Your Favorite Month to Travel

[Frozen2014]

Our first family trip was end of August and it was MISERABLE for heat. seriously felt like we got hit by a truck every day.

Second was end of October and it was BLISS! Seriously best time ever. And we did go to the party and loved it. (looking forward to oct 2015)

Latest trip was end of May over Memorial day weekend and it was surprisingly wonderful! I was preparing for that horrible heat again but it only happened for maybe one half a day. The rest of the time was comfortable. I also planned for rain but it only sprinkled for half a day. If you family members are Star Wars fans- the Star Wars weekends at HS are really really fun! That was the focus of our trip. If not- then I would say avoid HS like the plague. It is busy during those weekends. The other exciting thing that happened during that week was the 24 Hour party at Magic Kingdom. We didn't utilize it like we had hoped but it is a fun event to have fall during your trip.

My DS would LOVE the Star Wars event at HS. I just wonder how crazy HS is (even on a week day)?

But it does sounds like April / May is a great time...or Oct again if we don't mind working around the party days.

 

[RebeccaRabbit]

We have taken 3 trips in early January, and this is a perfect time for us. We are from Wisconsin, and all really hate "hot" weather. (To Northerners like me, above 80 = "hot", and above 85 = "misery" ) Florida weather is a bit variable in January, but most days highs are between 65-75, which is my sweet spot. There will be an occasional day with a high of only 55 or up to 85 - personally I'm happier with the 55! 60 degrees is shorts weather in WI - especially if that were to ever happen in January! It's also quite funny to see the locals wrapped up in security blankets complaining about the "cold" (I do feel sorry for them though.) People have very different perceptions of the weather depending on what they're accustomed to. My relatives who have lived in FL for years now start shivering if it's below 80. On our last trip it was literally -30 when we our plane took off and 72 when we landed in paradise. I love to experience this sharp contrast - that FL sun feels SOO good when you emerge from a dark cave of snow and ice!

Other things I liked about a January visit: VERY low crowds. Most rides had 0-10 minute lines, and we used FP(+) for anything over 20. Longest we ever waited was 20 minutes (for Dumbo, naturally). Cheaper prices on hotels. Precipitation is rare - it has never rained during the day while we were there.

Splash is typically closed for part of January so look at the refurb schedule. When we visited it was open for the first few days and then closed later in the week. Also Blizzard Beach was closed (but Typhoon Lagoon was open). One time Kali was closed for the day due to the temperatures being in the 50s. Everything else was open.

I've visited FL during various months over the years (have relatives down there), and I personally HATE HATE HATE it from May-October. So crazy hot I feel like I'm melting, even at the coast. Plus the weather up here is fabulous then anyway... not when I need a get-away.

 

[W.E.D.]

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

This! Best trip we have ever had.

 

[jbish]

Now I'm totally confused

Jan and Feb are out because of Splash refurb
March is out because it's busy
April isn't great because you can get bad storms and crowds getting higher
May - possibly (but getting warm?)
Jun-Aug - are out because of heat and crowds
Sept and Oct - Was thinking of avoiding second time around because of MK shortened hours
Nov and Dec - are out as we want to avoid Christmas months

Maybe end of April , start of May (which would be around 3 of our birthdays)?

Well, I'm not going to be of much help, but I did have one major issue with our trip that was during the end of April (26th-30th in 2012). I was very surprised at the number of teenage groups that were in the parks that trip. I think there was a cheerleading competition in town and that brought the teenagers in droves, particularly at the thrill rides. RNR/TOT at 90-100 minute waits, even in the single rider lines. Was such a bummer for us because we just were not expecting it. Otherwise, it was a great time for us - Flower and Garden, warm enough to swim, most rides were up and running. The next trip we did was 10/31-11/4/2013 - no Halloween party for us (can't justify that cost) but thought it was a great time to visit.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

My preferred months are not listed: June & July. Children are in school, wife is a teacher. Summer is our only real option outside of Christmas and Easter.

 

[BeerMe]

We're going for January and February this year (6 weeks) but our favorite time is November - December

 

[Frozen2014]

We're going for January and February this year (6 weeks) but our favorite time is November - December

You're going to Disney for 6 weeks? Wow!

 

[Frozen2014]

One question about May....

I see that 'Star Wars Weekends' were just announced. I didn't realize until now that it is just on the weekend. But my question is...overall, does this bump up the crowds in May?

So for example, one weekend in May 15-17....so I'm assuming that overall the week of May 17-22 would be extra busy at the parks right? (Mind you, it pretty much looks like it starts then and is the following 5 weekends...so would the rest of May be extra busy?

 

[finny1981]

I voted for March, but then looked at your post. We have went in February, March, April and June and we are booked for September next year.

February (1st week) were no crowds, but cooler than we wanted we came from snowy Michigan and still needed sweatshirts, pants and jackets. Too chilly for us.

March (second week) had beautiful weather and very minimum crowd (not easter time)

April (last week) was pretty warm and hot at times and it was our first trip so we didn't mind the crowds, but compared to the other two months it was noticeably more crowded.

June (first week) was pretty crowded and super hot and rainy when we were there.

 

[Frozen2014]

I voted for March, but then looked at your post. We have went in February, March, April and June and we are booked for September next year.

February (1st week) were no crowds, but cooler than we wanted we came from snowy Michigan and still needed sweatshirts, pants and jackets. Too chilly for us.

March (second week) had beautiful weather and very minimum crowd (not easter time)

April (last week) was pretty warm and hot at times and it was our first trip so we didn't mind the crowds, but compared to the other two months it was noticeably more crowded.

June (first week) was pretty crowded and super hot and rainy when we were there.

Ok...so Feb may still be a touch too cold. And I guess it's out for us if there's a chance that Splash would be still closed.

Sounds like march was the best for you. And didn't realize that April can already get so hot.

 

[lustergirl]

I voted for the end of September even though it is still blazing outside. We usually take the free dining promo at the end of September. This year I am going next month, in April, and in September. If I am lucky I will go for a few days in early December as well.

 

[Minnesota!]

Honestly? I would pick August as my favorite time to travel. That last week before Labor Day is amazing...low crowds, beautiful weather, low prices, usually Free Dining. We absolutely love it!!

Second would be Spring Break time...the weather is perfect. However, prices and crowds are obscene.

We are past the age of being able to take the kids out of school for more than a few days, but with us discovering how fantastic late August is...I am ok with that!

 

[Kristina4109]

Out of the months you have listed, I'd go for early May. The last time we went during that time, the weather was nice but not brutally hot, the only park that was crowded was the MK (and it sounds like it's crowded year round nowadays) and we had a wonderful time!

My first choice is early December, and my second is the full week before American Thanksgiving. (NOT the week that includes it.) Alas, we have turned into Peak Season People since my daughter is in the Highly Gifted track at her school and pulling her out is not an option.

 

[PSUGuy]

We've been there 16 times since 1999, most of the early visits were in March when my school breaks and that's our favorite WDW travel time because a March trip gives us something to get us through a lousy Pa Winter and offers an early taste of Summer. But the last 6 years or so we've switched to Oct for Food and Wine. We prefer that festival and Oct weather is more predictably warm as opposed to March but we do miss having a March trip to look forward to .

Bill From PA

 

[Frozen2014]

Honestly? I would pick August as my favorite time to travel. That last week before Labor Day is amazing...low crowds, beautiful weather, low prices, usually Free Dining. We absolutely love it!!

Second would be Spring Break time...the weather is perfect. However, prices and crowds are obscene.

We are past the age of being able to take the kids out of school for more than a few days, but with us discovering how fantastic late August is...I am ok with that!

Last week in August to Spring Break must be quite the contrast.
Is it brutally hot last week in August? That's a great week vacation-wise, but am just not sure about the heat and storms.

 

[kathy884]

It used to be March for me for the glorious weather, but we travel at spring break and crowds have gotten worse in recent years. I've done two get-a-way weekends in October and I was surprised how hot and humid it still was -- not unbearable like summer.

I haven't been in April or May for years. When my son was a toddler we did early May and our weather was wonderful, just like March, but I haven't been enough times to know whether that is typical or a fluke. June is horrible for heat and humidity and I'd be a little concerned traveling later in May.

I didn't vote, but I think I would in your shoes do March, April, or early May, but I'm not so sure there are that many non spring break weeks in March or April. The spring weather is really wonderful in Orlando year after year.

Despite all that I'm going mid December before the Christmas crowds this year because of DS getting out for Christmas break earlier in college than most schools. December, though, is cooler than I like, but the low crowds are what are getting me to try mid December.

 

[AngiTN]

One question about May....

I see that 'Star Wars Weekends' were just announced. I didn't realize until now that it is just on the weekend. But my question is...overall, does this bump up the crowds in May?

So for example, one weekend in May 15-17....so I'm assuming that overall the week of May 17-22 would be extra busy at the parks right? (Mind you, it pretty much looks like it starts then and is the following 5 weekends...so would the rest of May be extra busy?

SWW really only make HS extra busy. They have little impact on the rest of The World. Read up on the reports at EasyWDW for how to zig when the SWW folks zag.

 

[tiriggs1]

We went in January one year and the weather was great but there were many refurbishments scheduled. The last few years we have been going in September. We do the free dining bounce back offer. We usually go the the first 2 weeks of September and enjoy the water parks and Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party. Very low crowds. It is true that it is hot and it rains once a day (or no rain at all). We did not mind. We scheduled our breaks from the park based on weather. 4 of the 7 days we took an afternoon nap while it rained and then went back to the park!! Love it. Oh, and airfare to WDW in September typically goes on sale too. We pay around $198 roundtrip per person on Southwest Airline for travel to Orlando in September. That combined with free dining and value room rates.... we will always choose September! We also went the last week of September and were able to enjoy the Food and Wine Festival and the Halloween Party. The crowds were still low that week.

 

[Laketravis]

Couldn't vote because they aren't an option, but we prefer November and December.

 

[Off to Neverland 7]

We've gone to WDW 3 years in a row same dates each year Sept 25-Oct 2 and absolutely LOVE it (although, this past sept/oct 2014 was the most crowded out of the 3 years we've visited)! We love the Food & Wine festival, free dining and lower crowds. The weather is still very hot and humid and the rain gets a little crazy at times.

We're going for the first time in late Jan/early Feb so I don't really know what to expect. But we're really excited!


Dancing our way over to our happy place - Jan/Feb PTR 2015

Disneyland Resort 1993-2000 Passholder 2004-2014 Caribbean Beach Resort July 2001 Paradise Pier Resort 2009, November 2014 Grand Californian April 2010 Pop Century Sept 2012, Sept 2013 Disneyland Hong Kong July 2013 Animal Kingdom Villas & Universal's Cabana Bay Sept 2014 Pop Century & Disney Dream Feb 2015!! Beach Club Villas Sept 2015!!