Teacher and Mother - when do we go to WDW?

[dphie28]

Hi everyone,
In 2010, DH & I will be celebrating our 10 yr anniversary. So, to commemorate, we want to head back with our family of 5 and do the land-and-sea package as we did for our Disneymoon 10 years ago. The problem is WHEN? I am a teacher and 2 of my 3 boys will be in school next year. So, we have no choice but to pick school vacation time. Should we choose (1) Spring Break (Easter week), (2) Last week of June 27 - July 4, or (3) late August?

In my 'research' I know that Spring break will have the most comfortable weather but August will be the least crowded. DH does not want to be there in the heat of summer, but we may not have any choice. DS3 will turn 3 in October, so he will still be free on any of those dates. Which month is the best for the cruise? for the crowds? for the weather?

Thanks!!

 

[2ndStar2theRT]

I am a teacher too and I know your dilema. I went with my family on a disney cruise 2 yrs ago right after Thanksgiving. We left the day after the holiday and were gone the whole week. Two things that were good about that time of year. 1st - we get the Monday off after Turkey-day so it was one less day I had to take and plan for - also that first week back is mostly review so was not too difficult to plan for. 2nd - if staying in WDW that is a value season week. Should get much cheaper rates for resorts.

Other than that, we have gone to WDW the past two years in August when most of the southern schools have begun to return, and not super crowded. Also, it is a value season. Yes..it's a bit hotter, but not unbearable. Our DD was 4 and she did fine. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time whenever you go!

 

[momofrrr]

My kids are in the same school district where I work and we have the entire week of Tgiving off. That is my favorite time to go. We are having to go after Christmas this year but I guess any Disney vacation is better than none!
Have a great trip!

 

[Figment's Girl]

We are running into the same problem except that it is my DH who is the teacher. We are considering two different times that I didn't see mentioned.

1) week between X-mas & New Years. It's expensive so its not high on the list.
2) Fall Break in October. Cooler weather and lighter crowds.


I mentioned August to him but he said no way.

 

[teachallday]

As a teacher, I choose to go in August this summer. I hate the fact that I have to go during the hot and humid summer, but I really did not view it as having many choices.

As a special education teacher I really need a rest during school year vacations, and I just don't view a trip to Disney World (which is 3 time zones away) as a way to get the type of rest I need during a vacation.

 

[stace1214]

Teacher here too...I vote for late August. I've been both during April break (Easter week) and the tail end of August. Although the weather was more comfortable in April, we enjoyed August so much more. We encountered fairly light crowds and with a little planning, never waited in lines more than a few minutes. When we were there in April, by lunch time, the crowds were huge and it was impossible to do anything without a wait. We won't be going back to WDW for a couple years, but will most likely go in August again when we do. As a side note, I'm not a fan of hot, humid weather and was worried that it would spoil our trip, but it was totally do-able with lots of water and a little extra time in the AC. Have fun!!

 

[Abagpiper5]

If you live in NJ, then the best time for you to go is during Jersey week. This year it is the first week in November.
Jersey week is the week that the Teachers Convention takes place in Atlantic City. The weather is great and the line aren’t that bad at all.

 

[taymacsmom]

Never been on the cruise but went WDW over April break in 2006. Crowds were horrendous. Admittedly, up until then we had the luxury of traveling near the end of May/beginning of June and crowds were manageable. This year we decided to go in August and brave the heat in the hopes of avoiding some of the crowds in April. As you can see, my kids are in high school so taking them out of school is out of the question. Hope this helps.

 

[mjkacmom]

We took a 10 day WDW/DCL vacation last year over jersey week. We pulled the kids out of school the Friday before, and since they were off on Tuesday for election day, and Thursday and Friday for the convention, they only missed 3 days of school.

 

[Gammaresource]

The last week of august has always been good for us. It is hot, but the crowds have never been out of hand.

 

[Darcy03231]

I've cruised during the months of January, March, April, August, September and October. I found there was really no difference in the weather in the Carribean from any of those months. Hot, humid with an afternoon thunderstorm was the norm.

I would avoid WDW during Easter week in April. There were several threads on the Theme Parks boards about how crowded it was. As I recall MK was closed 3-4 days in a row due to crowd capacity. I would do either the last week in June or late August.

 

[chiefdragon]

Both DH and I are teachers, we have tried a couple of different times - 2nd to 3rd week fo June (right after school lets out), July, August, Septemeber (labor day weekend - we start in mid August), and December. I think for us atleast we like the June time....not to bad, but not as bad as December - Never again.

 

[carj]

We went last summer June 22-29th and the crowds and heat were managable. Of course being from Texas, the temperature was pretty much the same as at home!

We went 9 years ago on our honeymoon, during Spring Break. In Texas though, our Spring Break is almost always the third week of March. I think that a lot of other schools have breaks that are around Easter and I think that might be a little more crowded. It was not crowded when we went in March.

I don't really like to vacation in August because I have to be back at work in mid-August. That last couple of weeks, I like to spend shopping and hanging out. I prefer to travel in June.

This summer we are going to Disneyland in late June, early July. I wouldn't have picked those dates, but that is is what worked out.

 

[srwarden1928]

I am a teacher married to a teacher.

We have been to Disney spring break (March 2008), fall break (October 2008) and summer break (June 2009). The spring break trip was Easter that year. Of course we could NEVER go in August, as school starts August 3 (usually it starts August 1, but that is a Saturday this year). So we will have been every break except Christmas. I think I am even crazy enough to go Christmas if I could get DW on board.

I think the October break is the best time crowd and weather wise. OTOH any time in Disney is magical to me.

 

[PiratesCove]

We'll be right there with you in the heat. Went in Aug in 2007 and swore we would never do the summer again! I'm a teacher, so I really only have July/Aug to vacation, so this year it's July. We know it will be hot and are planning on taking advantage of the extra magic hours and nap in the afternoon since this will be DDs (age 1) first trip

 

[tloveswdw]

I am a SAHM (former teacher), and DH is a teacher... our children are in our district.

We have no long breaks except Winter, and one week SPring break. He cannot miss any days, (they put teacher institute and the like right before and after breaks), and he is head coach for football and wrestling anyway...

So, we go right after he returns from taking the graduated to Washington DC. It is hot, but, June can be done We spend afternoons at the pool or waterpark

We would do August, but with coaching starting just into the second week... well, it is a loss too.

Have fun, and just realize in the summer take it slower, and break for water