Month to Go

I'm a teacher, so that narrows it down a little , although I HAVE been banking personal days. We've been a few times in December which I absolutely LOVED for the decoratrions, that atmosphere and "magicalness"! But we ran into so not so great weather, and couldn't swim much (not to mention to debacles with flights home not working out because of blizzard conditions on our end). The first couple of times crowds were pretty low, but the third time they were already getting kinda crazy by about the 15th or so. We went in September and LOVED the weather, and found the crowds very reasonable, not long lines for anything, really. But September is REALLY hard for a teacher, and June is out of the question for that reason also. I think for me, July and August would be utterly insane (we tried Disneyland in July once, and after 9 or 10 in the morning just gave up on ever getting on a ride). I'm thinking January and February are great crowds, but too cold, and lots of closures for refurb. We are tentatively planning for MAY - what are your thoughts? What's great about it? What's bad about it? Would you pick a different month? Am I wrong about some of my thoughts above? And...can I live with myself if I don't go back at Christmas? lol

I always tell people with a question like yours - from January (after the marathon weekend) until Valentine's Day is usually a good time to go. You might have had an experience with colder weather, but we do Jan/Feb often, and it is the rare trip we don't get to spend a lot of time at the pool. Your refurb concern is legit, though - there tends to be more work going on that time of year, and parks close earlier. We think it is worth it to enjoy the lower crowds.... THAT being said, Disney is pretty smart. They used to have slower times of the year - and when they have slower times, they create an event to bump the crowds. So things like the Marathon weekend and F&W and the spring garden events were born. Last year they started the Celebration of the Arts in Jan/Feb, and I expect it bumped crowds a bit. I have to admit, we really enjoyed it, so I'm sure others did, too - and I'm sure they'll do it again in 2018. Good luck with your choice. I can imagine it's difficult to plan something like this during the school year!

Christmas is beautiful at Disney ... especially leading into NYE, but it's crazily busy. We tried it twice, thinking the first time was a fluke, but once in MK we could only move as a "unit", collectively .... we could not navigate the streets at will, because of the masses.

May is hot and busy, but honestly, there are no slim down times anymore, it's just always busy !! That being said, we love May and June for the Florida heat !! Our plan of attack is, rope drop the parks, play till noonish, when the park begins to fill, head back for a swim or nap or both, then head back to the parks later for a cooler, fun time to finish up a day.

We've done the cooler months and for the reasons mentioned, it's not to our liking ... but .... a bad day at Disney beats a good day at work any day of the week !! June 26th cannot get here soon enough !!

There really isn't a "slow" time at WDW anymore. Late April/early May is probably best for next year. Easter is in March, so other than Flower and Garden at EPCOT and maybe some sports stuff at ESPN, there's not too much going on. Weather is good but closer you get to Memorial Day weekend the hotter and more crowded it gets. Schools in FL and across the south let out in early May. Personally my favorite month to go is October because it's a slow time at work, the weather is fantastic in FL and usually not bad enough up north for flight issues. It is busier now in October than it used to be, but with careful planning and listening to your body and family when it's time to take a break you will still have a great time.

Can anyone tell me more about the Flower and Garden Festival?

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Originally Posted by mom2morgan

Can anyone tell me more about the Flower and Garden Festival?

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It's been a while since I've been during that one, but from what I remember it's more low key than Food and Wine. They have added some food and wine kiosks since then, but not to the number at F&W! From what I've read they are a nice addition. EPCOT is really in bloom - they have beautiful topiaries all around the park, special gardening sessions and expos, and of course merchandise. They had a concert series as well but I don't know if that still happens. We honestly didn't notice it that much on our trip since I didn't have much of an interest in gardening at the time, and it was my sister's first time there so we were focused on rides and touring, etc.

My most recent trip was the end of January this year and I would highly recommend that timeframe. The crowds were low and the weather was fantastic! Our first day was at Magic Kingdom. We were in the park for 15 hours and rode 22 rides!

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Originally Posted by mom2morgan

Can anyone tell me more about the Flower and Garden Festival?

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I love the Flower and Garden festival - Epcot is really pretty with all the flowers. This is from the Disney website:

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Our Annual Celebration of Spring
Welcome this vibrant season by treating your senses to an assortment of captivating experiences. Blossoming from March 1 to May 29, 2017, the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival boasts fun-filled exploration for every age and interest.

Highlights for 2017 currently include:

Outdoor Kitchens offering delectable small plates, and flavorful non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages—along with several new food and refreshment kiosks
More than 70 world-renowned Disney-themed topiaries—including many totally original displays
Vibrant gardens, flower towers, wildlife habitats and walkways—some being presented for the very first time
Inspirational exhibits, seminars, how-to demonstrations and all-new farm-to-table dining experiences
Garden Rocks™ Outdoor Concert Series featuring throwback beats from fan-favorite bands—with an assortment of debuting acts and dining packages
Best of all, with so much to see and do, you can return to the Festival again and again… and uncover something new every time!

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