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Have you been dreaming of taking that magical vacation? Planning a Disney trip is so exciting but there’s one question that everyone seems to start with: “When’s the best time to go?” After many trips, at many different times, I can confidently say there is no one right answer to this question however there are some key factors that will help you find the best time for your crew. Follow along below as I walk you through the key pieces of finding the perfect time for your Disney vacation.
Weather – While the weather in Florida is frequently enjoyable, it isn’t always that way. Even beyond that, not every travel party likes the same type of weather. Here are a few key things to remember about the ups and downs of Florida weather.
- Rainy season – August through November is Florida’s rainy season. This is also hurricane season. Do you have a member of your party that hates getting wet? Would having to wear a poncho ruin your day? Maybe the uncertainty of a hurricane warning would put your anxiety through the roof. If rain would be too much of a damper for your crew, I would avoid these months.
- Heat – It’s no secret that Florida is hot and humid but walking 20,000 steps a day in that heat and humidity might be more than your crew can take. Florida is HOT pretty much May through mid-September. Traveling during this time can be miserable if you have someone in your group who just can’t take the heat. You might want to consider if you’ll be traveling with anyone who has a health condition that could be impacted by the heat or if you’re traveling with someone who is elderly, they will be more prone to heat stroke. Pro tip: These cooling towels are a great way to stay comfortable during your Disney day. They are easy to throw in your bag and you just wet them down when you’re ready to use them.
- Cold – That’s right…I said cold. Believe it or not there are times when Disney can be cold or at least colder than you would expect. The first time my family attended the Christmas party it was 43 degrees out. We ended up buying extra warm gear just so we could enjoy the party. If you can’t tolerate cooler temperatures or will be flying and don’t have any room for coats in your luggage, you might want to avoid the winter months.
Want to make sure you have everything you need to be prepared for your park day? Check out this article: 10 Must Have Amazon Items to Take on Your Disney Vacation.
Kids – Kids bring all kinds of factors into the timing of your Disney vacation. The number one factor with kids will be school schedules. Whether or not you want to take your kids out of school for vacation is a very personal decision. Some parents are comfortable doing this so that they can avoid crowds and some feel that it would be too overwhelming for their kids to have to make up that homework. You will also want to explore your school’s policy on this. Some schools will not allow this to be an excused absence or even if they do, you will want to thoroughly review the homework policy. Another factor when bringing kids is activity schedules. If you have a child who is in a sport that requires a ton of dedication or where the coach won’t play them if they miss practice, you will want to factor that in. There is no perfect answer for these questions. Personally, we’ve found that this changes as our kids age. Taking them out of school was much easier when they were younger but as they get into upper grades the teachers are much more strict on grading and make up work.
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Holidays – Do you want a holiday celebration to be a part of your Disney vacation? Disney really has two main holidays that it celebrates and those are Halloween and Christmas. For both of these holidays you will find Magic Kingdom truly covered in holiday decorations and magic. There are parties offered for both of these holidays also. The parties are similar in that they are both separately tickets events, both held multiple times throughout the season, and both offer party exclusive items like parades and treats. These parties can be an amazing addition to your trip. The parties are limited in the number of tickets sold so crowds are lower than normal which usually means much lower wait times for attractions. Both of these parties are lots of fun and if you’re trying to decide which one to attend, I would truly recommend just going with whichever holiday vibe you enjoy more. The Halloween party typically starts mid-August and runs through the end of October and the Christmas party starts mid-November and runs through the end of the year. Party tickets will typically increase in price the closer you get to the holiday. These do sell out so if you are considering this, I would act quickly when the tickets are released.
Think you might want to visit for Christmas but not sure? Check out this article: Is Christmas What Disney Does Best?
Crowds – Your tolerance for crowds will be another piece of the puzzle for determining the timing of your Disney vacation. Crowd levels will be highest directly around major holidays and when kids are out of school. Another event that brings large crowds to Disney are marathon weekends. If you are looking to go when crowds are lowest, you will have the best luck booking shortly after school starts in the fall and just after most spring breaks are over in the spring.
Celebrations – Disney vacations are frequently used to celebrate a special event. Are you planning this Disney trip as a celebration of a special event? If so, you will want to consider the importance of being there directly when that event is happening vs. traveling at a different time if it saves you money or will bring you lower crowds. A very popular Disney celebration is to go for a special birthday. Being there on your actual birthday is a wonderful feeling however it’s really not going to change the day that you have. If you want to celebrate something like a birthday, but it less expensive to go a week later or it fits in better with your kid’s school schedule, I would say move that trip! You can still have an amazing day and give extra attention to the person in your crew who is being celebrated. Pro tip: Did you know Disney gives out FREE celebration buttons? If you stop by the front desk of your resort or guest relations in the parks, you can ask for a celebration button. These come in a “Happily Ever After” version, a first visit, birthday or a generic celebration button where you can write in what you’re celebrating. Once you’re wearing your button, cast members all around the parks will congratulate you or tell you happy birthday which truly adds magic to your special day.
Choosing the best time for your Disney vacation is a crucial piece of your planning that will significantly impact your trip. Take some time to think about what things like weather and schedules will have the most significant impact on your trip. Disney vacations are an opportunity to create true core memories and you want those memories to be the best they possibly can be. Regardless of when you decide to go, remember to focus in on what’s important, take it all in and enjoy making those magical family memories.
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