When to go to Disney with a toddler (advice needed)

[acarter]

I am planning on going to Disney next year in 2023 with my husband, baby, and possibly my mom. We are debating on when the best time to go between early March or early May. My baby would be 16 months in March and 18 months in May.

pros for early March: we would get to see the 50th celebration
Cons: will it be too cold for my toddler to swim? Crowds may be worse. My toddler will be younger and two months older would maybe be more enjoyable for him.

pros for early May: I have been in May before and love the weather and crowds have been decent. This is my preferred time of year to go and my toddler would be a little older
Cons for early May: missing the 50th celebration

I would hands down choose May if I wasn’t taking the 50th celebration into consideration. Would I be missing out by going after the 50th celebration? Would night time shows change by May?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I have been in May before and love the weather and crowds have been decent.

You must have been very lucky. May isn't as humid as summer, but it's still usually hot as the surface of the sun. I believe the average high is somewhere around 88 degrees.

With a baby especially, the weather makes this a no-brainer for me. March, hands down.

 

[Des]

Agree with above. Go in March. You will have plenty of warm days to swim. I grew up in Florida and go to Disney every yr in Feb.
May can already get oppressively hot.

 

[RememberWhen]

Agree with March. We were just there at the end of February with our 3 kids, aged 9, 4 and 9 months. The pools were busy, we were able to swim, but we were also comfortable during the day in the parks.

 

[Worldlover71]

If you're comfortable with the temperature in May, I would go then. I found the 50th Anniversary celebration lackluster. Lots of merch, special cupcakes and gold statues but not much else that won't still be around in one form or another after the celebration ends.

 

[NelleBelle]

I'd go in either month. I've taken both my kids, the oldest had his first visit when he was 15-mo (and had his 1st haircut at the Harmony Barbershop). He doesn't remember it but WE sure do and have used several of his pictures for his senior yearbook picture, senior recognition ceremony, etc this year! May is also the month we went in as well and he did fine in the weather (we are from Seattle so we generally are still in jackets, long pants, etc that time of year). We did the water parks with him, splash pads, etc. His brother also visited when he was 18-mo old (his 1st visit was 4-weeks, not ideal but was one of the easier trips, surprisingly). He also had his 1st haircut that visit. But that trip was in January and the weather was both warm and cold. Either month you choose, your family will enjoy it either way. Your DS may not remember it, but you will have pictures and memories that will last a lifetime. And hopefully it won't be a one-and-done kind of trip for you so you can take him back when he can remember (although as my youngest tell me, "mom, we've gone so many times the trips all blur together!")