summer 2018 or christmas 2018

[dancebird78]

Trying to decide the best time to go. My husband is a teacher so we don't have many options. We took a trip in Oct. 2016 to MK and DH. Kids really want to go back to MK and see Epcot this time around.

 

[Alesia]

I'd go as early in the summer as you can.

 

[Jedimike]

I've been both early summer and over Christmas. Early summer will be less crowded, but hot with high likelihood of rain. Christmas will be more crowded, and possibly cold (or possibly very pleasant), but is my favorite time to go because of the season and the decorations.

 

[Elsaalltheway]

So this is a good question. With going in the summer you totally get the weather and the opportunity to really use the pools. Depending on how many schools are year round schools you may have elevated crowds. If you catch it right you might be able to catch the free dining if you can hit it in may or certain weeks in june. Downside could be the heat depending on when you are going, along with crowds and if Brazil bounces back. I remember the time I went in June there were huge tour groups and they did this cheering thing EVERYWHERE. Summer also has some seasonal rides and restaurants open.

Now Dec you can see the holiday decorations. Weather will be a little cooler. Still have the rain issue but it might be less, may or may not use the pool. Crowds could be lesser or still more depending on winter breaks. Rides might be closed for refurb due to down times, park times are usually slightly less then that of the summer. I think there is also the chance of free dining the first few weeks of Dec. Plus there will also be the Holiday parties so that will have MK closing at 7 three nights a week and other parks usually close early.

 

[Wish Upon A Starbucks]

Christmas is insanely crowded and busy. I would choose to go in the summer.

 

[mshanson3121]

Trying to decide the best time to go. My husband is a teacher so we don't have many options. We took a trip in Oct. 2016 to MK and DH. Kids really want to go back to MK and see Epcot this time around.

Summer for sure. As my (teacher) husband said: Christmas break is my BREAK. I do not want to spend the entirety/majority of it, battling crowds at Disney. At least going in the summer, you'll still have lots of time left for R&R. Go as early in June as you can, or as late in August as you can. Plus, in summery you'll be able to enjoy extended hours.

 

[ChasingLeslie]

My husband is a teacher too, and we choose summer/July. Crowds are crazy busy during school breaks, and flight prices are ridiculous.

 

[jvz82]

My husband is also a teacher and we go at Christmas and I find the crowds manageable. But my mom was actually a teacher so growing up we always went at Christmas (except once or twice), so it's really all I know! I love the weather at Christmas time and I love the decorations.

It also probably makes a difference that I live in Minnesota. It's miserable here in the winter so escaping to Florida is a welcome change. In the summer, I find Florida miserable and Minnesota summers are amazing. We spend all summer at the lakes and camping. So for us, we'd rather not give up that time in the summer to go overheat in Florida.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

We are both teachers. We have gone in the fall for the past few years, but our DSs are in college now and their fall breaks are different than ours. So now we are left with summers or Christmas. We took a family trip this last summer, and I told my DH "NEVER AGAIN!" The heat made it miserable. We love going pre-Christmas, and I've already told the family that from now on that's when our trips will be. The crowds are about the same as summer if you go before Christmas.

 

[Mike_Mac]

Depends what you mean by Christmas. If you go around, say the 22nd through New Years, it is a mad-house. We like to go between the 12th and the 21st, where the crowds are more or less moderate and nothing to write home about. My wife and I work for a University, and we also have only small windows when we can travel. Having done both summer and Christmas, we'll never do summer again. Being hot and sweltering in the humidity, dodging showers, just isn't enjoyable for us. Plus, the Christmas ambiance is great. Planned ride refurbishments typically begin after New years, so that shouldn't be an issue for most attractions.

 

[zebrastreyepz]

CHRISTMAS! But it's our favorite time of year.

 

[Klayfish]

My wife works for a school district, so she's off when the kids are off. The right answer is to go when you and your family want to go. Our mindsets are different than most people on this board in that we don't care one way or the other about crowd size. Yes, Christmas is more crowded than mid-summer, but so what? We enjoyed both times of year equally. So go when you want to.

 

[McKelly]

My vote is for Christmas, yes, Christmas thru New Years. I love Xmas at Disney. MK AND Epcot will have special holiday happenings. Having said that - we are going in summer this year for DD's HS graduation. Not looking forward to the heat. Too bad they don't graduate in December!

 

[thats_so_pj]

Christmas time is beautiful.

 

[dancebird78]

thanks everyone. I'm leaning towards summer for use of pools and a day trip to the beach!

 

[mickeyfanachey1999]

Trying to decide the best time to go. My husband is a teacher so we don't have many options. We took a trip in Oct. 2016 to MK and DH. Kids really want to go back to MK and see Epcot this time around.

DW is a teacher and we are going Dec 16-Dec 22. That gets us out and back home on the Friday before Christmas. We hope to miss the bulk of the crowd that will be coming in on Friday or Saturday for Christmas/New Years week. December is great at WDW and we can't wait to see the decorations and just be in the world that time of year again.
ETA: We hit the pools a couple of days during our last December vacation but that was a week earlier.

 

[ktlm]

How early does your school get out? I have been to WDW the first week in June multiple times, and have also been the week between Christmas and New years. Heat or not- I would take June every time. The crowds are insane between Christmas and New Years- we still had a great time, but June is much less crowded. June is hot and many days there is a short rain shower in the afternoon (and then is steamy after), but you also are pretty much guaranteed swimming weather--- and having had other December trips with cold weather and rain- I will take the June shower over a freezing December rain! That is not to say I don't love December at Disney because if you are there BEFORE everyone is out on Christmas break, the Christmas season at WDW is wonderful!

 

[quandrea]

My husband is also a teacher and we go at Christmas and I find the crowds manageable. But my mom was actually a teacher so growing up we always went at Christmas (except once or twice), so it's really all I know! I love the weather at Christmas time and I love the decorations.

It also probably makes a difference that I live in Minnesota. It's miserable here in the winter so escaping to Florida is a welcome change. In the summer, I find Florida miserable and Minnesota summers are amazing. We spend all summer at the lakes and camping. So for us, we'd rather not give up that time in the summer to go overheat in Florida.

This is my dh's opinion also. I just asked this very question in the dvc board. We are leaning toward Christmas. No desire to be in Florida when the weather here in Canada is pleasant. So my vote is Christmas.

 

[Smittolis]

I would also recommend the Summer period, I am usually there over Xmas and New Years for a major Soccer Tournament. I would suggest I am somewhat of a Disney Veteran when it comes to trips etc... (My Wife is as an UberDisney Fanatic!), however, even I was somewhat overwhelmed at times by the sheer volume of people during that period. We go through all different times of the year as we have family in Florida and are AP holders, and while it does get busy in summer, it is nothing compared to Xmas. I have stopped taking the family for this period because its just not feasible for me and our children as it triggers their anxiety big time. I know its always going to be busy during peak times, but I found Xmas to be overwhelmingly so.....