Summer or Xmas

[OWJAY]

Please help me decide. At the moment we have provisionally booked a villa for 3 weeks in the summer but after spending xmas at Disney, we can't decide if we should change our summer hols to xmas hols.

Must admit this would give us a bit more time to save up and have a bit more spends We have never been in the summer before as we normally go May time and I would love the heat of August, as I love the sun but the thought of spending 2 weeks in the sun at xmas instead of dreary old UK is very tempting.

What would you all do

 

[wifey]

If we could get the time off work to go at Christmas we would There's less humidity and it would give a lovely welcome break in the sun in winter The parks and hotels are decorated beautifully for the holidays and there tends to be fewer people in the water parks and resort pools. What's not to like, plus you can get tickets for MVMCP and see the carol singers and all the holiday shows

 

[wicket2005]

It depends on the ages of your kids and whether the holidays are totally in school/college/uni holidays.

It also depends on the ages of your kids as to what they are doing at school/college/uni in December. If kids at GCSE level mock exams are often held at that time of year or in January, if at college/uni exams are held in the January.

Depends on the cost of the two holidays.

Though hot and humid in July/August you do see a lot of heavy rain which sometimes can be over quickly but at other times can last a while. It is also hurricane season. We usually go in July but did have a 'bonus' second holiday in December last year. In December we had glorious warm/hot weather but pools/water rides were still too cold, and no rain. I think we were lucky with the temps as we had a lot of days in the 80s and I think the normal temp is in the 70s.

 

[jen_uk]

November/December time is a great time to go, however we spent an Xmas at WDW one year and didn't have the greatest time. It was just so hectic getting ready to go as well as buying Xmas presents etc, we both worked until the day before we went and had to go back to work 2 days after we got back and it was exhausting. Plus, we just didn't really enjoy spending Xmas day there, it might be different if you have a family but it was just dh and I and we didn't like it, it wasn't helped by the fact that it poured with rain all day so we couldn't even enjoy the day in the sun!!

 

[going/again]

we have been the last 5 years for xmas/new year its a great time to go IMO also we have to use less days holiday pm me if you wish
gazza

 

[OWJAY]

It depends on the ages of your kids and whether the holidays are totally in school/college/uni holidays.

It also depends on the ages of your kids as to what they are doing at school/college/uni in December. If kids at GCSE level mock exams are often held at that time of year or in January, if at college/uni exams are held in the January.

Depends on the cost of the two holidays.

Though hot and humid in July/August you do see a lot of heavy rain which sometimes can be over quickly but at other times can last a while. It is also hurricane season. We usually go in July but did have a 'bonus' second holiday in December last year. In December we had glorious warm/hot weather but pools/water rides were still too cold, and no rain. I think we were lucky with the temps as we had a lot of days in the 80s and I think the normal temp is in the 70s.

Our kids ages are 15, 13 and 10 and will not be missing any school as we are looking at going 19th Dec - 2nd Jan. We went last xmas and agree the weather was lovely and we felt that the water parks were just right not to crowded and the water was heated so didn't really bother us.

I think xmas might be winning here

 

[wicket2005]

Our kids ages are 15, 13 and 10 and will not be missing any school as we are looking at going 19th Dec - 2nd Jan. :

If the eldest is in his final year at school just double check to see if he has any mocks after Christmas. My lads' school did the GCSE mocks after Christmas but a lot do them before (which I think is better). The mocks are important as the results help determine what type of GCSE the kids are put in to.

The only other thing about going actually in the Christmas period is the crowds but you will be aware of that with going last year.

I really enjoyed going in December but we went from 10th to 21st December so didn't have to cope with the crowd levels a lot experienced going over the Christmas period. I found this holiday far more relaxing with it being a second holiday in the year and we had already done all the things back in July so we just went with the flow.

I think I would have a chat with the rest of the family to see what they think. Traditionally it is nice to be going away in the summer but Orlando is very hot and humid then. We like the heat but not necessarily the humidity which is what makes you tired. In December because of the lack of humidity we didn't feel as tired as we do in the summer (and we are all fit people). From reading trip reports I wouldn't fancy being in Orlando over the Christmas period because of the high crowd levels.

As you have been in May and December perhaps it would be nice to try a holiday in August. The good thing for your kids here is they are off school if they suffer from jet lag and it helps break the summer holidays up.

 

[Camac]

We were there last Christmas and NY too.

I would vote for a December break to shorten the winter. We really benefited from the sunshine and being away from the Christmas hassle.

 

[wayneg]

Thankfully we can do both, would be such a difficult decision to choose.
Xmas has great decs & different parades but nightmare crowds Xmas day thru to your return home. Weather can be OK but had more cold days than hot at Xmas, some days even had frost on car.
August has perfect weather(for us not for others) we can go for 25 nights without a day off school, Xmas we only ever manage 8-9 days max.

I would go for August but having done 5 Xmas' got a bit fed up with the crowds, this year was worst ever, upto 6 hours for Soarin, 45 mins for just for a burger etc. Will continue with our August trips but no more Xmas trips for a few years until I forget how bad it was this year.

 

[emily1982]

We've done Christmas 3 times, but are stuck to school hols. If you could do 3 weeks you would be fine at christmas, but just be prepared it is extremely, extremely busy...infact this past year was the worst we'd known it.

 

[dc1964]

Summer for me, Christmas is too busy and u are not guaranteed warm weather.