When to go, need advice, no good options

[DumboDash2006]

Dd and I just got back but now I'm trying to convince dh to take us all again next year! This was my first trip in 10 years and dd's first trip ever, and we LOVED it and can't wait to go again.

Unfortunately dh's work schedule, my work schedule and dd's school schedule all conflict. Taking dd out of school isn't a good option as she's going into 1st grade and is already having trouble in school. So our only options are...

Week between Christmas and New Year's (no way!)

Spring break (Easter weekend and following week)

Mid-Late June.

I'm leaning towards Spring break just because it appears that the weather in June is much the same as August and the weather in Florida last week when we were there was just way too hot for me. We had fun, but it would have been so much nicer if it had been 15 degrees cooler etc. But how bad would I find the crowds over Spring break week? We did a Dumbo or Die in a Day type trip last week, I'd prefer something more relaxed next time and won't feel the need to see so much. Of course that's if dh agrees to this...

Input? Edited to add, we are all early risers and getting there when the parks open etc is not a problem. This last trip it was as dd and I were with other family members who are the opposite and are night owls. Ugh, bad idea.

 

[AshleyMWC]

Honestly, I have been all of those tme periods: spring, christmas, and summer, and I have to say that I would choose spring. Christmas is by far the mmost beautiful, but that week is NUTS!!! Summer is just tooooo hot in my opinion, which only leaves spring. It WILL BE packed, btu as long as you know that going in, you'll be ok. Get there when the parks open, come back for a rest in the afternoon, and you will have a great time. Is there really a BAD time to go to WDW?

 

[JandT'smom]

Springbreak is almost as crowded as Xmas. I would think about June. It is hot but go to the parks early and swim in the afternoon.

 

[wdwobsessed]

I would go as early in June as possible. In 1st grade they don't do anything but clean out the desks and such the last few days so maybe even head out a few days before school ends.

One trick is to pick a week where your kids have a few days off school anyway due to teachers conventions or something like that that is unique to your state or school system. Then you can minimize the days they miss and still go during less crowded / cooler times.

WDWO

 

[mumto2]

Is Thanksgiving an option?

We went last year at that time - took DD out of school (second grade) for Monday and Tuesday (she was off anyway Wed - Fri). We went the Saturday before Thanksgiving and stayed until the Saturday afterwards. It was a great time! Not very crowded at all the first part of our stay. We avoided the parks on Thanksgiving Day, went to MK EMH that Friday, and then on to Epcot. We got to experience the Osborne Lights, resort Christmas decorations, Holidays around the World and the Epcot tree-lighting, as well as getting the kids photo with Santa at DTD. We also swam every day and had a great trip!

DDs teacher was fine with her missing two days of school - we did ask to take some work with us, and DD worked on a science project and a report on Christmas in Norway while at Epcot. Overall, I'd love to go again at that time another trip.

 

[Tiffany]

Dd and I just got back but now I'm trying to convince dh to take us all again next year! This was my first trip in 10 years and dd's first trip ever, and we LOVED it and can't wait to go again.

Unfortunately dh's work schedule, my work schedule and dd's school schedule all conflict. Taking dd out of school isn't a good option as she's going into 1st grade and is already having trouble in school. So our only options are...

Week between Christmas and New Year's (no way!)

Spring break (Easter weekend and following week)

Mid-Late June.

I'm leaning towards Spring break just because it appears that the weather in June is much the same as August and the weather in Florida last week when we were there was just way too hot for me. We had fun, but it would have been so much nicer if it had been 15 degrees cooler etc. But how bad would I find the crowds over Spring break week? We did a Dumbo or Die in a Day type trip last week, I'd prefer something more relaxed next time and won't feel the need to see so much. Of course that's if dh agrees to this...

Input? Edited to add, we are all early risers and getting there when the parks open etc is not a problem. This last trip it was as dd and I were with other family members who are the opposite and are night owls. Ugh, bad idea.

Hi,

Out of these choices I would go with late June. The prices are not as high as Easter and the weather is great and the crowds are still managable.

 

[Jackie H.]

I think you need to decide what factor is most important to you.

If it is lower crowds, it would have to be June. I would think the humidity would be lower in June than in August.

If it is cooler weather, then of course March or December would be it...but the crowds would be very bad.

 

[Escape Artist]

Thanks for the report on Thanksgiving week. I've been giving that serious consideration, as I'm not sure I can wait until our planned trip for next May/June!

Sue in TX
...where they're going to seriously screw up our school calendars next year, due to a new state law that says school cannot start before the 4th week of August...boohoo...

 

[S.Poppins]

We took the kids out of school the week after Thanksgiving last year and we are taking them out a week in Jan. My DS was in 1st last yr. and my DD was in 5th. IMO it is worth it. They will not remember that week of school, but they will remember a trip to Disney. As a teacher and the director of a private school, missing a week in the 1st grade is really not that big a deal. Practice reading on the trip!

 

[mmmcq]

We are taking our first trip in November this year....so I might have a different opinion after we get back. We're going the weekend before Thanksgiving and staying till the day after....so we'll have more time in the parks before it gets overcrowded.

But right now my kids and I would vote for April. We've done Feb, July and August. We'd never go back over Feb break because it's just too chilly. We had wonderful trips in July and August despite the daily monsoons, crowds and humidity.

But our favorite time of year is April because the weather is just right - warm some days, cool at night. Yes there are big crowds....but depending on when your break is and when Easter falls.......you might be okay. And because of the crowds the parks are open some nights later which is great fun at that time of year. This year I believe Easter is a week before our spring break so it won't be as crowded if we were going Easter week.

Early June sounds like a good option as well. We just don't get out early enough up here in the East. This year the kids go back after Labor Day and are in school until 6/27 according to the district calendar. Thus to cure my Disneyitis I recently thru together a surprise trip over Thanksgiving.

 

[scarboroughmom]

My kids have a week in November that they only have 2 days of school. It is the week that includes Veterens' Day. I often take them out of school this week. It is a value season at WDW, and the weather is pleasant. I don't know if your school's calender is the same. But you get a whole week of off-season travel with only 2 days of missed school.

 

[DumboDash2006]

Thanks for the input.

I looked at dd's school calendar and there are no breaks longer than four days except Thanksgiving weekend, Christmas and Spring Break. Last year they did have two weeks, one in the fall and one in the spring with conferences and lots of half days, but they really changed it this year and those are the only times to take a vacation. Thanksgiving wouldn't work as it's busy then too and we can't come up with the cash before spring anyway. And then I can't take time off between Christmas and April. Heck not sure I could at Thanksgiving either, at least not anymore than the holiday break I already have.

What about early May? I can get that time off and so can dh. I guess we could take dd out of school for a week if the teacher seems ok with it. I'd have to wait until school starts and see if she's really bothered by it or what. I REALLY hated the heat in Aug and would rather deal with crowds I think.

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

Rather than go from Sat to Sat try to go to Disney Wednesday (afternoon if possible) to Tuesday during a holiday where she has Monday off. My dd's are in 1st & 3rd and that's what we did last year. The lessons tend to go weekly- so they'd miss some of the lesson at the end of the week and then miss the beginning of the next lesson, but still had gotten most of the lesson so they didn't miss out on much or were lost.

However, if she is having trouble in School I'd go at the end of the year, it seems the lessons taper off just a bit then. My dd in 2nd grade had spirit week the last 2 weeks of school---the kids got to do fun things after lunch like do chalk drawings, talent show etc. So if you take her out then she may not miss as much.

 

[RyMickey]

Mid to late June really isn't bad crowd-wise. Yeah, it's hot, but if you're looking for a more relaxing place, you simply go back to your hotel room in the afternoons and head back to the parks at night. If you plan out your days, you can see everything you want to see.

I've been over spring break with two college friends of mine and it was a zoo. We weren't disappointed because we were just there to be there, but if you actually want to see things, I'd avoid the week after Christmas and Spring Break.