When to go to Disney?

When to go to Disney?

That's a really big and important question! Alot of people opt for the same times because it is obvious. Spring break, Christmas break, and summertime are typically the busiest times of the year at Disneyworld but there is never really a slow time anymore. Disney is the master of marketing and they have found numerous ways to create demand for their vacations even in the slowest of seasons. That being said the simplest rule when choosing when to go to Disney is this:

If you are out of work/school then chances are really good that so is everyone else.

We really enjoy early spring and late fall because it is typically less crowded and the weather is ideal. In the summer not only are you dealing with crowds but insanely hot and humid weather. If this is you only time to go and you still want to then by all means go, but be prepared and accept what is ahead of you. The great thing about summer is the parks are open much longer and so you can spread your day out more. It is fairly easy to be there for park opening and stay until lunch then go back to your motel for a few hours to swim/rest. Then return to the park in early evening and stay until everyone is finished. I typically recommend this to everyone in the summer because Disneyworld is a large place and exhausting on its own, but when you add in the 90+ weather and humidity you will be zapped by days end. If you go in the spring the weather is awesome and the crowds are manageable but try to avoid the weeks surrounding Easter because it does get crazier then. We absolutely love the first couple of weeks in March as long as Easter falls in mid to late April. The fall can also be a great time to go because of lower crowds but it can still be hot/humid depending on when you plan on going. September is fantastic for crowds but can still be 90+ most days. As you get on into October and early November the crowds are still pretty manageable and the temperature gets much better. Now Christmas time is an unbelievable place to be for the holidays but is is off the chart nuts busy. The week before and the week after Christmas is the busiest time to travel to Disneyworld but it is amazing as well. If you go for the ambience and the experience it is magical. However if you really want to see everything it simply is not going to happen. The two times we have been we were lucky to do a few things and had to wait in line a long time to do that. If you go, choose the first couple of weeks in December because typically all the decorations are up and crowds are not too bad. These are just the beginning when considering when to go to Disney!

When to go to Disney?

If money is an issue and it is for most of us then going not during peak season is usually better financially as well. Disney rates its "seasons" based on traffic and attendance figures so if the time of year you are wanting to go is busy your chances of obtaining a "deal" are small. However in an effort to increase traffic flow during other slower times you can occasionally get some pretty good "deals" (as far as Disney goes). If alot of people are going then Disney has less need to discount or run promotions to fill rooms and tickets. When you are searching look for "value" season for the least expensive times to go. Also many overlook the obvious in that it costs much more per night at Disney owned resorts for Sat. and Fri. night so if you plan your travel from Sun. to Thurs. then you average days expenses decline. It is a business designed to make money so accept that nothing is "cheap" at Disney ever!

When to go to Disney?

Now the big question I get asked all the time about going to Disney? Should I take my kids out of school in order to go during a less busy time? The answer is not that simple because it depends in the child, family, and school involved in the decision process. For us one child is not in school yet (4) so that one is easy but our oldest is (10) and that decision is hard! For us our family dynamics are dependent on family vacations to thrive. What I mean when I say that is they are extremely important to us as a bonding time and a time to reconnect on a deeper level. With our work schedules and school it seems we are rarely together as a family of four as often as we would like. These vacations allow us time away from everything in order to be a family. So for my family without a doubt we would pull our children out of school. We however are blessed in that our oldest daughter is extremely gifted and a major overachiever so it is not that difficult for her to catch up if she gets behind. I have a suspicion that my youngest will not be that way so our options may change as she starts school. In a nut shell I say if you have to even think about if your kids can handle the make up work or doing homework on the trip then the answer is probably no. Be sensible and choose what is best for your family! Do not let friends, extended family, or the school system tell you what is best for your family. They do not know your family the way you do and should not influence your decision in any way! You choose when to go to Disney not someone else (unless that someone else is paying).

When to go to Disney?

Now that we have covered weather, which season, and when to take off work. The final topic for today is going to be when is too soon? How old do my children need to be to enjoy Disneyworld and my answer may surprise you. You are never too old or too young to enjoy Disneyworld if you do your homework. If all you have is small children then you options are smaller but they are not zero. If you have a baby are they going to remember the trip, of course not! But are you going to remeber the trip, definitely! To this day we laugh about our adventures at Disneyworld with our youngest daughter and our priceless memories with our oldest daughter. There are things that happened on trips that they cannot remember but we do and that makes memories too. That being said it was probably age 3-4 with both our kids that Disney magic really came too life for them. We would go and their eyes would light up and your heart would melt becuase you knew that all was good with the world for that split second. Age 4-5 is probably a good age to ensure that everyone can ride every ride together if you chose too. That doesn't mean they won't be a little scared or nervous but all the options are there if you chose to take them (with a couple of exceptions). There are things for all ages to enjoy and Disney magic is all around if you take the time to experience being a child again. The other thing to consider is the parents and their ability to slow down and enjoy life. Our lives are so filled with madness and schedules we have a difficult time slowing down and a trip can be half over before we begin enjoying ourselves. In my future posts I will give some simple suggestions of how we handle that in our house which might help you.

When to go to Disney?

Simply when the time is right for you and your family!