When to go?

[toandjo]

Help! We want to go in 2010 for at least 10 days maybe 2 weeks.Problem is we don't want to take the kids out of school for that long! The water parks will be a big part of our trip, having said that would you go at Easter,Early July, End of August or Christmas and why would you choose that time?We have never been before but we have been to Disneyland 3 times. Our kids are 13 and 10. Thanks for the help!

 

[disneyfan2]

end of august they ususally offer Free dining, and the crowds would be lower then XMAS and Easter for sure. Early July is also crowded.

 

[mlegerto]

The end of summer (August) is usually a good time to go because you will see a decrease in crowd levels (compared to the rest of the summer) and there are often some discounts offered such as free dining plans, buy 4 nights get 3 more free ECT ECT.

I went in 2007 at the end of August (Aug 22-25) and we experienced NOTHING by rain the whole time. Since it was for my birthday, we decided that we were in Disney world, bought an umbrella (one of the golf sized ones) and still wondered the parks while everyone else ran away from the rain. SO it wasn't so bad, but be prepared for a lot of rain.

HOWEVER, if I choose to go in the summer months I usually choose to go in late June and early July. These are usually much warmer months and the parks and water parks tend to have longer hours and offer better extra magic hours (because the parks are open until 10pm normally, the 3 hrs evening extra magic hours means its open to resort guests until 1 am). BUT be prepared if you do take this route that there will be a lot of families and crowds there. The weather at this time is usually very very hot (great for pool and water park stays) and there is usually a quick rainstorm every afternoon (but it seriously only lasts like 40 minutes then dries up and looks like it never happened).

SO take everything into consideration before you decide. I think it is most important to decide WHAT your priorities are. Is it crowd levels, prices, discounts, ECT ECT. Once you've decided what is priority for your family I think it will be easier to decide when the best time to go is.

Hope this helps a bit more!

 

[Sue M]

We go the last 2 weeks in Aug. Local kids are back in school. less crowded. It's Value season, so prices are much lower, and discounts come out, such as free dining, or 30 - 40% off room rates depending.

It is hot, but the water parks are great. We are usually there for 10 days. So can tour leisurely. We go to the parks at opening, then come back to our resort for a mid day break, swim. Then go back to a park at night with EMH.

Yes, it is rainy season, but it's generally an after noon rain, that doesn't last very long. It can rain in one park and not another. We just carry ponchos just in case. In Aug 08 we got caught in Toropical Storm Fay, and did get alot of rain, but we've been several times in Aug, and that was the worst one.

Mousesavers.com has a chart of Historical Discounts, and a chart of the WDW rate seasons for their resorts. Great info!

 

[toandjo]

OK, Thanks everyone! Discounts not a big factor because I don't think we will stay onsite unless maybe free dining is offered? Don't really like huge crowds but ok to get up early to miss alot of them. Don't want rain the whole time as this will probably be our only holiday this year.Now what? Will probably only do 1 day at each park? Universal, seaworld, 1 day for a beach, space center and of course the waterparks. Is the end of August still the best time to go?

 

[ABCanada]

We love just before Christmas. Great decorations and events. Avoid all the hectic run up to Christmas. On the other side, it may not be warm enough to swim everyday and one of the water parks will likely be closed for refurb.

As the PPs said late August is hot and humid with frequent thunder storms in the late afternoons. The pools will be closed if there is lightening and not opened until it passes.

You mention you have been to DL a few times. If you have not been to WDW while the rides are similar (I actually prefer the DL version in many cases) the distances between parks changes the dynamics. Also WDW is much more resort like with lots of things to see and do outside the parks.

With your interest in water parks and lack of crowds I might be tempted to go for spring break, add a few more days to you passes (after 4 days they are only a couple of dollars more for each added day), go to the parks first thing in the morning, leave when it gets crowded and go to the waterpark.

 

[aristocat65]

I agree with Disneyfan2 (and I love the avatar) end of August is a great time to go. Yes, its is hot and humid, but if you are looking foward to water parks it's great. It is also value season, so the resort hotels are at their lowest rates, AND they always have a deal going (last 5 years anyway) such as free dining or room discounts. Best of there are low crowd levels.

 

[trivial]

I also recommend the end of August. Stay on-site and take advantage of free dining if at all possible.

 

[toandjo]

So, it's looking more and more like the end of August. How hot and humid is it? We are used to Kelowna summers, about 35 degrees. Anything like that, or way worse? Does it rain all day or just an afternoon shower? When do the deals usually come out for this time of year and how far ahead do you have to book? Thanks for all your help!

 

[CdnCarrie]

www.mousesavers tells you all the best dates to go and not to go.

 

[snickerboo]

A friend of mine just went at the end of August and said the crowds were great because so many US kids were back in school but that it was very hot (possibly not a problem if you're planning to do the water parks).

I have been end of April and really loved it but crowds can be hit or miss at that time & it wasn't hot, hot (high of 78ish).

 

[c&m]

Another vote here for end of August. The local kids and a lot of other kids in other parts of the U.S. were back in school, so the crowd levels were low. AK had so little people, I couldn't believe we were actually at a theme park! We loved the fact it was so warm we could enjoy the water parks. In fact, we could have spent many more days at the water parks but our limited time at WDW prevented us from doing that. The free dining in August is amazing and we actually were able to stay at a deluxe resort without breaking the bank.

As for how hot, we've camped in the Okanagan during the summer and I must say that as far as heat is concerned, it is comparable, though Okanagan is a dry heat and Florida is so much more humid. Florida heat is made more bearable with all the air conditioning from building to the next. The rains are also bearable in that it rains for a short while during the afternoon and like any tropical rainfall, it stops...quite unlike our Vancouver rain, which can go on for days non-stop...

 

[dancin Disney style]

So, it's looking more and more like the end of August. How hot and humid is it? We are used to Kelowna summers, about 35 degrees. Anything like that, or way worse? Does it rain all day or just an afternoon shower? When do the deals usually come out for this time of year and how far ahead do you have to book? Thanks for all your help!

We have been 3 times in August and also 2 times in July. Between the 2 August is the winner. Temp wise it is around 30-35 and the rain is usually in the afternoon for about 45 minutes or so. The American kids are all back in school by mid August so the crowds are pretty much none exsistant. This past Aug the longest line we waited in was about 10 minutes for ToT. Most rides were almost a total walk on. Anything else that looked like it might be long we used FP. My kids went on RnRC twice while DH and I rode ToT (me for the first time )

Another option would be for you to go at March Break and only take your kids out of school for a few days.

 

[who's ur daddy?]

Had two August trips. August 07 was brutally hot. This August didn't seem as bad. If I recall correctly, got some great airfare deals out of Buffalo during those times...

Our kids are now at an age where it is becoming harder and harder to pull them out of school for WDW fix. Nonetheless I think we might be able to squeeze an early or mid June trip out of them yet... hope they would be in wind down mode in June for school...

 

[toandjo]

August it is!! When should I keep an eye out for the free dining. I know I can get a room off site for about $40.00 a night. Does free dining really make up the difference? Thanks again!

 

[papertraveller]

We have gone in August for the past two years, taking advantage of free dining each time. Last year we added a week at the beach before hitting WDW, which was a very nice way to get some relaxing in.
Friends who we blame for getting us hooked on Disney told us that for our first trip we had to stay on the monorail for the first trip. We had been offsite at DL a couple years earlier, but we took them at their word. It was definitely worth it, and we ate like kings!
DDP is a great deal if you like to sit down for one good meal a day.
As for the weather, well August is hot. And not Kelowna dry heat semi-arid hot. It's OMG I am dripping down my legs hot. That said, make it a habit to get up early, hit the parks when the crowds are small because the kids in the southern U.S. have gone back to school. We tend to bail in the early afternoon to relax by the pool.
Oh, and we're booked for August again in 2010. Guess we're hooked!

 

[trivial]

August it is!! When should I keep an eye out for the free dining. I know I can get a room off site for about $40.00 a night. Does free dining really make up the difference? Thanks again!

I'd be afraid of a room for $40/night (and remember, it costs $14/day to park at WDW). But if you're wanting to take advantage of free dining, that makes it a very easy decision. As you would have 4 "adults" (everyone's 10 and over), the dining plan would normally cost $160/day for your group.

Free dining is usually announced around March.