February vs. May

**northegreat** · 09-19-2010, 07:02 PM

Hey everyone,

I'd like to get your opinion on something. Want to plan a trip to WDW for two early next year. We'd like to take advantage of the extended free dining which means we basically have a choice of the last week of February (which also coincides with my bday) or the last week of May.

February is kind of pushing the planning and we would have already missed out on our 6 months ADRs in advance, plus we'd have to come up with the cash sooner of course. However, I know the park attendance levels are way down at that time.

We've been in May before, but it was early May when school was still in (11-18). The crowd levels at this time were fine. However, the free dining in May this time runs into June when most schools will be out (we don't have children) and I believe that it also coincides with Star Wars weekends. We are both Star Wars fans and can deal with crowds for a day, but don't want to spend a week waiting 90 minutes to the ride "Living with the Land."

What do you think the better time is. I wish they had just opened up the free dining a couple of weeks earlier in May. Thanks in advance for your help!

**HauntedGabe** · 09-19-2010, 09:39 PM

I've done both late May and February.

February we walked onto most everything. February can be dicey with the weather. The average is highs of lower 70's and lows in the 50's. 50's is pretty brisk for the evenings. You have more energy to keep going though. We did walk up for many dinners and lunches. Getting out of No. IL for 50's to 70's in February, I'll take it!

May I did the last week of May and first week of June for a 16 day trip.
It was very warm that year. We mid-dayed in the pool frequently. Parks open a bit later than in February. I took my kids out of school for the last 10 days of school that year. There were not tons of kids yet. Kids at least in the Midwest go to school through early to mid June. This time of year was nothing like the July trip we took, not nearly as crowded.

Now it is a gamble what free dining will do...guessing a bigger impact on the May bookings.

**Disney05** · 09-20-2010, 07:19 AM

Have never done February but we love May. We usually go the 3rd or 4th week. We're going the end of May into the first week of June next year. The weather is great. The crowds are not too bad. It's a nice way to kind of start the warm weather season off for us.

**NC_WDW_Daddy** · 09-20-2010, 07:31 AM

Before our school calendar changed, we used to vist every May. Loved the weather, SWW, and the crowds were not as bad as June. The weather in May was very pleasant, little rain and not sweltering.

**Benjo** · 10-05-2010, 11:48 AM

I think you would be better off with a late May trip. The last week of February can be busy because a lot of schools will have that week as a break. You are also getting into the Spring Break crowd times. The weather, as others have mentioned, can be questionable then. February tends to be very rainy in Florida.

Late May is a time that I have been often, and the crowds are usually pretty low. Depending on the year, it can be very humid, so plan on some time at the pool. There's also the Flower and Garden Festival going on at Epcot, which I think is one of the best times of year to see that park. Future World is usually very sterile, but really looks nice during Flower and Garden.

**GIOny** · 10-05-2010, 12:23 PM

I vote February, we went last year for a short stay in Feb and the weather was really nice. I hate intense heat and we had that one year when we went the last week in May, was not pleasant for us, but I realize that varies from year to year.

Would also like to add that for us northerners it's really nice to get out of that weather in February, but May is beautiful where I live.

**Smack81** · 10-27-2010, 10:02 PM

I've been in both February and May. All things being equal, I'd probably choose February. I'm also a midwesterner, and I find that getting away from the Chicago winter for a week or so is WONDERFUL - really raises your spirits. The crowds are really low, so you can walk onto any attraction or into a restaurant with minimal wait.

May is also nice. I do like the Flower and Garden show - it adds so much color to Epcot. It's warmer though, and more crowded. I understand that it's tough to come up with the money a few months earlier, but if you can swing, I'd go with February.