Giving Up Summer Trips

[ddbowdoin]

Has anyone else quit WDW during the summer months? My DW and I just got back, and while we had a great time since we are fans, it got to a point where I've been 7 times in 4 years and summer isn't worth it. It's hot... Hoards of tour groups and 60 min waits for POTC and HM?!?! DW is a teacher so it's hard to go on slow times but I found myself saying "is this worth it anymore?!"

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

seeing 60 min queues at Pirates is a tough pill to swallow... I've been once in late May and it was walk on, get off, get right back on, 3 or 4 times in a row. That's my ideal Disney!

It hit 45 minutes when we were there this past May. I'm sure it was due to fp+

Welp, we leave in 9 days. Having gone in May and September for the past 3 vacations, this will be a wake up call. But, we'll see how it goes. It's hard for us to take our daughter out of school, so we decided to try and give summer a chance to see if we can enjoy it. I think FP+ will help a lot. But, I'm going in full-knowing that it's going to be packed. We're just going to try and stick to early mornings and late nights, with afternoon time at the hotel. At the end of the day, we're in Disney World, so it can't be all bad.

I hope you do a TR or just let us know how it went. We maybe go next summer and I planned on hitting the parks early and taking advantage of night emhs!

 

[MDactor1980]

As another half of a teacher family we have to choose carefully as well. We gravitate to off-season weekend trips, and this year we are going to DLR for spring break (with another half-teacher couple). I'm sure we will be braving a summer trip in the next few years after we have a kid and they're old enough to go!

 

[Foolish Mortal]

Stopped going in Summer long long time ago. Wanted to see the parks decorated for Christmas, that was all she wrote for Summer visits. If I had to go back to only going just once a year, it would be my day after Thanksgiving trip.

 

[gorebunch]

I agree with you on this one. I remember going as a kid during the summer and had a blast but I look back on the pictures and can't believe how many people were there. We have always gone during off-peak season. Last Summer we did 2 days during the second week of August and it just confirmed our decision to not take a week of vacation during the Summer to do Disney.

 

[EpcoTim]

You couldn't pay me to go anywhere in Florida during the summer let alone Disney. That being said, end of January, beginning of February this year was pretty crowded too.

 

[Missymoe4]

Has anyone else quit WDW during the summer months? My DW and I just got back, and while we had a great time since we are fans, it got to a point where I've been 7 times in 4 years and summer isn't worth it. It's hot... Hoards of tour groups and 60 min waits for POTC and HM?!?! DW is a teacher so it's hard to go on slow times but I found myself saying "is this worth it anymore?!"

We quit too!! Seriously, this very year. My party are all teachers and this year we're going during Thanksgiving. Yes, I'm being "bad" by taking off on an institute day...but you know what?! I only live once! Plus, why waste an entire week off? Might as well be in WDW and try something new. I've been going to WDW almost every summer since childhood. I have never been there during any other time than June, July or August. I'm totally pumped about experiencing an entire new Disney. I can't tell you how excited I am -- more so than the past few years (how sad, huh?). But yeah, I totally agree with the wicked hot weather and the tour groups. I'll miss the hot pool weather. But I won't miss the perspiration and being knocked around by tour groups.

Amen to you!!! When are you going?

 

[Missymoe4]

Welp, we leave in 9 days. Having gone in May and September for the past 3 vacations, this will be a wake up call. But, we'll see how it goes. It's hard for us to take our daughter out of school, so we decided to try and give summer a chance to see if we can enjoy it. I think FP+ will help a lot. But, I'm going in full-knowing that it's going to be packed. We're just going to try and stick to early mornings and late nights, with afternoon time at the hotel. At the end of the day, we're in Disney World, so it can't be all bad.

That's how we work the summers. The heat can get bothersome, but pool time is also a great memory. Actually, some of my family's best bonding has been soaking in the pool laughing about the morning festivities in the park. Have a FABULOUS trip!!!

 

[allgiggles]

Welp, we leave in 9 days. Having gone in May and September for the past 3 vacations, this will be a wake up call. But, we'll see how it goes. It's hard for us to take our daughter out of school, so we decided to try and give summer a chance to see if we can enjoy it. I think FP+ will help a lot. But, I'm going in full-knowing that it's going to be packed. We're just going to try and stick to early mornings and late nights, with afternoon time at the hotel. At the end of the day, we're in Disney World, so it can't be all bad.

We're also stuck going in summer because we won't take the kids out of school to go (2 of them are in HS and we have block scheduling. Taking them out for a week would be a disaster. Even missing 2 days is really tough to make up). And in summer, we've got to work around summer sports leagues, music camp, mandatory school sports camps, mandatory school band camps, etc. Basically, we have a 3-week window from mid-June to early July that we can squeeze in a vacation. When we go to Disney World, we do exactly what you're planning on doing -- rope drop and late nights along with an efficient use of FP. Most afternoons we go back to the hotel for a swim or rest. We find we can get so much done at MK (and the other parks as well, but especially MK) in the first 2 hours after the park opens and then again in the evening once people start lining up for the parade and fireworks. We pick one night to watch MSEP & Wishes (actually, we usually do those on separate nights -- and sometimes not at all) and the other evenings we go on rides during those times. Those 60+ minute waits for things like Splash Mtn, BTMR, PotC, HM, etc. shrink down to much more manageable 5-15 minute wait times. PotC is usually a walk-on by the time we get back to the park in the evening. We've always managed to have a great time and get everything done that we wanted to do on that trip. Planning and knowledge of wait time patterns are crucial during the summer months. If you do your research, it's completely possible to have a good trip in summer. Can't do anything about the heat, but we try to focus on doing indoor attractions with a/c during the afternoon if we're in the park. While I would love to be able to go to WDW during a slower and cooler time of year, it's just not gonna happen for another 9 years when the youngest is finished with school.

 

[Missymoe4]

I can't speak for all school districts, but around here you'd be an unemployed teacher if you ever said that to a supervisor.

Maybe it was a joke?
I think it all depends on how you request days and for what reason. And if you're sick and in WDW, keep it on the DL. No one needs to know why you called in 'sick' and where you are. It's your time and your life, live it!

 

[ImagineerDude]

I know what you mean... it wasn't the heat, but more the heat combined with the crowds. We had a 3 day pass with PH and basically only visited MK and EPCOT. FP+ is kind of a joke, not sure I like it.

I just found myself getting frustrated with the crowds after visiting so frequently over the last 4-5 years. I could see if I only went once every 4 or so years then summer could work but when you've experienced nearly everything there is at WDW then it loses it charm when the wait times are up that high.

Basically the only thing I have left to do at WDW are to eat at more restaurants (but since I live in Boston food at WDW is pretty crappy anyway), stay at more resorts (not sure that's the highlight of any trip of mine), and the real high end tours.

We noticed wait times relatively lower with the exception of Pirates, Jungle a Cruise, Haunted Mansion and a few others. We go early, stay late, and even take a break in the afternoon and we did all 4 parks with a 3-day hopper this time and there wasn't a single attraction (besides Stitch and the Tiki Room) we didn't do in MK and that was with watching shows and dining at TS restaurants! You should definitely try the Keys to the Kingdom Tour. It's fantastic!

 

[SeanWM48]

buddy of mine is a teacher and he's at the mercy of the school year schedule as well. can only go in july or august with the family. rough situation. i've been spoiled by the october/november trips and probably will never go during the summer. granted i don't have kids like many of you so it's easy for me to say now.

is it hard to pull a kid from school in, say, mid november for a week and bring them to DW? lower crowds, lower temps etc

 

[ddbowdoin]

We noticed wait times relatively lower with the exception of Pirates, Jungle a Cruise, Haunted Mansion and a few others. We go early, stay late, and even take a break in the afternoon and we did all 4 parks with a 3-day hopper this time and there wasn't a single attraction (besides Stitch and the Tiki Room) we didn't do in MK and that was with watching shows and dining at TS restaurants! You should definitely try the Keys to the Kingdom Tour. It's fantastic!

I've done the KTTK and The Magic Behind the Steam Tour... I just haven't done the 300$ plus pp tours.

 

[baggienath7]

so all i am reading is bad things about Summer never been last two weeks of August before usually go September/October, is it really that bad?

 

[cw1982]

Maybe it was a joke?
I think it all depends on how you request days and for what reason. And if you're sick and in WDW, keep it on the DL. No one needs to know why you called in 'sick' and where you are. It's your time and your life, live it!

Except that, in most states, if you did get caught doing something like that you could lose your teaching certificate. Personally, I like to be able to post my pictures to Facebook, share my memories with friends by telling them about my trip, and don't want to have that added worry hanging over my head of "what happens if I get caught?"

I understand your sentiment here, buy we're not just talking about getting written up. Something like that can ruin one's entire career.

 

[Kate Alan]

I work as an administrator in a college, so summers tend to be the best time to go as well, but I can't stand the heat so I tend to try to travel either during one of the long weekends in the fall by tacking an extra day on, the winter break or during early February after the semester has started but before midterms or spring registration. So far it has worked out well for me.

Two years ago my ex and I went in the middle of July because he was on a teacher schedule - we lucked out on weather - it was actually chilly out a couple mornings! Usually though my spray fan is basically attached to my hand on summer trips - can't deal with the humidity, it just makes me sad and irritable after a full day in the parks.

 

[Missymoe4]

Except that, in most states, if you did get caught doing something like that you could lose your teaching certificate. Personally, I like to be able to post my pictures to Facebook, share my memories with friends by telling them about my trip, and don't want to have that added worry hanging over my head of "what happens if I get caught?"

I understand your sentiment here, buy we're not just talking about getting written up. Something like that can ruin one's entire career.

I gotcha. I totally agree with you. I'm a high school teacher up in the Chicagoland suburbs....
Funny thing is that I have never actually seen a teacher/school administration fired (my department chair goes on vacations twice a school year for one week each time, if anything, she sets a bad example). In agreement with you I would not chance my career.

 

[Missymoe4]

so all i am reading is bad things about Summer never been last two weeks of August before usually go September/October, is it really that bad?

It's hot and pretty busy. Over the past five years I have traveled between August 1-25. Around mid-August it seems to drop, or rather we have experienced a day or two of shorter crowds. This year with free dining beginning in August, it may get a bit crazy.

Honestly, if you go prepared it's not bad. Set up a decent schedule and do some planning. If you go down and expect to walk on rides and walk into restaurants, you may be disappointed.

I worked the parks by getting in first thing (as everyone on here says: it's amazing what one can do within the first two hours of park opening). We take a midday break at the pool (to beat the heat) and then return to the parks in the evening.

Have an amazing time on your trip!!

 

[ImagineerDude]

so all i am reading is bad things about Summer never been last two weeks of August before usually go September/October, is it really that bad?

Only if you make it that bad Don't go expecting Space Mt or the new Dwarf Ride to be a walk-on in mid-afternoon

 

[tem325]

I can't speak for all school districts, but around here you'd be an unemployed teacher if you ever said that to a supervisor.

Uh, yes, this is true. I am a teacher and I have found that taking a personal day or two and making a long weekend during a slow time of year is the best time for me to go. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to stay longer than 3-4 days, but I feel like I'd rather do 3-4 full days and go on rides multiple times and get into the restaurants I want rather than going when it's packed during school vacations.

 

[Britt]

I haven't even taken a trip in summer and I already have given up on em! LOL

I won't consider a trip in the summer, I'd almost (ALMOST) rather not go at all, than go in the summer!

I love fall/winter and highly recommend it if possible