This year will be a busy travel year for Grandma and I. We have 3 Disney trips planned and in the books. We will be spending about 30 days under the Disney bubble. I know it is not that much if you look into the other Disney bloggers. However, I do not do this for a living. I am just an ordinary Grandpa trying to get by and still feed my Disney habit. I have been going to Disney parks since I was a lad in the late 1960’s. Things have really changed. Parks are much more crowded. The Cost of a vacation has also become prohibitive. Lightning Lane, Dining Reservations, Discounts, Free Dining, where do you even start. Planning for a Disney vacation can be very intimidating. I will outline how Grandma and I approach planning and hopefully it will help.

Getting Started

The first major event is simply deciding to go. So you want to take a Disney Vacation, the big question is when. Do you want to experience the Christmas decor? Do you want to see Disney decked out for Halloween? Are there festivals like Epcot Food and Wine Festival or California Adventures Lunar New Year that you want to attend? Or are you just wanting to beat the crowds? Read on for a thumbnail of each season

Summer

Disney Parks are in warmer parts of the country. Florida is subtropical and Southern California is desert. This means that the weather can be hot, very hot. In the case of Florida, heat comes with humidity. For many families, this is the time they can go, since kids are out of school. For us seniors, summer can be dangerous. The heat and humidity can be deadly. If you are going during this time of year, be prepared. Stay hydrated. Take it slow and easy.

Grandma and I do not go to the parks during the summer. It is just too hot and humid. The crowds are also very off putting. as. Summer has typically been the most crowed season. However, recently crowds have been surprisingly light during these months. So much so that Disney has instituted incentives like free dining and discounts to get people into on property resorts. These incentives can really help a family save on their vacation, so it can be worth checking out.

Fall

Fall has always been my favorite time of year. The days are still fairly long. There is a coolness to the air that promises that the heat is over. The park crowds are lower as kiddos are back in school. The parks get dressed for Halloween starting in September lasting until the grand finale on October 31. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party happens at the Magic Kingdom during this time. Oogie Boogie Bash occurs at California Adventure during this period as well. Both are special ticketed items that, in my opinion, are well worth the cost. Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival also happens during this time. This makes Epcot a popular destination.

Fall is also the time of unsettled weather at both resorts. For Florida, it is hurricane season. As this year shows, storms can impact your stay. September can also be hot as summer is slow to release its grip. The upside is September sees light crowds. If you go during this time you must be prepared for cool mornings, hot afternoons and occasional thunderstorms.

Winter

Our Favorite Time to Go. The weather has finally started cooling in earnest. Disney starts decorating the parks for Christmas starting mid November. Crowds are manageable, but not as light as in the old days. Special events such as Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is happening. There is something just a little bit more magical about this season at the parks.

Unsettled weather can still be an issue, so be sure to pack for inclement weather. The resort pools are open, but can be chilly. For us from more northern climates, it is not an issue. But for others pool days may be limited. The non-Christmas months tend to be less crowded and can make for a very enjoyable trip. Be aware that Disney typically reserves January to start refurbishments on attractions. Be sure to consult the park websites for closures.

Spring

Spring starts in February. I know that seems early, but the weather starts warming, bringing the promise of the heat to come. It also brings the Epcot Flower and Garden festival. Not much is happening at the parks, so it can be a great time to go. You will have to avoid spring break days as these can be very crazy. We are planing on a Disneyland trip in February. Crowds will be down. Construction and refurbishments should be mostly completed. We will report back on this trip as well.

Disney World Crowds and Events

Usually special events can be very crowded. This is not always the case. I have listed times and events when parks have been historically less crowded.

• January 26-30| Epcot Festival of the Arts, runDisney Marathon
• February 3-6 | Epcot Festival of the Arts
• March 3-7 | Epcot Flower and Garden Festival
• Apr 7-11 | Epcot Flower and Garden Festival
• May 6-22| Epcot Flower and Garden Festival
• June | H20 Glow Nights
• July | H20 Glow Nights
• August 5-28 | Epcot Food and Wine Festival
• September 3- 30 | Mickey Not So Scary Halloween Party, Epcot Food and Wine Festival
• October 1-9 | Mickey Not So Scary Halloween Party, Epcot Food and Wine Festival
• November 12-21 | Epcot Food and Wine Festival, Veterans Day
• December 1-12 | Epcot Festival of Holidays, Mickey Very Mary Christmas Party

Of course weekends and holidays during this time will be crowded. Sometimes Much More Crowded.

Next

My Next post will outline what to do once you have picked a time of year to go. This is where the real work happens as far as planning is concerned.

Until Next Time