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Ah, when to visit Disney World . . . Well, coming from a true Disney lover, I think that right now is the right time to visit Disney World! But seriously, planning your vacation starts with picking the dates, so here are some things to keep in mind:
If you can avoid school holidays - do it! The parks are always more crowded when schools are on vacation, so if you can avoid holiday times and the summer months, you will be rewarded with fewer crowds and shorter lines. Of course, the parks close earlier during these 'off-peak' times of year as well, so you'll still need to arrive early if you have lots of attractions on your agenda. If you have children, you may be able to find times that only your immediate area (and not the whole country) is off from school.
If you must visit the parks during school holidays, you may need to be more proactive about planning your days at the parks. Crowds are at their largest during Easter and Christmas weeks, so plan to be at the gates as the parks open to arrive before those late-sleeping visitors even wake up. During summer vacation, my family has had a lot of luck visiting the parks during the last 2 weeks of August, since our schools don't open until after Labor Day, but Florida schools open around August 20.
Be aware if you are planning to visit during the winter months, the weather may be chillier than you expect. If you are from up north, you may assume that Florida is warm year-round, but in actuality, central Florida can go down to around 50 degrees, so be sure to carry sweatshirts or jackets (and those water parks and rides might not seem so appealing). Starting in mid-November, Disney World is all decked out for Christmas, so through the middle of December, this is a beautiful - and very empty - time to visit Disney. The parks empty out again for the month of January, but starting around the middle of February the various winter and spring breaks overlap to keep things hopping though April. Frequent visitors often cite May and October and ideal months to visit, as you get the most beautiful weather combined with the lowest number of visitors. Whenever you decide to go, be sure to make your specialty dining reservations early (up to 180 days in advance), as these fill up all thoughout the year. Enjoy your trip! Stephanie Larkin is the editor of http://www.CruiseLinesandPorts.com, as well as http://www.WaltDisneyCruise.net. She and her family love to cruise - her 3 children especially love the towel animals and chocolates left on the beds at night! |
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