When shall we go?

[angelkk]

Last year, we went with DD2 in late March and stayed at POFQ. It was so packed.

Uponing planning our trip in 2007, I wonder if we should go in:

1). Early Jan (too late?)
2). Early May (take a week off from school)
3). November?

Any comments?

 

[julsmom]

Go in Early May (b/c that's when we will be there!)

My friend went in January and had a great time but alot of their pics have them in sweatshirts.

I say, buy a 10 day ticket and save 2 days for the end of the year also. We are going to try that for MNSSHP next year.

 

[OKWMom]

Can I vote for all three? Seriously, it depends on what is most important to you. January has relatively low crowds, but the weather can be quite cold and that is when a lot of the attraction rehab is done. I understand the first week of May also has relatively low crowds, but I don't know if you can take a week off from school. You didn't specify when in November, but Jersey week and right around Thanksgiving are packed.

 

[biggroofy]

I am a Canadian and I believe January in Orlando should be much warmer than Toronto

January seems to be a good choice (value season?) but if you are taking dining plan, you have to check availability of the restaurants.

 

[jldunbar]

Last year, we went with DD2 in late March and stayed at POFQ. It was so packed.

Uponing planning our trip in 2007, I wonder if we should go in:

1). Early Jan (too late?)
2). Early May (take a week off from school)
3). November?

Any comments?

I was also at the POFQ the last 10 days of March 2006 and did not feel it was packed at all. Were you refering to POFQ or the parks?

I have also been the last week of Sept into the first week of Oct - resort occupancy was about the same but the parks were not as busy - based on this I would probably say November though not aroun Thanksgiving.

 

[dixiedizfan]

Early May and November will have much better and warmer weather. If you go in January, wait til the second week, because the first week is crowded.

 

[frndofpooh]

I'd say the first week in May. Crowds are low and the weather is warm but not sweltering.

 

[JennyDrake]

We go almost every year January 3-10 (or something like that. LOW crowds. Very low. Almost no waits. Weather can be quite variable.

 

[mom22boys]

We went in early February and had a great visit, but somedays were quite chilly. Our highest temperature was between 65 and 70 with some days only having a high of 55.

We went in early November and had beautiful weather. The sun set early and the evenings were beautiful. The parks were a little crowded due to "jersey week," but with careful planning our lines were very managable.

In 2007 we are taking our oldest DS out of kindergarten and our youngest DS out of preschool (he only goes on Tuesdays and Thursdays for 2 1/2 hours) to head to WDW May 12-19. I do not feel guilty in the least for taking them out of school. Before I was a stay at home mom, I was a teacher. I know DS will be fine missing a week of kindergarten. Anyway we are chosing May for the, hopefully cross our fingers and wish for some pixie dust , beautiful weather and moderate crowds. We also chose May because the parks will be open later than they were in November and the sun will be setting a little later giving us more time to enjoy the parks!

Good luck with your decision!

 

[Yzerbear19]

Last year my sister and I went in late April/early May for my 25th birthday and it was quite crowded. There was some sort of band convention or competition going on so there were large numbers of school kids.

We're going in mid-January in 2007 for my sister's 25th birthday. And like someone else said, Orlando in January is bound to be better than Michigan in January! It could be 50 degrees, but thats shorts weather up here! Plus January is the value season so it would be cheaper. But you also have to think about how old your children are. Where I live the high school and junior high's midterm exams are usually in January.

Whenever you go it should be fun!

 

[biras jim]

I'm a big fan of low numbers ... have been in early February and September -- much preferred over my March visits with the associated crowds ... for my money, you just can't beat walking on the rides, most of the day

 

[angelkk]

Thanks Everyone!

I am a bit more towards early May (or early Jan) now. My little DD is just 3 years old, going to half-day school. Her teacher said it is ok to take her out from school for a week. If early Jan I have the option to extend her Christmas vacation (say travel from Jan 5 - 12), but in May I have to take a solid week off.

If we go in Jan
Pro - cheaper (value season), lower crowds, extension of Christmas holidays
Cons - too late to book (resort, dining plan), cold/cool weather?

If we go in May
Pro - nice weather (but more rainfalls?), more time for planning?
Cons - a little more expensive, crowds?

jldunbar, we were in POFQ during Mar 16-24 this year. The resort was not packed, but the theme parks were. Especially my DD2 needs to take afternoon naps, we were really running out of times - queuing up for 120 mins to take picture with Little Mermaid, even It's a small Word requires 65 mins queue....

 

[biggroofy]

Thanks Everyone
If we go in Jan
Pro - cheaper (value season), lower crowds, extension of Christmas holidays
Cons - too late to book (resort, dining plan), cold/cool weather?

I really doubted if there will be less crowd, if u are going in first week of Jan. I think that the Christmas crowds may still be there, plus beginning of value seasons...just a thought.