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Original poster

Quietest time to visit Disney Florida

27 replies

noenergy · 31/01/2019 06:15

So would like to do Disney with 3 kids 4,5,9.

Am looking for times during holidays which would be the quietest as in shortest queues which I know is probably impossible but I can't take them out of school.

So options are:

Easter which I have heard is very busy.

Summer which we have July and August off but assume it will still be very busy and very hot. Would be willing to go last week of June if I knew it would be less busy than July/August.

October half term which is the last week of October here. But we could mean only 8 days there. Is it do able or is this too short? It seems this will be the quietest time and most desirable in terms of weather.

Have looked at prices: for October half term:
Plane tickets £1200
Disney 7 day tickets: £1800
Hotel off site:£1500 for 8 nights
This is the holiday inn with the waterpark.

Which seem to be good prices.
How much should I budget for food and travelling there?

It's all such a minefield so much to consider.

All advice welcome.

OP posts:
SippingSipsmith · 31/01/2019 06:20

We have chosen Easter. I'm prepared for it to be busy. We are taking them out of school for 2 days at the beginning and finish our trip a couple of days before Easter.

I think it's a good year this year because Easter falls at the end of their school holiday and we will be leaving Disney just as many Americans turn up for Easter break.

I wouldn't go in August because of hurricane season and also hotter and I wouldn't go over a half term as our kids aren't brilliant sleepers and never lie in so it isn't long enough for us to enjoy once they've gotten over the jet lag.

That's our rationale anyway - hope that helps.

ClanoftheCaveBear · 31/01/2019 06:21

If you do summer go for the very last weeks of August- US schools are back by then. It’s hurricane season though.
Next time we go we’re doing October I think but we get 2 weeks in October. We went May half term last time and had a lot of rain.

SippingSipsmith · 31/01/2019 06:21

There are a lot of online planning websites like Dibb which will tell you exactly what crowds are like at different times of the year

PollyFlinderz · 31/01/2019 06:23

Ive been at a few different times of the year and there isn’t really a tile that’s not so busy but I do prefer going in late September early October as it’s not so hot. I don’t mind the rain.

SippingSipsmith · 31/01/2019 06:23

Plus - guidebooks will tell you what rides to reserve a spot in the queue for (Fast Pass) and what order to hit the rides in and times to avoid so you're not queuing excessively. The planning is a science these days!

eurochick · 31/01/2019 06:30

We did October half term. Eight days was just right.

Original poster
noenergy · 31/01/2019 06:32

@SippingSipsmith it is a bloomin Science!!

Have been researching online for a while and getting quite confused with the amount of info. Have looked at quietest times and they seem to be January and early September which I can't do.

OP posts:
Original poster
noenergy · 31/01/2019 06:34

@eurochick what were the ride queues like?

Standing in a queue for 30 minutes plus is not my idea of a holiday. I would rather be lounging by the pool in an all inclusive resort but DH and kids want to do Disney.

OP posts:
eurochick · 31/01/2019 06:48

Queues were fine. You fast past the really in demand stuff. Then we used the app which has live waiting times to dart about between the other stuff. I think we waited more than thirty mins twice over the week and one of those times was because the wait time thing was broken but we didn't realise until we were twenty mins in and saw the repairman come. Quite a few of the rides have things to look at in the queue anyway so the wait doesn't feel that bad.

FairyBunnyAgain · 31/01/2019 06:56

October has been by far the quietest time we have visited but I would say 1 week is not long enough if this is your one and only visit.
We have also been late August early September a few times, much hotter and wetter and busier but have only been in 1 hurricane.
Have a look at thedibb.co.uk for lots of ideas.

Original poster
noenergy · 31/01/2019 06:59

@FairyBunnyAgain how long do u go for? Do u go to the theme parks everyday?

OP posts:
Original poster
noenergy · 31/01/2019 07:34

How many day in each park is needed?

Magical kingdom: 2 days
Epcot: 1 day
Hollywood studios: 1 day
Animal kingdom: 2 days
1 day at a waterpark.
Which of the 2 waterparks is better?

OP posts:
FairyBunnyAgain · 31/01/2019 18:33

I’ve been multiple times over the past 25 years so what we do now is not a good guide.

As a first time visit your plan is not bad but I’d allow 2 days for Epcot if walking around the world showcase.

Grumpbum123 · 31/01/2019 18:35

We’ve been twice in November and it’s been quiet

rookiemere · 31/01/2019 21:13

We went at Easter a few years ago and as we were still partly on UK time we'd get to the park tor opening time ( they do a cute thing at Magic Kingdom where they let a family in for free for the day first thing) rides were empty until about 10.30 . Also used the app to see queueing times so we could head across to popular rides when less busy.

We'd stay until early afternoon and then chill by the pool for the rest of the day. We aren't great ones for crowds so weren't bothered about seeing the paraded. The on,y day that didn't work, we had a character breakfast but headed into Disney Studios about 11 and it was so rammed we headed home soon after.

Drum2018 · 31/01/2019 21:18

Went in June - far too hot mixed with thunder storms. Parks were very busy so queuing in the heat was a nightmare. Wouldn't recommend. I'd say October will be a better time.

underneaththeash · 01/02/2019 07:39

We usually go in October, weather is pretty good usually and its not as busy as at other times - although it still is busy.

We use this planning tool touringplans.com

Certain parks are busier on certain days of the week, so you need to factor that in too. It's always a good idea to arrive at the park for opening time, you can then get on the first ride with minimal waiting time and save your fast passes for later on in the day.

We're usually done by mid-afternoon too.
In October Hollywood Studios is a good one to have a relaxing morning in and then go in after lunch and stay for Fantasmic.

You don't need 2 days at Magic Kingdom.
With children your ages I would do.
1 day Animal Kingdom,
1 day Magic Kingdom,
1 afternoon Hollywood Studios (followed by Fantasmic later in the week so that you're not too tired),
one of the water parks (which depends on your children, have a look at the rides at both on the Disney website and decide).
1 day Universal/IOA so that you can get the Hogwarts Express between the two. (you can also get a jump the queue pass, but it's quite expensive).
1 day Epcot

Original poster
noenergy · 01/02/2019 10:20

@underneaththeash thank you for the info, the sight looks great.

I had thought people spend 7-14 days in the parks but I definitely couldn't do that and we will only be there for 9/10 days so want time to relax, don't want to come back burnt out and exhausted. Tickets seem to be for 7 or 14 days as well.

OP posts:
dancemom · 01/02/2019 10:25

We went late June which was great. Stayed for 10 days which was needed. We stayed onsite so did parks in the morning, late afternoons by the pool and back to the parks in the evening.

Definitely recommend 2 days for Magic Kingdom.

RCohle · 01/02/2019 10:27

www.disneytouristblog.com/best-worst-crowds-disney-world/

I really like Disney Tourist Blog - it seems quite down to earth for a Disney blog. I've linked above their article on the best and worst times to visit in 2019.

jcq17 · 01/02/2019 10:33

My friend went in November and queued 2
Hours for avatar. I have been twice and it's expected to queue for over an hour per ride, it's not like Alton towers where an hour seems ages it is just the norm. I went in Feb and may if that makes any difference.

underneaththeash · 01/02/2019 10:50

jcq - if you plan it correctly you shouldn't need to queue a long time for anything.
Last time we went in October 2017, 20 minutes was our longest queue.

Believability · 01/02/2019 10:57

We did 5 days in parks and it was more than enough, kids were totally parked out and fed up.

1 day magic kingdom - it’s quite shabby and a bit run down now

1/2 day Epcot. There are a few interesting bits and it’s nice and quiet if you go late afternoon

1 day animal kingdom. Liked this the best,

1 day universal, this is far and away the best park, beats any of the Disney ones hands down on every level. 2 days might have been better

1/2 day Hollywood studios.

By that point kids had lost interest and refused point blank to go to another park. They wanted to swim, go to malls and go on segways. They have no interest in returning so I wouldn’t even begin to do 2 weeks.

eurochick · 01/02/2019 11:10

We didn't do universal at all. We had planned to do a water park but it was actually a little chilly for swimming so we just had a couple of quick dips at the hotel pool. I don't think I would have liked to have been hanging about for hours in wet swimwear tbh.

We did:
1 day Studios
1 day Animal Kingdom
2 days Epcot
2.5 days Magic Kingdom as this had the most things our 4 year old could do

Helipad · 01/02/2019 21:33

Our Disney experience echoes what Beliaviability said. One day at Magic Kingdom was more than enough and it is now quite shabby and tired.

We also really liked Universal. We visited in May and it was so, so hot. Universal had many little themed play areas with cooling water features, like little sprays, paddling etc. Our DC were 5 and 8 at the time and these little water play features were a god send.

We went to both water parks and enjoyed both but Typhoon Lagoon was our favourite. We didn't do any of the rides, just enjoyd the lazy river and our DC absolutely loved the wave machine.

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