Hi there! We are planning to take our 4 children to D.W. sometime in 2007.

When is the best time to go? (weather, less crowd, etc...)We can choose 2 weeks out of any time of the year.


Oh my kids- ages: 7,5,3,1

Thanks everyone!

By Yjja123 on Monday, January 8, 2007 - 06:23 pm:

My favorite time to go to Disney, in Orlando, is in October. The weather is cooler and the crowds are minimal.

By Conni on Monday, January 8, 2007 - 07:22 pm:

One of my very best friends and Disney ADDICT... loves to go in October. She has been several different times of year and she says that October was great for her family.

By Melanie on Monday, January 8, 2007 - 07:27 pm:

We went to Disney two weeks before Christmas and it was wonderful! All the Christmas decorations were up and there were absolutely no crowds. The parks close early, which was fine for us since our kids were little. Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party was happening. During this, you buy a special ticket to get into the Magic Kingdom (limited tickets are sold). There is a parade, fireworks, special shows, "snow" on Main Street (bubbles), and the rides are all open. The attendance is so small that our kids were able to ride Thunder Mountain twice without ever getting off the ride. That night was the highlight of the trip. Also, because those couple of weeks are "off season" you get the lowest rates of the entire year. When we go back, no doubt about it, we will go during this time of year.

By Debbie on Monday, January 8, 2007 - 07:32 pm:

I ditto, October. The weather is usually nice, and the crowds aren't as bad. In fact, my dks now have fall break in October, and we are thinking of going either this fall, or next fall during that time. The end of April is also a good time to go. We went in April a few years ago, and the weather was beautiful.

By Monicamomof3 on Monday, January 8, 2007 - 08:27 pm:

Melanie,

What is the weather like right before Christmas?


Has anyone gone the last week of August or the first week of September?

By Mommmie on Monday, January 8, 2007 - 08:38 pm:

We went the first week of July this past summer and it wasn't crowded. I expected crowds, but they just weren't there.

By Yjja123 on Monday, January 8, 2007 - 09:03 pm:

We went in July and there were several buses of kids there. They were kids on a senior trip. The lines were horrible!

By Pamt on Monday, January 8, 2007 - 09:04 pm:

August and September are hurricane season. Would NOT recommend it. Not to mention it will be unbearably hot.

By Reds9298 on Monday, January 8, 2007 - 09:06 pm:

Highly recommend from Nov.1 through Christmas. We've been several times and always have gone during that time. It's value season so it's cheaper, and other than Thanksgiving weekend (which is PACKED)it's not crowded at all. The lights at Christmas are really cool!! I like the weather because it's not too hot during the day and a little cool at night, which is perfect for me. We always still swim at night with no problem.

Went once in July and it was AWFUL! We rode THREE rides and waited the rest of the time in lines and melting from the heat.

By Yjja123 on Monday, January 8, 2007 - 09:27 pm:

June 1-November 30 is hurricane season

By Beth on Monday, January 8, 2007 - 09:49 pm:

I would say First part of May, October or early Dec. I would highly recommend the disboards also. You will get more info and Disney then you will ever need. Have Fun!

By Monicamomof3 on Monday, January 8, 2007 - 09:58 pm:

disboards?
Sorry! I don't know ANYTHING. ;)

By Monicamomof3 on Monday, January 8, 2007 - 10:00 pm:

OH!!! discussion boards! ROFL!!!

thanks!

(sorry, i'm a little slow!) LOL!

By Debbie on Monday, January 8, 2007 - 10:02 pm:

We went in December a few years ago. While the crowds were low, and the Christmas decorations were beautiful. It was COLD! There was a cold front that came through the day we got there. It was only in the 40's during the day and windy. It was really cold...30's at night. So, while the crowds are low, and decorations are pretty, it is a gamble with the weather.

Disboards... www.wdwinfo.com, then click on discussion boards. There is lots of information on the boards about resorts, the parks, etc.

By Kate on Monday, January 8, 2007 - 11:04 pm:

We always go the last week of August. Low crowds, discounts on the deluxe hotels, warm weather that I, a northerner, do NOT find unbearable at all, and the parks are still open late. Well worth it to me. I have people always trying to convince me to go during off season, but I won't waste the time and money to go when the parks close at 7:00 at night!

By Melanie on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 - 12:03 am:

When we went, the weather was pretty nice. I don't remember specific temps, but I do know we went to the pool a couple of times.

Check out www.passporter.com. It's my favorite website and guide book for Disney.

By Bellajoe on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 - 08:42 am:

We went from October 13-17 of 2004 and it was perfect. It was warm but not too hot. Shorts and short sleeve weather. Warm enought to jump in the pool. THe lines were short, the longest we waited in line was probably 1/2 hour.

If the kids weren't in school than, we would go at that time again in a heartbeat.

I VERY highly recommend getting the book "The Unofficial Guide to Disney World" that book was like my Disney bible. It was so helpful. I read it cover to cover.
I have heard (probably from that book) that the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is the slowest time, no crowds. Someone my dh works with went the week after Christmas. DON'T go then. He says it was a mad house and they actually closed the gates around noon because there were too many people at the park.

By Imamommyx4 on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 - 11:00 am:

Absolute worst time IMHO is the week before and after Easter. HORRRRRRRRIBBBBLE crowds. The Monday before Easter when we went, Magic Kingdom closed at 10:30 am to anyone but guests staying at Disney accomodations. We got in at 10:20 am. You could hardly move there were so many people. At 10:30 in the morning there was already a 1 hour 15 minute wait for the Dumbo ride. We were only able to do 3 Fast Passes the whole day.

We went the second week of October 2006 when dd was on fall break from school. It was great. Nice temps. Low crowds. I think the longest we ever waited for anything was about 35 minutes. Alot of rides we just walked on, most had 10 or 15 minute waits. We were able to do a lot of Fast Passes.

Get the book mentioned above "the unofficial guide" and I'd recommend the Birnbaum's "Official Guide", too. I used them both. I thought they were both handy/helpful. Decide when you are going. Decide if you want to make reservations for any character meals and do that ASAP. Meals at Cinderella's castle book up as much as 3 months in advance for certain times of the year.

And HAVE A BALL!

By Debbie on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 - 11:14 am:

The week before and after Christams and Easter are the busiest times to go. Usually, at least one park is closed early because it has reached capacity.

By Sunny on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 - 01:04 pm:

I have been the week before Labor Day (hot, hot, hot, but crowds were manageable), the second week in August (again hot, but only time we could go), and the third week in November (it was cool and rainy that week, but it wasn't crowded at all).

If I could choose, I'd go at the end of October/early November. The time we went in November, I pulled the kids out of school, but now that some are in high school, I don't want to do that.

By Jackie on Wednesday, January 10, 2007 - 02:25 pm:

We are probably going in Mid June. We use to pull my son out of school and go around March. Now that he is older he asked us not too as he misses too much work. March was a great time to go as well, before spring break started. This will be my 14th trip there. 2 years ago we went in mid June as well. It was crowded but not horrible. I live disneyworld. It is my magical place

By Karen~admin on Wednesday, January 10, 2007 - 04:23 pm:

My friend went on Dec. 30 through Jan. 6 and she said the crowds were AWFUL.

I've only been in November. Weatherwise, it was great. But DH and I went the beginning of Thanksgiving week a few years ago, and again, it was VERY crowded. I wouldn't go during a holiday week again.

By Yjja123 on Wednesday, January 10, 2007 - 04:33 pm:

Holiday time is crazy. We have gone just to see decorations, etc. Fine if you have a season's pass (we did) but I wouldn't waste my money trying to visit between Thanksgiving & Christmas.
I am not a fan of huge crowds and lines.