Summer: Best time to go?

[travelmom]

Originally Posted by A Disney Dreamer

Summer...bad idea.

I have to completely disagree.

I prefer summer as well.
Everything is running, you get the most hours open (fireworks).
You get to break up the day, and swim at the hotel(always fun for kids),
Young kids and tired adults can go rest during the hot part of the day, and go back in the evening.

The key to a successful summer visit is:

You must go multiple days.
Stay as close to the park as possible(like right across the street).
You won't need to wait for shuttles that way, and just go back and forth.
Be first in the park every morning.
Have a morning plan(you must take advantage of the first two hours the park is open).
Eat in park meals earlier rather than later (11:30 lunch, 4:00 dinner).
Stay hydrated, and and have a blast! These basic guidelines never fail us!
We leave 3:00am Saturday morning for a whole week in Disneyland!
I love Summertime!

[RobotMirror]

I have to say I've changed my mind on when to go - summer is great, with everything operating and all shows up.

But I'm not sure anyone answered your specific question, with the criteria you mentioned. I'd vote for the very beginning or end of your dates (and it sounds like you're not flexible on that).

Mid June is usually nice, weather and crowds wise. Mid August is hotter, but some schools are back in session already, so it's a little lighter on crowds.

The last day of the July 4th weekend is also a good call usually.

[HydroGuy]

Originally Posted by travelmom

I have to completely disagree.

I prefer summer as well.
Everything is running, you get the most hours open (fireworks).
You get to break up the day, and swim at the hotel(always fun for kids),
Young kids and tired adults can go rest during the hot part of the day, and go back in the evening.

The key to a successful summer visit is:

You must go multiple days.
Stay as close to the park as possible(like right across the street).
You won't need to wait for shuttles that way, and just go back and forth.
Be first in the park every morning.
Have a morning plan(you must take advantage of the first two hours the park is open).
Eat in park meals earlier rather than later (11:30 lunch, 4:00 dinner).
Stay hydrated, and and have a blast! These basic guidelines never fail us!
We leave 3:00am Saturday morning for a whole week in Disneyland!
I love Summertime!

You got it.

[DLR29]

I went for a day trip in late June during the 50th celebration last year. NO CROWDS! If you use FP and get there early and stay late you should not have any problems. Granted, Space wasn't yet operating but we did get on Splash, Indy twice, BLAB four times, BTMRR twice, all of the FL dark rides, Matterhorn twice, JC, TMAoWtP, Toontown rides, Tiki Room, Autopia, Star Tours, POtC and Haunted Mansion. We als odidn't see Fantasmic, the parade, or the fireworks. Actually we were on Matterhorn during the fireworks. Without the shows you can do most things.

[wickeddisneygurl]

in my experience, july is crowded, though not too terribly hot. august is HOT and extremely crowded. if i were you, i would go in either late june or any time in july. summer is bound to be crowded no matter what you do!

[ClubDisCM]

Originally Posted by Frogberto

I have to say I've changed my mind on when to go - summer is great, with everything operating and all shows up.

But I'm not sure anyone answered your specific question, with the criteria you mentioned. I'd vote for the very beginning or end of your dates (and it sounds like you're not flexible on that).

Mid June is usually nice, weather and crowds wise. Mid August is hotter, but some schools are back in session already, so it's a little lighter on crowds.

The last day of the July 4th weekend is also a good call usually.

Thank you! It's not so much that I'm not flexible, it's the people attending. If it were up to me I hold the event late May, but then very few people could attend due to school and that wouldn't be good. 4th of July is on a Wednesday next year, do you think the Mon or Tue after that would be a good choice?

[RobotMirror]

Originally Posted by ClubDisCM

Thank you! It's not so much that I'm not flexible, it's the people attending. If it were up to me I hold the event late May, but then very few people could attend due to school and that wouldn't be good. 4th of July is on a Wednesday next year, do you think the Mon or Tue after that would be a good choice?

Tuesday and Wednesday are both good days. This year, July 4th was on a Tuesday, and many families made a long weekend out of Friday - Tuesday, and by all reports, July 4th itself was lighter than it has been, which figures, since most people use their last day of vacation as a travel day. Next year, with July 4th in the middle of the week, it could go either way... families could go Saturday - Wednesday, or Wednesday - Sunday. Either way, Wednesday itself, being at the beginning or end of the five day weekend/holiday (and thus a travel day), is a good choice.

If you have to go the week after, it will be busier. But if Monday or Tuesday are your only choices, I'd go for Tuesday.