Summer VS rest of year

[burmguy]

I have not been to Disney since I can remember. YEARS. Anyhow thinking of taking the kids either during school, a month or so or fall or summer


What are crowds like during weekdays in summer compared to school season? Huge lines and hours long waits?

Thanks

 

[HydroGuy]

What are crowds like during weekdays in summer compared to school season? Huge lines and hours long waits?

Only if you make all the classic, wrong choices...

This may help: "Getting The Most Out of a Summer Visit To DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1345319

 

[beachdreamr1229]

Honestly, it's all about how you do it. HydroGuy has the best advice, so definitely refer to his post above. If you stick to mornings and evenings and try to either do fastpasses, shows, or a hotel break mid-day, summer is very reasonable. In some ways, a summer weekday is actually easier to navigate than an "off-season" Sunday, if you have any experience with that. So, I'd say just if you do summer, go in with a level head, a flexible plan, and plenty of water, and you'll be fine.

 

[Gisele]

Summer= hot. Crowded. Hot, cranky crowds. Lol
The rest of the year, either hot and or muggy. Or a bit cool. About every other year or so, it actually may rain in So. Cal. Might need an umbrella, might not. The best weather indicator is to wait until one arrives at their hotel. Then open your window, stick your head out, and take a good look.

 

[figment_jii]

When you said "during school, a month or so", do you mean you are considering a trip in late March? That will probably overlap with a portion of DLR's "Spring Break Season", which starts in mid-March and runs through early April this year.

Along with what HydroGuy mentioned, I would also note that fall is becoming increasingly popular because of HalloweenTime, which usually starts sometime in early to mid-September. Weekday crowds are still (generally) lighter than summer crowds, but I still wouldn't go expecting to walk-on to the most popular rides (e.g., SMGG, HMH, RSR, etc.).

 

[VandVsmama]

I have not been to Disney since I can remember. YEARS. Anyhow thinking of taking the kids either during school, a month or so or fall or summer


What are crowds like during weekdays in summer compared to school season? Huge lines and hours long waits?

Thanks

When does your children's school year end? Our family has gone at the beginning of June right after Memorial Day weekend and the crowds were very manageable. However, we did follow Hydroguy's rules & recommendations for getting the most out of a summer visit. I am totally paraphrasing his post and am leaving a lot out, but the Reader's Digest version is this:

1. get to the gates when the parks open
2. go go go until lunch time.
3. leave for a mid-afternoon break. Works best if you stay at a hotel/motel within walking distance.
4. go back late afternoon.
5. if you want to see fireworks, try to see them your 1st night in case fireworks are cancelled the other evenings due to weather
6. learn how to use Fast Passes
7. have each person in your group pick the #1 ride they must go on during the trip. Try to go on each of those on your 1st day in case 1 or more break down...then you have the rest of your trip to try again.
8. learn how to use Fast Passes

And my own personal recommendation:

• stop once in awhile to smell the proverbial roses

 

[scrapshappen]

Another tip for the summer. Look to see what passes are blocked. The more passes that are blocked, the easier it will be to navigate around. We went in August last year right after the block on So Cal passes was lifted and it was much busier than I anticipated since a lot of schools were already back in session.

At least in the summer, you have long hours to see the park from 8 am to midnight. When we've gone off season, the park hours have been 10 am -8 pm. The major difference is that everyone can make it to the park for a 10 am opening (or a 9 am extra hour) so you lose some of the rope drop advantage. In the summer, if you can take advantage of those early hours, you will get a lot done while everyone else is still asleep.

Honestly, there aren't many times of the year we haven't been and we've had fun regardless and have never said we would never go back again at that time. We've never actually been in July (but June and August) but we might try that this year since it's the only time both my kids are off school before our AP's expire.