When to go

[geergirl]

I had our plans all set. We were going to be in the parks from Sept 1- 5. Then I realized that we had to be at home on Sept 6. So much for those dates!

This will be the first trip with our kids. We have two toddlers (2 years old) and so our schedule is quite flexible given we're not working around school schedules. I am happy to choose dates around when the crowds will be lowest. Shorter hours are not a concern because the kids go to bed early and sleep until 8-ish.

When should we go? Any advice is welcome!

 

[Escape2Disney]

A lot will depend on how you like to vacation:

1. Do you like hot weather?
2. Do you mind crowds?
3. Do you want to avoid holidays, or would you prefer to see the parks decorated for a particular season?
4. Do you mind a lot of refurbs?

We prefer the shorter hours since I can't do the 'commando touring' anymore. The shorter the hours, the quieter the parks (generally). Lately, however, just about every time of year is at least a little busy.

We tend to go in September, February/March, and/or early December. Of these three, there tends to be more rides down for refurb in September.

Hope that helps!

 

[Cheshirecatty]

Great advice from Escape2Disney!

If you go at a less crowded time, you will most likely run into reduced entertainment on the schedule, more refurbs, and shorter hours. None of these bother us, personally.

If you can't use your Sept. dates, try beginning of November(if you don't mind missing the Christmas decor--it won't be completely up till mid Nov., most likely), or the beginning of December(first two weeks).

If you go into 2015, we love going in February(we avoid Valentine's Day and Presidents Day), OR the first week in March(before Spring Break crowds arrive)!

The Parks have been busier than we expected, the last several times we've been, so go knowing that up front, and then you'll be pleasantly surprised if they're not!

 

[geergirl]

A lot will depend on how you like to vacation:

1. Do you like hot weather?
2. Do you mind crowds?
3. Do you want to avoid holidays, or would you prefer to see the parks decorated for a particular season?
4. Do you mind a lot of refurbs?

We prefer the shorter hours since I can't do the 'commando touring' anymore. The shorter the hours, the quieter the parks (generally). Lately, however, just about every time of year is at least a little busy.

We tend to go in September, February/March, and/or early December. Of these three, there tends to be more rides down for refurb in September.

Hope that helps!

Hot weather is okay.
Normally I'm okay with crowds. DH is much less so but will tolerate them. For this trip low crowd levels are important to me because I'm not sure how my kids will tolerate lines and big crowds.
We've seen the holiday decorations before. In fact I've always been during holidays so haven't seen the Haunted Mansion without the overlay since way back before Nightmare Before Christmas came out.
Refurbs are okay. I'll be a bit sad if something I love is down, but that's how it goes. Our kids won't be big enough to go on a number of rides so we're likely going to miss out on a lot of them anyway unless we hire a babysitter one evening or afternoon during their nap.

 

[mommajo143]

http://**************.net/2013/10/07/the-2014-walt-disney-world-week-picker/

This may help some.

I'm a big fan of September trips but keep in mind it's still warm & there is the hurricane risk too. We are from Louisiana so neither the heat nor hurricanes bother us much.

We've been in November & February too. November was far more crowded than we expected & food and Wine Festival had a big (negative) impact in our trip (we have young kids).

February was awesome weather but the park hours were shorter & several attractions were down for refurb... we didn't mind either issue bc we've been before & will go again, but people planning a once in a lifetime trip need to keep it in mind... Earlier park closing hours with young kids is usually no big deal...

I hear the first week it two of December is an excellent time to go also, though I think prices start going up around then.

 

[GracieB]

http://**************.net/2013/10/07/the-2014-walt-disney-world-week-picker/

This may help some.

I'm a big fan of September trips but keep in mind it's still warm & there is the hurricane risk too. We are from Louisiana so neither the heat nor hurricanes bother us much.

We've been in November & February too. November was far more crowded than we expected & food and Wine Festival had a big (negative) impact in our trip (we have young kids).

February was awesome weather but the park hours were shorter & several attractions were down for refurb... we didn't mind either issue bc we've been before & will go again, but people planning a once in a lifetime trip need to keep it in mind... Earlier park closing hours with young kids is usually no big deal...

I hear the first week it two of December is an excellent time to go also, though I think prices start going up around then.

I believe the poster is asking about Disneyland, not WDW!

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

We love early May... Most refurbs are done in time for spring break, and early May means spring break is over, and school is still in session. If you want to see HM without the nbc layover it's a good time for this too. As the ride is down in September to get the layover and doesn't convert back till after the new year. Weather in May is nice too, can be hot, but we just did wdw, and have never experienced DL as hot as wdw was the last two weeks.

 

[thatgrljme]

We love early May... Most refurbs are done in time for spring break, and early May means spring break is over, and school is still in session. If you want to see HM without the nbc layover it's a good time for this too. As the ride is down in September to get the layover and doesn't convert back till after the new year. Weather in May is nice too, can be hot, but we just did wdw, and have never experienced DL as hot as wdw was the last two weeks.

Just a word of caution we were there Mother's Day weekend and it was between 90-103 degrees, super crowded and a lot of big ticket rides were down.

You can't really depend on California weather anymore.

 

[VicMom]

I like September-even though it usually means missing a good ride or two.

Three of the last four times I've been to DL have all been in September and I've found it great (and the other was right before Hallowe'en). The weather is still summer (well last year was stupid hot but I think that was a freak heat wave), the crowds aren't too bad (and lines can be shorter too), and the park hours are fine if you're not going to be there until midnight anyways. Plus hotel rates seem to start to go down from the high summer rates as well which I figure I may as well enjoy while we can.

We're taking DS (he'll be 3.5) for his first trip this September (arriving on the 13th). He misses a week of pre-school (big whoop) and it's easier for DH and I to co-ordinate holidays in September than in the summer when it can be harder to get time off.

That's what works for us anyways.