I have decided to beat the post trip blues with a plan for a year or 2 from now. When is the best time to go in a year or 2? The kids are hitting the age where I can't really pull them out of school. It starts to look bad for middle school applications. Don't ask! Columbus Day 2014? Rosh hashana 2014? Seems far away. How bad is prez week? Maybe its time to look at touring plans again!
The first week in October is slow and middle of May the crowds are not horrific. Weather is good too.
We were there October 13th-19th this past year and crowds were very reasonable and the weather was perfection!
January 2020 Trip Report - Riviera Resort
June 2019 Trip Report - Caribbean Beach & Saratoga Springs
October 2018 Trip Report - Contemporary Resort
July 2018 - All Star Movies
April 2018 Trip Report - Art of Animation
Jan 2018 Trip Report - Port Orleans Riverside and Animal Kingdom Lodge
Nov 2017 Trip Report - Boardwalk Villas
Feb 2017 Trip Report - Port Orleans French Quarter
Apr 2016 Trip Report - Pop Century
Dec 2015 Trip Report - All Star Sports & Saratoga Springs
Sept 2014 Trip Report - Coronado Springs
Oct 2012 Trip Report - Caribbean Beach Resort
Some school districts don't start school until after Labor Day (first Monday in September in the U.S. and Canada) and end in late June around the summer solstice. Other districts start school in early August and end around Memorial Day (last Monday in May in the U.S.). So if your kids get out of school in late May, take then to Disney in early June; if they don't start school until early September, take them to Disney in late August. Either way, you'll be able to go for a full week when the parks aren't horribly crowded without worrying about your kids missing school. (The one downside to both plans - it'll be HOT.)
I always just pulled the kids out of school (when they were in public school that is). They've always learned way more traveling than sitting in a classroom. Where do schools get Rosh Hashanah off? The two districts that we have lived in aren't that cool.
October is my favorite time to go, there's Food & Wine Festival at Epcot and Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom. MNSSHP is my favorite special event! Columbus Day weekend would be my pick.
The beginning of October is really nice weather wise. Probably better the second week (cooler). We went the first week in October and the hottest it got was 78 degrees with a really nice breeze. That was perfection! Didn't melt on that trip.
Schools in the D.C. area get off for the Jewish high holidays. Probably pretty much anyplace else where there are a lot of Jewish families also close schools.
I don't like the heat either and would never go in August. But some people don't mind, so I figured I'd suggest it. There really aren't any times of the year when the weather is nice AND kids are off school AND it isn't horrendously crowded. But I think if you get enough time off for Rosh Hashanah and it also coincides with a weekend, that might work. And if the Jewish holidays are running late that year, even better weather-wise.
So I'm embracing planning out next trip hopefully late September 2014! I understand its budget season and free dining has happened before. The last 2 trips we had an off property suite for 130$/night with breakfast. I have monorail hotel envy and would love to stay at the poly so we could take a mid day swim! But 400-500$ a night! It just seems like so much money! Talk me into it!
See about renting points for the new DVC Villas at the Grand Floridian or Bay Lake Tower. It's not done yet, but it is something to think about. Or see about renting points for Wilderness Lodge, which is not a Monorail resort, but it is just a short boat ride from MK.
Another option is renting points at Boardwalk or Beach Club. Then you are just a short walk or boat ride from EPCOT and DHS. An easy escape from those two parks.
Tammi
So I'm embracing planning out next trip hopefully late September 2014! I understand its budget season and free dining has happened before. The last 2 trips we had an off property suite for 130$/night with breakfast. I have monorail hotel envy and would love to stay at the poly so we could take a mid day swim! But 400-500$ a night! It just seems like so much money! Talk me into it!
Go Labor Day week!! The kids won't miss too much school (well, nothing important anyway!) and it's REALLY not crowded. I was there the week after Labor Day a few years ago and had the park pretty much to myself. I also booked a value resort off expedia for about half price (it was a last minute work trip that I turned into a Disney vacation, so that wouldn't work for you - BUT you still might get a good price!)
As far as the Poly, it's worth the money. It's just lovely. That being said, it is hard to suck up $400/night. If you decide not to go Monorail, but want a Deluxe, check out renting DVC points. Turned out to be WAY cheaper for me for my November trip!
If you are looking at the renting points option, you will not be able to take advantage of any promotions like Free Dining.
Tammi
Just an FYI, I just checked my very favorite points calculator and here is what I have come up with: (keep in mind, these points have not been verified against my DVC points charts)
September 24 - 28, 2014 (would these be the dates you would look at?) Estimating $15/point
BLT STD view would be 60 points for the stay = $900
VWL & BCV would be 62 points for the stay = $930
BWV Standard view would be 46 points for the stay = $690
At $15/point you can see that it would be very reasonable. You will most likely be able to find a cheaper price per point, possibly higher, but $15 is a good estimating point. Just depends on how you would go about renting your points and which broker you would use, if you choose to use a broker.
If you use a broker, you may want to get your name and dates is as soon as you decide, even if you are outside the DVC booking window. There are a lot of people who have discovered this renting points option.
Just some food for thought.
Tammi
Check out this website http://www.dvcrequest.com/
I haven't used him myself, but he's a reputable broker. He also has great general information about the point rental process that people using his service go through. There are other ways to rent points besides going through a broker, but this will help give you an idea of what options are.
I'm zeroing in on either sept or Columbus Day. I would love to stay at the poly but the 130$ suite off property was just so good! I would like to splurge And have the option for a mid day swim!