Hi Laurie! I'm happy to hear that you are planning a trip to Walt Disney World this year, as there are lots of exciting things happening.
When trying to decide what time of year to visit, one thing to keep in mind is that anytime there is a holiday when schools are closed the parks will we be busier. The weeks surrounding Easter are some of the most crowded times of the year, after Christmas, so expect longer than average waits for just about everything.
In the past decade the amount of visitors the week of Thanksgiving has started to increase, typically children are out of school the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of that week, but more and more parents have started taking their children out of school for the entire week. Although it will certainly be crowded, it is slightly less crowded than the weeks surrounding Easter. Plus the cooler temperatures and festive atmosphere make it a great time to visit.
Touringplans.com is a great site to use for touring plans and, in my opinion, a must when planning a visit during the busier times of the year. If you are planning on doing any dining at any of the sit down(table service) restaurants, you will need to book those as soon as reservations for your dates open up. If you are staying on Disney property you can make your
Disney Dining reservation 180 days in advance plus 10 more days, which basically means that you can book dining reservations for your entire trip on that date.
Sometimes visiting Disney World during busy times of the year is unavoidable due to jobs, school and other commitments, but by planning early you will still have a wonderful vacation. Remember The Mom's Panel is always thrilled to help with any questions you may have, happy planning!
Have a Magical Vacation!
Mandy