If I do parks...it will be very early or very late at night.

It gets just as hot, sometimes hotter and humid here!!

 

[tinawv]

Our family has gone in September 3 different times, and I wouldn't hesitate to go in September again (even though I would like to give October a try). Even though it is hot, it has been worth it for us due to the low crowds. With the low crowds, we do a lot of our touring early in the day; go back to our room for a rest or swim in the afternoon when it is the hottest, and commence our touring in the early evening when it is a little bit cooler. We once went the second week of December, and it was so cold that we couldn't stand being outside for very long. Personally, I would rather be too hot than too cold. At least when it is hot you can swim.

 

[AmberI]

Don't forget that there is always a love-bug infestation some time in September!

What are love bugs?

 

[kat3668]

What are love bugs?

GROSS GROSS GROSS
They dont bite or anything but they do take the paint of your cars!!

 

[Suzanne74]

I think what everyone is forgetting here is that that while September is very hot, it is one of Disney's slow times of the year. Also, the park hours are still very late and there is no day light savings issue. We took advantage of late night hours and went to the parks first thing in the morning, came back at 1-2pm for a swim and nap and back out again around 5pm until 11pm. It was wonderful. I don't want to go to Disney when the parks close at 6-7pm and I definitely don't want to go when I have to wear a jacket or chose NOT to go on Splash Mountain for fear of freezing. I prefer longer days and lounging by the pool or sleeping in the A/C during peak hot and humid hours. I think all of you changing your reservations will regret it if a cold front moves in December. I remember my parents went the 2nd week of December and had jeans and jackets on - no thanks!!

 

[estherhead]

This sounds like the end of the world!! We all know that if you want to enjoy all that Disney offers, sometimes we have to sacrifice a little. Yes..chances are it will be hot in September. It is in Orlando most of the year. If you want to enjoy the water parks, then that narrows down your choices to exclude December. Also, taking a trip that close to Christmas can really put a dent in the "Christmas Club"..September is cheap..even without Free Dining..the crowds are small..the weather is warmer..

I know it may be uncomfortable..My DW and I will be there the same time..9/16 - 9/22...but being from the east coast, I will have lasted the summer with some nasty humidity and there wont be a Splash Mountain, Typhoon Lagoon or a Kali River Rapids anywhere in sight..a week in the heart of the magic at such great prices will be a welcome relief!

Whenever you decide to go, ENJOY!!!! I know we will!!

This is our idea. We're going 9/2-9/9 this year. I've booked my ADR's at weird times, like 4pm or 11am to try to get into the rest. when they aren't packed & we're planning on spending most afternoons at Blizzard Beach. Our plan is to hit rope drop in the am (we're early risers by nature); 11am lunch/breakfast; & then home to change & chill. Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, or our resort pool for a few hours and then back for a 4-5 pm dinner & shows. What do you think?

I've only been in the cooler months but I think my dh is gonna LOVE the heat & insist we go this time all the time. Personally I'd rather wear jackets & go when cold. But the rest of my family thrives in humidity & heat. Hopefully I'm not ruining my life by agreeing to Sept!

 

[kldmom2000]

We were going in December for many years because we liked to be there for the Christmas festivities.... but it was a tad chilly to swim most of the time.... kind of a bummer when you're staying at the YC/BC with the best pool on property!

Last year we opted to go Sept. 29-Oct. 4 during free dining (and my DD's 4th bday). It was my favorite time YET! The weather was in the low 90's most days but not a single drop of rain There was humidity-but nothing unusual from what we have here in New England in August...

We would hit the EMH early park before the 8am opening and stay til lunch... then we'd go back to swim all afternoon and then go back into a park for dinner/evening park time... LOVED it!

We are however, nuts this year in that we're doing August because our school system realllllllllllllllllllllllllly frowns upon taking kids out to go on vacation.... I just didn't want to deal w/ the hassle this trip... (we will be there BEFORE the free dining promo but I'm looking on the bright side-hopefully everyone is waiting for free dining and will not show up until we leave )

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

You COULD do what we are doing.

We are going from September 9th thru October 3rd AND then we are going back from December 9th-19th.

Works for us!!!

Slightly Goofy

 

[kldmom2000]

You COULD do what we are doing.

We are going from September 9th thru October 3rd AND then we are going back from December 9th-19th.

Works for us!!!

Slightly Goofy

A 24 day stay!?!?!?!??! Holy cow! Then 10 more days a mere 2 months later??!?!?!?!??! I could only dream!!!

 

[wdwpixie]

December must be an iffy month....we went the first week of December several years ago and I packed all jeans and some sweatshirts to wear and it ended up being almost 90 degrees the entire time we were there. My one pair of shorts got quite the workout and several washings!! Eeeek!!!

 

[kidsister]

There isn't any right answer here...Last year I was there in both Sept and Dec and I will be again this year.

Sept 4-10 was great last year...not too hot or humid and free dining and no crowds. Stayed at the Pop.

On the other hand, I've been in December when I froze.

And there could be hurricanes in September.

But not last year.

This year I'm going Sept 29-Oct 6 and Dec 2-Dec 7. Thinking that the weather will be great both trips!

 

[Suzanne74]

December must be an iffy month....we went the first week of December several years ago and I packed all jeans and some sweatshirts to wear and it ended up being almost 90 degrees the entire time we were there. My one pair of shorts got quite the workout and several washings!! Eeeek!!!

See that is another reason to go in Sept. At least you will know it will be warm and you will save a ton of room not packing jeans, jackets and sweatshirts. And December is very iffy there. The highs range from only high 40's to 90's depending on cold and warm fronts.

 

[AmberI]

Man I don't care how hot it get as long as we don't have a hurricane or bugs. God I hate bugs, plus I don't want them eatting my car, I still owe my life saving on it.