Slowest week

[capecoddisneyfamily]

We just returned (3 nights @ AKV & 7 NIghts @ SSR). We had a great time but it was crazy. Any sugestions to which the slowest weeks to go are? We can go at any time since our children are not in school yet.

[ead79]

If you enjoyed seeing all the holiday decorations and festivities, then the week after Thanksgiving through the week before Christmas is a great time to visit WDW. You can see all the holiday events without battling the Christmas crowds. Plus, the points are low the first couple of weeks in December. Other slow times include January (after New Year's) and much of February (other than President's Day weekend).

[jekjones1558]

September is perhaps the slowest month since families with children are reluctant to take them out of school so early in the school year.

[bobbiwoz]

In '07 there were some holiday decorations up before Thanksgiving, and we're trying the week before Thanksgiving for a family vacation next year. DDiL can't take time off between Thanksgiving and New Years. We're hoping for good conditions. We actually were down that week in '01, but the holiday decorations weren't happening, and that was a bad year to judge by.

Bobbi:goodvibes

[disneybride96]

We love late January and are willing to take the weather risk. Jeans and sweatshirts are fine with us!

[jamstew]

September is perhaps the slowest month since families with children are reluctant to take them out of school so early in the school year.

There were a lot of children there last September. I talked to some parents and found that some were home-schooled and some were in year-round school. I didn't talk to anyone who had taken them out of school. It was definitely slow, though.

[engle]

Another vote for the week after Tgiving...it was dead!

[SalandJeff]

Late September is very slow, but also very hot and humid (if you're okay with that ;) )

First week of December is slow also and decorated for the holidays. Early part of November (couple of weeks before Thanksgiving) are usually fairly slow.

[crisi]

January is also traditionally slow. Presidents Week is pretty bad, but the first week in Febuary is traditionally slow. Surprisingly, May is a less busy time as well - kids aren't out of school, not a lot of breaks, Spring Break for college is usually done with.

September has had free dining the past few years, Thanksgiving to Christmas has decorations. Free dining has made Disney more crowded in September than in the past - restaurants have been really crowded - but park traffic is still reportedly reasonable. DVC is very busy from November until Christmas, but regular park attendance is light and lines are short.

But after Christmas - anything other than Easter or the 4th of July will seem empty.

[Deb & Bill]

Attendance at the theme parks may be low right after Thanksgiving, but DVC members book up those times very quickly because of the low points. You still have Pop Warner kids at that time, though.

Mid-Jan, late Aug, mid-Sept, early May all would be less crowded and more easy to get a reservation.

[edk35]

This will be our 3rd trip in late Jan. Wish we could stay longer each time we go in Jan. but our kids are in school and get a few days off toward the end of Jan. so we are able to go for about 5 days and it is WONDERFUL.

[edk35]

I wonder how folks like Vero. We would need a 2 bedroom and would want to stay for 3 nights at least....and then stay at SSR or OKW maybe for another 4 or 5 nights. I have heard people say to go to Vero after WDW to wind down and relax? So I would love to hear who does that or vice versa. Our kids are 17, 14 and 9 so any feedback on how they would like Vero would be appreciated. Would 3 nights be ENOUGH??? Also, would my kids like that beach there compared to the gulf coast beaches? Two years ago we rented a place right on the beach at Ft. Walton and the boys LOVED THE BEACH there. Is there anything to do around Vero? We went to SSR and BWV last Aug. for our first trip home as DVC'ers and although it was hot we loved our trip. SO going in late July early Aug. is fine with us and works out best with kids scheules. THANKS.

[Buckeye Fan]

DH teaches and last year, he and the kids had the week before and the week of Christmas off. So....off we went to OKW the week before Christmas! :goodvibes It was absolutely wonderful. It was 80 every day. It was sunny and never rained the entire trip. Granted, this is not typical, but the weather was surprisingly beautiful.

As for the parks, we went to Mickey's Magical Christmas (Magic Kingdom), MGM and Animal Kingdom. We walked on almost everything. I think our longest wait was maybe 10 or 15 minutes on the most popular rides. Loved the Christmas decor and I thought Mickey's Magical Christmas was neat. We paid $40ish dollars per ticket, went in the parks at 6 or 7 (forget when we could enter) and stayed until right after midnight. Our DD (5) was ready to crash, but she was a trouper. It was a lot of fun and the crowds were even more reduced. That night, we did walk on everything. Some rides are closed, but the majority (and main attarctions) were open.

[DisDaydreamer]

September is perhaps the slowest month since families with children are reluctant to take them out of school so early in the school year.

I agree with JJ's line of thinking. Also, I think mid to late May when the kids are having to take year end tests. Even if 1/3 of kids are in elementary school without those tests, I would think the majority have an older sibling in upper grades that do.

[nuttylawprofessor]

The week following Labor Day is very very very slow.

The catch is that you will sweat. It is HOT.

[Deb & Bill]

many duplicates.

[Deb & Bill]

ditto

[Deb & Bill]

I wonder how folks like Vero. We would need a 2 bedroom and would want to stay for 3 nights at least....and then stay at SSR or OKW maybe for another 4 or 5 nights. I have heard people say to go to Vero after WDW to wind down and relax? So I would love to hear who does that or vice versa. Our kids are 17, 14 and 9 so any feedback on how they would like Vero would be appreciated. Would 3 nights be ENOUGH??? Also, would my kids like that beach there compared to the gulf coast beaches? Two years ago we rented a place right on the beach at Ft. Walton and the boys LOVED THE BEACH there. Is there anything to do around Vero? We went to SSR and BWV last Aug. for our first trip home as DVC'ers and although it was hot we loved our trip. SO going in late July early Aug. is fine with us and works out best with kids scheules. THANKS.

I'm not a fan of Atlantic Coast beaches. The beach at Vero Beach is not very wide, and there is a drop off in the water. Water is much colder and not as crystal clear/blue like the gulf coast areas. Sand was coarser and not the white powder on the gulf coast. At least there was last time we stayed there. We prefer the gulf coast beaches with the very white sand, more expansive beaches, shallower water for longer distances.

We did VB on a trip for two nights before we went to WDW. We thought that was just enough to rest from the work week before and unwind before we went to WDW.

[DisDaydreamer]

I'm not a fan of Atlantic Coast beaches. The beach at Vero Beach is not very wide, and there is a drop off in the water. Water is much colder and not as crystal clear/blue like the gulf coast areas. Sand was coarser and not the white powder on the gulf coast. At least there was last time we stayed there. We prefer the gulf coast beaches with the very white sand, more expansive beaches, shallower water for longer distances.

Stop it miss Deb... How on earth are those 17, 14, and 9 year olds going to catch a wave on the gulf side....

We do love the gulf coast too. Particularly Sanibel. We love the wildlife that is visible way out into the water, and the perfectly pure white and corn starch soft sand.

But frankly, the kids are going to be amused for about 2 hours. Yes there is a drop off at VB, and yes the sand is course and gets damn hot in the summer. Still, the water is blue and the waves are fun. VB is the perfect family destination. Oh.. and don't forget the ocean sunrises.

The gulf coast is romantic and wonderful for a couple to enjoy, but after one full day the kids will be asking "so what do we do now?"

Ed... pay no attention to this romantic crazy lady... keep the kids happy and your vacation will be happy. Then take your DW to Sanibel someday to enjoy the serene and romantic shores of the Gulf Coast. And a Gulf sunset.

[llmurphy17]

We always go the 2nd week of Dec. (around Dec 8th) the crowds are ok, the decorations are great and the point value is low. :goodvibes :goodvibes :goodvibes

[BWV Dreamin]

Stop it miss Deb... How on earth are those 17, 14, and 9 year olds going to catch a wave on the gulf side....

We do love the gulf coast too. Particularly Sanibel. We love the wildlife that is visible way out into the water, and the perfectly pure white and corn starch soft sand.

But frankly, the kids are going to be amused for about 2 hours. Yes there is a drop off at VB, and yes the sand is course and gets damn hot in the summer. Still, the water is blue and the waves are fun. VB is the perfect family destination. Oh.. and don't forget the ocean sunrises.

The gulf coast is romantic and wonderful for a couple to enjoy, but after one full day the kids will be asking "so what do we do now?"

Ed... pay no attention to this romantic crazy lady... keep the kids happy and your vacation will be happy. Then take your DW to Sanibel someday to enjoy the serene and romantic shores of the Gulf Coast. And a Gulf sunset.

I have grown up going to the atlantic ocean! I did visit Sarasota, Fla., and the beach there. To me, it was like a huge waiding pool. You could walk out very far, and it only be up to your knees! Perfect I guess for little kids, but I truely missed the wave action! I guess its all in what your used to. Gulf coast is very beautiful, but IMHO, very boring. Try VB........as Rob says!

[Deb & Bill]

Rob, I should have known that you would right there to defend VB. We did have a nice stay when we went though. The Ocean View Inn Room was very nice.

[DisDaydreamer]

Rob, I should have known that you would right there to defend VB. We did have a nice stay when we went though. The Ocean View Inn Room was very nice.

:beach:

[Tinker74]

In '07 there were some holiday decorations up before Thanksgiving, and we're trying the week before Thanksgiving for a family vacation next year. DDiL can't take time off between Thanksgiving and New Years. We're hoping for good conditions. We actually were down that week in '01, but the holiday decorations weren't happening, and that was a bad year to judge by.

Bobbi:goodvibes

Sorry a bit OT but just interested...where there no decs at all in 2001 ?

[jeffs72]

I've been there in the week before Christmas (before it gets nuts) and the middle of January.

The December trip had nice weather and nothing was that crowded; we had a lot of fun.

The January trip had worse weather (we had to wear light coats on some days) but the trip was great. At the parks during the week, the longest lines were for Winnie the Pooh and Peter Pan. Everything else had very short waits (many popular rides were less than 5 minutes). You could meet the characters without waiting in line an hour. You could see the parades without it being totally packet. If I could still pull my kids out of school (my son is getting too old to miss a week), I would definitely go again in January.

Jeff

[Muushka]

Sorry a bit OT but just interested...where there no decs at all in 2001 ?

Yes, there were Christmas decorations in 2001. Not many people :sad2: , but lots of decorations.;)

[bears163]

we were there this past sept & it was busy. as was the year before. we may try Jan next year but not sure yet