What's the best time of year to visit?

[rosiejo]

Ok guys - I need some help...

For our last three trips we have travelled out on November 3rd or 4th... this year I want to upgrade to a couple of annual passes so we need to make a trip in 2007 that gets us home before November 4th.

So my question to you all is... when's the best time to travel to the World between January and end of October?

I'd be grateful if you could tell me:

1 The best month (break it down to certain weeks if you like)

2 What is the weather like? (How much sun/rain?)

3 What are the crowds like? (average length of time to queue for a ride)

4 Why you think it's the best time of year to visit


It'll just be DH and I travelling - no kids - we do have some restrictions on travel times but pretend we don't just to make it simple

Thanks in advance everyone - can't wait to read your thoughts

 

[gilld]

Well, we have been July, August, September(last year), December and January so I can really only speak about them from personal experience.

We LOVED September - it was hot but not boiling like the summer, it was humid, but not terribly so and we only had rain once, the parks were EMPTY - the longest we queued was 10 minutes for Soarin'.
We went the last two weeks of September - the first two are a little busier and then it gets busy again as the F and W festival starts.

For us July and August were too hot, too humid and too busy. December was too cold, too wet and too busy, and January was too cold and wet also though quiet.

I don't know if that helps at all

 

[Gonz Of Lancashire]

Only ever been in January and February. We found the weather pleasant and the parks quiet. However one time our second week coincided with Presidents Week, horrific! everywhere was packed, so I advise avoiding US holiday weeks, they are as bad as people tell you.

 

[Hilary]

We've been in March, early April, July, October, early November and over New Year.

Of those, our favouirtes are March/ April or October for the weather, with October being nicer (warmer later into the evening) the times we've visited. However, we've had mixed trips weather-wise, with some March trips being quite cool and wet and one October trip being stormy for a couple of days. On the whole, though, both srping and autumn have been warm and dry without being too hot or humid.

Crowds have been varied within those times - avoid Easter and the weeks around it ti miss the worst crowds. October has the F&W festival which draws the crowds, but we enjoy the festival, so are happy to work around the crowds as best we can.

If I could choose any time at all, I'd go in October

 

[JohnnySharp2]

We have been in March, April, May, June, August , September and October.

Our future trips have to now be in the summer holidays.

Of the months we have been I would say late April (missing Easter) and October offer the ideal combination of fairly low crowds and nice weather without being too hot. So if I was able to choose, either of these would be my 1st choice.

The early months can find the weather a bit unpredictable, last March for example we had far too much rain and the mornings were very chilly - as we do like the weather to be nice I wouldn't personally go between January and March.
Naturally June through September it can be very hot indeed, if you are not restricted to school holidays avoid July, hot and busy (shame 'cos that is when we are going next year!)...in addition August which is when we go next (just over 8 weeks to go) whilst very hot is not bad at all crowd-wise especially from the middle of the month when a lot of the US schools return.
So despite the high temps, you do gain a little with the crowds.

What we are starting to do now is go for longer, 3 weeks, so that we can pace ourselves a bit more.

You will also find that the flight prices are very high during holiday periods, especially at Easter and the summer months.

Overall I would choose either late April-early May or October.

 

[ely3857]

Personally I am a big fan of early October, just make sure you miss the UK half term week.



Jodie

 

[rosiejo]

Just bumping up

October is looking popular at the moment... any one want to give me a time you think is better?

:

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

IF NO KIDS AT SCHOOL
1 The best month (break it down to certain weeks if you like)
OCTOBER, for Halloween, good weather low ride wait times
MAY Hot first three weeks before Witsun bank holiday and Gay week at MK
2 What is the weather like? (How much sun/rain?)
OCTOBER Like a english summers day, not too hot, May very hot, I went for 21 days in May ones and it only rained on the last day.
3 What are the crowds like? (average length of time to queue for a ride)
Both reasonable far better thaqn school holidays
4 Why you think it's the best time of year to visit
October for Halloween Mickeys Halloween party just great May most things running but still rides ok.

If you haver kids the latest you can go in August, beware Hirricaines but USA kids go back uicker than us and lots of UK people do Disney first then coast, do it in reverse,

 

[Scottish-Helen]

My favourite time would be the week right before your passes run out flying out around the 28th. This week gets you in before the Jersey Week crowds(hardly any waits), you are there for Halloween and the weather is warm without being too hot. We went at the end of April first week of May this year and it was a nice time too but I still prefer that last week of October

 

[UKDEB]

Historically, October has been our favourite time for both weather and crowds, but it's getting busier and busier. Now that the International Food and Wine Festival has been extended (mid September - mid October) my choice would be the first two weeks of November. From a flight price point of view, you definitely need to avoid the UK half term as we've found out to our cost this year.

I realise that doesn't fit in with your requirements (i.e. getting you home before 4 November), so I would have to say the two weeks leading up to that, albeit that I think you'll have to shop around to get some acceptable flight prices. No point getting the trip in to save money on the APs if you just hand it out on increased flight prices.

 

[Hilary]

No point getting the trip in to save money on the APs if you just hand it out on increased flight prices.

Excellent point!

 

[minnie29uk]

Hi!
May and Sep have been the best times for me...
Very little queueing...none on many occasions
Weather great - not too hot,just right and not as many insects
Getting flights for £200 each as non busy
Get the most for your money and all the advantages I reckon,

Lynn

 

[carolfoy]

Definately early to mid october!

 

[travelitis]

Living here in FL, I have to vote for Oct. I think it's our best weather, and the crowds are light. You'd be able to catch MNSSHP, too. I've been almost every month this last year, btw. Sept. can still be really hot. We have to keep Halloween costumes light in case it's in the 90's, too. November nights can be cold, and you'd want to avoid the 3rd week which is our Thanksgiving. Even our family who came down from Minnesota got cold during November evenings, lest you think I may be too thin-skinned.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Just bumping up

October is looking popular at the moment... any one want to give me a time you think is better?

:

I think as many of us have said October is the best time to go.

 

[rosiejo]

albeit that I think you'll have to shop around to get some acceptable flight prices. No point getting the trip in to save money on the APs if you just hand it out on increased flight prices.

Following all your feedback - and some from friends I cheked out prices for LAte April and October... and yup you've guessed it! It costs £200 - £400 more for each of us to fly out at that time... so it's cheaper for us to buy a UK 14 day pass and stick to the first two weeks in November!

Thanks for all the help and advice everyone - I really appreciate it