Which Holiday week is worst?

[MamaKate]

I have always taken my kids out of school for almost 2 weeks on our past trips, but now that they are getting older, I don't want them to miss as much school.

I will be taking them out of school at the end of October this year, but for our 2006 trip, I'll need to go during a holiday break.

Which holiday is the worst and the best:

President's Week (there school gets 2 days off)
Spring Break (Easter)
Thanksgiving week


So, what do you think!

I know I can also go in the summer, but I don't think I can take the heat and rain together.

Thanks for the help!

 

[travelbug]

Well, I'm stuck doing most of my vacationing over peak holidays. So I've done WDW over all 3 times you mentioned. My experience has been that Christmas week is far and away the most crowded, followed by Easter week, and then President's week. The weather is the most "cooperative" at Eastertime, because it's springtime. It's pretty unpredictable at Christmas, and somewhat during President's week. (By the way, I'm with you. I can't take the Florida heat in the summer.)

Large holiday crowds are a pain, but they can be managed pretty well by making full use of EMH days and fastpasses.

Good luck as you decide!

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I remember going Thanksgiving week a few times and it was not so bad. Not as bad, as say, Spring Break. However, airfare if you're flying might be very high around Thanksgiving time. But I guess that's true with all holidays.

 

[travelbug]

Oops. I see that you did not include Christmas in your list, but did include Thanksgiving. Sorry I didn't read it carefully enough before I posted. I have never gone over Thanksgiving, so others will have to fill you in on that.

 

[MamaKate]

Thanks!

I knew Christmas was the worst, that's why it's not an option.

Spring Break sounds a little to crowded for me too, so I guess I will plan for around Thanksgiving!

I will still have to take them out of school, but at least it'll only be for a few days.

Thanks for the help!
,
Katie

 

[Captain Hook]

We have been at every holiday season because of our kids vacation schedule as well, and we find Presidents week the least crowded. Easter week in our experiance is even worse then X-mas.

 

[rpbear]

I have been twice Thanksgiving week, we always leave on Thanksgiving day so I can't comment on the weekend after Thanksgiving but I found the crowd very managable the weekend before Thanksgiving. Our schools are out Thanksgiving week so we took our DDs out of school for the Friday before and flew down Thursday night. The Friday before the longest wait I remember seeing was 20 minutes for Pooh. The crowds increased as the days passed. I remember going to MK on Sunday before it was the Early Entry park and riding all the rides in Fantasyland in 1 1/2 hours. And that includes my dds time skipping down the street with Pooh and Tigger. By Wednesday afternoon the crowds were heavy and Thanksgiving Day at AK it the pathways were very crowded. With all that said, I would go back at the same time and would this year except we are going to Disneyland instead.

 

[danny1649]

Would be the best of three you list with Easter being the worst in our opinion.

 

[MamaKate]

I'm really leaning towards Thanksgiving, because I get 2 paid holidays that week and I wouldn't have to use as much vacation time.

My DD B-day is on Feb. 19th and she's been wanted to spend her b-day at WDW, but her b-day always falls on or around President's week, so we've never gone.

Well at least now I have it narrowed down to Thanksgiving & Presidents Week.

Thanks for the Help!
,
Katie

 

[donnajon]

My DS's birthday is also Feb.19! We went this past Thanksgiving and it wasn't bad. The only thing I would avoid is MK on Thanksiving day. I heard people saying they stopped letting people in because it had reached capacity. We were going to come back home on the sunday after Thanksgiving but then heard that MVMCP started that night and decided Christopher would remember that Christmas party a lot longer than he would remember that day of first grade.

 

[cjsmith]

Easter week is the worst. I would vote for Thanksgiving only because the weather will be much nicer than for President's week. The weather can be very iffy down here in Florida in Feb., especially in Orlando. The weather in November is alway wonderful. Just something to keep in mind.

 

[auntpolly]

We've done all of those and had the nicest time during President's Week -- the only thing you have to remember is.....who knows what the weather's going to be like?

I think I'd like to speak out in defense of Spring Break, though. It's warm, the hours are better, there are more shows, more parades, less attractions down for repair, and if you are a touring pro, you can manage the crowds. I never mind spring break. In fact, I like it better when the parks are open later!

 

[mousemagic]

I will put my 2 cents in for Thanksgiving week. We have been all three times you mention. Thanksgiving day was very busy, but we ran into MK early and rode a few favorites, then left. But the best part was seeing the changes in the decoration. Thanksgiving day was all fall flowers etc and by Sunday of that weekend, Christmas had come. Fun changes in all the resorts also.

Just get your airfare early if thats possible.

 

[MamaKate]

My daughter will need to wait to celebrate her birthday at WDW another year, because I've finally decided to go during Thanksgiving!

Does anyone know if WDW does anything special on Thanksgiving day at any of the parks or resorts??

Thanks for the help!
Katie