When is the best time of year to visit Disney in Orlando?
In my previous Disney Planning Tips we looked at the choice of Disney accommodation options available to you and how concentrating your planning on what you intend to do whilst at Disneyland, any additional travel intentions whilst on your Disney vacation and of course your budget, would help you to make the right Disney accommodation choice for you.When planning the best time to visit Disney there are, in my opinion, 2 main factors to take into consideration - Holidays or Special Events and The Weather or Season. Each will have an impact on the cost, crowds, opening hours and events available.
Top Disney Planning Tip – Try to book your trip to avoid, where possible, school or public holidays.
It stands to reason that the parks will be much busier during these times and it seems obvious to me that it isn't much fun spending 5 hours of a 10 hour Disney day stood in queues or lines to get on a ride!!(Apart from the well known universal public holidays, some of the lesser known public holidays outside of the USA will include – Martin Luther King Day - 3rd Monday in January; Presidents Day - 3rd Monday in February; Spring Break towards the end of March and beginning of April; Memorial Day - last Monday in May; of course Independence Day on 4th of July, Labor Day - 1st Monday in September; Columbus Day - 2nd Monday in October and not forgetting Thanksgiving on the last Thursday of November)
What's more, no matter how cute and cuddly Mr M Mouse appears, you must remember that above all else he is a very shrewd business mouse and higher prices will be reflected at these busier times – so be aware of that.
Yes, I do realise that many of you are restricted to travelling times dictated by the kids school terms or holidays. However there are ways around this without resorting to telling the school that your child will mysteriously be suffering from a highly contagious illness in a few weeks time!!Top Disney Planning Tip – Be open and honest to your child's school about your planned trip.
Write to your child's school and request that they be released a week prior to or following a scheduled term break. Ask that they be given some work or an assignment to take with them and offer to get the kids to perhaps produce a diary of their Disney trip to present to the rest of their class as a kind of 'show and tell'.I defy any teacher to say that a Disney trip is not an educational experience that will stay with the kids a lot longer than any maths or Home Economics lesson!!
On the up side of these busier times is the fact that the Park hours are likely to be extended well into the evening and there are likely to be more parades and special events available – so if money is no object and you don't mind huge crowds, it doesn't really matter.
Using Orlando as an example, lets look at the weather. The summer months from the beginning of June to the end of September will see the highest average rainfall for the year with average temperature highs well into the 90's Fahrenheit (33C +) and not forgetting the almost guaranteed downpours each afternoon, which means it will be very hot and humid - not a good mix with worn out kids in the middle of the afternoon.Top Disney Planning Tip – At this time of year be prepared to leave the park in the afternoon and return again in the evening when it is much cooler and less busy.
If staying at the parks in the afternoons go for rides with covered waiting areas or hit the wet rides to cool down.Florida is known as the Sunshine State and so average temperatures throughout the rest of the year will rarely drop below 20C meaning that pretty much any time you'll be sure to get good weather.
The Best Times To Visit Disney
Many experts recommend the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas as a top time to visit. The parks are decorated for Christmas and crowds are not quite so bad. Be aware though that the Magic Kingdom closes early on some nights, and weather may be a little too cool for the water parks. Still, this remains a recommended time for enjoying the park decorations before peak season.January just after the schools start back following the Christmas holidays is another great time to visit although once again the cooler weather may affect your water park days and earlier closures can be expected.
The period just before or just after Presidents Day in February is a time that I can recommend to visit, with temperatures starting to pick up slightly and some great deals to be had.
Late April, just after Spring Break and up until the May Memorial Day is also a good period to go including taking advantage of Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival with its free concerts.
And finally, the period from late August through September when many schools are back in session and crowds are typically less. It's during this period that resort price drops are somewhat more noticeable although there are likely to be earlier park closings!
In summary, when planning the best time of year to take your Disney vacation, remember to take into consideration seasonal weather conditions and public holidays, events or special occasions. Planning around these can potentially save you thousands and make the difference between a great vacation and a truly amazing vacation.
Remember to consult with a specialist Disney Travel Agent or your preferred travel provider for even more help and advice.
Safe and Happy travelling.
In Part 4 of My Primo Vacations Blog Disney Planning Tips, we will look at options for getting to and from the airports.
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Great Information Dave and a great looking Blog. Well done matey!
ReplyDeleteJulie