when to go with kids?

[disneydebi]

In the last few years, we've been to WDW in the summer twice (once mid June, once Mid July). The heat and the crowds were more than I can bear again.

The problem is, I have school age children, and while I personally don't have a problem with taking them out of school... I do feel guilty about it.

So I'm wondering what is the better of the school vacation time periods from a crowd perspective. Here in the Northeast we have February Vacation (week of Presidents Day), April Vacation (week of Patriots day, this year its 4/19 week), Thanksgiving week or Christmas/New Years week.

My only other option would be to pick a week with a holiday in it to minimize the school missed. So that would mean the weeks of Columbus day, Veteran's Day, MLK Day, or Memorial day.

Any thoughts? I really don't want to go our next time when its so hot and the parks are packed. I really felt this last time like it was so hurried, and it makes the kids cranky, which is no fun for mom!

Any of you who go regularly and have a perspective on crowds during these time periods, please let me know your thoughts!

thanks.

 

[HaleyB]

In general I think the crowds are pretty big any time school is out. I can't pull my kids out of school right now because my oldest is in HS and it would be too hard on him.

Anytime in Elementary though was fair game for us. Our teachers never seemed to mind as long as we gave plenty of notice. We went in Feb. a few years back and it was wonderful. Cool, clear, dry, and no crowds.

I think mousesavers website has a historicial crowd size chart (but it might be somewhere else).

 

[disneydebi]

I know vacations are always more crowded... but how do they compare to say, June/July.
If the crowds were even a little less during other vacation times, i could probably deal with it better if it wasn't 99 degrees and 100% humidity.

 

[justhat]

I know in advance this will be long, but we've been there over many school breaks and other times you mentioned, so I'll give you our impressions.

We went over New Year's and President's Week this past year and compared to New Year's, President's Week was great. New Year's was mobbed the whole week we were there (12/27-1/4) but it was still managable. It was very cold on most days and we needed coats, hats, and gloves until around 10:30am and after 5pm (and we're from NJ so we're used to December being cold). President's Week we were shorts, but it was never unbearably hot (mornings and nights were chilly and you needed a sweatshirt, but days were around 75-80). Also crowds President's Week were only really bad over the weekend (we were there 2/13-2/20). We went straight to MK when we arrived around 3pm on 2/13 and there were basically no crowds. MGM wasn't bad on Saturday, but MK was packed that Sunday and Monday. We got there for EE and they were letting anyone in so by regular opening time the place was mobbed. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday things were great though. We planned to leave Monday but our flight was cancelled due to that blizzard in the NE so we were 'stuck' there till Thursday, but were so glad since the place really emptied out after Monday. I guess a lot of locals go for the holiday so the weekend is especially bad, still not comparable to New Year's though.

Also, we went October 15-20 this year and even though it was after Columbus Day and there weren't any holidays we knew of, it was as crowded as President's Week. I'm sure the Fairytale Package had something to do with these crowds, as all the CMs we spoke to said October is never like that. It was 80-85 everyday, so the weather was comparable to February, though a little warmer, but not too humid or hot ever.

March 2001 we went over a popular spring break time and it wasn't that bad crowdwise. The weather was horrible all week, it rained almost everyday and was about 60-65, so the rain just made you cold, didn't cool you off from the heat or anything. The one sunny day we went to Blizzard Beach, but so did everyone else so it was packed with long waits for everything. I think the rain did a lot to keep park crowds lower than usual though.

We missed Veteran's Day but went later that week into the week before Thanksgiving and crowds were non-existant. It got cold at night, but days were in the 70s and not humid. Veteran's Day I'm sure is more crowded, but I think it also depends on when soap weekend and Jersey week are.

Also went the week before Memorial Day, and that was so incredibly hot and humid, I'm sure like the summers you want to avoid. It wasn't that crowded since schools weren't out yet, but it was so hot that afternoons in the parks were very uncomfortable.

December, right before Christmas breaks begin, was a great time. Everything was decorated, it was in the 70s everyday, sunny, no humidity, and the parks were empty. It was December 2001, so I'm sure 9/11 had a lot to do with the crowd levels, but I'm pretty sure mid-December is pretty empty normally anyway. This could work for you since a lot of schools have holiday parties and non-school related things the last week of school for elementary school kids.

 

[swilphil]

Since Easter is April 11, 2003, and March 27, 2004, I think if you go April 19-26th, the crowds will be fine. I would rather go in April than in January when it's too cold.

 

[xlstacey]

Oh my, Justthat, you have been there quite abit. Good info

We are a family of 5, dh, myself, dd's 12, 10 & 7. We have been to WDW the first 2 wks of November & the first week of February. The November trip was wonderful with low managable crowds. Great weather 75-80 and maybe 1 or 2 days of some rain. February was around 70, but 1 day hit 32 and we had to buy jackets. Even lower crowds in Feb than in November.

I do understand the whole issue of crowds, heat, kids in school because I am constantly trying to work things around these too.
I purposely don't go to WDW during any school holidays. I was cured when my family of 7 (+2 step children at that time - they are grown now) went to Disneyland the first in June and had to wait 2+ hours to get onto rides. Oh my, that was sometime ago and I still remember it like it was yesterday. It was really hard on all of us and I was not happy which made it tougher for me to enjoy. Can you say grumpy

On our upcoming trip the kids will miss 10 days of school. No problem for the 7 & 10 yr olds ... but my 12 yr old is having to do a lot of work now to insure those good grades. They all do super in school, but work is work and I will not take it w/us ... except for the journal & reading which should be fun for them to do. I must say that all of the teachers (including my 12 yr olds 6 teachers) have been wonderful and supportive. They have even pointed out to me that this indeed is a learning experience for them. One teacher wants my dd12 to keep track of all the expenses as they will be budgeting a "vacation trip" of their choice later in the school year .. so she could be ahead.

How old are your children and are they doing well in school? I too figure that we won't be able to much in the off-season when my dd12 hits high school. We'll take that hurdle when it comes.

Good luck to you and whatever you decide.

 

[Eeyore2003]

As you can see we've always gone in August when we had the kids home. This December was the first time we went off season because my youngest just went to college this fall.

What did I learn??? Well, if my kids were school age, (not HS), it would be well worth it to take them out of school. We usually only go for 4 nights, 5 days. All I kept telling my husband last week was that it would be "so worth it", to take my neice and nephew out of school next December instead of going as planned in July. If I'd have known the difference, "I" would have. Hindsight, of course. But THEN, on the other hand, we DID never take our kids out of school, BUT on the other hand, there were plenty of kids there last week!!! Christmas really puts the topping on the cake as far as how wonderful December is!!! It's definitely a decisional dilemma!!!!

 

[tjkraz]

Of the dates listed by the OP, I'd pick February. I don't know how popular the "week off in February" is throughout the country, but I don't know of any schools in this area that do it.

I know that crowds over the actual President's Day weekend can get large, but after Monday I understand they subside dramatically. If it were me, I'd try to arrive on Sunday and deal with the crowds for a couple of days, waiting for the relief on the back end. And you certainly don't need to worry about hot and humid temps.

 

[monarchsfan16]

we've gone during both our february and april vacations (nh)...the crowds are not bad either time, unless you're there for easter, which we were one year. although even then it wasn't as bad as i've heard the summer can be. april is consistently warmer then feb. the weather is really fickle in feb. you may get a week where it's 85 every day or the week may never be out of the 50's (speaking from experience, it was warmer here in nh the week we were there in feb then it was there)...either time is a great time to go...just hope for warm weather if you go in feb.

 

[dcfromva]

Originally posted by swilphil
Since Easter is April 11, 2003, and March 27, 2004, I think if you go April 19-26th, the crowds will be fine. I would rather go in April than in January when it's too cold.

swilphil ,
Are you sure about those dates? I thought Easter next year (2004) will be April 11th and 2005 will be March 27th....

-DC (rushing to check my ressies for Spring Break 2004...)

 

[dgaston]

DH teaches HS in CT, locking us into school vacation periods. The best time for us over the years (and we do continue to use Christmas and even Easter blocks) is whenever the April vacation is not the two weeks around Easter. You'll see us camping at FW with the DS15 and his friend (a huge surprise) April 18 thru the 25th. It does seem that everyone you meet will be from New England, but that's ok.

 

[pewing]

We have gone twice the first week in December. The first time...my youngest was in preschool. Last year...my 3rd grader had to work to get caught up, but it wasn't too bad. We LOVE WDW decorated for Christmas...and Epcot during the holidays is awesome. Crowds were non-existent both trips. This year we are going the week before President's Day b/c we are out that Thursday and Friday before. That way...we only miss 3 days of school. We are hoping for light crowds again. We will be leaving before the holiday weekend.

I know what you mean about missing school, but the light crowd are awesome. We have never been brave enough for a 'busy' time trip. IMHO...Just too much money to spend to stand in line

 

[JetMom]

We have gone twice during October using Columbus Day and the crowds have been very manageable.