hiya,can anyone tell me when is the best time of the year to go to florida,we are planning on going in 2008 approx 5-6 adults and 4 kids,doing the disney thing,many thanks in advance.
I've actually been twice at thanksgiving and it was much less crowded than when I have been in March or July. You just need to pick parks carefully for the Thursday of thanksgiving (there were only about 500 people at Discovery Cove - half capacity, and Epcot is quiet too. The friday after thanksgiving is a major shopping event with really great one day sales so you can pick up a bargain or make the most of the fact that everyone else is shopping and head to the parks.
It's also quite a cheap time to go and all the parks start getting decorated for Christmas.
Easter is nice temperature time but still busy. US schools break up earlier than us for summer but most go back sooner too. For top temps but min q's I recommend doing the parks in the first couple of weeks of Sept, downside is hurricane season then. If not commited to out of term holidays, I would choose the couple of weeks after Easter for myself. Warm weather, not heaving with people, and everything will have been spruced up for the Easter rush.
Dont forget if disney is a must, there are height restrictions so depending on age and the height you may be paying good money for rides the kids cannot go on, Plus expect to queue for the rides in the holiday period.
I went in august one yr, it was hot! too hot some days! Universal, seaworld, mgm, busch gardens, wet n wild are all great visits! Its a great place, im presuming your thinking of orlando.
We've been to Orlando during the first week of November. The weather was warm enough for shorts/t shirt during the day but not sweltering. We arrived at the theme parks when they opened and went straight on the rides. Virtually no queueing - maybe 20-30 minutes, but for many rides you are entertained while you are queueing, or the queue is part of the ride.
A couple of other places we visited while there were Gatorland (in Orlando) for a half day visit, not as hectic or tiring as the big theme parks but still enjoyable. The other place is Silver Springs in Ocala, which is a wildlife park set around natural springs which you can tour in glass bottom boats. This is about 2 hours drive from Orlando but again is a change from the big parks.
See www.gatorland.com/ and www.silversprings.com/ for more info.