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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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

OP posts:

glenthebattleostrich · 15/03/2019 13:37

We went in April last year and it was pushing 30 degrees most days. It was really busy but at the tail end of their school holidays.

Next year we are going in may as it's quieter apparently (although star wars is opening at the end of this year so it's going to be busy regardless)

Oldraver · 15/03/2019 13:45

I would never go in July August again as it was unbearably hot though at the time had to do school holiday. October was quite nice but did have quite a few rainy days..

Last time I went in January and while it was unusually cold for Florida, could still go out in t-shirt and a cardi/hoodie (actually we played guess where people are from in the car park as cars with local or Southern states plates would get out and button up in coats.)

Only thing to remember in the winter months the parks mostly close a lot earlier and some of the water places were shut

sailorsdelight · 15/03/2019 13:49

Here’s one tip I would give you - go to the Kennedy Space centre while you are there. It is absolutely amazing - our kids (6&8) loved it and the grown ups were in awe at the sheer size of the place, seeing Atlantis and rockets, it’s briiliant.

sailorsdelight · 15/03/2019 14:03

And a brilliant antedote to the fakeness of the Disney experience! Though ToyStory land was pretty cool...

Musicalstatues · 15/03/2019 14:09

We have been multiple times at various times of the year and for me weatherwise and crowd wise the first two weeks of December were the best. Weather was perfect and the parks were (relatively) quiet. And seeing all the Christmas decorations was amazing. I also really like September/October. August was definitely the worst for weather. Indescribably humid!!

Once Star Wars land opens at the end of August I think it will be a while until there are any quiet times though!!

Pk37 · 15/03/2019 14:10

Haven’t read the full thread but I go most years in August ,it’s hot and busy at the start but dies down mid to end of August as US kids go back to school .
Easter and Christmas are by far the worst in terms of being busy. Although spring break (now) is also hell on earth .
Was looking forward to our holiday this year and then they announced Galaxy’s Edge to open on the 29th of aug ! Thanks Disney

SnipSnipMrBurgess · 15/03/2019 14:27

I'm glad to hear April is a good month, we are going next year so that's a relief!

WhatToDoAboutWailmerGoneRogue · 15/03/2019 15:15

I'm glad to hear April is a good month, we are going next year so that's a relief!

SnipSnipMrBurgess You can’t just go off “April is generally a good month”; you have to research it.

The first two weeks in April will be very busy, 9/10 and 10/10 crowd days due to the end of Spring Break and beginning of Easter crowds, and you’ve also got the Star Wars half-marathon in April which brings a lot of people in anyway, but especially so next year as Galaxy’s Edge will still be relatively new.

I’ve been at Disney on heavy 10/10 crowd days and never waited more than twenty minutes for any attraction because I planned and did my research.

SnipSnipMrBurgess · 15/03/2019 15:57

Obviously it has to be researched. I'm hardly going to spend thousands on a holiday cos some mumsnetter said it doesn't rain so much on April!

MadisonAvenue · 15/03/2019 16:03

We’ve been Oct/Nov and the weather was lovely, we just had 2 hours of rain in the whole two weeks, and it wasn’t too hot that walking around was a chore. Queues were quite short too.

tillytrotter1 · 15/03/2019 17:00

Probably most will disagree but I wouldn't go to Florida at all other than for the theme parks. We've seen quite a lot of it, all directions and can't say that we were impressed. The space centre is maybe the only other thing worth going for, the Keys are overrated, the Everglades were disappointing. There are far better and more interesting places in the US than Florida.

Frenchmontana · 15/03/2019 17:42

tillytrotter1 most people go to Florida FOR the theme parks.

Of course theres other places that would be more interesting to some people.

But the OP is asking about Florida. Not what's the most interesting holiday.

Manikoutai · 15/03/2019 18:01

I’d say the best time would be once Donald Trump has been evicted from the WH.

(Lighthearted)

WhatToDoAboutWailmerGoneRogue · 15/03/2019 18:07

Obviously it has to be researched. I'm hardly going to spend thousands on a holiday cos some mumsnetter said it doesn't rain so much on April!

SnipSnipMrBurgess Right, it’s just you said you were relieved to hear about April because you’re going next year, implying you’ve already booked April without looking at crowd calendars etc.

The weather is only a minuscule part of the required research.

Pk37 · 15/03/2019 18:24

Manikoutai oh if only !!

FrancisCrawford · 15/03/2019 18:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ValleyoftheHorses · 15/03/2019 18:32

Early May is lovely. Last year we went on 13th and it rained a lot. We were there for 3 weeks and had probably 8 days of rain all day, another week of some rain every day and a week of dry and hot.
It wasn’t great.

ValleyoftheHorses · 15/03/2019 18:35

Also thank you for this thread- we are going in 2020 and thinking October half term- we get 2 weeks. Looks like that should be a winner!

yellowpolkadots101 · 15/03/2019 18:38

Has anyone booked flights yet for next year? It so who have you booked with? (If you don't mind what prices have you paid?)

I am looking at going April/ May next year... so excited !

ValleyoftheHorses · 15/03/2019 21:08

We always fly with Virgin in PE. Not booked yet though.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 15/03/2019 22:16

Speaking of Premium Economy, if anyone's near a Thomas Cook flight to Orlando they offer PE for an incredible £90 or so ... much cheaper than most others, and with priority everything (except for security in the US)

It's a really good deal ...

Dixiechickonhols · 15/03/2019 22:17

October half term ideally or late August (American schools go back mid August)

anniehm · 15/03/2019 22:21

Not in hurricane season, even if you get lucky and no hurricanes hit, everyday you get storms building, heavy downpours and thunderstorms resulting in closures (2 days out of the 4 we were there in July). Easter isn't a public holiday in the USA so schools don't necessarily have holidays (they get a week but it doesn't always coincide)

onthenaughtystepagain · 15/03/2019 22:38

Even if the American schools don't get time off at Easter it's still crazy, as crowded as in Summer. Whatever time you're going do check for obscure American holidays, we were there in February and apparently there is something called Presidents' Day and the parks became very busy.
There is so much development going on, especially around Hollywood Studios for the new Star Wars thingy, opens end of August apparently, not just the SW but also a new transport system being put in. We were told that they are expecting to many more people that the Park may become full and closed, as they will reach capacity.

jelliebelly · 15/03/2019 22:47

October always lovely

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