When to go? Yeah....I know......

[disneymom3]

Okay, this is not your generic question of when should I go to the parks. I have been many times and know my fav times of the year and as you can see from my ticker got back not long ago. However, while we were in WDW, my mother passed away. Needless to say, the trip was not reallly what we had expected or planned on. So, I am thinking of planning another trip. My options are the third week of May or the first week of Dec. I will give the arguments for both sides and you give your feedback.

May--DD will be 9 and we are intending to go with the DP so not only would her ticket be a bit less expensive her food would be a lot cheaper. May, as you note is also much sooner than Dec The weather is also more predictable as far as swimming time. We would be buying nonexpiring tickets so that would also mean a cheaper ticket for DD when we return by being able to just upgrade her leftover days from a child to adult ticket. (Really the savings is only once but you get what I mean, right?) With the nonexpiring we may be spending more time just enjoying the resort and being in the pool, etc. so weather can make a difference.

Dec--people might not think we are as insane--but I don't really care about that, do I???? The Christmas decorations are up,(reallly like the Osborne lights) it is nicer to get out of MN in Dec than in May. Crowd levels might be lower. (I am not sure about this as I haven't ever been that late in May.)

So what do you think? Especially about that crowd level part? And the cheaper in May vs Dec part. Really cheaper is all relative when you are looking at WDW, but hey, can't hurt.

 

[GeorgiaAristocat]

Well, I will preface this by saying that I am probably not qualified to answer this question. Why, then, am I typing? I just can't keep my mouth shut.

I will just throw one additional consideration on the money issue - you are looking at different seasons for Disney resorts, so since you are staying onsite, you may want to factor the different housing cost into the equation to figure out if your savings is as much as you think it is (ticket and dining are cheaper, but housing is more expensive in May, plus you will probably not find any discount codes.)

Since you are planing on the Dining Plan, I am guessing that you are booking a package. That said, I think you will still save more going in May.

If swimming is important, then I think that May is the obvious choice. I don't believe that the weather is warm enough in December to swim, even in Florida, but I live in the South, so perhaps others from your neck of the woods would disagree with me (BRRRRRR!). If, on the other hand, you really want to see the Christmas decorations . . .

I think the crowds will be lower in December, unless that is Pop Warner week (I don't remember), but the park hours will also be shorter. You will probably not notice any possible "cold snap" that might happen (being from MN, it will still feel pretty mild, I'm certain!)

I think your answer will ultimately come from deciding what you really want out of this vacation.

Glad to be of no assistance whatsoever!

 

[Luv2Travel]

Well, I will preface this by saying that I am probably not qualified to answer this question. Why, then, am I typing? I just can't keep my mouth shut.

Glad to be of no assistance whatsoever!

I'm from the south too, so I agree, if swimming is an important issue, then go in May. I actually think crowd levels might be about the same for those two periods. The third week in May might be a slower time to go (relatively speaking) since it's just before schools get out for summer and the first week in December is getting a little busier (from what I hear). The decorations are beautiful at Christmas, but the weather is a little better in May. For me it would boil down to swimming or no swimming. Either time would be great though, so have fun!

 

[Brian Noble]

The sooner you go, the sooner you can go again.

 

[JaneH]

I went last December 10-18th

monday through friday virtually walked onto any ride we wanted - longest wait maybe 15 minutes

pools are heated - my children swam (I was just close by w/ towells when they exited the pool -

temperature was high 60's to low 70's - which was very pleasant - a little below normal for the time of year. We just layered w/ long sleeve shirts and t-shirts and removed the long sleeved shirt as needed.

decorations are up

season is value

and they missed very little school work

we plan on going again this year in December

 

[disneymom3]

Very good point about the season change as far as prices. So, see GeorgiaAristocat, you WERE of some help! I will have to compare resort prices too and see if that sways me one way or the other.

Brian, I like your philosophy--I think we could be best friends!!!

As for being able to swim, the kids went in both the ocean and the pool when it was like 72degrees early this month, so apparantly that is not an issue for them. Personally it is a bit chilly for me!

Any more thoughts, I would love to hear them. I appreciate the feedback so far more than you know. I want to do this somewhat logically.

 

[Ginamarie]

This is a tough one! I've been to WDW in early December and the last week in April (so about the same time as you're thinking of going in May).

Crowd levels should be relatively low during both periods. The first week in December is Pop Warner week, but I've never really seen Pop Warner effect the crowd levels in the parks that much. I've heard that the Pop Warner kids kind of overrun some of the value resorts while they're at WDW though, so I don't know if that has any bearing on your plans.

We've found December weather to be VERY unpredictable. In December 2004 it was WAY too cold for swimming for a few days (highs in the mid 50s, with temperatures in the upper 20s/lower 30s at night). I'm all for taking a dip when it's in the 70s, but even with the heated pools it was just TOO cold at that time. However, I've also been there in December when temperatures were in the 70s... so you just don't know. In May, you can be sure to have some pool weather.. I've never seen it that cold in the spring months... only December through February.

We love going to WDW while the Christmas decorations are up, so that's what swayed us towards going back this December even though it's so far away!

I'm not sure what the first week in May is considered for pricing.. though I know that early December is value season. I'd say, price it out both ways and weigh how important the weather factor is going to be. (I spent a year at the University of Minnesota, so I know how cold it gets up there come December!)