Ugh...It was great while it lasted

[bumbershoot]

Isn't July/August when the obnoxious tour groups are prominent?

I don't think so. Jan/Feb has been the big one for them in our experience.

 

[Westcoastwild]

I'd rather pluck my eyeballs out with a spoon than deal with summer heat. I'm pure misery when I'm hot. Isn't July/August when the obnoxious tour groups are prominent? Maybe social media getting the word out that they're present during that time is chasing people away.

The heat's not that horrible. I don't like the humidity and it definitely changed my touring style...BUT there is A/C everywhere. I've been to a Disney park in the 30s-40s as well, and that was a lot less fun. I got more done faster, but standing in line makes you colder. Standing in line during the summer improves life- cold water, fans, a/c! I don't think I could do wwd during a january cold snap.

As for the tour groups, they're also prominent whenever their summer break is (which is also our winter) but I think with the financial issues and general economic depression outside of the Us, the numbers of tour groups are falling off pretty fast.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I don't think so. Jan/Feb has been the big one for them in our experience.

My brother went in July a while back and he said it was horrible. Seriously, Jan/Feb? That's when my folks wanted to go. They haven't been in a couple years....kinda surprised they even mentioned wanting to go again. If there's one thing I've learned it's not to pass up opportunities to make memories. It's likely they won't want to be in the parks very long at any given time so I guess it'll still be okay. If I could just get my dad to fly I'd haul them out to California. LOL!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

The heat's not that horrible. I don't like the humidity and it definitely changed my touring style...BUT there is A/C everywhere. I've been to a Disney park in the 30s-40s as well, and that was a lot less fun. I got more done faster, but standing in line makes you colder. Standing in line during the summer improves life- cold water, fans, a/c! I don't think I could do wwd during a january cold snap.

As for the tour groups, they're also prominent whenever their summer break is (which is also our winter) but I think with the financial issues and general economic depression outside of the Us, the numbers of tour groups are falling off pretty fast.

Where I live (near Galveston, TX) our climate is very similar to Central Florida. And I grew up in Central Florida. As a kid we were not allowed outside to play between 10 am & 4 pm during the summer because of the heat. Too dangerous. I've had heat exhaustion so I don't tolerate heat well at all. It makes me physically ill....and extremely unhappy. I have no idea how I'm going to deal with mid-September this year. Likely we'll do an hour or so in the morning then stay out of parks until late afternoon.

Good to hear about the tour groups attendance falling off pretty fast. There's hope for the trip with my parents in January.

 

[Westcoastwild]

My brother went in July a while back and he said it was horrible. Seriously, Jan/Feb? That's when my folks wanted to go. They haven't been in a couple years....kinda surprised they even mentioned wanting to go again. If there's one thing I've learned it's not to pass up opportunities to make memories. It's likely they won't want to be in the parks very long at any given time so I guess it'll still be okay. If I could just get my dad to fly I'd haul them out to California. LOL!

The later in the month, the less bad it will be, probably. My roommates in NYC were cast members returning home (Brazilians) because it was near the end of their summer break and that was late January. It probably varies from school to school but they said January and late summer (our summer) were the big ones because of their school breaks. It's quincenera and apparently a lot of the attraction is that the tours are/were cheaper than the huge party they'd get otherwise.

The groups were kind of irritating but either they were fewer when I went last July or they just bothered me less than your brother. I just didn't get in the lines they were headed towards.

 

[Sue M]

Just a thought OP, have you considered any of the Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels? Mousesavers.com freq have discount codes for some of these resorts, especially B Resort and The Doubletree Suites. You still feel like you're in the bubble, can walk to Disney Springs, many of the resorts have theme park view rooms. They have bus shuttles running every 30 min.
We stayed at The Doubletree once for just a little more than a Disney value resort, that incl free breakfast buffet. And it was a 1 bdrm suite.
I hear you about Disney resort price hikes and the AP price hike.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

I was hoping to book one last trip before our annual passes expired. Our financial circumstances have changed slightly and I've enjoyed probably 20+Disney trips over the last 5 years. I started frequenting Disney 5 years ago when bounceback offers flowed like water, room rates were super low, and there were actually some slow park days. It really was awesome. It looks like those days are long gone....

I can't find any rooms in October or November. The only rooms available are well over $400 a night. I've never spent over $280 a night and I've stayed at places like Old Key West and Saratoga Springs. (Well except a splurge at BC for a couple nights). I just can't fathom spending $3500 for a week in a hotel. I'm so sad. I mean congrats to Disney. Glad business is booming. I just can't bring myself to do it. Maybe I'll get lucky and an AP discount will come out soon. I'll keep looking. Maybe I'll hit the lottery...

Thanks for letting me vent.

Have you considered staying off site? We have APs too (will activate in July). We are staying on site this summer, but I anticipate going off site if room rates and availability are cray cray whenever we want to go. I know off site is not for everyone, but $500 p/n is enough to give even an addict like me pause

 

[margot31]

What about looking off property like Wyndham bonnet creek? Yes its not DISNEY....but you are still on property. With AP you get free parking. But if you don't already drive you will have to rent a car.

I was against this idea but I was able to get a trip for under 1000 in a 2 bedroom unit for 8 nights. To me that is amazing.

I was all about being at a disney resort I really was but my husband said we can't go to disney if we stay on property cause the room rates and our family and all is not going to happen. And we get some great deals being FL resident and military. But I am sold on that sometimes you have to make a compromise to get other major things we want.

 

[Farro]

Late in October had a lot of availability for mods/values. Look around 10/25 and past.

 

[msb578]

What about looking off property like Wyndham bonnet creek? Yes its not DISNEY....but you are still on property. With AP you get free parking. But if you don't already drive you will have to rent a car.

I was against this idea but I was able to get a trip for under 1000 in a 2 bedroom unit for 8 nights. To me that is amazing.

I was all about being at a disney resort I really was but my husband said we can't go to disney if we stay on property cause the room rates and our family and all is not going to happen. And we get some great deals being FL resident and military. But I am sold on that sometimes you have to make a compromise to get other major things we want.

I'm a fan of the Disney resorts. But, we tried Bonnet Creek this year, and we all loved it. Given the price and space comparison, I don't think there's any going back to a Disney hotel room for us. Even renting DVC is at least twice the cost of Bonnet Creek.

 

[MainMom]

Tour groups are much fewer now due to their economy. However, I have toured in the summer with them and have had no problems, but I also didn't stay where they stayed.

We have been to WDW the past 2 summers. The only other times we are available to travel is during school breaks and the prices are nuts compared to summer (although we are throwing around the idea of a spring break trip 3rd week of March next year.) This summer just DD and I are headed to WDW at the end of July. I'm hoping the low crowd trends of June continue through July. The heat doesn't bother us. We are rope drop, take a break, park hop in the afternoon travelers. It works out well for us.

 

[Dis703]

I'd rather pluck my eyeballs out with a spoon than deal with summer heat. I'm pure misery when I'm hot. Isn't July/August when the obnoxious tour groups are prominent? Maybe social media getting the word out that they're present during that time is chasing people away.

Maybe we need to start some online rumors about terrible crowds and tour groups in the fall to counteract this trend?

And I'm totally with you on the summer weather. I don't think I could be paid to go to Florida in the summertime and I grew up there.

 

[Shanti]

The heat's not that horrible. I don't like the humidity and it definitely changed my touring style...BUT there is A/C everywhere. I've been to a Disney park in the 30s-40s as well, and that was a lot less fun. I got more done faster, but standing in line makes you colder. Standing in line during the summer improves life- cold water, fans, a/c! I don't think I could do wwd during a january cold snap.

Yes, to all of this. I'm from central Texas, and I like to tell people here that I go to Disney World every summer to cool off. Yes, it's hot, sunny & humid in Florida, but it isn't anywhere near 105 degrees like we often get back home. And naturally, the exact weekend in January 2016 that I took my mother on a weekend getaway to WDW so she could visit there with her grandson, Orlando had a major cold snap where the wind chill drove temps into the 30's while we were there. We had an overall good trip but the weather was horrible. Being tightly bundled up in blankets waiting for Wishes is one memory, shivering with cold wind blowing over Bay Lake onto us as we boated to and from Fort Wilderness for Hoop Dee Doo is another. Never again! I'll take some heat any day before spending hours outdoors in the cold.

 

[mco65]

Tour groups are much fewer now due to their economy. However, I have toured in the summer with them and have had no problems, but I also didn't stay where they stayed.

We have been to WDW the past 2 summers. The only other times we are available to travel is during school breaks and the prices are nuts compared to summer (although we are throwing around the idea of a spring break trip 3rd week of March next year.) This summer just DD and I are headed to WDW at the end of July. I'm hoping the low crowd trends of June continue through July. The heat doesn't bother us. We are rope drop, take a break, park hop in the afternoon travelers. It works out well for us.

Heat affects everyone differently. I remember the one time we went with another family to DISNEY in SEPT.. had a great time. We came home and i was talking about our trip with some others and my buddy (other family member) mentioned how the heat was unbearable.. i said, i don't remember the heat.. it didn't effect me... at least not enough for me to remember but it was a big factor to him.. in SEP mind you..

That being said, we have never gone in JUNE/JULY/AUG but have gone every other month.. our next trip is being planned as we speak and right now, it is looking like Aug of 2018... i might just find out how much the heat bothers me.. or not.

 

[DaisyJ]

We technically could but we just got back in May. I wanted to space it out better. I really enjoy my area during the summer. I like camping and enjoying all the summer festivities. When the weather gets gloomy a break to Disney was always wonderful. I know I sound like a big baby but I'm going through some life changes and Disney might be out of my reach for awhile. I'm super happy with the direction things are going except this. I love Disney so much.

I'm sorry.

 

[piccolopat]

The Swan is showing availability in October at around $250 plus tax. Remember that there is a hefty parking fee if you have a car while you are there (we don't so that's not an issue for us).

 

[DaisyJ]

I'd rather pluck my eyeballs out with a spoon than deal with summer heat. I'm pure misery when I'm hot. Isn't July/August when the obnoxious tour groups are prominent? Maybe social media getting the word out that they're present during that time is chasing people away.

We are going in a couple weeks and I am really hoping the economic crash in Brazil makes the BTG's non-existent this summer!

 

[Planogirl]

Have you checked the Swan and Dolphin? I was poking around recently and noticed that the Swan came up in October. Of course that could have changed.

 

[DaisyJ]

I don't think so. Jan/Feb has been the big one for them in our experience.

Traditionally, January and July is when they're there (their Summer and Winter breaks).

 

[DaisyJ]

Yes, to all of this. I'm from central Texas, and I like to tell people here that I go to Disney World every summer to cool off. Yes, it's hot, sunny & humid in Florida, but it isn't anywhere near 105 degrees like we often get back home. And naturally, the exact weekend in January 2016 that I took my mother on a weekend getaway to WDW so she could visit there with her grandson, Orlando had a major cold snap where the wind chill drove temps into the 30's while we were there. We had an overall good trip but the weather was horrible. Being tightly bundled up in blankets waiting for Wishes is one memory, shivering with cold wind blowing over Bay Lake onto us as we boated to and from Fort Wilderness for Hoop Dee Doo is another. Never again! I'll take some heat any day before spending hours outdoors in the cold.

DS and I were at WDW in January of 2016. It was warmer at home (in Wisconsin!!) than it was in FL while we were there.