For many families around the country, there is nothing more exciting than planning a Disney World vacation. Whether you’re a stay at home parent or an executive at a company like Haines, taking a much needed vacation and spending time bonding as a family on a trip to Disney can be the highlight of your year. Many families around the nation opt to travel to Disney World in the summer, due in part to the fact that children are out of school on summer vacation, as well as the fact that the weather in Orlando, Florida tends to be beautifully warm from May – August. Although these are the most popular months to travel to the world famous theme park each year, many travel experts and Disney enthusiasts alike advise that traveling during the winter can actually be better. 

Keep reading to learn more about why traveling to Disney World in the winter is a good idea. 

Smaller Crowds

Since the majority of travelers head to Disney World during the summer, the theme parked can get packed during the warmer months of the year. Disney is infamous for its long lines and large crowds year round, but these factors are much worse during the park’s peak season (aka summertime). Traveling to the park in the winter can greatly reduce the amount of time that you are forced to spend waiting in line for your favorite rides and attractions, and can make navigating the park easier as there is not as big of a crowd to deal with. 

Better Weather

Although nice, sunny weather is important when it comes to spending several days walking around the Disney parks, there is no denying that the Florida heat and humidity can be a bit much on a hot summer day. Instead of dealing with temperatures that are frequently above 100 degrees and high levels of humidity, traveling to the park in the winter allows travelers to experience more bearable Florida temperatures that average between 60 and 80 degrees.

Holiday Attractions

One of the biggest reasons to visit the Disney parks during the winter is due to the holiday celebrations that take place at the park each year. From Mickey’s Christmas Party to the annual New Years Eve bash that takes place at the park and all of the fun to come in the months afterwards, visiting the park during the winter months gives travelers the opportunity to take advantage of numerous seasonal activities, events, and attractions that are worth the visit. 

Taking a vacation with your little ones is always exciting – but doing so can be stressful. Traveling with children can be tough, especially if your trip requires flying or driving an especially long distance. Family vacations should ultimately be fun, so here are a few tips for eliminating stress when traveling with your kiddos.

Allow Yourself Plenty of Time

A stressful day of traveling is only made worse when you and your family are in a rush. When planning out your itinerary for your trip, be sure to be extra generous with time and allow yourself plenty of time for each task to account for traffic, long lines, and other unforeseen events.

Pack Light

Although packing for an entire family can be stressful and you might be tempted to overpack in order to ensure that you don’t forget anything, overpacking only leads to heavy bags that are frustrating (or impossible) to carry, extra baggage fees, and the possibility of more things getting lost. Keep packing to a minimum and your future self will thank you!

Bring Snacks

Hunger can ruin any trip, whether you’re waiting around at the airport or stuck in the car. In addition to planning meal times in advance, be sure to pack plenty of snacks for yourself and your kids to ensure that no one ends up hungry.

Keep Track of Your Child at Airports

When at a busy airport, avoid letting your child wander off by themselves to get a snack or use the bathroom. Always be sure that there is an adult with your child to keep them safe from hazardous areas with airport barriers and to keep them from getting lost or ending up in the wrong hands.

Stay Positive

No matter how thoroughly you plan a trip, things will almost definitely go wrong. Sometimes things don’t go according to plan and there is nothing you can do about it! Accepting this ahead of time and maintaining a positive attitude when plans change or things go wrong is the key to salvaging your trip, even if it turns out to be completely different than expected. Remember: your children likely do not care about the particular plan you have put together for vacation, they just want to take a trip and spend time with the family! Maintaining a positive mindset and attitude should things go wrong will ensure that your kids still have a memorable and enjoyable trip.