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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask the best time of year to go to Florida?

85 replies

PrincessPeachy1 · 13/03/2019 09:37

Just looking for experience of folk who have had family holidays in Orlando, more the Disney parks. What time of year is best to go price wise and also for when it’s not as busy? I know it will be mobbed most times but I’m thinking July/August will be worst? Thank you Smile

OP posts:
SherlockSays · 13/03/2019 16:48

Been in October and November and both times were absolutely perfect weather - hot but not uncomfortable all the time and not a drop of rain on either holiday.

We're going in April next time (next year) which is supposed to be similar to Oct/Nov.

Hiddenaspie1973 · 13/03/2019 16:54

Jan, Feb, March.
Avoid August to December for hurricanes, afternoon thunderstorms, crowds and heat.
We've been in May and August.
In August, theme parks shut the rides due to "inclement weather" so that was a pain.
Also, we went to discovery cove to swim with dolphins. We managed that, but alot of the afternoon was spent waiting out the looming thunderstorm under the shelters.
Bear in mind these things are expensive so it is frustrating to spend hours waiting for rides to reopen etc.

janeisnotmyname · 13/03/2019 17:26

We've gone several times in early March and end of Aug/early september. Both have been low crowds and reasonably priced

Frenchmontana · 13/03/2019 17:31

November or end of jan/early Feb.

Parks are quieter and weather is warm.

LittleCandle · 13/03/2019 17:36

We've been twice in June and it was hot and busy. Then last year we went mid-September and it was slightly quieter, but still busy. It was also broiling, as it was about the hottest September on record! You do get rain in June, but we barely saw rain last year. We are going again this year in September, and hopefully will continue to dodge any hurricanes.

Crankybitch · 13/03/2019 17:44

April or October

My favourite time is October because they decorate all the parks for Halloween

It’s still warm enough to wear shorts / go in the pool

Went one year over 4th July - never again - way too busy / hot

heroineinahalfshell · 13/03/2019 18:14

I lived in FL for 10 years and would definitely pick May as the best month for weather - low humidity, little rainfall, hot but still comfortable.

sailorsdelight · 13/03/2019 18:26

Iavoid June/ July/ August - you won’t believe the heat and it’s expensive. We went in Aug for ‘family’ reasons and while the crowds were fine it was like a tropical boot camp to see how much physical punishment we could all take! Feb and Spring is nice - avoid America Spring break - autumn is good but avoid Halloween and Thanksgiving. And for the love god DONT even thinknof going at Xmas.

sailorsdelight · 13/03/2019 18:27

You could not go at all and spend the money on a real adventure going to New Zealand or similar. I would NEVER spend that much money again on a holiday like Disney.

Hollowvictory · 13/03/2019 18:29

American schools are off in June

Frenchmontana · 13/03/2019 18:30

sailorsdelight who are you to tell OP what holiday she should book?

Original poster
PrincessPeachy1 · 13/03/2019 19:32

Thank you so much everyone! Lots of great advice and information so I shall do and speak to dh, we would love to take our kids and we haven’t had a holiday in a while so this will be a dream come true!

OP posts:
underneaththeash · 13/03/2019 19:35

sailorsdelight - you clearly didn't do it right!

Yogagirl123 · 13/03/2019 19:39

April/May

MajesticWhine · 13/03/2019 19:40

February and October are lovely times to be in Florida. August is horrendous. However kids don't seem as bothered by the heat and humidity as adults are.

EKGEMS · 14/03/2019 00:50

As a child it was amazing at the Christmas holidays lit up

SherlockSays · 15/03/2019 12:43

@sailorsdelight then you clearly haven't been or didn't do it right. We go every 2 years now and do new stuff every time.

geekone · 15/03/2019 12:46

February is an awesome time to go. Short queues and 22-30 degrees. Just avoid presidents weekend.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 15/03/2019 12:50

I’m thinking July/August will be worst?

Price wise yes - but worst of all is the weather. It's not really the heat that's the issue but the humidity, which is why the summer months are considered off-season by the locals and the "snowbirds" are mostly gone by April

Much better to go at easter ... but beware places which get huge footfall for spring break!!

TokyoSushi · 15/03/2019 12:51

We used to live there, April/May or October are best. Summer is really hot, and September a bit stormy. Around Christmas can actually be a bit chilly, well not cold, but not amazing pool weather either.

FilthyforFirth · 15/03/2019 12:55

I go quite regularly. Best time October IMO. Worst time August. It is too hot and too busy! October is great, also means you still have your holiday to look forward to after the summer! April was also nice, but busier than Oct.

leiaskye · 15/03/2019 13:07

I’ve been in April & December.

It was lovely to be there over Xmas. It was almost 30 years ago so I don’t remember exactly how warm, but we were in shirts & T-shirt every day. Not really, but a nice temperature.

In April a couple of years ago, it was really hot. We went at Easter. Made sure we made use of the fast passes, & we barely queued. Universal wasn’t busy at all.

leiaskye · 15/03/2019 13:07

*shorts & t-shirts

  • not really hot
sailorsdelight · 15/03/2019 13:32

Frenchmontana - someone who thought That disney is a monumental waste of money given what you could do with the £10K+ you pay to go for a family! OP is on here for opinions but doesn’t need to listen to them ...

sailorsdelight · 15/03/2019 13:34

Sherlocksays - i’ve been, in august. Hence the advice about not going in August!