When is the best time to go?

[angelat]

So, we postponed our August trip this year and want to go next year. Preferably earlier rather than later.

My question is...when is the earliest (in terms of months) that it is warm enough to go swimming? Would that be April for the most part? We went last April, but were hit with a cold spell while we were there and it didn't warm up until our last 2 - 2 1/2 days. Our kids are in two different schools and I do know that one of them has off the whole week before Easter usually, while the other is off for a couple days before Easter. Easter is April 4th next year. I think I already know the answer to this, but is this a really bad time to go??? My DS wants it to be warm enough to swim, but not scorching hot and humid.
I'm so torn! We stayed offsite last year and were planning that for our next trip as well. Our DD just turned 10 and DS will be 12 in November, so it's a little more difficult to find accomodations at WDW to fit our needs which is why we stay offsite. So, offers like Free Dining won't affect when we go really.

Any thoughts???

 

[Darcy03231]

So, we postponed our August trip this year and want to go next year. Preferably earlier rather than later.

My question is...when is the earliest (in terms of months) that it is warm enough to go swimming? Would that be April for the most part? We went last April, but were hit with a cold spell while we were there and it didn't warm up until our last 2 - 2 1/2 days. Our kids are in two different schools and I do know that one of them has off the whole week before Easter usually, while the other is off for a couple days before Easter. Easter is April 4th next year. I think I already know the answer to this, but is this a really bad time to go??? My DS wants it to be warm enough to swim, but not scorching hot and humid.
I'm so torn! We stayed offsite last year and were planning that for our next trip as well. Our DD just turned 10 and DS will be 12 in November, so it's a little more difficult to find accomodations at WDW to fit our needs which is why we stay offsite. So, offers like Free Dining won't affect when we go really.

Any thoughts???

Around Easter is the worst time to go! There were threads on the Theme Parks and Strategies board showing crowd pictures - people were packed in like sardines. MK was closed three days in a row due to crowd capacity. There's no way you could pay me enough to go at Easter. I was just there the last week of April and the weather was great and crowds were light to moderate. My favorite times to go are the last week in April through mid-May and in October. Weather's great and crowds are light to moderate.

 

[TruBlu]

We were there March 27 - April 4 this year. We swam, but it really was borderline warm enough. We were FREEZING when we got out. I had to sit right in the sun to dry off, and I was still a little cold.

I'm thinking that if you want to do waterparks and night swimming it might be better to go mid to late April or even later.

 

[Kallista]

My question is...when is the earliest (in terms of months) that it is warm enough to go swimming?

My kids swam in Orlando in early February, but they were really working for it. I didn't get in with them because it was just too cold.

If I were trying to work around Easter, I would go at least 2 weeks before the week of the holiday or two weeks after. Early May is usually great, but some people think it's too hot.

 

[a1tinkfans]

So, we postponed our August trip this year and want to go next year. Preferably earlier rather than later.

My question is...when is the earliest (in terms of months) that it is warm enough to go swimming? Would that be April for the most part? We went last April, but were hit with a cold spell while we were there and it didn't warm up until our last 2 - 2 1/2 days. Our kids are in two different schools and I do know that one of them has off the whole week before Easter usually, while the other is off for a couple days before Easter. Easter is April 4th next year. I think I already know the answer to this, but is this a really bad time to go??? My DS wants it to be warm enough to swim, but not scorching hot and humid.
I'm so torn! We stayed offsite last year and were planning that for our next trip as well. Our DD just turned 10 and DS will be 12 in November, so it's a little more difficult to find accomodations at WDW to fit our needs which is why we stay offsite. So, offers like Free Dining won't affect when we go really.

Any thoughts???

I say, go when you can afford to go both financially and able to school "pull" but April is CROWDED! As far as swimming, april is usually warm, but weird weather happens, like this year.....
Was wondering why you said that your kids are 10 and 12 and you stay off site because it is difficult for accommodations??? Not sure I follow, actually I find staying off sight, more work and more time, between parking, driving, so I was just curious, if your so inclined to elaborate.
Whenever you get to go, have a great time!!

 

[liznboys]

After reading the threads this year about how insane it was around Easter, I would not go then if you have a choice. It was busier at Easter than it was during Christmas week (which is when we went last)!! I would choose the hotter summer (when you KNOW you'll be able to swim) over the crowded Easter time. Good luck deciding!

 

[TruBlu]

Was wondering why you said that your kids are 10 and 12 and you stay off site because it is difficult for accommodations??? Not sure I follow, actually I find staying off sight, more work and more time, between parking, driving, so I was just curious, if your so inclined to elaborate.
Whenever you get to go, have a great time!!

I'm guessing because one is a boy and one is a girl. I'm sure they don't want to sleep together, and most Disney accommodations are just 2 beds.

 

[angelat]

I say, go when you can afford to go both financially and able to school "pull" but April is CROWDED! As far as swimming, april is usually warm, but weird weather happens, like this year.....
Was wondering why you said that your kids are 10 and 12 and you stay off site because it is difficult for accommodations??? Not sure I follow, actually I find staying off sight, more work and more time, between parking, driving, so I was just curious, if your so inclined to elaborate.
Whenever you get to go, have a great time!!

I'm guessing because one is a boy and one is a girl. I'm sure they don't want to sleep together, and most Disney accommodations are just 2 beds.

Yes, it's because one is a boy and one is a girl. Most of the accomodations at disney are two beds. We originally looked at AKL because they had bunkbeds, but for what we could get a 3 br condo for offsite it didn't make sense to choose AKL. I'm going to weigh all my options for next year though. Now I know (I didn't for our 1st trip) that there was ME and that you could take the bus to/from resorts to parks. Although we all really like the extra space that the condo provides. But I will definitely check everything out before our next trip.

Thanks for all the responses so far!