Your Favorite Month to Travel

[Frozen2014]

Just came back from the most awesome trip. We went third week in October. Weather was perfect (we lucked out due to rain earlier and cold spell later). Crowds were moderate.

I am now dreaming of the next trip (no plans yet but doesn't hurt to do research, right? ). SO am thinking about the best time to go with the following thoughts:

• We loved October but MK hours were limited due to MNSSHP (not sure we'd do the party again due to the cost)
• We'd want to avoid Nov-Dec since we don't celebrate Christmas
• We'd want to avoid Jun to third week in August due to heat and crowds

We don't mind pulling our kids out of school while they are still pre-high school. Having said that, we are from Canada so school doesn't start until first Tuesday in September. (But DH hates heat).

Between family members, the following are our favorite rides (and thus wouldn't want them closed for refurbishment): Splash Mountain and Haunted Mansion

Priorities are weather (avoiding rain first, major heat second...cooler is ok) and crowds

So when is the best time between the following and why?

1. Jan - Feb
2. March
3. April
4. May
5. Sept - Oct

And any of the above would automatically exclude holidays (e.g. March break)

 

[Zhaan]

April and October. But not September it's brutally hot then.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

My favorite month is not listed -- December. (first two weeks). Parks not crowded and fully decorated for the holidays.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

I traveled in July this year and actually liked it (other than the crowds).

 

[Frozen2014]

My favorite month is not listed -- December. (first two weeks). Parks not crowded and fully decorated for the holidays.

Yeah, sorry. Trying to figure out between the months listed above and December wouldn't be an option for us

 

[Praying Colonel]

DS is a CPer for the whole year this year and we were lucky enough to go see him in Jan, Mar, May and August. We'd never been in March and it was the best combination of weather and crowds we've had. Daily highs in the 70s and crowds in the 3-4 range. It was late March and not an Easter Week crowd, so I'm sure we would've felt differently if it had been during Easter.

Added bonus: Flower & Garden festival. I was pleasantly surprised how nice it was. I'm not a flower & garden kind of guy, but the exhibits were interesting (especially the Butterfly Tent) and I really enjoyed the food booths. It was like "F&W Lite."

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

Yeah, sorry. Trying to figure out between the months listed above and December wouldn't be an option for us

If crowds are a factor, would look at January. Very low crowds then.

 

[agavegirl1]

While I voted for September-October (you are right the weather was perfection this year the last two weeks)...I would also suggest May. No parties to shorten hours, Flower and Garden Festival would be beautiful, summer weather patterns not yet fully established etc.

 

[saskdw]

All of our Disneyworld trips have been in December.

This year we are there from Dec. 10th-26th.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

I am there Dec. 13-21.

 

[2manypets]

My old favorite time was in September. You can't beat the low crowds. With me growing older though, I can't stand the heat anymore.

SO...out of the times listed January is one of the lowest times also with cool to cold weather.

 

[Madame]

Maybe the first week of March...? Nice weather, lower crowds. January would be good crowd-wise, but if you are trying to escape Canadian winter, at least for me, this would be a no-no - if I'm going to Florida, I want heat!!

We loved the last week of Aug. Heat didn't bother us, got some swimming & water parks in & lower crowds to boot. Booked again this summer same dates, magical deal, saved a bundle on a deluxe. This week will probably be our week of choice going forward.

 

[Frozen2014]

DS is a CPer for the whole year this year and we were lucky enough to go see him in Jan, Mar, May and August. We'd never been in March and it was the best combination of weather and crowds we've had. Daily highs in the 70s and crowds in the 3-4 range. It was late March and not an Easter Week crowd, so I'm sure we would've felt differently if it had been during Easter.

Added bonus: Flower & Garden festival. I was pleasantly surprised how nice it was. I'm not a flower & garden kind of guy, but the exhibits were interesting (especially the Butterfly Tent) and I really enjoyed the food booths. It was like "F&W Lite."

Sorry, not clear from your post...do you mean March was best combination? (Casue then it says 'never been in March'...but think you must have been referring to another month???)

The FLower & Garden festival would be lovely. I can only imagine how Disney would do things up. Beautiful.

 

[Frozen2014]

Maybe the first week of March...? Nice weather, lower crowds. January would be good crowd-wise, but if you are trying to escape Canadian winter, at least for me, this would be a no-no - if I'm going to Florida, I want heat!!

We loved the last week of Aug. Heat didn't bother us, got some swimming & water parks in & lower crowds to boot. Booked again this summer same dates, magical deal, saved a bundle on a deluxe. This week will probably be our week of choice going forward.

Yes true...but Florida weather has to be better than our weather in January and February. Would be very nice to escape the snow and bitter cold temps we get. Guess it depends on just how cold Orlando gets (which I am going to track this year ).

I would totally be up for last week in August...I always take off with the kids that week before returning to school...But DH hates warm weather so I think the heat would totally turn him off.
Oh great you're going back....so exciting when you have a trip booked and waiting.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

If Splash is a priority, you'll want to avoid January-February. It is almost guaranteed to be closed for refurb then. Annual maintenance is performed on it right after the holiday rush, I think the only variable is for how long it stays closed.

 

[cluvsdisney]

May is by far my favorite time of year to visit Disney. We usually go the week before or after Mother's day - the weather is wonderful (hot but the humidity isn't at full blast yet), the crowds are manageable and the flower show in EPCOT.

 

[AngiTN]

Yes true...but Florida weather has to be better than our weather in January and February. Would be very nice to escape the snow and bitter cold temps we get. Guess it depends on just how cold Orlando gets (which I am going to track this year ).

I would totally be up for last week in August...I always take off with the kids that week before returning to school...But DH hates warm weather so I think the heat would totally turn him off.
Oh great you're going back....so exciting when you have a trip booked and waiting.

It can be cold. Not Canada cold but cold none the less. We went in early March 2013 and it was literally below freezing, like 30, several nights and not above upper 40's for the daytime on a few days. Is that normal, no. But it's possible. And impossible to predict ahead of time.

For the best chance to avoid cold or heat I'd pick late April, early May.
Otherwise, you can have cold and/or you will have hot.
Here's how I see things

late May-late Sept, Hot or Hotter
Late Sept to late Oct, generally good/mild, but you have those Holiday parties
Late Oct-late March, could be good, could be cold. Very unlikely to be hot
March to late May, generally good/mild. Lower crowds too, outside of Easter week and spring break (which may or may not line up)
Less of a chance of spring breakers the later you get in to April.

 

[Frozen2014]

If Splash is a priority, you'll want to avoid January-February. It is almost guaranteed to be closed for refurb then. Annual maintenance is performed on it right after the holiday rush, I think the only variable is for how long it stays closed.

Yes...DS' very favorite. He went on 3 times and he still watches YouTube videos on it and talks about it. Ok...very good to know.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

If Splash is a priority, you'll want to avoid January-February. It is almost guaranteed to be closed for refurb then. Annual maintenance is performed on it right after the holiday rush, I think the only variable is for how long it stays closed.

Agreed. Missed the part about Splash, that is closed pretty much every January-February and see it is in 2015.

 

[Nath&Bellasparents]

January