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Walt Disney World in Florida

Welcome to the Mumsnet Disney World forum UK, here you can share your Disney secrets for planning the perfect holiday to Walt Disney World Florida.

Original poster

July or October?

16 replies

34and3 · 09/04/2023 07:40

For 2024.

Kids will be 2, 11 and 14. We want to go before the littlest turns 3 to save on his park ticket. We have a two week half term in October so that's an option for us. I've not been since I was a teen myself so wondered if others could help.

July / August -
Too hot?
More flexibility with dates over school holidays
Too busy?

October
Fixed two weeks to work with
Rain season?
Less crowded? (Slightly?!)

Would use BA avios hopefully.

OP posts:
CheersForThatEh · 12/04/2023 12:54

October is one of the busiest periods and August is far too hot. Sorry!

Original poster
34and3 · 12/04/2023 16:20

Bugger! Easter any better?

OP posts:
CheeseLouisePlease · 12/04/2023 17:34

I know a few people who have gone in October and got on okay. Are the crowds specifically to go with Halloween/Mickeys not so scary party? That’s centred on magic kingdom so you could avoid on those days.

I personally won’t go in august. We’re aiming for June when DC finishes school, think it will be hot enough then.

strawberry2017 · 12/04/2023 17:39

We once went in November ( not thanksgiving week) and it was lovely, parks were quiet and it was warm but more pleasant then hot.
We also went the end of May and that was a nice time to.
I feel like august would be awful with the temperature.

AnnoyedByAlfieBear · 12/04/2023 17:50

Easter is spring break and one of their busiest times of year. The last 2 weeks in august are supposed to be relatively quiet (we're going then) as the us schools have gone back. We're just planning to duck in and out of shops / indoor attractions and take it slowly.

CaveMum · 13/04/2023 17:42

Keep an eye out for the Disney package that is going live on 20th April. There are some excluded dates (Easter - boo hiss, as this is when we are going! and some dates in October) but it might influence your decision on when to go.

End of august is supposed to be quieter as US schools have gone back, but the trade off that it is very hot and more stormy.

https://www.disneyholidays.co.uk/walt-disney-world/early-booker-2024/

Florida Holidays 2024 | Walt Disney World 2024 Offer

Don't miss out on our amazing Early Booker Package offer for selected arrivals between 9th January - 18th December 2024 at selected Disney Hotels. Available during most school holidays!

https://www.disneyholidays.co.uk/walt-disney-world/early-booker-2024/

JussathoB · 13/04/2023 17:48

Mosquitoes in July and August?
Halloween in October? storms?
April can be good

Ponderingwindow · 13/04/2023 17:54

October

start by checking some of the online Disney crowd calendars. Neither July nor October are really bad.

them look at typical weather patterns by month. October is far more comfortable.

then factor in Disney decorated for Halloween which is just very fun.

Tacocatgoatcheesepizza · 13/04/2023 17:57

We’ve been loads and at all different times of year. I would 100% choose October over July/August.

Littlegoth · 13/04/2023 18:06

May is the quietest month to go queue wise, at least up until the last weekend. Weather is lovely (although humid so daily showers. Beginning of the month you get lovebugs everywhere. you go at the end of August US schools are back in session so queues are shorter. Rain storms were frequent and total, so it was like jumping into lukewarm water followed by stepping into a fan oven. I would go again in August though.

I’ve got three trips planned in the next few years - 2 are in May and one is in September.

redspottedmug · 13/04/2023 18:06

Late August when the USA goes back to school is relatively quiet. Prices are lower than July and early August.

Also you may catch the the first Halloween party dates - check the website.

Weather can be humid, and thunderstorms mean that rides and pools can be closed at short notice. Just be prepared - there's loads of undercover attractions and restaurants so it's way to avoid. Or brave the rain and enjoy the short queues.

Any time of year has its drawbacks though, so I wouldn't rule out late August. We really enjoyed it.

No issue with mosquitoes (we stayed on site).

BeringBlue · 13/04/2023 18:15

We went twice in October half-term. One year was gorgeous weather, one year we were there during Hurricane Wilma...

The parks were crowded enough to need fast passes on the most popular rides (we would get there for the morning rope drop and be out by 2pm) but we planned it with military precision and felt like we had really got our money's worth. For planning, I can't recommend "Orlando and Walt Disney World" by Simon Veness highly enough (if it's still being published and updated every year) - it was brilliant.

2pence · 14/04/2023 08:45

October for sure! Quieter with much cooler weather.

Also, Micky's Not So Scary event is a must do at Magic Kingdom.

Your older kids will love Universal Studios but their Halloween Horror Nights are not recommended for under 12s. If you do Universal during the day then the gore is hidden away and the Harrry Potter areas don't have any type of Halloween overlay during this time, so there'll be nothing there to scare the young ones.

End of August is quieter once the US kids go back to school but it's hot! Extremely hot!

October is hurricane season but these types of weather events are handled well in the area and the parks are never closed for long after one.

2pence · 14/04/2023 08:56

Avoid Easter like the plague! It coincides with US School's Spring Break and the parks are jammed!

I know that you're Disney focused but Universal Studios are opening a new park in 2025 so you might be kicking yourself that you went a year early to save on the youngest's ticket.

Not only for missing out on the new park itself (it's called Epic Universe and is near SeaWorld) but because it's a crowd eater and will be in direct competition with Disney's clientele so you may benefit from the lower occupancy at the other parks.

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