Why do you choose to go (or not go) in the HEAT and CROWDS?

[Sammie]

We don't like the heat or the crowds of summer, but my family goes then, as we always felt school came first.

 

[Ratpack]

Hello ratpack! from Lexington, SC myself!!!

I was just going to post that we don't go in the summer because i can't do crowds & heat. I get so cranky just being outside here at home in the summer.
We go usually in December, however we are braving a post Labor Day weekend trip this year. We've been in April as well and that was a lovely time. We'll see in 2 weeks how I *really* feel about the heat/crowds in Disney world!

Enjoy your trip! Maybe we will bump into each other sometime in Lexington. I am looking at putting together a SC DIS Meet in the near future so watch for it.

OK, sorry for the hijack, back to our normally scheduled thread.

 

[Praying Colonel]

At this point in our lives, going in August is the best fit for our family. DW is taking Masters courses and DD is starting college, and the only gap in both of their schedules is August. I'd love to be able to go in November or early February before the President's Day rush--in time, perhaps.

 

[monorailsilver]

I prefer the summer, more so August then July or June.

-I like to swim so I know if I go in the summer I will be able to swim every day. I have gone in Feb, March/April, May & I think May was the only time I really enjoyed swimming other then the summer but the other 2 times it was a bit chilly for me & yes I live in CT & Florida was too cold!

-I like the later park hours & we always take a mid-day break & the 2 times I went in Feb, I felt like my day was cut short because of my break. I need my break.

-All (OK most do) the ride have a/c blasting so even if you get hot walking, as soon as you step inside or are waiting in line you feel a refreshing cool feeling.

-I can get wet on Splash Mtn & not get sick (got sick one Feb when I went after that ride & my then boyfriend, now dh wouldn't let me go back to the park for the afternoon on our last day because I was sick).

-I like August because I think alot of the kids are either back in school or heading to school so people don't like to vacation as much then.

-I find the crowds in August are not as bad as the ones in July.

-I go to the park early & then leave mid-day (hottest part of the day) to swim, do laundry, nap, shower, etc..basically rest & let my kids rest & then I go back around dinner time just as the sun is thinking about going down.

-I don't like to pack 2 sets of clothes-jackets, pants, shorts, long sleeves, short sleeves. I hated going to visit my cousin in southern FL every Jan because it was actually nice & warm where she was but I had to travel in pants & a winter coat (one time I came home & it was freezing & I was so happy to have my heavy coat but I hate traveling like that).

-I actually don't mind the heat as long as there is relief. I mean living in CT isn't exactly cold in the summer (OK don't go by this summer since it has been a chilly one most days).

 

[pooh6890]

My daughter attends UCF and started school this week. So I went up last weekend (4 days) and we went to MGM and MK. It was actually not so bad. I was dreading going because of the heat and the crowds and it was pretty bearable. The wait for most everything was no more than 20 to 30 minutes and the fast passes were no more than 5 minutes if that. I lost 30 pounds this year and what a difference that made. Both in bearing the heat and my feet. Hardly any sweating and NO blisters......I am sure the weight loss helped. I plan on losing 20 more before Super Soap Weekend in November.........

 

[MomOf2DisneyKids]

we go in July, because that's when we CAN go!

 

[Wishes]

We go everytime the last week of July. Our wedding anniversary is July 28 and we spent our honeymoon in WDW and I couldn't think of any other place I'd rather be than with my husband and kids on our special day!

The other reason we aren't able to go any other time of the year is because I'm a teacher and so summer is pretty much it for us to take a vacation.

 

[marivaid]

So...what kind of family are you? When do you go, and why???

We go during school vacations because that's the only time we can DM's a teacher and I'm (soon to be) a school secretary.
We've been going to FL in the summer for years and we're used to the heat and humidity now. No big deal.

Our next trip is for October/November and it's supposed to be quieter then so I'm looking forward to that. Then for our other trip we'll be back in Christmas week madness.

 

[Wendi2000]

I HATE, HATE, HATE the weather, but I LOVE the free dining!!!

Seriously... how do people live in Florida??? EWWWWW

 

[antmaril]

When our son was little, we would go the second week of January. When he was in middle school and in high school, we took a couple of trips in the summer - not a big fan.

When he went to college, we were able to back to the January trips, which we did this year and last.

Having said that, we are going on Tuesday for Free Dining. We wanted to do something before he starts school again after Labor Day and we all decided Disney would do it. We are taking his girlfriend, who has never been to Disney World. Showing her the World should be fun.

However, I am very worried about the heat and humidity. I'll probably be done at the parks by Noon every day. Oh well, what can you do? It's only a few days.

 

[SplashMtnCrew]

We have gone in Aug, Dec, March, April, and Jan. This year is when we went in Jan. and we are hooked. The very best, most relaxing, enjoyable time we went was Jan. We will be doing all future trips during the last two weeks of Jan from now on. We know all about the summer temps in the south and the hurricane threats ~ live it everyday. We would be devastated to plan a trip and have a hurricane instead

 

[Kathi OD]

When our kids were younger (they're all grown up now), I always took them out of school to go to WDW. The primary reason was that DH cannot take vacation time during the summer months when the rest of us have "off" and for us the Christmas holidays are for home and our extended family (none can afford a Disney vacation, especially during the holidays). We feel that vacations are important for families, and so we went when it was most feasible for us.

We only ever had one teacher make a negative comment about one of our children going on vacation during the school year, and DD was an "A" student in that particular class. I always gave the teachers plenty of notice, asked for their work ahead of time (if and only if the teachers were willing to do that since I know it makes extra work for them) and made sure it was all finished BEFORE we went away. Some teachers had them make up the work when we got back, but most teachers didn't give specific assignments, just told me what they would be covering while we were away and ask me to make sure the kids were familiar w/ the material, which I did.

I'm also a teacher (not in the district or state where I lived when the kids were in school) and take personal days backed up to school holidays in order to go when DH can get his vacation, which is generally in the fall or winter months. Usually we can get a week's vacation with me only taking one or two personal days in November. The week we go is fairly crowded (NJ week, during F&W, and I swear everyone in the entire state is at WDW), but much less heat.

While NJ can be hot and very humid in the summer, there is no way I want to be spending thousands of dollars for a WDW sauna experience. If I had to go in the summer, I'd still be waiting on my first trip to see Mickey (and probably be on major meds because of the depression that would bring on)!

 

[pixdust]

I have been in late October, March, and June. I must say the Late October trip was the most comfortable. That being said, 3 weird school days off between 2 weekends and FREE DINING are making us risk the hurricane possiblities of late September. DS teacher announced at back to school night that for every missed day at school there will be 2 days worth of work for each day off. NOT the most thrilling of prospects, but this will be the first time DH has gone with us. Plus DGD and DD and boyfriend are going too, and we are hoping for lots of pixiedust and no Hurricane "Humberto" raining on our parade. I am predicting hot weather and a grand sweaty old time.

 

[coastermom]

Hey Pix Dust your DS teacher actually said for everyday there will be TWO days of Work what if the kid is truley sick?? That sounds like too much of a punishment for any set of childern to have over their heads . I am a Para my DH is a Teacher and I never heard of such a thing. What a sad thing . i hope these kids are a little older like middle school of High school.

 

[suzimar57]

we like to go mid/end of october best (during F&W) - staying at CR or PC (big difference, huh?!) - have gone during June, July, August and September - too hot, humid, rainy, buggy - prefere October, even November

 

[goofy4tink]

I've been to WDW in mid-June, as well as in August ('03, 04, 07) This past trip, two weeks ago, was the worst ever. I realize that it is going to be hot/humid in Florida in the summer. But, when the natives are complaining about the excessive heat/humidity, well, that's when I know I'm doomed. My dh has told me he isn't going back to WDW until Oct '09, when our dd celebrates her 16th birthday there...if she does.
Me? Well, I find that I just can't handle the heat/humidity in addition to the crowds anymore. No amount of slowing down and water drinking was enough to make this last trip a good one. For the first time I was eager to leave Orlando. Now, I did have a cruise right after that, so that may have played a part in my eagerness, but I still think I wouldn't have been sad about going home if there was no cruise.
I was going to take my dd and my 32 y/o dd to WDW next July...elder dd's first trip ever. But, I'm not going to risk ruining a fun trip with that heat, so changed my dates to early May. Sorry that my younger dd can't go due to school, but them's the breaks.
So, my younger dd and I will do quickie trips, without dh, in the summer but not for a long stay...probably just 4 days. Or head down for long weekends during the school year.

 

[micmacmissy]

DS teacher announced at back to school night that for every missed day at school there will be 2 days worth of work for each day off.

That is ridiculous--I would call the principal, or superintendent, and find out if that policy is anywhere in writing. If not, I would challenge that teacher on it.

I was a high school administrator before I stopped working to be a mom and I can tell you that very few of these policies are enforcable. Honestly, I think some of these schools are getting out of control and trying to parent our kids for us.

Our son's school instituted a policy where kids were allowed 2 "personal days" a year...parents have to submit requests in writing to get these days excused. I found it to be ridiculous. My husband was leaving for a year in Iraq with the Army, and I had to ask the principal for his permission to take our son out for a week to spend time with the family. The principal "approved" the extra days...but if he hadn't, guess what? We'd still be going. What are they going to do at the end of the year, I wondered, if my 1st grader had 5 "unexcused" absences? Hold him back? When he's at the top of his class? It's silly. (We will face this issue again this year when Dad returns from Iraq...I guess we'll have to put in another form to ask permission from the principal so our son miss a day of school to see his father get off the plane, after not seeing him for 12 months!)

My husband and I are highly educated professionals who are fully responsible for our kids. No one is going to tell me if and when I can pull my kids out of school, but yes, they can try to! And honestly, a lot of the policies these schools institute are not legally enforcable. (Yes, high schools can withhold credit for excessive absences, but that's about it.)

Climbing off my soapbox now!

 

[eddieras]

That is ridiculous--I would call the principal, or superintendent, and find out if that policy is anywhere in writing. If not, I would challenge that teacher on it.

I was a high school administrator before I stopped working to be a mom and I can tell you that very few of these policies are enforcable. Honestly, I think some of these schools are getting out of control and trying to parent our kids for us.

Our son's school instituted a policy where kids were allowed 2 "personal days" a year...parents have to submit requests in writing to get these days excused. I found it to be ridiculous. My husband was leaving for a year in Iraq with the Army, and I had to ask the principal for his permission to take our son out for a week to spend time with the family. The principal "approved" the extra days...but if he hadn't, guess what? We'd still be going. What are they going to do at the end of the year, I wondered, if my 1st grader had 5 "unexcused" absences? Hold him back? When he's at the top of his class? It's silly. (We will face this issue again this year when Dad returns from Iraq...I guess we'll have to put in another form to ask permission from the principal so our son miss a day of school to see his father get off the plane, after not seeing him for 12 months!)

My husband and I are highly educated professionals who are fully responsible for our kids. No one is going to tell me if and when I can pull my kids out of school, but yes, they can try to! And honestly, a lot of the policies these schools institute are not legally enforcable. (Yes, high schools can withhold credit for excessive absences, but that's about it.)

Climbing off my soapbox now!

ditto!
could NOT agree more with your last paragraph! good luck to you and your husband -- and kids of course!!

 

[ms_mckenna]

Well we went this year from 7/30 to 8/6 the first half of our trip it was INSANELY hot the last part of our trip. DS and I spent a whole day at MGM and honestly I have no idea how the child talked me into doing it. We had fun but it was a stupid idea and I quickly figured that out. The first half of our trip it rained a lot so it was not bad but the last half we were not that lucky. The crowds were there but not as bad as I had expected.
We picked these dates only because we wanted the kids to experience Disney on their actual bday. Otherwise we would have pulled them out of school or gone later in August or December.

 

[SuzieN]

When I was a child my family took Disney World vacations every other summer. Guess what? Now that I'm the mom I get to pick when we go and I can tell you that it will NEVER AGAIN BE IN THE SUMMER!!!! We can't afford to go every year - or even every other year for that matter. There is just so much else we could do with th $$ it costs for a Disney vacation. Since it is such a special thing to go to Disney I have no problem taking my kids out of school for a week in February. It doesn't take too long to catch up on missed work. Definitely worth it for milder temps and smaller crowds!