Tell me about mid-June ...

[tlmadden73]

With a older 2nd grader, and less willing to pull him out of school (2nd grade) and not wanting to go on/around a holiday (Easter), I was looking for a time to go to Disney in 2020 to scratch that itch and I looking at mid-June 2020, days after he gets out of school for the year (ya .. it's a weird school year and ends pretty late).

June 15-20 ..

I know what Florida is like during the summer (heat/humidity/rain) (we've gone in end of August twice, most recently last August. We are also from coastal NC, so no stranger to the summer heat and humidity. It's not our top pick to go, but we figure June will be better than August.

Figure crowds will be high . .as it is summer, but feels like (because the way Disney has offered discounts during the summer) that summer is less crowded than say October or December now.

So .. just want to know what to expect in June 2020. As frequent goers, we can manage the crowds and just enjoy our time there, going on tons of rides isn't really key, though we are hoping to catch at least TWO new rides in Rise of the Resistance and Mickey's Runaway Railway. If lucky . maybe we'll catch Ratatouille.

 

[rdaky]

We've been the last two years in June, but earlier in the month. The crowds were not bad as bad as Spring Break, but were definitely busier than our trips pulling kids out of school in November. Both years it seemed that it got busier the closer we got to mid-June vs the beginning of the month. There were a couple of days at the end of our trip last year when Magic Kingdom was pretty rough between the crowds and the heat. Something I have learned is that while my family tolerates the heat pretty well, many people don't. And dealing with crowds and irritable other people is not always fun.

You're the parent and of course you can do what you believe best, but 2nd grade is just 2nd grade and in my experience a lot easier for them to miss school at that age than middle or high school. We pulled kids out of school all the way through elementary school and it didn't become tricky until middle school. And we still have friends who pull kids out for high school. It's just a matter of timing. (not during exams, etc)

 

[SaintsManiac]

Honestly, I would pull the kid out of school. 2nd grade isn't a big deal. I became unwilling to pull mine out this year (4th grade), because of the standardized testing prep.

You can't pay me to go to WDW in the summer again.

 

[tlmadden73]

You're the parent and of course you can do what you believe best, but 2nd grade is just 2nd grade and in my experience a lot easier for them to miss school at that age than middle or high school. We pulled kids out of school all the way through elementary school and it didn't become tricky until middle school. And we still have friends who pull kids out for high school. It's just a matter of timing. (not during exams, etc)

Ya .. I pulled him out TWICE during his first grade year (we had an annual pass), so I am trying to NOT pull him out during his second grade year, especially since he was just out a whole week in December due to the flu and already pulled him out for a short 2-day vacation in November with the extended family. So, I don't think pulling him out this spring will work.

So debating on trying a mid-June trip (knowing it will be hot and crowded) or waiting until the fall and pulling him out of 3rd grade.

Another reason is that our school district is looking to change our school calendar and he would have a very short summer because of it (would have to go back to school early August), and I want to have a big fun family trip planned.

You can't pay me to go to WDW in the summer again.

Clarify that? Why not? We've gone twice in August . and yes .. it was hot and humid and rainy (which was a nice break actually) we would get cranky in the mid-afternoon, but we survived (but man did our room smell of stinky clothes by the end! We had to do laundry!)

 

[SaintsManiac]

Ya .. I pulled him out TWICE during his first grade year (we had an annual pass), so I am trying to NOT pull him out during his second grade year, especially since he was just out a whole week in December due to the flu and already pulled him out for a short 2-day vacation in November with the extended family. So, I don't think pulling him out this spring will work.

So debating on trying a mid-June trip (knowing it will be hot and crowded) or waiting until the fall and pulling him out of 3rd grade.

Another reason is that our school district is looking to change our school calendar and he would have a very short summer because of it (would have to go back to school early August), and I want to have a big fun family trip planned.



Clarify that? Why not? We've gone twice in August . and yes .. it was hot and humid and rainy (which was a nice break actually) we would get cranky in the mid-afternoon, but we survived (but man did our room smell of stinky clothes by the end! We had to do laundry!)

Too hot. Too rainy. I am not a "put on your poncho and keep going" person. We tried summer twice. Not doing it again.

And yes, if he's already missed that much it's probably not a good idea to pull him again this year.

 

[rdaky]

I see where you're coming from. If he has already missed that much, I wouldn't pull him out this year. I guess it depends if you can be patient and wait until Fall or if you're dying to go in June? We are actually going again in June this year. My kids love the waterparks and are very tolerant of heat, we've been so many times that we don't feel like we have to see everything, so we're fine with taking it slower. However, if I had to choose between June and pulling a kid out in Fall, I would pull the kid out in Fall for sure! Or do both.

Obviously we are ok with June because this will be our 3rd Summer in a row of going then. Since you've been many times and you don't have to go, go, go to see it all, I think it's very doable.

 

[tlmadden73]

I see where you're coming from. If he has already missed that much, I wouldn't pull him out this year. I guess it depends if you can be patient and wait until Fall or if you're dying to go in June? We are actually going again in June this year. My kids love the waterparks and are very tolerant of heat, we've been so many times that we don't feel like we have to see everything, so we're fine with taking it slower. However, if I had to choose between June and pulling a kid out in Fall, I would pull the kid out in Fall for sure! Or do both.

Obviously we are ok with June because this will be our 3rd Summer in a row of going then. Since you've been many times and you don't have to go, go, go to see it all, I think it's very doable.

Mainly itching to go ..(we last went in August 2018 and that was just a short 3-day trip for the SWGE preview) especially with 2-3 new things opening up .. PLUS, our friends family is potentially going in early December and we have joined them in previous years (splitting a condo) .. so I feel going in the Fall would be too close to that.

So June is on the books, and like I often do, may just wait until it gets closer to decide to pull the trigger or just cancel the reservation.

 

[randumb0]

Mid June should be fine. Understand it is the start of rainy season so bring a poncho. Crowds will be manageable as attendance during the past couple summers has been down

 

[SnapesGirl]

As someone who normally goes in September or May, I found June to be terrible. I only did 2 days this June (Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom) and I swore I'd never go back. The lines were so incredibly long! It kills me to pay so much and just waste hours in line, especially with parents and kids freaking out from the heat. But...it sounds like you already made up your mind, so just go and enjoy it!!

 

[Kamy04]

We went June 5-12 last year. More crowded than our May 2017 trip, but it wasn’t bad. We worked our Fastpasses and basically never waited more than 20 minutes for anything. No or very short lines at food stands etc. Rope drops were definitely busier, but we managed to successfully get on all our “rope drop” rides walk-on.

But it was sooooo hot. Granted, it was a heat wave. I would never do June again. I feel like our whole trip we were rushing around to get in the park, out, ride to ride and not die lol. That’s even with fans, cooling towels, hats etc. I feel like we couldn’t just enjoy ourselves/people watch/take it in. If we ever go again it will be a different time.

 

[tlmadden73]

As someone who normally goes in September or May, I found June to be terrible. I only did 2 days this June (Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom) and I swore I'd never go back. The lines were so incredibly long! It kills me to pay so much and just waste hours in line, especially with parents and kids freaking out from the heat. But...it sounds like you already made up your mind, so just go and enjoy it!!

Haven't made up my mind yet.. but it is booked. I can always cancel closer.

I also swore i would never go in the summer after an August 2015 trip. Whew .. but we went again last year .. and it was tolerable, but then again we weren't trying to do it "all" I figure June will be a BIT cooler and less humid than August when we've gone (at least it is where I live (SE NC)).

I'll see what the family take is .. we deal with the heat all summer at home, so a vacation in it isn't as appealing to them, but we are used to it having live in it. ... thanks for all the input/stories.

 

[billlaurie]

We went June 5-12 last year. More crowded than our May 2017 trip, but it wasn’t bad. We worked our Fastpasses and basically never waited more than 20 minutes for anything. No or very short lines at food stands etc. Rope drops were definitely busier, but we managed to successfully get on all our “rope drop” rides walk-on.

But it was sooooo hot. Granted, it was a heat wave. I would never do June again. I feel like our whole trip we were rushing around to get in the park, out, ride to ride and not die lol. That’s even with fans, cooling towels, hats etc. I feel like we couldn’t just enjoy ourselves/people watch/take it in. If we ever go again it will be a different time.

We went June 15-21, 2019 and felt the same way. Too hot, too wet, and too crowded. We went again Dec 16-20 and the crowds and weather were much better. We weren't spending all our time trying to stay cool and dry! I won't ever go again in summer.

 

[rdaky]

We rope drop a lot, too. That helps with both the lines and the heat in June.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

My son is in 3rd now and around 2nd was when our vacation habits changed. Longer stays became more difficult due to school, sports, etc... so these days we’ll do a few smaller long weekend trips around holidays and such... and a longer trip in the summer if possible. Obviously an AP helps. But it has changed how we approach things and ‘forces’ us into certain windows.

But to your question, I personally really like summer crowds. Summer generally has longer park hours and warm weather keeps people out/about during all hours of the day. Working around weather is always a challenge, but sometimes can be beneficial for clearing parks and rides (it can of course cause chaos too).

 

[glocon]

Maybe try a different touring strategy if you do decide to go in June. If you normally rope drop, try sleeping in and hanging at the pool til afternoon, then going to the parks. Or if you’re normally afternoon tourers, try rope drop til early afternoon then head back to the resort and pool time. Maybe something different will make it work better for you.

 

[lovethattink]

If you can handle August heat and humidity, you can handle June. They feel about the same. Schools start back in August, but their out in June. So you'll have more crowds. Our schools end in May and start back up in August.

Be sure to follow the Rise of the Resistence threads. There is a chart showing recent trends. For example, over Christmas and New Years, boarding groups were filled by 6:30 am. But opening weeks, it was filled by 8am.

 

[CalSea12]

I have been in June and honestly didnt think it was that bad as long as you can handle the heat. The crowds for me were pretty much the same as any other time I have gone in the last 5 years. Sure a long time ago other months like Sept and Oct were slower.. but I dont feel it's that way anymore. October is now crowded!

As for the taking him out of school... well coming from a teacher and parent perspective a lot can be missed in a week. Will it be the end all no... but a lot can be missed in a week.

 

[Little E]

We used to pull our kids for Disney trips when they were younger, so we could avoid more crowded times of the year, but like you, we no longer pull our kids. Too hard, too much is missed, too much to make up, too stressful for my kiddos. I completely get where you are coming from.

We went at exactly the same time that you are proposing in June, in 2017, and we LOVED it! Yes, it was hot. Yes, it was more crowded than the other times we have done Disney trips (January, February, March, and May) but it was lovely, all the same. We went knowing it would be hot, and we carried cooling towels, we drank a lot of water, took frequent breaks in air conditioned spots, and we followed the tried-and-true plan of getting up early and hitting the parks and hopping back to our hotel (POFQ) after lunch for a swim and a nap, and then hit the parks again late in the afternoon until we were tired in the evenings. These strategies worked well for us, and we would go back in June in a heartbeat!

I think if you approach a June trip with the expectation that it will be hot and a bit more crowded, and have a plan in place, you will have a very magical trip! I'd vote for giving a June trip a try!

 

[FastPasser.]

Being at WDW from May through Sept at WDW is out from me. Did it many, many times and will never do it again.

 

[Amy11401]

I am following because we will probably be going in June 2021. Except it will probably be closer to late June. DH and I are both teachers and we don't get out next year until about June 17 depending on snow days....sucks so late! Anyway we took off in October 2018 to go so we could avoid the heat but there was a heatwave when we were there and the actual temperatures were in the upper 90s and the feels like temperatures were over 100. So we figure we kind of already experienced the summer temperatures and survived. We also went in October so I am not sure there will really be much differences in crowd levels. I am alittle worried about rain though because we had barely any rain when we went in October but worried it could be very different in June.