When to go????

[jupers]

Hi all,

Teacher here ! Unfortunately, we're not getting to wdw in 2010 but definitely want to in 2011. However, because I teach my ability to go is limited to vacation weeks. None of us want to go when the crowds are nuts...so, if choosing between times to go, which do you choose?

Christmas Vaca? I hear you can't even move!
February Vaca? Is it too cold? We enjoy the pool.
April Vaca? I hear this is almost as packed as Christmas?

We tried June...and hated it. We did FD in August last year, not so bad. UUUGGGHHH I miss going in Sept!

Anyway, what do you suggest? I know we could do a long weekend, but when we go we really need a week..it's supposed to be a vacation. Not to mention airfare for vacation week practically doubles!!!!

 

[Pink Mouse Ears]

I'm a teacher too, but luckily we are getting out before Memorial Day this year so I can make it before the crowds set in. Do you have a full week in February to go? I'd say that would be the best time. There is no predicting the weather that time of year...you can look up the average weather on the allears.net site (click Planning at top.) You might have 70s and you might have much colder, esp. if its like this year. We went for Columbus Day this year (made it a really "long weekend" and went 5 days) and I enjoyed it...it was still hot, but crowds were definitely tolerable. I haven't been during a really crowded time since I was a kid- I don't think I'll ever try Christmas or Spring Break. One of my students came back one year and said how much she hated Disney World because the only thing they could go on was "it's a small world" and it was a 45 minute wait! No thanks!

 

[ancestry]

Every option you listed is a very high crowd option. All will be packed! I don't know what to suggest for you because you wrote that none of you want to go when the crowds are nuts but yet the crowds will be nuts during all three of those periods.

February is probably the less of the three evils.

 

[Pink Mouse Ears]

Maybe do August again??

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Out of those options, I'd say February.

I do have a question, though? Don't you get any personal days? I know a few teachers that get 4 per year, and take them on a week where they get one day off (Columbus Day, for example), so get get a full week off that way.

 

[jupers]

We don't get personal days. We get unavoidable/sick days. You have to put in to get them approved and typically a vacation wouldn't get approved. Especially attached to a long weekend.

Last year for August, they changed the start of the school year but I had my trip planned and paid for so they let me miss those days, but the kids weren't even there yet, they were teacher days.

I could probably get 3 days approved. Taking the time unpaid is definitely not worth it because of the way they pay teachers.

I guess I'm stuck with a long weekend or August...uuuggghhh. I would love to go in October or March or early December!!

I have to say being a teacher does not help my Disney habit!!!!

I miss Mickey and am dying to get back! June was such a nightmare DH and I would never go again at that time!

 

[Pink Mouse Ears]

We don't get personal days. We get unavoidable/sick days. You have to put in to get them approved and typically a vacation wouldn't get approved. Especially attached to a long weekend.

Last year for August, they changed the start of the school year but I had my trip planned and paid for so they let me miss those days, but the kids weren't even there yet, they were teacher days.

I could probably get 3 days approved. Taking the time unpaid is definitely not worth it because of the way they pay teachers.

I guess I'm stuck with a long weekend or August...uuuggghhh. I would love to go in October or March or early December!!

I have to say being a teacher does not help my Disney habit!!!!

I miss Mickey and am dying to get back! June was such a nightmare DH and I would never go again at that time!

Yikes! No personal days?! I know there are some principals who won't approve Disney or other vacations, even for personal days (not sure how this is ok.) We get 3 personal days and if we don't use them, they do carry over. Luckily, my principals have always been ok with Disney. And taking unpaid time is definitely not worth it- you lose money and still have to do all of the work in making sub plans.

Teaching and Disney World trips don't match up! I was so glad when our schedule came out and said we got out before Memorial Day because I knew I could make it before the crowds! Haha...everything revolves around Disney.

 

[blessedby3]

What about Thanksgiving week? I would think you probably get 3 days at least, if not the whole week. It would be better than Christmas time. We have been the week after Thanksgiving and the weather was great and we swam also.

 

[jupers]

We get 2 1/2 days for Thanksgiving. Isn't that supercrowded too? I wonder if I could get 2 days approved after Thanksgiving weekend??? Maybe leave Thanksgiving night Come home Tuesday? Uuugghhh...

I had no idea teachers even got personal days!!! THat would be ideal!!

 

[blessedby3]

We get 2 1/2 days for Thanksgiving. Isn't that supercrowded too? I wonder if I could get 2 days approved after Thanksgiving weekend??? Maybe leave Thanksgiving night Come home Tuesday? Uuugghhh...

I had no idea teachers even got personal days!!! THat would be ideal!!

Crowded, but not as bad as Christmas and I think that Spring Break (your April time frame) is supposed to be 2nd after Christmas as far as crowds. Not completely positive though.
We have been the week after Thanksgiving and it was great. We didnt go into the parks until the Sun after Thanksgiving, but arrived the Friday after Thanksgiving. If you could go that route, that would probably be best. Sorry you dont get time off--that makes things so hard to plan. We always took our kids out of school for a week to take our Disney vacations. After our oldest dd entered college (she is a sophomore now) we have had to plan around her time off- which is about the same as yours. Last year we went on her spring break (March7-14) which wasnt too bad, but had a couple crazy days. This year we are going two days after she gets out of college (May 14) and we are taking the other 2 out of school. Our only options are Christmas (she usually gets out around the 18th of Dec), Thanksgiving, her Spring Break and summer. Her fall break is only 2 days so thats not helpful. Summer------NOOOO WAYYYYYYY!!! I feel your pain!

 

[skysmom99]

Another teacher here. I get 3 personal days per year and can carry over two. Since my hubby doesn't like crowds and I love WDW, we are compromising by trying to choose a less crowded time. I have a 3 day weekend in Nov. about 10 days before TG, so I'm using a couple personal days and doing a 5 day trip. We're going to maximize Disney time by taking an early non-stop flight on day one (arriving at MCO around 9:30 AM) and a later non-stop flight home on day 5 (leaving MCO around 8:30 PM).

It's not as much time as I'd like, but a 5 day trip to WDW is better than no trip.

 

[iheartdolewhips]

I think February sounds like your best options. My family used to go during that break and it was usually warm enough to swim and not as crowded as the other options.

 

[RMulieri]

Out of those options only...Feb. I would personally go though in August right before school goes back

 

[TR_WDW]

My DW is a teacher, they get out before Mem Day. Is late May really crowded? We have been in March & July before. What compares to late May? Thanks!

 

[Pink Mouse Ears]

My DW is a teacher, they get out before Mem Day. Is late May really crowded? We have been in March & July before. What compares to late May? Thanks!

Late may is moderate, except for Memorial Weekend...when crowds are high. It goes back to moderate until mid-June...and is high through mid-August. Many schools don't get out til mid-June if they start after Labor Day. We always went in May before I started teaching and I loved it...Flower and Garden Festival minus the crowds of March and April (but a bit hotter.)

 

[tallen429]

Hi all,

We tried June...and hated it. We did FD in August last year, not so bad. UUUGGGHHH I miss going in Sept!

:

What did you hate so much about June?
Our kids don't start school till after Labor Day so we went the last couple days of August/first few of Sept last year during FD.

This year we're going right after school gets out in June, and now you have me nervous! I know it will be more crowded than when we went last year, but i didn't think it would be too bad, especially compared to the last week in June around July 4th.

 

[hammie59]

We went over Easter back in 1999, and yes, it was really crowded. The lines were long and some days it was so frustrating just trying to walk from point A to point B with the large crowds. I guess I'd still go back during spring break if it were my only option, but Feb sounds like it's worth a try. One tip: if you go during Easter and want to avoid maximum craziness, do not go to the MK on Easter Day. It's jam packed, trust me.
When we go back next year, we'll be going after spring break to avoid the madness, but then the drawback is that we have to take ds out of school.

 

[Tink3rbell86]

We usally go late august right before school start (im in NY) The crowds are usally low,but it can be hot! good luck!

 

[ebird08]

When is your April vacation? There's a chance it won't be too crazy if it's far enough away from Easter. Last year, we went for the last week in April and it was fabulous! Weather was great, crowds were moderate. We had a really really good touring plan and as a result, managed to accomplish a lot!!! It was so perfect in fact, that we're doing it again this year (4/28-5/5) I vote for April first, then Feb. Just my opinion...

 

[jupers]

I see the last post is from NH...NH has vaca the week after Mass, so I think it might be less crowded then. Seems like a lot of states have the 3rd week of April off...

TO the PP about June. We went the last week, just before July 4. It was beyond hot, August wasn't as bad. If you're going early June I doubt it is as bad as the last week. I didn't mean to scare you. DH just can't handle heat and crowds at the same time. I need to pick one or the other..cuz that's easy to do at WDW!