To ask about your experiences and advice regarding Disney World?

[Whatsername17]

Shamelessly posting for traffic, sorry.
My ils have recently inherited a considerable amount of money and want to take the entire family to Disney, Florida. My kids will be almost 7 and 18 months. PIL have asked if it would be better to go the following year when dd2 is 2.5. I think it will be lost of DD2 anyway, whether she is 1.5 or 2.5. But, staying at a Disney hotel (which is the plan) will mean she can go in the pool and see the characters. To those who have been, will a year make much difference? My feeling is that it won't and I couldn't ask them to wait until she's 5. Id really like to hear other people's experience if you've stayed in a Disney hotel and if there is stuff suitable for younger DCS.

[hungryhippo90]

join some of the orlando groups on facebook, they are a wealth of advice. I go for the first time in 12 days and ive been given so much advice its unreal.
probably worth waiting the extra year though if you can, hopefully the exchange rate will rise a bit, its really low at the moment.

[19lottie82]

If you're going in season (is when the American schools are on holiday) then go into the park late in the afternoon. It will be cooler and the ques will be shorter.
Seriously! You can thank me later

[Whatsername17]

Thanks! We will be going in July I think as we are a family of teachers!

[takemetomars]

Don't go in July it is unbelievably hot, humid and miserable.
Go in April when the weather is more manageble.
If you are being offered a free hols, take it, it won't matter how old your little one is. Most children get the most out of the experience when they are 5/6

[Tokelau]

If you are teachers, I would go the last two weeks of August. It's not quite as hot as July, and many US schools start back then, so it's not quite so busy. (Still busy though!).

[BeyondThePage]

Don't go in July!! (unless you REALLY have to) The US are on summer break, the waits are long, the temp and humidity are very high, it is hurricane season.

join the forums on thedibb.co.uk - a site for Brits going on holiday to Florida.

We have been regularly - Easter is busy but nice weather wise. Our choice - especially if Easter is later - into April as the spring break crowds thin out a bit.
October is a bit quieter and can be very nice - everything set for Halloween with special events and decoration.
Christmas is magical but BOY is it busy.
Last 2 weeks of August, HOT, but US have generally gone back to school.

School holidays will be busy. Year on year, for us, the Disney parks have got busier and busier beyond all recognition. There is plenty for little ones and to be fair 1.5 will probably be less hassle than 2.5 - easier to carry in ride lines, more likely to sleep when needed in the buggy etc.

[AnnoyedByAlfieBear]

The last 2 weeks of August is generally quieter but humid and hot. Easter hols is nicer weather wise but the so much busier.
Also I'd probably wait a year. A 2 1/2 year old will understand what's going on more than a 1 1/2 year old.

[newpup]

We took our teenage DDs two years ago mid July. Of course, not the same as taking little children I know but... the weather was humid but not terrible. The queues were not longer than other times I have visited (Easter and November). Yes, the parks were busy but not unbearable.

We took our Dd2 for the first time when she was 2.5 and it was magical! Of course, she can not remember it but we have the most wonderful memories of her meeting characters and enjoying the swim parks.
You will have an amazing time, just take some time out to have a swim/rest in the mid part of the day and make the most of the mornings and evenings. In my experience, I am lucky enough to have visited many times at different times of the year. Disney is always magical!
Have a fabulous time.!

[Sionella]

Is there any chance of disneyland instead? We did both when I was little and Disneyland is so much better in July - much nicer weather and things don't get closed for rain all the time! But appreciate that might not be possible to raise.

Otherwise I would say she'd get a lot out of it at 2.5. 1.5 not quite as much, plus the long flight is harder at that age.

Enjoy, whenever you go - it's magical

[Iamastonished]

I can't imagine it would be much fun for an 18 moth old. She will spend most of it in a pushchair and it will be unbearably hot for her if you go in the summer. What about October half term?

[gta]

It'll make the world of difference taking her when she's 2.5

[Whatsername17]

I'm not sure how much choice we will get over when we will go, but will certainly moot Easter. I definitely wont be able to persuade them to go to Disney land and would probably be lynched for suggesting it! I don't think she will get much out of it until she's a little older but I guess that means we will just have to go again!

[belleandsnowwhite]

I would go at 2.5. Will be able to so much more and enjoy it. I took my 1 year old to Disneyland Paris and he enjoyed bits of it, he did spend a lot of time in a buggy and slept through a lot of stuff., he would enjoy it so much more now he's 2.5 as he knows more about the characters etc. We are going to Orlando this year but hopefully will return when he's older.

[SleepOhHowIMissYou]

July in Orlando is too hot. Avoid the US school holidays like the plague.

Best time to go is October half term. Practically no queues and weather warm. Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Nights are brilliant for little ones with lots of candy stops so they can trick and treat.

Don't forget to visit Universal Studios. My kids much preferred (and still prefer) Universal and they have a great Dr Suess land suitable for very little ones.

Personally, from experience, I'd never go at anytime other than the October/November half term. I hate queuing.

[HanShootsFirst]

I highly recommend the site touringplans.com for planning a disney trip. It has crowd calendars so you can get an idea of how busy things will be, and helps with planning your days to avoid queues as much as possible.

Make sure to book fast passes, they are key, esp with young kids. Advance prep will make your trip much smoother. People may laugh at you for preparing for D like a marine landing, but it pays off when you get there. Disney is busy at any time. IMO, you can spend the time in advance and have a smooth trip, or you can spend the time there waiting in queues with hot frazzled family. Either way Disney is time consuming!

We're from the US and have been at least 5 times at all times of year. Advance prep is KEY. Have fun!!

[Whatsername17]

Thanks all. We can't go in October as there will be four teachers in the party including me. The plan is to.go for 2 weeks and we'd never get the time off work. Understandable really as we already get 13 weeks off over the year.

[DeliciouslyHella]

I'm a teacher and we've been at Easter a couple of times. Although the parks are busy, they're not unbearably so and the weather is just the right side of hot and sticky.

We took DD when she was 6 months and intended to take her again when she was 18 months (cancelled as I am heavily pregnant with DD2, which wasn't in the plan!). I would say a 2.5 year old would get more out of it, but an 18 month old would still enjoy themselves.

[SweetieBaby]

We've been in late July and didn't find it too hot. It did rain - a lot though! We've stayed in Disney hotels and off site. I think you'll get far more out of being on property. Travelling backwards and forwards to the parks is so easy and means someone could easily take the little one back for a nap if it gets too much. The Port Orleans is lovely and has a great pool. We tended to stay there during the day and go to the parks early evening when it was cooler.

[Chrisinthemorning]

Definitely wait that extra year, she'll get so much more out of it.
We go in May which is a great time to go but we get a 2 week May half term so it's easier.