[smee57]

We're planning to take our 8 yr. old to WDW when school is out. What's the best time to go for weather? prices? crowd? When's the best time to make reservations for a summer trip? (I'm a rookie at this. Can you tell?)

[DisneyTeacher]

Welcome to DisneyCentral!

Any time you go during the summer is going to be crowded. As a teacher I always have to go during the summer and manage the crowds just fine. If you can go in early June I think it will be a *little* cooler and there should be a little less rain. The first weekend in June (I believe) is usually Gay Days but even that is manageable from what I have heard. All that said we almost always end up at WDW in mid to late July and find the weather very warm and the short showers plentiful. We have had many great summer trips even with the crowds and heat.

Where are you planning to stay? On site? Off site??

[smee57]

Not sure about where to stay yet. Probably a value resort. We originally thought about June 11-16 or so. Am open to ANY suggestions!
Thanks for the welcome!

[Dana]

WElcome to DC smee! Great to have you here. You have picked the right place to get your ears about a WDW trip. You have a lot of WDW veterns on here dying to help you plan. Disney Teacher would know best about summer months, so definately listen to what she has to say. I am a "value season" traveler and have no clue as to when the best times to go in summer are. I must reccomend a couple guide books to help you get aquainted with the "world". The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney world and the Passporter guide are two excellent books to help you get your bearings. Again, welcome to DC. It's a pleasure to have you here with us.

[asp8tis]

I'm also a teacher and usually have to go during the summer. We went this year June 10-17 and thought the crowds were very manageable (esp. if you use your Fastpasses effectively). We had pretty good weather, too, just one extended rainy afternoon/evening. We left a couple of days after school got out here, and I thought that worked out pretty well.

[smee57]

What kind of temperatures could we expect in June? My son is sooooo excited. Okay, so are mom and dad. Part of us never grew up . . .
Thanks for all the advice so far. I came to the right place!

[asp8tis]

Originally Posted by smee57

What kind of temperatures could we expect in June? My son is sooooo excited. Okay, so are mom and dad. Part of us never grew up . . .
Thanks for all the advice so far. I came to the right place!

Our weather this year (June 10th-17th) was pretty much in the 80's everyday. A couple of days peaked out around 90 or 91. There is often a thunderstorm in the late afternoon (around 3 or 4), but it's usually short lived. We had one day where the rain didn't end and we ended up leaving the park, but usually we would just do something indoors and the rain would be over by the time we got out.

[smee57]

We might have the option of going the end of October 2005 but the stay would have to be shorter. Hurricane season?? Shorter stay, smaller crowd, cooler weather OR longer stay and endure what goes with it???

[jk8]

Originally Posted by smee57

We might have the option of going the end of October 2005 but the stay would have to be shorter. Hurricane season?? Shorter stay, smaller crowd, cooler weather OR longer stay and endure what goes with it???

I would not let the Summer crowds scare you away. We went for our first trip this past July 7 - 14 and had a blast. We stayed at POP Century. I bought and used tips from the Unofficial Guide. I made reservations at this time last year. Then I was able to get an even better price from a promotion that came out in May.

We survived the crowds by getting to the park when it opened. You get so much done that first hour. By using Fast Pass we never waited longer than 20 minutes for any ride all day. I had even packed little video games to use while waiting in line and never needed them.

We got water spray bottles from Target before we left and used those. I did not notice the heat as much when we kept moving (which was most of the time). Get free ice water from restaurants. It rained one day around 4pm but that was the only time we used our ponchos (you will need to take those or buy there).

We loved the Crystal Palace breakfast, Spectro Magic and Wishes. Welll, there is so much more but too much to mention.

I just bought the 2005 Unofficial Guide because my 2004 was a borrowed copy. I love that book.

Happy Planning!

[karliebug]

I'm another teacher, so it is always summertime trips for us too. We usually go the third week of August, right before school starts here. Florida schools start the week prior, so the crowds are a little thinner. The only drawback is the heat, it is broiling. We have gone in July, but the crowds seemed thicker and there were large tour groups from South America,I think, that followed their flag-waving guides around and would all get in line together for a ride. I mean like groups of 100. They were an instant line. I'd like to go in late June this year.

[ddoll]

Last year we went as soon as our kids got out of school (in fact it included the last day of school because they ended up tacking on an extra Monday for a snow day). So it was mid-to-late June. Everyone told us June was a rainy month in FL and they were right. It rained pretty much non-stop for most of the 10 days we were there. And not the usual FL rain, like one downpour and then the sun comes back out. No...it was all day rain.

While it didn't deter us from enjoying the parks, it did put a damper (sorry about that) on our outings. Night time shows, like Fantasmic and Wishes were rained out. We each had one pair of wet sneakers going at all times, and we got full use of our ponchos!

Not trying to talk you out of June, 'cause I'd go to Disney anytime I was able, just want to point it out.