Last trip was 7 days May/June 2009, and I'm so excited to be planning ahead for a return trip next year. These boards were so helpful in planning last trip, thought I'd ask for advice from the experts. 
We are on a budget so will likely do 5 days, no hoppers, but on property. So considering the following, in your opinion, when is best overall, May or Sept/Oct?
1. holiday crowds (Spring Break, extended fall breaks for some schools, Memorial Day and Columbus Day)
2. temperature (not too hot, but warm enough to swim, hurricanes?)
3. events, F&W, SWW, F&G, MNSSHP, ? -we don't have huge interest in attending these, more just concerned with crowds
4. Discounts: free dining? Chase rewards, possible pin codes, easier flights?
5. Park hours-we like to go early then nap/swim, then go back until park closing. Out favorite times were late night. Do all the parks close early in fall? It would be a stretch for the 5 year old to last an entire day without getting cranky (me too-lol)
I'm leaning a bit toward fall, mainly b/c we haven't done that time of year and crowds look better, more time to save, and possibly free dining...but it's slightly less favorable for pulling out of middle school and busy time of year for the hubs work. Plus park hours seems a bummer and waiting that long will feel like forever.
So what do you think? Thanks for any advice.
We are on a budget so will likely do 5 days, no hoppers, but on property. So considering the following, in your opinion, when is best overall, May or Sept/Oct?
1. holiday crowds (Spring Break, extended fall breaks for some schools, Memorial Day and Columbus Day)
2. temperature (not too hot, but warm enough to swim, hurricanes?)
3. events, F&W, SWW, F&G, MNSSHP, ? -we don't have huge interest in attending these, more just concerned with crowds
4. Discounts: free dining? Chase rewards, possible pin codes, easier flights?
5. Park hours-we like to go early then nap/swim, then go back until park closing. Out favorite times were late night. Do all the parks close early in fall? It would be a stretch for the 5 year old to last an entire day without getting cranky (me too-lol)
I'm leaning a bit toward fall, mainly b/c we haven't done that time of year and crowds look better, more time to save, and possibly free dining...but it's slightly less favorable for pulling out of middle school and busy time of year for the hubs work. Plus park hours seems a bummer and waiting that long will feel like forever.
So what do you think? Thanks for any advice.
