#1 Least Crowded Week

[shm_helene]

we plan on going Aug 25-30 are we in for really bad heat????

We have been in July and August. It is disgustingly hot BUT for us it was doable (we are from PA). They broke heat records for consecutive days of temps 2 of 3 times we were there. The great part is there are so many air conditioned places at Disney that you can get out of the heat reasonably quickly. We did NOT stay in the afternoon though (we had kids so we went back for nap, but when we went without that 12-4 time was almost unbearable). Overall, it definitely wouldn't prevent me from going again. Use your FP well and you should be fine! That's what killed us in the past - running around the park trying to get FP's. What was better than the frogg toggs was portable fans and towels (sometimes we soaked the towels in ice). Have fun

 

[DizDaD7]

I would have to say, Right after Thanksgiving into beginning of December.....Either that or sometime in September....Although still HOT...

 

[DizDaD7]

We have been in July and August. It is disgustingly hot BUT for us it was doable (we are from PA). They broke heat records for consecutive days of temps 2 of 3 times we were there. The great part is there are so many air conditioned places at Disney that you can get out of the heat reasonably quickly. We did NOT stay in the afternoon though (we had kids so we went back for nap, but when we went without that 12-4 time was almost unbearable). Overall, it definitely wouldn't prevent me from going again. Use your FP well and you should be fine! That's what killed us in the past - running around the park trying to get FP's. What was better than the frogg toggs was portable fans and towels (sometimes we soaked the towels in ice). Have fun

This is true...

We were there this mid August to around the 24th or so.....We had 5 families in our group & met another 2 while down there for a day or so....We had sooo many issues this year with the heat...Between Exhaustion, and dehydration, and just overall fatigue...4 needed medical attention, and we actually rented a stroller just to carry our Backpack or 2....It was Brutal This past year.!!!!

 

[akl432]

For those who say the week after Labor Day is the least crowded -- do you mean starting the Tuesday after Labor Day, or starting the Friday/Saturday after Labor Day? In other words, if Labor Day 2016 is Monday, Sept 5, would the low crowds start on Tuesday, Sept 6, or is it still crowded until the crowds leave on Friday, Sept 9/Saturday, Sept 10?

How are the crowds during Labor Day weekend itself (Friday, Sept 2 - Monday, Sept 5)?

 

[anniemae]

For those who say the week after Labor Day is the least crowded -- do you mean starting the Tuesday after Labor Day, or starting the Friday/Saturday after Labor Day? In other words, if Labor Day 2016 is Monday, Sept 5, would the low crowds start on Tuesday, Sept 6, or is it still crowded until the crowds leave on Friday, Sept 9/Saturday, Sept 10?

How are the crowds during Labor Day weekend itself (Friday, Sept 2 - Monday, Sept 5)?

Either one is good really. The week after LD, meaning arriving on the day before LD is good. LD weekend is crowded, but not as bad as other long weekends. Schools up north who have not started yet are gearing up for back to school and some schools start right before LD, so parents are hesitant to pull them out so soon after starting school. FL residents go a lot on this weekend because they have been back to school for a while. Lots of FL residents will go on LD weekend. Also, the week after that week, meaning the Fri/Sat after LD weekend is good too. Basically the first two weekends of Sept are good.

 

[Delirium]

The thing about low crowds is that they are low for a reason. The weather is not good, no special events, shorter park hours, more attraction closures, etc. I will gladly sacrifice a little bit heavier crowd to experience a better experience overall. In my mind, it's hard to beat the weather of late October / Early November. Throw in the Food & Wine Festival, fall decorations, special events, etc., and to me that is the best time to visit.

 

[bulldog42]

We went the last week of January, first week of February last year. We found it insanely busy due to Central and South American groups of teenage girls over running everything. Our resort was so bad, we have decided to NEVER go back during that time. The Cast Members told us that these groups come up the same time every year.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

The week after Presidents Day is usually outstanding. Make sure you check when Mardi Gras is though. I've made the mistake of going before Presidents Day and all of Louisiana is there with their LSU shirts! It was awful

Did it smell like corndogs?

 

[Paigesmom2013]

This is an option for us since we're from Canada and we always take that week off (work for me/dh, no camp before school).

How is the weather that week? I think very hot and rainy?

Coming from Wisconsin, it was hot and sweaty the week after Labor Day. I lived in NC for three years, but it was worse than I expected. I would never go that time of year again. But, crowds were good. Our longest wait was for a meet and greet with Buzz and Woody on Labor Day for 30 mins.

 

[Day-Day]

The thing about low crowds is that they are low for a reason. The weather is not good, no special events, shorter park hours, more attraction closures, etc. I will gladly sacrifice a little bit heavier crowd to experience a better experience overall. In my mind, it's hard to beat the weather of late October / Early November. Throw in the Food & Wine Festival, fall decorations, special events, etc., and to me that is the best time to visit.

And the biggest reason as pointed out by others is that most schools in the US are in session during the low periods. Some special events like cheerleader competitions can bring up the numbers.

 

[anniemae]

It seems there is no slow time because they either attract conventions, competitions, tour groups from other countries, festivals, special parties etc. during these times. They are become masters at filling the parks year round.

 

[anniemae]

The thing about low crowds is that they are low for a reason. The weather is not good, no special events, shorter park hours, more attraction closures, etc. I will gladly sacrifice a little bit heavier crowd to experience a better experience overall. In my mind, it's hard to beat the weather of late October / Early November. Throw in the Food & Wine Festival, fall decorations, special events, etc., and to me that is the best time to visit.

This is my feeling as well. I absolutely LOVE Disney in early November. The sights, sounds, decorations and the weather is amazing. Cooler mornings and evenings, with warm afternoons. I loved going for my morning coffee in a sweatshirt and shorts, then shedding the sweatshirt in the afternoon. PERFECT park touring weather IMO.

 

[Atrain13]

I have heard the beginning of May is a great time, the April breaks are over and FL schools are not out yet. Weather is beautiful.

Awesome, thank you!

 

[cjhudson]

The week after Presidents Day is usually outstanding. Make sure you check when Mardi Gras is though. I've made the mistake of going before Presidents Day and all of Louisiana is there with their LSU shirts! It was awful

GEAUX TIGERS!!!! Seriously I teach/coach at a school in LA and everyone that is going out of town this weekend for Mardi Gras is going to Disney.

 

[msmouse]

Roll Tide!

I will try not to take offense to that also.

 

[larissawbb]

Judging by reports on this board, there aren't any slow weeks anymore. I'm trying to decide between the second and third week in January or the second week of March next year. I don't see a difference in crowds now.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Last 2 weeks of January, first week after Labor Day.

http://**************.net/2014/09/25/disney-world-crowds-in-2016/

 

[jim o'reilly]

Right now there is no one here (relatively speaking) for peak times. I think the lat weeks of January is the best time to be here. We went to Magic yesterday with our first FP used at 3:05 PM. We rode the following rides listed below in order of riding, ate and were out of the park before 7:00 PM.

Space (FP)
Thunder (FP)
Splash (FP)
Splash Again (Walk on)
Pirates (Walk on)
Ate at Casey's Corner
Mansion (5 minutes)
Buzz (5 minutes)
Space again (10 minutes)

So we were able to ride eight attractions in less than four hours, plus breaking for a few hot dogs at Casey's for about 20 minutes or so. This is how dead Magic was yesterday. There was a light on and off rain throughout the day. However this never deters us from enjoying our visits. They only long wait we saw was at Seven Dwarfs and it was under an hour at one point. Everything else was under 20 minutes or at a walk on.

I was at disney last week (1/24-29) and it was "dead" also. My daughter decided she wanted to do the 7DMT and it said 60 minute wait. Disney lies....it was 20 minutes by the time we waited until we left the gated area after the ride. And we did it again. Rain helps (as long as it's not pouring) and deters locals from coming to MK! Love it!

 

[Satchmo128]

I agree with the weeks surrounding Labor Day, first few weeks of December, and mid-January.

 

[MomofKatie]

We won't go in September because of the heat, so I can't comment on the lack of crowds. Personally, I would rather have a slightly higher crowd level but nicer weather- I can't deal with sweaty, hot, rainy weather. We also can't go between Thanksgiving and Christmas because of DH's work schedule, so I can't comment on that time, either. Of the times we have gone to WDW, the BEST weeks (combination of good weather and low crowds) for us have been:

The full week after New Years Day (once kids are back in school)
the week before Thanksgiving week
the week after MLK Day (the weekend of MLK is busy but doable, but starting on Tuesday, it really clears out)
The last week of October going into the first few days of November