[PrincessBelle]

Hi guys
I know this has been done to death but I'm asking again. We have just decided that we are going the big family trip to WDW. As we are coming from Australia we want to make sure we get it right.
We had been talking about March (2008) but from reading other posts it seems to be a busy time in March. Easter is 23 March that year.
The other thought is late 2007. Maybe October/November. We were in California last year in September and saw all the hurricanes which scared us a bit so we want to avoid all that. But we also want warmer weather.
Any thoughts. I guess we are pretty flexible. We have only just decided today that we are going and I'm just sooooo keen to start planning.
PrincessBelle

[emamasa]

we found january to be slow, and are going 1st week of OCt this year - hoping it is slow. If you go Sept/oct you may get the epcot food and wine festival & MNSSHP (the 2 reasons we chose the week we did this year). Weather should be warm still, though not hot (80's i think). Jan weather was 70's when we were there.

Have fun!!

[disyady]

Our usual time to go (before oldest DD couldn't miss school anymore) was either the first week of Oct or the first week of Nov. Both times have great weather; Oct has the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot, so maybe that is why we did find the attendance to be a little higher that month. If I could choose to go anytime I wanted, it would either be the first week of May, Oct or Nov. Great weather and manageable crowd levels make for a more magical vacation. Have fun whatever you decide!

[llama]

There are several good times to go. January through early February is very slow (except Martin Luther King wknd), but the weather is on the cooler side. We rarely swim in Jan. or Feb. - it's just too cool for us and we're from Canada - so we're no wusses, weather-wise. Early Sept. is still hot and the crowds are virtually non-existent. Yes - there could be a possibility of a hurricane - but Orlando is inland. We've gone in Sept at least 10 times - many of those times hurricane warnings occurred, but we've never been effected by one personally. Late Oct. and early Nov. is said to be good. Nice weather, low crowds. Late November has this very scary week called "Jersey Week" when all the schools in New Jersey are out. Avoid this AT ALL COSTS. Many here can tell you the exact date of that. My dd and I went the lst week of March this year and it was wonderful! Beautiful weather, low crowd attendance - but don't wait longer than the first week. By the second week of March "Springbreak" kicks in. And that means huge crowds - as many as summer months and Christmas. Hope this helps a bit.

[Cavey]

Early December is good for the Christmas decorations.

January & February (except for the weekend around Jan 15) is a great time to go.

[bethishooked]

We've gone in once in January and twice in September. Too cold in January. Many may enjoy the cooler weather, but I felt like something was missing without the wonderful warmth of the Florida sun. Plus I'm crabby when I'm cold! Both times in September were wonderful. Absolutely no crowds. Highest wait time for a ride would be 10 minutes.

[ARIEL]

We are going in April this time but usually we go In January. January is fairly quiet and slow but the weather really isn't anything special. One day, last year it was quite cold and people were walking around wearing gloves and scarves! Now, I didn't think it was too bad myself ( not for that kind of attire anyways!) but I guess it's all relevant to what you are used to. I'm in Britain so you can imagine what our weather is like a lot of the time!

We have also been in June and September. June was too hot and too busy. Sept was great, only it did storm and rain quite a bit. Septembers crowd levels were good I thought so definately a time I would consider again.

[Wing Rider]

Just how bad are the crowds during Martin Luther King weekend?

[palmickey]

We go in October every year and it is starting to get a little more crowded, I believe due to the wonderful MNSSHP (a blast)! We have had good weather but we were there for hurricane Wilma last year. Disney was very well organized and made us feel very safe. October weather, except for that hurricane is wonderful. Shorts and tees during the day maybe a light jacket some nights.

We went in early Feb. this year and it was so cold, we were wearing hats and gloves but I do not know if that is normal - yet.

[llama]

Originally Posted by Wing Rider

Just how bad are the crowds during Martin Luther King weekend?

Not really bad. It's just that if you're there in January you get so spoiled, so an increase in the crowds the least little bit and you notice it. The parks are still manageable during MLK wknd. Just takes a little more planning, a little more getting to the parks early and using fastpass more. There are weeks in January when you don't need fastpass at all and many attractions are walk-ons. So when you've had that all week, you do notice a difference on MLK wknd.

[tiggerfan74]

I avoid all holidays @ WDW. We try to go for any length of time during the value seasons. We have done some day trips ove the past couple of months when it is said to busier, and I gotta say it really hasn't been all that bad!

[Cavey]

Originally Posted by llama

Not really bad. It's just that if you're there in January you get so spoiled...

Boy, you got that right!!!!! Unless, it's an attraction where you waiting for the next "showing" (like Muppet Vision), Lil' and I don't wait in line. I mean, why wait in line when the next attraction is walk on? If some ride has been crowded that day, we just use FP or wait for a parade.

I love WDW in January!

[PrincessBelle]

January sounds fantastic. I love the idea of not having to wait in line especially with the kids. But weather is important to us also. We definitely want to be able to swim while we are there. I know we can't have it both ways though. I was leaning towards late October mainly because its not as far away as May which would have to be the following year. Hurricane Wilma frightened me last year though. Is this a common occurance in late October. I know the season officially ends at the end of Oct. I know it sounds like we are planning way in advance but some of us will be travelling on points and these have to be booked at least 12mths in advance to get seats.
PrincessBelle

[Cavey]

Swimming, will be if-y. But the pools are heated, and to me the trade-off of no crowds is worth it.

[CathysCAT]

Originally Posted by llama

Late November has this very scary week called "Jersey Week" when all the schools in New Jersey are out. Avoid this AT ALL COSTS. Many here can tell you the exact date of that.

Not ALL schools in NJ are out for an entire week in November...not my kid's anyway. I only know that mine are off Thursday & Friday, November 9 & 10 for NJEA conventions. Probably a lot of people (not me though) take their kids out of school for a few days prior and make it into a week's vacation.

Good luck with your planning!