Planning for 2024...

[sunshinewolf]

I am looking to do a WDW trip sometime next year.

First Question, when?
March - Our Anniversary.
June - My Birthday
August - Her Birthday
Best Weather?
Historic Least Attendance?

March sounds good, until i realize how soon it is, that maybe a 2025 option.
Getting away from the heat in Central Cali makes both June and Aug great, but what is the weather like in Central FL?
What time of year is typically the best weather? I know this can be subjective. We are both from a region with hot (100+) low humidity (20%) weather; with anything below 50 during the day being too cold.


I am sure I will have many many more questions, but figured this was the best place to start.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

If you want to get away from heat don't go in June or August.
With the humidity it feels 100+.
Plus it tends to storm on a daily basis which deters some.
For crowds though late August is great.

I've never been in March personally but I do believe the weather would be pretty nice but you have to deal with varying spring breaks.

Personally I really like April for weather. And as long as you avoid the week before and after Easter crowds aren't too bad.

 

[sunshinewolf]

If you want to get away from heat don't go in June or August.
With the humidity it feels 100+.
Plus it tends to storm on a daily basis which deters some.
For crowds though late August is great.

I've never been in March personally but I do believe the weather would be pretty nice but you have to deal with varying spring breaks.

Personally I really like April for weather. And as long as you avoid the week before and after Easter crowds aren't too bad.

If we went in March, Id be targeting March 1st. Pretty much the anniversary of our everything.
Tho, summer makes for much better driving weather as well.

Sounds like either Early March or Late August is what I need to consider...

 

[Marionnette]

I am looking to do a WDW trip sometime next year.

First Question, when?
March - Our Anniversary.
June - My Birthday
August - Her Birthday
Best Weather?
Historic Least Attendance?

March sounds good, until i realize how soon it is, that maybe a 2025 option.
Getting away from the heat in Central Cali makes both June and Aug great, but what is the weather like in Central FL?
What time of year is typically the best weather? I know this can be subjective. We are both from a region with hot (100+) low humidity (20%) weather; with anything below 50 during the day being too cold.


I am sure I will have many many more questions, but figured this was the best place to start.

There's a reason why "snow birds" return to the Northeast during the summer
Florida's temperatures can be hotter than Satan's armpit. You also have the risk of hurricanes, which can hit as late as early November, but tend to occur in late July thru September.

I've found that May can be the nicest time to visit WDW. Comfortable temperatures and lower humidity. Schools in the Northeast are still in session (IOW fewer families at WDW). The Flower & Garden Festival is still going strong at Epcot and the MK (typically) does not do party nights multiple nights during the week.

 

[sunshinewolf]

There's a reason why "snow birds" return to the Northeast during the summer
Florida's temperatures can be hotter than Satan's armpit. You also have the risk of hurricanes, which can hit as late as early November, but tend to occur in late July thru September.

I've found that May can be the nicest time to visit WDW. Comfortable temperatures and lower humidity. Schools in the Northeast are still in session (IOW fewer families at WDW). The Flower & Garden Festival is still going strong at Epcot and the MK (typically) does not do party nights multiple nights during the week.

lol. Id go in the summer for the same reason they go in the winter. To escape from the extreme weather.
In Central Cali, a typical summer is 100-120. Every day. Granted, the humidity is normally closer to 20%.
Funny today is high of 86 with humidity in the 80-90% range (Thanx Hillary).

May could work. I will def look into those dates.

 

[NelleBelle]

I think it depends on what you want to do when there. We live going in May or that very first week in June when temps are still manageable (at least to us). I love Flower & Gsrden fest (as well as Food & Wine). I also love going to MNSSHP—this year we are doing our trip right after Labor Day when crowds are supposed to be lower. I think one of the worst times I’ve ever been was making the ignorant mistake of going and it being Easter Break and being in MK on Easter—some of the worst crowds I’ve dealt with!

 

[me_stitch]

October or early December

 

[sunshinewolf]

I think it depends on what you want to do when there. We live going in May or that very first week in June when temps are still manageable (at least to us). I love Flower & Gsrden fest (as well as Food & Wine). I also love going to MNSSHP—this year we are doing our trip right after Labor Day when crowds are supposed to be lower. I think one of the worst times I’ve ever been was making the ignorant mistake of going and it being Easter Break and being in MK on Easter—some of the worst crowds I’ve dealt with!

I don’t know what Flower and Garden Fest or MNSSHP is? Time for research…

 

[LeighM]

I've been to WDW a few times during March and the weather is kinda unpredictable. It could be perfect weather, or really hot, or really chilly LOL. I went one year early March at the beginning of the Flower and Garden Festival and it was absolutely perfect - by far the best trip we've ever had. The next time we went, it was cold most of the day because of winds off of the lakes. Later in the month is busy because of the beginning of spring breaks. But then you also have the unpredictable weather with late season ice/snow storms or nor'easters. I don't know your wife's condition but would flying be easier for her (if you can score cheaper plane tickets)? I have a few minor issues and traveling can be very painful after a few hours. We only had a 12 hour drive (that we split 8+4) and I was hurting for a day or two after we first got there. I'm terrified of flying (even having to medicate myself) but the short 2 hour direct flight for us is soooooo much better than that long drive. I wouldn't be worth anything for a cross country trip in addition to everything that comes with a WDW vacation.

 

[sunshinewolf]

I've been to WDW a few times during March and the weather is kinda unpredictable. It could be perfect weather, or really hot, or really chilly LOL. I went one year early March at the beginning of the Flower and Garden Festival and it was absolutely perfect - by far the best trip we've ever had. The next time we went, it was cold most of the day because of winds off of the lakes. Later in the month is busy because of the beginning of spring breaks. But then you also have the unpredictable weather with late season ice/snow storms or nor'easters. I don't know your wife's condition but would flying be easier for her (if you can score cheaper plane tickets)? I have a few minor issues and traveling can be very painful after a few hours. We only had a 12 hour drive (that we split 8+4) and I was hurting for a day or two after we first got there. I'm terrified of flying (even having to medicate myself) but the short 2 hour direct flight for us is soooooo much better than that long drive. I wouldn't be worth anything for a cross country trip in addition to everything that comes with a WDW vacation.

The weather concerns (during travel not so much in FL) has me weary about March.

I’m used to long distance drives. Mostly across the western US (TX to CA or TX to ID or TX to ON - this one being the longest, about the same as CA to FL).

The wifeys medical prevents her from flying.

I would be looking to cut the trip up into multiple nights because she would be with me. Should also help with the fatigue from the long drive. If we needed to cut the drive up into shorter chunks, that is also not really an issue.

 

[yensid1967]

The first few weeks of September WERE the best time to go, because Florida kids were back in school! But you may have to ask others here. Touring plans, and undercovertourist.com offer what the crowds were like a year ago, but with coming out of a pandemic, I don't see them working. Next year is more likely to be more accurate! If you don't like the heat, then go anywhere up to June or After September 1st!
Wherever you are from, look into using Amtrak! Its nice to leave the driving to someone else and you get to see parts of the country that you ever get to see from the air or on the interstate!

 

[sunshinewolf]

The first few weeks of September WERE the best time to go, because Florida kids were back in school! But you may have to ask others here. Touring plans, and undercovertourist.com offer what the crowds were like a year ago, but with coming out of a pandemic, I don't see them working. Next year is more likely to be more accurate! If you don't like the heat, then go anywhere up to June or After September 1st!
Wherever you are from, look into using Amtrak! Its nice to leave the driving to someone else and you get to see parts of the country that you ever get to see from the air or on the interstate!

I hadn’t thought about Amtrak. Checked prices, yeah, no. $1k per person, each way (yeah there were cheaper seats, but they were just seats). Still need to get to LA. It sucks, because the train used to be a fun cheap option. As a price comparison, I just did a trip from TX to CA. Round trip cost just over $300 in fuel.

Talked with the wifey. She said she prefers colder to hotter weather. So it looks like March 1 may be the target date for the first or second full day in the park.

 

[krissybear2003]

We have been in march and the weather was nice while we were there. Epcots flower and garden festival is beautiful, the flowers, the characters topiaries! Not to mention the food and wine. MNSSHP is a special event that requires a special ticket for the party. I would choose March as well it’s a beautiful time to go with all the flowers!

 

[yensid1967]

I hadn’t thought about Amtrak. Checked prices, yeah, no. $1k per person, each way (yeah there were cheaper seats, but they were just seats). Still need to get to LA. It sucks, because the train used to be a fun cheap option. As a price comparison, I just did a trip from TX to CA. Round trip cost just over $300 in fuel.

Talked with the wifey. She said she prefers colder to hotter weather. So it looks like March 1 may be the target date for the first or second full day in the park.

March will be good too! Just make sure there are no special groups at that time! Also, I'm not sure what the dates are, but the Flower and Garden Festival is around that time too! Epcot will be beautiful with colorful flowers along the water!
AMTRAK: That seems too high, unless you were going with a roomette or bedroom! I can tell you that the coach seats are WONDERFULLY comfortable and would be good for an overnight-2 days on the train! I will be going from Martinsburg, West Virginia to Orlando for $550(roundtrip) for 2

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I think the complaints about the weather are a bit silly. Yes, summer is hot. So you walk from one air-conditioned thing to the next. We just got back and if you hydrate properly and listen to your body by taking breaks when you need them, you'd be just fine. Late August is going to have the lowest crowds by far of the choices you listed.

That said, honestly, if I lived in California and couldn't fly for medical reasons, then I wouldn't even consider Walt Disney World. It's not different enough from Disneyland to justify that insane cross-country trek.

 

[dreday3]

We usually go in late October - weather can be everything - one year is was cold where we needed jackets, some years were perfect, the last time was rainy and HOT.

We just went this past April and it was also rainy and hotter/more humid than normal.

We are trying early December (week after Thanksgiving) in 2024. Our first visit during the holidays! Hoping for sunny weather, with warmish days but cooler nights.