What determines when YOU visit WDW???

[obnurse2003]

You will all be happy to know that I do have to work a LOT this upcoming week so I won't be here as much!!! Me and my questions!!

What determines the time of year that you visit Disney? Do some of you have a tradition? Is it mostly your work schedule? Is there anyone who goes every Christmas?

I just think this is interesting. My sister is a teacher so it is only school breaks for her. I want to work there when I retire!!!

 

[AZKathy]

We vacation around when school is out. DS and DD are too old to take out for extended times like when they were younger. So, we go as soon as school gets out here and try to avoid all the large summer crowds since our schools get out in May.

 

[skiwee1]

We like to go during off season and when the weather is still warm but not too hot. Our twice yearly trips fall in May and October with the latter being our favorite. We love the MNSSHP and the weather is great. Crowds are next to nothing and we get to see and do everything in the lesser hours so that isn't a problem either. I will never do Disney in the winter or summer months because it has to be weather that is just right.

 

[Demosthenes]

We work around school schedules too, though for us, if the kids are out of school, we don't go. We only like trips when the crowds are small, and that means when kids are in school. My favorite times of year September and the two weeks after Thanksgiving.

 

[4greatboys]

We only go in the off season also. Now that 2 of the boys are older--high school and jr I try to find a time when they have off a couple of days from school--like a long weekend and then take them out 2-3 days so they dont miss to much.
So far it has worked out pretty good.

 

[Disneymoon04]

Previously I have only been in the summer since my parents used to take me when I was out of school. But I really think even though park hours were longer, we got less done because the heat and humidity really wears you down. Now we're going in late Winter for our honeymoon and even though the hours are shorter, I'm hoping to accomplish much. In the future, we will probably stick to times when the weather is around 85 or less.

 

[nataliesdaddy]

we don't have any set way of determining when we go - ladt time my fiance had a "Dentist's Continuing Ed" workshop in Orlando the weekend of the 14th and 15th. So we just made a week of it, showed up on the 8th and left the 15th - the CE days for her were only hal days anyway - and the rest of the time we got to play or lounge

Time before that was XMAS - mother lives in florida - had not seen her for a while - it was either take my little one to NYC because she wanted to "see the hole in the ground where I used to work" (THATS HOW MY DAUGHTER SAID IT) or we could go to Florida to see her grandmother - I wasn't going to Florida and spending an entire week with my mother at her house so we made reservations for all of us at WDW.

Before that when I was 21 I had a huge wad of money buirning a hole in my pocket so that made that decision

and the first trip when I was a kid was my grandfather wanting us to spoil us with WDW's opening year

from now on I imagine trips will be predicated on when I have an extra 3 to 7 grand. Probably a once a year event maybe once every 18 months.

 

[Gary M]

We go during the winter months, because it is cooler. We also pick the least crowed times in the winter.

 

[helenm29]

Hello there! I am one of those people who can't tolerate heat too well and really hates crowds so I try and go "off season". I have been during the summer and I have been during the fall...the fall was the best so far for weather if you don't mind a little rain but the crowds didn't seem to vary too much. We are trying December this year...we've been told that the crowds are way down and the weather is nice and cool. whatever you chose, HAVE FUN!

 

[disneyjunkie]

I plan trips around school breaks, there's no way I can take my son out of school for a week.

Our first trip was in August. It was very hot, but the heat doesn't bother us. Using EE and fastpass, we were able to do everything we wanted, many several times. The crowds were not bad because many of the schools in south were just opening.

 

[snuggles]

We aren't tired of your questions OBNurse. Thats what we are here for.

My dh and I both work at a school. He teaches I am a Paraprofessional. With our youngest still in high school, we can only go on school breaks.

 

[antmaril]

When my son was younger, we used to go in the off season. I would take him out of school for a few days without any problem. However, since middle school and now high school, we can't do that anymore. I have been twice in the summer (just returned a few days ago). I have to say I really hate going in the summer. It is so hot, humid and crowded, I can barely stand it. I'm not sure what I'll do the next time we go -- maybe my husband and I will go alone, so we can go whenever we want - which would be either January or a week or two before Christmas.

 

[geffric]

We too work around the school schedule.. can't take the boys out of scholl , they would miss too much and we live too far to do a long weekend at WDW. So we go in July or August.. We tried Xmas 1 year and it was too crowded for us.. We live spring break, last week of March, but my work schedule won't allow any time off last month of a quarter..so we go in July and August.

 

[jkovick]

Our vacations are largely determined by work schedules. We prefer to go during off season but will go anytime we get a good opportunity.

 

[grinningghost]

Has to be in summer. Graduation requirements in New York are brutal. Taking DD out of school would end up being torture for her.

 

[Pryncess'mom]

I am a teacher, and it is hard to get time off during the year! We only get 3 personal days. One year I did use two, in conjunction with teacher's convention, so we did a week in November, but usually it's summer. We like the summer. Being from South Jersey, we are used to heat and humidity, plus we like extended park hours, with the time to use pools at the resort! Money also plays into the picture. We usually manage every other year or so.

Deb

 

[Pat_Elliott]

We go whenever we can, end of story!

At this point, although our schedules are currently upside-down, we generally like to take our main trip in the fall, preferably September, due to low crowds, low costs, but the weather still being warm (to us, if it's not hot, it's not Florida). I"m a major September advocate.

I also take a yearly trip in early June, so I've been going then. Finally, we've taken to bopping down whever DW has a business trip anywhere below North Carolina. So I guess you could say weather, crowds, and cost drive the family visit, but anytime business dictates we'll be below the Mason/Dixon line, we think about it.

With DD coming on in a month, we feel fairly sure all that's going to change. But crowds and costs are our major thing.

Pat

 

[hellow]

Our parameters for going (in this order) are:

1. When the kids aren't in school (high school/middle school)
2. When it is not too hot (we are spoiled living in the Northwest)
3. When there are less crowds.

Unfortunately, that usually means spring break, where we have to spend a lot more. But, it is worth it!

 

[supercarrie]

We work around my school schedule. I will be a senior in high school this year. It is too hard to miss class unless I am going on an official school-sponsored trip, where they give you the assignments in advance. (I take all AP classes.) Our three trips to WDW have been in April 2001 for spring break, January 2002 for winter break (the first week of Jan.) and a couple weeks ago, so July 2003. I am hoping to go again next October (several of the colleges I am applying to have fall breaks.)

 

[PamNC]

We usually go each year for Memorial week. We leave the Saturday before Memorial Day and come back the next Saturday. Why then? We think it's a great way to kick-off the summer, the International Flower & Garden Festival is still going on, and many schools throughout the country are still in session so it's not too terribly crowded.

Sometimes we go on a second, usually shorter, trip and when that occurs depends on my husband's work. Sometimes we visit at or right after Thanksgiving so we can enjoy the Christmas decorations and Kick-off the Christmas season. What a way to get into the spirit. We've also gone for our anniversary, which is August 12. And, we've gone once in September, which was really really nice.

Never been earlier than Memorial Day.

Fun Thread!

PamNC