Trip planning, late August or November?

Bearval

DIS Veteran
Joined
Dec 31, 2017
Planning a trip for 2018 and looking for low crowds and weather warm enough for water parks. What time would be best late August or in November. Also, although it is never a garentee free dining would be a bonus?
 
In my opinion late August is way too hot for us. I've been twice that time of year. Our last trip was mid October of 2015 and it was hot enough for us! November (if late enough) could get in to the holiday season and that is one of our favorite times to visit the parks!
 
November IMHO is much better but not always hot enough for water parks if that’s what you’re looking for, and August in WDW is VERY hot! November may be slightly more crowded, but it’s still not bad, and you have holiday decorations to see, which are beautiful. And, as you stated, free dining is historically offered in November but that also means it’s harder to get your must have ADRs. Either month you pick will be great, you’re going to WDW!
 
We have gone twice in September. Free dining usually offered late August through September. DEFINITELY hot enough for the water parks. LOL. Crowds about as low as it gets. This is when we are going this year. Aug 30-Sept 8.

Last year, we went 2nd week in November. Too cool for water parks. We thought the weather was truly lovely, though. Free dining only available for part of the month. The 14th was the earliest free dining day last year. Definitely busier than September, but really not too bad. Christmas decorations were beautiful, too.

What you're looking for--low crowds, free dining, water park weather--would be best found late August.
 


Growing up we always went in summer and as an adult I have taken my family at the end of October and then this past year in the end of November and I will never go another time except November! We went the week after Thanksgiving and left December 2nd. It got to 80-83 degrees everyday and we swam everyday (no water parks though). I realize every November could be different, but I have a trip planned this year for mid November. So my vote is November!
 
We have gone twice in September. Free dining usually offered late August through September. DEFINITELY hot enough for the water parks. LOL. Crowds about as low as it gets. This is when we are going this year. Aug 30-Sept 8.

Last year, we went 2nd week in November. Too cool for water parks. We thought the weather was truly lovely, though. Free dining only available for part of the month. The 14th was the earliest free dining day last year. Definitely busier than September, but really not too bad. Christmas decorations were beautiful, too.

What you're looking for--low crowds, free dining, water park weather--would be best found late August.
Planning on Going Aug 24-Sept 1 hoping low crowds as most schools start that week and ours doesn't until after Labor day. Haven't been in the summer in 10 years always go in winter or Sept (free dining in Sept past 2 times I did it) Staying off property for this trip and have a AP. Only staying at campground for a few days. Do they even offer free dining at campgrounds?
 
We've been the last week of August before and loved it for the low crowds. While it was steamy in the mornings getting to the parks, I found it didn't feel that bad once in the parks. Many lines had some level of air conditioning. I'll add the caveat though that I am from MN and so for us it's actually a little bit of a treat to be too hot. There is no time in our summer at home that we can be guaranteed that it will be warm enough to swim (even in mid July sometimes you get a day that's 60 and windy) so it's lovely to know that every day will be blazing hot on a trip.
 


Been going the day after Thanksgiving for the last 3 years. Crowds are picking up at that time but not too bad. Weather is perfect, almost all set up for Christmas and free dining is also great.
 
I'd tend to say November since August is still too warm for me.

I'm looking at the week before Thanksgiving or the week after Thanksgiving for my next trip. Right now I'm leaning towards the week before since I think the parks may be a little less crowded, but I'm not sure.
 
We just planned a trip for the week after Thanksgiving. Hoping for lower crowds but that doesn't seem realistic anymore no matter when you go.
 
The last week of August was more crowded 2017 because: FL AP blockout lifted; F&W added; MNSSHP added. We already know that the latter 2 are on for 2018. A PP mentioned first week of Sep: lower crowds then (v. last week August) b/c most of the rest of us go back to school the Tue or Wed after Labor Day.

Note the (often daily) risk of t-storms: they'll close the water parks (and resort pools) if lightning in the area (until its 30 minutes away IIRC). We mostly experienced this in the afternoon. Some outside rides are also closed for rain and/or lightning. In Nov. you likely wouldn't have as many closures for weather. Didn't happen many times 2017, but IIRC in 2016 we had many days with lightning (just short closures usually though).

I no longer think the crowd level in late August is worth the heat/humidity. (The "real feel" was close to 110 for almost 2 weeks in a row last mid to late August.) I always said I can do the crowds or the heat, but not both.
 
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We went the last week in August in 2013 and are going back this year 8/17-8/24. Yes, it is hot but was manageable when we went - temps were in the high 90's. We made sure we drank a LOT of water, caught shows mid-day when the temps peaked and so much time is spent on rides that you don't notice the heat so much. We had some rain showers but they kind of helped to cool things off. One evening we had a torrential storm, hung out in some shops at MK and by the time it was over the park was empty. We were there for a week and made sure we took a day off midweek to hang at the pool and regroup. I haven't been in November in a very long time but I have no qualms about going in August. Lines were minimal which was great and made it worth it for us.
 

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