When to go?

[toandjo]

Ok, our trip this year is not going to happen: so on to planning for 2010! Do not want to take the kids out of school for too long. We want to go for 10 days to 2 weeks. What is the worst out of these 3? Late August, Easter or just before or after Christmas? Want to be able to have nice weather for swimming as we are from Canada but not too keen on hurricanes!!!! Please help me pick the best time of year to go. TIA

 

[dzee]

Ok, our trip this year is not going to happen: so on to planning for 2010! Do not want to take the kids out of school for too long. We want to go for 10 days to 2 weeks. What is the worst out of these 3? Late August, Easter or just before or after Christmas? Want to be able to have nice weather for swimming as we are from Canada but not too keen on hurricanes!!!! Please help me pick the best time of year to go. TIA

Have been there all three of those times and they can be a bit crowded!

Late August is very hot and humid but it is definitely swimming weather uncomfortable for spending a lot of time in the parks though without a break. The way we like to handle August is early entry to the park of choice till noon(thats when the humidity starts to get oppressive) back to the hotel for a swim or a nap or both and go back to the park at dinner time when it starts to cool off! This is also during hurricane season. We were there for hurricane Charlie but we made it through!

April(usually when Easter falls) can be very warm and crowded(depending if you hit the school vacation weeks) but coming out of the winter months you don't mind if it happens to be a little warm. There can be afternoon showers but most of the time they don't last long and it is definitely swimming weather. Depending on the hotel they Easter activities for the kids.

Christmas season is my favorite time at Disney! The parks can be crowded but they never look more unbelievable than this time of year. The weather is usually warm during the day and cool, sometimes chilly at night, but to me that just adds to the Christmas feeling. There more things to do for the kids I think this time of year than any other with story telling about that countries traditions around the world at EPCOT, the tree lighting ceremony at all the parks, the Osbourne Family Lights at DS,and MVMCP (Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party0 on select nights at the Magic Kingdom there is so much to choose from. There also maybe some days that may be warm enough to swim during your stay. But to us that have very long winters 70 degrees is A HEAT WAVE to us!!!

Hope this long winded answer helps!!!!

 

[spiceycat]

as far as crowds - close to Christmas and April are the worst.

most of the southern schools are back in session late August.

as far as weather - August - hot. humdity - hurricane

been in early Dec - very iffy - some days the high can be in 40's - later that week (the same week) the high can be in 80's.

April is not quite that bad. April temperatures are fairly comfortable. not high humdity like you get in Aug.

 

[toandjo]

Ok,so between Easter and Christmas, is one busier than the other?

 

[dzee]

Ok,so between Easter and Christmas, is one busier than the other?

The weeks that there is school vacations are really busy. For us it's the third week in April. That's the week we go every year and it can be pretty crowded,long lines.

We have been there twice for Christmas,(Dec.20-28) the last trip 2007 and I can tell you that week is REALLY crowded!!!! Last year in Dec.we went the 16-23. The 16,17,18+19 were not too bad at all but the closer we got to Christmas week the more crowded it became! I have been there a week earlier in the past when my kids were small and it was pretty empty and we were able to do and see everything we wanted.I guess it all comes down to when you can book your trip and when the kids vacations are.

Please let us know when you make your plans. Hope this info helped in some way.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

I vote for just before Christmas or Easter. We went last easter and it wasn't as bad as we had anticipated. It was nice to go to warmer weather, too. Just be organized.