When to go????

[Sherrkel]

Easter is 4/24/11; so you can probably expect it to be crowded since NE school breaks fall during that time (either week leading up to easter, or week of).

We usually go in Feb because we have teachers in the family and usually vacation all together; in 2011 most of NH & Mass have the same week off (President's week). You can expect Feb 2011 to be crowded Pres week; but hopefully a little bit less so since Mardi Gras does not fall same as Pres week next year and that usually boosts the crowd level. The weather is hit or miss; but in the past 2005 - 2007 - 2009 we've been able to still go to the pool!

 

[hannaconda]

We do the week of Mardi Gras cause the kids are out for 3 days so I just take the week and off we go

 

[DisneyDVCFamily]

I'm a teacher as well, and have struggled with this for many years. I've been during February vacation, April vacation, Thanksgiving Week, Christmas, and June, as soon as school gets out. Here's how I would rank them, #1 being the best time:

1. April Vacation (as long as it's not attached to Easter). The weather was perfect and it wasn't too crowded. The only issue was that we stayed at ASM and toward the end of the week there was a cheering competition and there were lots of teens.
2. Thanksgiving (I used my 3 personal days that week). Again, weather was nice and the decorations were up for Christmas. A little crowded toward the end of the week, but still not too bad.
3. June - great way to stay motivated at the end of a long school year, knowing a trip to Disney is coming up soon. . . as long as you rest in the afternoon when it gets really warm. The last time we went in June ('07) it was above normal temperatures. We are going back this June and are hoping for more average temps.
4. February - we went this past February during the "deep freeze". While the crowds weren't that bad, it was too cold to swim and just didn't feel like much of a vacation. When you are coming from New England and want a nice break in the middle of winter, 50 degree temps and rain just didn't cut it for us. Not to mention Splash Mountain was closed and so were the water parks.
5. Christmas Break - just too crowded for us and while it's a magical place because of all of the decorations, I'd much rather do Thanksgiving week than fight the crowds at Christmas.

Hope this helps. I am looking forward to the day when I retire (which is many, many years away) when I can visit Disney during September and October. . .