When to go - Help please!

[Bilboo]

Hi Everyone,

Now we're in the New Year I can finally say we're going back to Florida next year, this time with my son in tow! We've had to 'slum it' in DLP (can I say that!) the last few years until we considered him old enough for the travel and to be able to enjoy Florida.

I know this is starting my planning early but I need to make a major decision quite soon regarding the time of year we're going to visit, and I hope you lot can help.

Basically we'd like to avoid the crowds (before school starts in 2007) plus the hot weather (we visited in July/August in 2000 and nearly melted!), so the three choices come down to:-

- Late April/Early May 2006
- October 2006
- Late Nov/Early Dec 2006

We've been late April/early May before in 2001 and the weather and crowds we're much more to our liking, but early Dec does have the draw of the start of the Christmas season.

Any advice regarding weathers, crowds and general ambience at these times of year would be gratefully received. My son will be 3y8m in April 2006 (and 4y3m in December) in case that effects the advice given.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Haitch]

Q: What are the busiest and least busy times of the year?

A: Although special events and promotions may influence our Theme Park attendance levels, the following list highlights historic attendance trends throughout the year:

Lowest Attendance:
January (except New Year's Day) through mid-February
The first week in September through mid-November
The first three weeks of December prior to Christmas

Moderate Attendance:
Mid-February through early March
Late April through early June (except Memorial Day weekend -- last weekend in May)

Highest Attendance:
U.S. Presidents' week in mid-February
Mid-March through late April (U.S. school Spring Break)
Last weekend in May (U.S. Memorial Day holiday)
Mid-June through beginning of September
U.S. Thanksgiving Day (last Thursday in November) and weekend
Christmas week through New Year's Day

Also, during regular attendance periods, our Parks tend to be the busiest on the following days:

Magic Kingdom Park: Monday, Thursday, and Saturday
Epcot: Tuesday and Friday
Disney-MGM Studios: Sunday and Wednesday
Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

Q: What is the weather like?

A: Florida weather is generally good, but can be unpredictable. Here you will find climate information for different times of the year:

Maximum
Temperature (F/C)
Minimum
Temperature (F/C)
Precipitation
(inches/cm)

January
71 / 22
49 / 9
2.3 / 5.8

February
73 / 23
50 / 10
3.0 / 7.6

March
78 / 26
55 / 13
3.2 / 8.1

April
83 / 28
59 / 15
1.8 / 4.6

May
88 / 31
66 / 19
3.6 / 9.1

June
91 / 33
72 / 22
7.3 / 18.5

July
92 / 33
73 / 23
7.2 / 18.3

August
92 / 33
73 / 23
6.8 / 17.3

September
90 / 32
72 / 22
6.0 / 15.2

October
85 / 29
66 / 18
2.4 / 6.1

November
79 / 26
58 / 14
2.3 / 5.8

December
73 / 23
51 / 11
2.2 / 5.6

 

[lucy_love_]

hello

we went 2004 sep 13-27. it was fantastic. not busy at all. no queues. we walked on most rides with no queue and the weather was glorious still. even the big rides we got on pretty much straight away. we made pms but in the end did our own thing as there was no wait times for restaurants. i know you said october but this might give some insite into that quater.

hope this helps

love

lucy

 

[KayleeUK]

I have only ever been in October so far....

We love this time of year all of the Halloween decorations, Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party and the Epcot Food and Wine Festival

 

[Kevin Stringer]

I think all 3 of your potential visiting times are nice times to visit.

May and October are my very favourite times as the weather is just about perfect, hot without being overbearing and mostly dry.

Late November/early December has the advantage of having the parks prepared for Christmas.

If I had to pick one, I'd go for May. The days are longer and the evenings are balmy.

Kev

 

[SeattleRedBear]

I think all 3 of your potential visiting times are nice times to visit.

May and October are my very favourite times as the weather is just about perfect, hot without being overbearing and mostly dry.

Late November/early December has the advantage of having the parks prepared for Christmas.

If I had to pick one, I'd go for May. The days are longer and the evenings are balmy.

Kev

I think it depends on what type of weather you like. We've been in October and it was still too hot and humid for our taste (although June was MUCH more miserable because of the humidity...never again will we be going to Orlando during the summer). The parks are absolutely magical when decorated for the Christmas holidays so (even though the days are shorter and the weather is less reliable) I would probably go for early December.

 

[daveyoghurt]

I love to go in September, it's still nice and hot but the short afternoon showers cool the atmosphere for a while. Crowds at the park are busy enough to generate a great holiday atmosphere, with queueing for rides barely noticeable, indeed, if you get to parks early enough, you can fly round the major rides before the majority of visitors get there. You do take a chance with hurricanes, indeed we caught one this year but that was an experience of a lifetime - something I'll never forget in a long time.

 

[Miffy2003]

Having just got back from 3 1/2 weeks in Florida, and having spent nearly 3 of them wearing a sweatshirt I would recommend May or October

 

[steve_rob]

We normally go end of October and our second week lapses into November. Weather is warm but not muggy and as Kaylee said above, you get some great things like Halloween and the Food & Wine festival going on at that time.

However for our trip this year, we're delaying it by a couple of days because we've found out that flight prices drop by almost £100 per person if you depart after 1st November. Something to consider maybe...

 

[Bilboo]

Hi Folks,

Thanks for all the replies, they've been a great help.

Based on your comments and past experience we've decided to go for the late April / early May option, plus I don't think I could wait until later in the year to get back to WDW!!!

One follow-on question if you don't mind, does the last week in April and the first two weeks in May (2006) clash with any US holidays or the dreaded Spring Break?

Thanks

 

[UKDEB]

I was about to post to say that the clear advantage April/May has over the other options is that it's sooner, but you've already worked that out!

I'm pretty sure that Spring Break is normally in March (we're going April/May this year, and I seem to remember checking that out before booking). Easter Sunday in 2006 is 16 April.

 

[Bilboo]

Thanks UKDEB, looks like it's all go for April/May!!!

 

[luvtinkerbell]

Hi Everyone,

Now we're in the New Year I can finally say we're going back to Florida next year, this time with my son in tow! We've had to 'slum it' in DLP (can I say that!) the last few years until we considered him old enough for the travel and to be able to enjoy Florida.

I know this is starting my planning early but I need to make a major decision quite soon regarding the time of year we're going to visit, and I hope you lot can help.

Basically we'd like to avoid the crowds (before school starts in 2007) plus the hot weather (we visited in July/August in 2000 and nearly melted!), so the three choices come down to:-

- Late April/Early May 2006
- October 2006
- Late Nov/Early Dec 2006

We've been late April/early May before in 2001 and the weather and crowds we're much more to our liking, but early Dec does have the draw of the start of the Christmas season.

Any advice regarding weathers, crowds and general ambience at these times of year would be gratefully received. My son will be 3y8m in April 2006 (and 4y3m in December) in case that effects the advice given.

Thanks in advance.

we think march/aprilwould be ideal