Disney World - April or Nov/Dec??

[disneyworld07]

Hi All,
We need some help making a very important decision, when should we visit the world???

We went to Disney in April of 2000 and loved it. We loved the weather (hot but not humid), we loved the crowd levels (not too high but not empty) and generally had a fantastic trip.

We went back to Disney last year in July (07) and whilst we still loved it (obviously!) we were too hot, it was too crowded.

Important factor - my mum LOVES Typhoon Lagoon and this is obviously closed in Nov/Dec, but she would be happy to go as long as the christmas events are big and special enough to make up for her favourite park being shut.

Now we are thinking of going back in the future, and we are now considering going in Nov/Dec. Christmas is our favourite time of year and everyone seems to recommend going to Disney in the last 3 months of the year.
We have never seen Disney at Christmas, and think it would be magical, but we are not too sure how the weather would be (is it too cold for water parks?? Is it too cold for shorts and t-shirt?? Is orlando's 20 degrees hotter than the UKs??). We are really confused and whilst we want to try something new, we are worried that it will be a too cold for the water parks (which we love) and that Typhoon Lagoon is shut etc and that it will be too different an experience. Since we went in Apil and loved it we are torn between going in Nov/Dec to experience Christmas, or just going in April when Typhoon is open and we know the weather will be hot enough etc....


Please help!!!

 

[Philo]

I would suggest going for late November / Early December. The crowds should be pretty light which is always a big plus in my book. I've been during January and the weather was a little cold at night but it didn't stop me having fun at Blizzard Beach. I would say that January in Florida is similar to around May time in the UK - warm but not hot. Generally during it the day it was t-shirt and trousers but you won't find many people sunbathing.

If it's any help, I went to DLP in February a couple of years ago and it never got above 0 degrees C. Absolutely everything was frozen solid but with a few layers of clothing I had a fantastic few days!

 

[deWild]

Do not go to Disney the week of Thanksgiving, every park is packed full of people and you'll have to wait longer than normal times for everything. A perfect week to go is the week right after Thanksgiving. All the people who flew in for a trip around the Disney World for some turkey and mashed potatoes will have left, leaving the parks wide open for you.

When my family asked a CM what time was most busiest for Disney, he said Thanksgiving week, without a doubt.

 

[pacochran]

We go every year at first week of December and we love it that time of year. With the parks and resorts all decorated for the holidays. It's usually not that crowded. We go swimming while we are there, though it can get a little chilly sometimes, but were from NE so it's usually cold when we swim up here anyways.

 

[piggy1116]

My family and I usually arrive the friday after thanksgiving, the crowds are light we never wait more than 5-10 mins for rides, and the christmas decorations in each park are magnificent(sp?). The christmas trees are huge, and we totally enjoy MVMCP. Nothing like seeing snow on Main Street USA. The weather is usually pretty warm during the day, we bring shorts, t-shirts, and a light jacket for the evening. I hope this helps.:wave:

 

[ErickainPA]

most definitely December for the decorations. We go usually the 2nd week right before the Holiday Season pricing kicks in. We have gone over Christmas Day and it's nice but quite crowded.

 

[happymom52003]

Now we are thinking of going back in the future, and we are now considering going in Nov/Dec. Christmas is our favourite time of year and everyone seems to recommend going to Disney in the last 3 months of the year.

If you love Christmas, then you MUST experience WDW during the Christmas season!:xmas:

So I agree with the other posters....choose early December. We went the week after Thanksgiving in 2006, and are going that same week this year. It is my favorite time of the year to go to WDW.

 

[RiversideBunny]

The American Thanksgiving Day is the fourth Thursday in November.

Whatever week that falls into will be more crowded.
Before and after are not so crowded.

Good luck.

 

[gettingsmaller]

Okay, I know this wasn't an option, but I'd suggest Sept could be a good time. We went last Sept, and the crowds weren't bad (way better than when we went in April a couple of years before), it was plenty warm to enjoy the water parks, but it was not really hot enough to cause us much trouble. I have kids aged 4,6,8 at the time, and I don't remember any complaining about heat. If it had been too uncomfortable, I guarantee you that my most vivid memory of WDW would be my kids complaining about being hot.

Of course, we ARE from Texas. So, we're probably somewhat conditioned for heat and humidity...

Anyway, we're going in December for the first time this year, and we're actually a little bummed about the water park situation because we did enjoy them so much last year, but I think the cooler weather, Christmas decorations, and (hopefully) lower crowds will make up for it. Still, crowds were not bad at all in Sept. Hitting things early and good use of fastpasses meant that we probably did not wait in line more than 15-20 minutes--and that's for things like Soarin'. Many things were basically walk-ons.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't think I'd do April. My experience is that it's too busy. I think that post-Thanksgiving November or December is probably great when it comes to crowds, weather, decorations, etc... So, given those two choices, I'd give Dec a try, BUT if Sept is something that could work, we found it to be a nice time to go.

 

[wolf359]

I've been several times during the first week of December and I really love it. The decorations really make everything seem even more festive than usual and to me it elevates the whole feel of the vacation.

Crowds are tolerable, and several years ago I'd say almost non-existant, but I've seen a marked increase recently. Nothing like the July crowds, however. Weather is also nice, but very unreliable. Some years I've seen it chilly and windy and others unexpectedly warm. This past December I even saw both extremes in the same week. I'd be ready for both, just in case.

 

[KC82271]

I have done both the last week of April and mid-November. Depends on what you are looking for. April is the Flower and Garden Show - which appeals to some. Not bad crowds as long as it's not Easter time - which in '09 it is April 12th. Mid-November is perfect weather wise. We went last year for the entire Christmas feeling through all the decor, which this year has been moved to the Friday after Thanksgiving. Only the Christmas Party at the MK is happening while we are there, we are bummed. But I don't think either time you mention is bad. It's just a choice of Flower and Garden vs. Holidays. If you are a Bah Humbug that doesn't like the holidays, skip the end of the year.