what month?? I always go in Dec

[missymagic]

I don't know what to plan for our next trip. My girls 5 & 8 are getting older and they want to help plan the trips. They decided they want to be able to go to a water park. I always go the second week in Dec but Usually in December it is a little to chilly for me to go to a water park. Yes the key word was ME. They would go in if it was 50 outside. I do not want to go over a holiday or busy time. Any suggestions??? Sept is out I cant take them out the first month. Open for ideas....

 

[erikthewise]

The slowest times are January and September. The best time is early December. But if you don't want those, I'd suggest sometime in May or October. I've never been in May, but October is great because of the Food & Wine festival and MNSSHP.

 

[Aneille]

Maybe in May and take them out near the end of school?

We went last year the week of May 22 and it wasn't so bad for crowds.

I've never gone in the summer so I have no idea what that would be like for crowd level but I am sure it would be more than I am used to.

 

[cheerbop]

I know it isn't any warmer than Dec but we are going to try Jan or Feb next time.
Everyone says early Dec is a Slow time and it was Not slow this year...
Several of the hotels were sold out and sometimes the parks were nuts.
We were quite disappointed to go (at least we got to see the Christmas decors) and have it be so busy (we went 11th-18th).

I also have heard that earlier in May is not so bad.

 

[CarolMN]

Go to one of the weather websites and take a look at the averages. It will give you a better idea of when it will likely be warm enough for you to swim, LOL.

Best wishes -

P.S. I'd suggest late September or anytime in October, late April (if it's not one of the week surrounding Easter) or May. Assume you don't want to go in the summer time. Late August is a pretty good time (very hot, though), but most Southern schools are back in session then and crowds aren't as much a factor as they might be in June ,July or the first half of August).

 

[disney-super-mom]

You could try the week before Thanksgiving. It might be warm enough for you to swim, and the crowds may be a little lighter.

We try to go that time of year (the week before Thanksgiving) because at my son's school, that's the week for parent/teacher conferences, so the kids are only in school half days that week anyway.

When do they have parent/teacher conferences at your kids school, and are they half days during that week?

Other than that, I would suggest a week in October. Pulling kids out of school for a week at that age isn't so bad. It's when they get older (junior high and high school) where it can become more of a problem. Take advantage of those elementary school years while you can!

 

[spiceycat]

when are the school breaks?

if Dec is too cold for you to swim then I would think March would be also.

May-Aug is probably your best bid.

 

[2giddy4wdw]

We go right after Thanksgiving for the following week and we have been to the water parks a number of times. And it's been 65-70. Granted I'm from upstate NY so it's warm to us. The water is heated so it's not cold. Good luck deciding.

 

[missymagic]

I usually take the girls out of school when we go in Dec so that isn't a problem. Yes we have conference the week before Thanksgiving so I guess that is a possibility. I have gone in Oct and Sept before I had the girls and it was always beautiful. I would prefer to have them a little more settled in school before taking them out at that point.

I know Easter break is horrible time to go but I guess I need to sit and figure if their is a time in maybe April or May that other schools don't have time off or Holiday from abroad.

Anyone any info on these Months??? I hate changing I look forward to Christmas but I guess they are growing up and I need to change too.....mmmmmhhhh

 

[bridgemanva]

Once our son entered elementary school we were used to going in November for "Jersey Week" or the week before Thankgiving and the week before Memorial Day -- both holiday weeks are great weeks--weather wise and the parks are gearing up for extended hours so things are open longer part of the time so planning allows you to do the "POPULAR" attractions during the slower days. Once he entered middle school we began going for spring break but we continued with Thanksgiving Week. That week many of the students' families in our area travel; we feel family time is as important as school and make sure work is taken with us and plan in advance.

Our son is currently a sophmore in high school and it's worked well so far. We are having another large family gathering in WDW next Thanksgiving. As for after, that he's doing spring break abroad so DH & I are considering cruising or Vegas (never been there)--the following Thanksgiving the jury is still out. Senior year it might be tough unless he does early admission for college.
Time does fly, but with DS growing up with DVC it has given us wonderful memories, opportunities and experiences which I don't think we'd have had otherwise.

 

[gjw007]

I have been going the week before Xmas for the last 10 years. That is not going to change for me. I enjoy Xmas in Orlando. For the last 3 or 4 years, I have been going in May. It is much warmer, so if swimming is your main objective, it will work out. In addition, if your kids enjoy Stars Wars, in late May there are the Star Wars weekends at MGM. That area of the park was extremely busy but other than that, crowds were not an issue. I will be in Orlando from May 19 to June 2 as I have found this to be a good time to visit Orlando. In the future, I would like to visit around Halloween and Thanksgiving but they are so close to my annual Xmas trip.

 

[missymagic]

They usually have early dismissal the week before Easter for conferences. Is this time crazy busy does everyone else have the same time off???

 

[cheerbop]

Noone around here (ohio) has that time off before Easter or Spring Break....

 

[mom2alix]

October is great for weather and you can do the MNSSHP which is a lot of fun!