When to go when you're limited to school holidays?

[Sarah28]

Hi all

We're looking into booking our next trip to the world - we went for a week last time, but ideally this time we would like to go for 2 weeks. This is where all you helpful lot come in!

My other half is a college lecturer so we are limited to school holidays The only time he gets more than a week off is at Easter, and Summer Holidays, and I have heard Easter gets very crowded as does August.

Just wondering what other people have done about going in school holidays, and how crowded it actually does get? Any help much appreciated as always

 

[wilma-bride]

If you are absolutely limited to school holidays and Easter/Summer are your only options for more than a week, I would suggest you look to oging as near to the end of August as possible. Crowds at WDW thin out significantly after the middle of August as the American schools go back then and, although, the heat and humidity can be a bit much, it is easy enough to manage by doing early mornings, late afternoon and evenings.

In August, we quite often go to a park first thing, leave by noon and return again around 4pm and it's actually very enjoyable that way.

 

[wayneg]

We do most our trips in the summer hols, no problems at all, as Joh says later the better. Been a few times for Easter, busy and weather can be mixed, had some great weather but also cold windy weather, you just don't know, it can change each year.

 

[Dave_uk]

We are going from the 10 - 30 august what should we expect crowd wise?

 

[wilma-bride]

We are going from the 10 - 30 august what should we expect crowd wise?

I'm no expert but I would say the first 10 days may be busy, tapering off in the middle and the last week shouold be much quieter. The majority of schools go back around the 13th, I believe (although it is largely dependent on the state). Depending what time of year you are used to, you may find it busy. We have been in Feb, April, August, September and October. By far, April was the busiest, September lightest in terms of crowds. End of August (alst week or so) is probably comparable to October crowds, in our experience.

 

[wayneg]

We now find it a little busier than it used to be due to free dining, I don't know the dates for free DDP for US travellers this year but in past few years they have started it around the 10th which has brought extra visitors to previous years.

 

[luke]

As a teacher I know no different but always found August fine.
As long as you do your research, a bit of planning and take plenty of breaks it's easily manageable.

I've got a tentative booking for Easter 2013 (well, got a 7 night cruise booked) so hoping that'll be the same case should we go on that holiday

 

[Dave_uk]

We went in sep last time. Amazing no lines.

Now the girl friend is a teacher it limits when we can go. Gone as late as we posible could.

 

[Kath2003]

Have done Easter, plus the start, middle and end of the summer holidays (July/August) - all on several occasions. I have never found the crowds an issue as we hit the parks in the morning and are back at the pool by 2-3pm. We return in the evening for shows etc. My wait-limit is 20 minutes and I've not broken it in recent years. For us, the decision depends on the weather and flight costs, both of which now rule out August for us (although I prefer it, it's just too hot for others!)

 

[JohnnySharp2]

The problem from the middle of August isn't the crowds, which are generally not bad at all, it's the heat.
It can be well over 90 degrees at times, if you don't mind that then that's the time to go, as others have said it's not easy planning a 2 week trip outside the school holiday window.

Julie & Joshua really struggle in high temperatures, we went to Disneyland Paris last August and spent more time at the parks in one day than we managed in three days last time we were at WDW. Purely down to the humidity and heat in Florida.

Getting a good balance of nice weather and low crowds isn't easy.

Easter we have been several times, if it falls in April the weather can be perfect, if it falls in March it's more difficult to predict.
For 3 or 4 days the parks are crammed, but outside that not too bad and you have the benefit of a more reasonable climate.
It is harder though fitting a 2 week holiday in as there is less flexibility on your dates.

So my solution is I go in August 'them 2' go at Easter - problem solved!

 

[dixonsontour]

Send your child to a school that has a 2 week October or May half term (or work in one!)

My DD has a 2 week break in October luckily. A couple of local school give a two week end of May break (one does this by putting all the training days into one week)

 

[Sarah28]

Thanks for all the help everyone, late Aug / early Sept sounds good to me! Will get planning for the next trip then!

 

[london75]

I've just found out that of the two schools we are considering for DD, one has less summer holiday but 3 weeks at Easter and 2 in October. I know it's wrong but...

..how wrong is it to factor Florida holidays into the choice of school for your children lol?

 

[crabbie1]

I've just found out that of the two schools we are considering for DD, one has less summer holiday but 3 weeks at Easter and 2 in October. I know it's wrong but...

..how wrong is it to factor Florida holidays into the choice of school for your children lol?

By the way hope your ok now after your injury(Hope I got the right London)

For the original poster.We have been End July /beginning August, September October November and December.My least favorite was august purely due to the humidity as I do not like heat at all however after advice on here made sure we got to the park at rope drop did all the major rides first and just browsed ,watched parades etc till early evening.Tended to go to the parks without EMH especially the evenings as these parks seemed lighter for some reason though the mornings EMH seemed ok.
Like you we are now stuck with school hols as taking DB daughter .Originally going the 16th/17th Aug till 1st September but due to ridiculous flight prices we are taking DB daughter out of school as her school have consented(all be it shes only 4 at present and its only 3 days)Now doing 21st -5th September. I know this is not an option as your other half a teacher but I think the later in August you go the slightly lighter crowds you will get but I think its all down to planning as most hve said. Let us know how you get on

JOHNNY-Where you beenNot seen you on here for ages.

 

[flortlebap]

I've just found out that of the two schools we are considering for DD, one has less summer holiday but 3 weeks at Easter and 2 in October. I know it's wrong but...

..how wrong is it to factor Florida holidays into the choice of school for your children lol?

Brilliant

 

[london75]

By the way hope your ok now after your injury(Hope I got the right London)

Thanks, yes that's me, a lot better now although generally very achey and now due to the skin trauma of the operation on one arm, I've now developed Psoriasis all over! Lovely.

They say sunshine helps so I'm using it as an excuse to book more hols. Ideally I think I should move to Florida, it's the only way, never seen a flakey oddball in Florida!

 

[ChipnDaleRule]

I've just found out that of the two schools we are considering for DD, one has less summer holiday but 3 weeks at Easter and 2 in October. I know it's wrong but...

..how wrong is it to factor Florida holidays into the choice of school for your children lol?

I think for the good of your daughters education and well being you are absolutely RIGHT. Disney in itself is an education.

 

[VailaTigger]

If it's any help - we went in April two years ago (Easter holls) due to taking DF's two boys with us.

It wasn't nearly as bad as I was expecting! We were lucky with the weather (80 degrees or more each day, only two evenings we needed a sweater) - and the crowds were manageable if we got up early, hit the big crowd pulling rides first, then slowed our pace down for the afternoons. Very often went to do other things in the afternoons, and returned to the parks for parades and fireworks.

It was definitely busier than September (the only other time of year I've visited) but not as rammed as I was expecting it to be.

 

[T16GEM]

Thanks, yes that's me, a lot better now although generally very achey and now due to the skin trauma of the operation on one arm, I've now developed Psoriasis all over! Lovely.

They say sunshine helps so I'm using it as an excuse to book more hols. Ideally I think I should move to Florida, it's the only way, never seen a flakey oddball in Florida!

This is a bit OT but I just wanted to say that my DH developed this condition after his grandad dies last year, I think it was the stress of it all. The Dr he saw told him that basically the skin needs to go through it's whole replacement cycle before the rash and spots will go, this takes 4 months, we were going to WDW in the April and he developed psoriasis in the January, he was still a bit sore when we went on our trip but the sun really helped, just be careful about the dryness of the pool water etc, make sure you use your moisturisers from the Dr regularly.

He hasn't had an instance of it since, so we are hoping it was a one off flare up, I hope you feel better soon as it's not pleasant at all.

 

[loobzuk]

we visited in August last year (last 3 weeks) and it was far busier in the first week and then really tailed off as far as crowds were concerned. There's also the brilliant back to school shopping (free tax on clothes the weekend before back to school - saved even more at the malls!).

Have to say I was worried about the heat but in all honesty it really wasn't a problem. Yes, it was hot and humid but if you plan well it's easy enough to factor in enough breaks in air conditioned attractions/restaurants. The other thing to remember is the rain. Again, with some planning we managed to avoid most of the afternoon rain by either leaving the parks and heading back to the villa or shopping or by having an ADR for a late lunch/early dinner. I am sorry to all the people that saw me at HS sitting very smugly eating whilst it was absolutely chucking it down! We really dragged that meal out and I think they were getting quite irritated that we were taking so long. Left a nice tip though so I'm sure they forgave us. For this trip we had the park hopper added to our tickets (had not previously seen the point as 1 park a day was more than enough) and it was really worthwhile as after the rain eased off we could go back out somewhere else.