Sept, Jan, or Early May?

[justme0729]

What month would you choose to go to WDW? We will have a 6-12 month old and a 2 year old. We're looking for low crowds and plan to do half days at the parks in the mornings/ evenings and pool time/ naps in the afternoons. Is there a big difference in weather/ crowds for September and May? I would do January for mild temperatures but I think it could end up being too cold for pool time.

 

[piccolopat]

You are right in that January can sometimes be too cold for the pool. We've gone in January when the weather was warm one day but cold the next. We haven't gone in September but between the love bugs and high temperatures I think I would pass on that month. Last year we went at the tail end of April into early May and the weather was nice. Crowds weren't bad but still some leftover volume from the Easter and spring break crowds. If the kids can nap in their stroller, you might find going from morning to mid-late afternoon and then staying put at the hotel is better than trying to go back and forth.

 

[Marthasor]

I would pick late September or early May if those are options. I've done January twice and it was really, really cold.

 

[focusondisney]

With 2 little ones, I’d probably do May. It might be a little more crowded, but the heat & humidity in September is grueling. We go then often & I feel bad for little ones being out in those temps. Plus there are afternoon thunderstorms many days & the pools & some transportation options close for lightening within a certain range. Several times just as we were getting ready to go to the pool, a thunderstorm pops up & the pool gets closed. The temps in May are more moderate & while it rains, it isn’t daily like it can be in September.

 

[StevieB81]

September might be less busy, but it's pretty hot and dead in the middle of hurricane season. May is a safer bet, I think.

 

[midwestdee]

Another early May vote.

 

[trishadono]

We just had a 4/28-5/3 trip and hands down was better than our Jan and Sep trips. The weather really impacts a trip too.

Crowds were not as bad as holidays but honestly I don’t remember low crowds in years other that right after reopening with Covid.

 

[gottalovepluto]

May vote.

Sept bad weather. If the cold of Jan doesn’t bother you do realize there tend to be a lot of complaints about crowds in Jan due Marathon Week & MLK.

 

[nw6675]

Early May. We've done all your options, and while it is still hot as you know what, May is the best.

 

[Richie248]

Early May, just got back and the weather was perfect and crowds gelt lower.

 

[maxbuffmelvin]

Early May

 

[SkyGuy]

May. We do a few days in Jan and first week of May every year and have done the week after Labor Day the last two years. The days in Jan have been decent crowd-wise, except the time we hit marathon traffic, but the weather can be downright cold. The first week of May is lovely with little rain and warm temps; it can be cooler on a rare occasion, but pools are heated. Crowds will start to pick up toward the end of the first week, but it always been our favorite time to go. September is extremely hot and humid with guaranteed (almost) daily rain, but the crowds are low and it’s when my extended family can get together, so we make it work with lots of inside shows and breaks.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

We do later in January every year, between MLK and President's Day weekend, and it's been great. The crowds are normally quite reasonable, if you avoid marathon and the holiday weekends. As for the 'cold', we've only had one trip in the last 15 years in January where we didn't have a stretch of weather warm enough for the pool and swimming. Most Januarys have been quite nice during the day, with perhaps sweatshirts at night. It's unpredictable, at best - but so are Sept and May. Even had one trip with a few days in the 80s. We so prefer that weather over the H&H of September. Early May would be our second choice.

 

[growhappiness]

Another vote for May. That's been our preference the last couple years. Low-ish crowds and weather is hot, but not inferno hot. The last two years we went in May we didn't have any rain at all, too.

 

[CarolynFH]

We do later in January every year, between MLK and President's Day weekend, and it's been great. The crowds are normally quite reasonable, if you avoid marathon and the holiday weekends. As for the 'cold', we've only had one trip in the last 15 years in January where we didn't have a stretch of weather warm enough for the pool and swimming. Most Januarys have been quite nice during the day, with perhaps sweatshirts at night. It's unpredictable, at best - but so are Sept and May. Even had one trip with a few days in the 80s. We so prefer that weather over the H&H of September. Early May would be our second choice.

I could have written this post! I concur 100%!

 

[AnnabelleTheTalkingTree]

We've done several early May trips (just got back, in fact) and it's my favorite time to go. You get that hot weather in the afternoons where you definitely are LONGING for a nice swim, but the temps cool down at night. Lovebugs CAN be an issue this time of year but personally we haven't ever been bothered by it. There was only one time in early May where they were noticeable, but it only lasted a day or two of our trip. Early May also means lower crowds.

 

[LRdismom]

If you want pool time, I'd pick May. I go every year in the beginning of May. I've been in January and some days are too cold for the pool... for me anyhow. September had thunderstorms almost every afternoon when I went.

 

[jsergent]

I'm with the May vote.

We went September of 2019, right in the moddle of Hurricane Dorian. Had a fabulous trip actually, but it could have turned out much different for sure.

The heat was intense though. After that trip we said never again in September.

 

[DisDad1321]

I like January for your crew, depending on when. You know your kids better than us. Are they going to need a swim or a nap? Mine would have needed a nap at that age--not a swim. Add--the weather in January is way, way better for younger kids IMO.

In early January, yes, that is probably a little chilly, but I don't think you'd have a problem in later January. We were there Presidents Day weekend (which of course is February, but not far off) last year. We were in the pool every day.

 

[clapton]

Another May vote here! We have been going the first or second week in May for the last couple of years and the weather has been perfect !!