When to go Summer V Autumn

[Cyrano]

Looking to plan first visit to WDW and Florida.
School is on summer holiday for July and first two weeks in August. While autumn is middle two weeks in October eg. this year from 10th October.
Which of these dates would you go for 2/3 week break and why?

Reid

 

[eyoreaud]

Hi Reid, we have never gone in summer holiday time, but have gone in October and the weather was nice and hot, parks relatively quiet and lines not too much of a problem . Now i would have thought the weather during summer hols would have been significantly HOTTER and the parks buisier, with longer lines, we have also been at Easter time and the first 2 weeks in December, my personal fave time is Dec as it's just sooooo magical and the temp is cooler with no lines!!!

Hope this helps a little,
Audrey.

 

[wilma-bride]

Can't help with July - sorry. But I would definitely choose to go in October over July. The schools are all back, parks are relatively quiet and the weather is not so draining. Plus, the Americans are big on Halloween so you have the extra Halloween parties and stuff.

Joh

 

[Hilary]

October wins my vote - no contest

We've been several times in October, but only once in the summer, so perhaps I'm making an unfair comparison. If you gave me the whole year to choose from, I'd still pick October, based on our experiences of visiting Florida in January (beginning), March, April, July, October, November(beginning) and December (end).

October weather has always suited us - warm / hot days and warm evenings. The Food and Wine Festival is a great 'extra' feature. It's a good time of year to be looking forward to a trip after the summer at home

 

[Shooby doo]

October! Halloween-the Americans really go for it in a big way. Also have been in the summer,never again!! Queueing 2-3 hours for most of the big rides & no room to swing a cat! Plus October will be cheaper!!!!
SD aw:

 

[ely3857]

If you are restricted to school holidays then I cant see a difference in the last 2 weeks of Aug and Oct half term. The US kids go back beginning of Aug so towards the end of Aug you only have the British kids to deal with. So long as you have a plan of action any queues shouldnt be an issue.

The weather is a different issue altogether, Aug is very very hot and humid and will sap you energy but Oct is far more bearable and less rain.



Jodie

 

[jdybnsn]

Personally we always go half term Feb - cost is cheaper, crowds are less (avoid Presidents day 3rd Mon), weather pleasant (though I admit it can vary - but we have always found it to be good), and we have something to look forward to after xmas !

 

[FizzyPop]

Never been in July, but have been in october and its a lovely time to go so October gets my vote

 

[Goofyish]

Given the choice I would go for Fall (Autumn). Summer is hot, humid, crowded, and wet - that's before you add hurricans to the equation

 

[Julia Ann]

October definately - we haven't got kids so not restricted to the holidays, however we love halloween, we have been in the summer school holidays due to work committments, it wasn't too bad, however it was our third trip so didn't rush to much and only did new stuff and favourites and obviously none of the kiddy rides which when we got to Magic kingdom the bit (sorry i know have been 3 times but can't remember the section) with Peter Pan etc was heaving. BE WARNED!....if you do decide oct BOOK NOW! cos i booked ours last week and the hotel i wanted was getting very booked up and when i compared prices of beginning of oct, outside of the school holidays, the price was the same but there was no availability - and that was OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS! It's a very popular time for the brits to go, the weather is bearable and you can do a bit of xmas shopping if you are that organised!

 

[wicket2005]

Great news Reid, I hope you manage to get booked up.

As you know I have been in the last two weeks in July and was pleasantly surprised by the lines (provided you were in the park first thing). There were no different to when we had visited in February either walk on or 20 minutes. The weather is very hot and humid but we liked it. We have booked to go back at the same time.

I would imagine October to be not as busy as in the peak summer season but it still will be busy. I don't think Orlando ever really has a quiet time just a slightly quieter time if you know what I mean.

I can recommend February school holidays as being a good time to go. The only drawback is coming back to our winter weather after two weeks in the sun. However, in answer to your question I would pick October primarily because it isn't peak summer season and with it being your first visit you will want to do all of the rides in each of the parks which I think you will have a better chance in doing at this time of the year.

As we have been before we didn't feel the need to do every single ride in July, we just did the new ones and the favourites. When we went for the first time we did every single ride.

Avoid Easter because that is supposed to be even busier than the summer season from what I have read.

Ideally avoid all school holidays if you can but be aware that off peak times are popular too. The hotel I wanted to go back to was booked up from 13th June to 15th July 11 months in advance, so we had to book for 15th instead of 1st July as planned.

Also if you go in October you can save up even more money to spend over there or even start saving up for your next Orlando holiday because, unfortunately, Orlando isn't an once in a lifetime experience. Once you have been you will want to go back again, that is a promise.

 

[Miffy2003]

October, October, October :

I have never been in October but I've been three times in August. We go in the last two weeks of August and the parks are pretty quiet which is a bonus. But it is extremely hot and if I could go at a different time (school holidays being the issue) I probably would.

July is very busy in the parks.

Other pros for Oct are the Food & Wine Festival at Epcot and Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party.

I would love to go in Oct, but like I say I've never been so you can treat this with a pinch of salt

 

[Laurafoster]

Ive been both and October wins my vote, weather is much more bearable - less rain no hurricanes and Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween party! Halloween is great in america!

 

[mark&sue]

so so so so so so so jealous you have got two weeks for half term in October.

We are going 12th October next year and have to take the children out of school for seven days. we booked at the end of August and Virgin was sold out of flights from Gatwick for the 12th, 13th and 14th so had to go with B.A. on 12th October.

We were considering going August 2007 to make good value on APs but I would definately prefer October as less wet and less hot.

Let us know what you choose. It seems ages to wait but we are off to Disneyland Paris in 6 weeks.


Susan
Susan

 

[Cyrano]

Thanks everyone for your comments. It looks like October gets the majority vote
Interesting that this has thrown up the different holidays in the UK. As we don't have a half term in February and summer holidays finish middle of August so American schools will still be out. Compensation is 2 weeks in October. This year it is w/c 10th and 17th.
We love Christmas season at DLP but are trying to stay clear of needing to get permission from school, as we'll need that for DD and DS, so don't think that will work for now.

Reid

 

[JohnnySharp2]

October is a good time to go, weather just about perfect and crowds not too high.
Guess it depends, my wife is a school teacher and with my son on summer holidays July/August we are stuck with this really - hot weather and expensive prices.
The last 2 weeks in August are great for low crowds, we recently returned, but the weather was in the 90s each day.

 

[tink too]

Cyrano & Eyoreaud - I, too am from NE Scotland (Aberdeenshire to be precise) and believe me - October is the best choice for us! If you have "peely-wally" skin like me, nothing burns better than Florida summer sun!

We have been at all different times of year - January and every month from June to December - and we will never return in summer! Too hot and very humid for us people who are used to wind and rain!

We have been to DLP in summer when it was hot - but it doesn't compare to a summer in WDW - not even close!

 

[Cyrano]

If you have "peely-wally" skin like me, nothing burns better than Florida summer sun!

We're from the Broch, although I'm a Glasgae boy myself
Normally our skins starts off as hypothermia blue, warming to a nice shade of white in the summer

Reid

 

[tink too]

Normally our skins starts off as hypothermia blue, warming to a nice shade of white in the summer

Yes, I'm a lovely shade of "milk bottle" myself. I'm from Peterhead - it's nae called the "Blue Toon" for nothing! Hope you are enjoying our "Indian Summer" as much as us!

 

[eyoreaud]

Hi tink,too

We're from St Combs "It's a small world after all" Although I'm a former Glasgow girl as well! He he, we could have our own mini Scottish Dis meet!

Audrey.