best month to go, don't hate me....

[cristen]

I know, I know, you guys are soo sick of people asking you when the best time to go is. But you guys really are the experts!! I am planning a trip for next year to go to WDW. It is our very first time going to the world. We always go to DL. I want the perfect time to go. So, when would the best time be if we wanted (what everyone else wants!) to go when there is semi-resonable crowds. I know not to ask for much, I hear the crowds are TERRIBLE there no matter when you go. That's what I have been told. I also want decent weather, I hear the humidity & heat there will kill you if you are not used to it. Let me give you an example, if the heat rises too much over 80, I'm dying. One more thing, I want all the shows & everything to be going. I know, is that a lot to ask? There is a time in May that at DL, it is considered regular season, but the park hours are longer & all the shows are going. That is usually when we go. I think it is the week right before spring break, so the crowds are ok, & the shows and hours are good. We were thinking of going in May there, that is the best time for one of out parties to go. But I heard October is the best time to go. Is there a web site that has all the statistics? Thanks for your help, I'm sooo excited!!! Cristen

 

[jkovick]

Hi Cristen. Check out www.wdwig.com (Deb's Unofficial Guide to WDW) for loads of great info, including crowd levels, weather and a whole lot more. Hope you have a great trip!

 

[beattyfamily]

Good times to go crowd wise and weather wise are as follows: January, September, October, November (except Thanksgiving) and December (except Christmas week/New Years).

I don't know a whole lot about May, sorry. I assume it's pretty hot and more crowded than the months I mentioned.

January is probably the deadest but the most unpredicible weather. September is still pretty hot but not crowded so it's the next deadest. Then probably a tie between October, November and December on crowds but it will get progressively colder but not that cold. December's weather is a bit unpredicable.

Hours will be less for these months but that's the price we pay for low crowds.

I love October for Halloween and MNSSHP (and the weather) and December for the holiday atmophere and MVMCP.

Good luck!

 

[timbud1]

Hmm...tough requirements!!! Went early May this year with WAY HOT temps, but moderate crowds - also missed some shows because the times were off for us.

Have been in November the weekend before Thanksgiving through that Friday. Easy crowds until Wednesday and better showtimes than May. Of course the weather was beautiful - 70's with 60's at night.

I'm not sure you can get good showtimes, nice temps, with small crowds!! I'd go for lower crowds any day!! We may try our March spring break next time - have heard it's busy, but everything's up and running with semi-mild temps. Hooray for Fast Pass! Enjoy your planning...I'm already planning for 2005spring!!!!!

 

[sarehm]

Usually November (not over Thanksgiving) and the first 2 weeks of December are great as far as crowds. The last time I was there in December it was a little to chilly for my taste but you can't complain when there aren't any lines.

 

[Jay Since 72]

The week after Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite times to go. The crowds are very low (I can remember actually being the only person in a restroom in the Magic Kingdom... talk about low crowds!) and all the Christmas decorations are up. Mid Oct- mid Nov is also nice, because the Food an dWIne Festival is underway at Epcot.

Of course, the hottest, most crowded day at Disney Workd is usually better than staying at home...

 

[figmentvi]

We go the first week of Dec. every year. Low crowds, lots of things going on, decorations, weather isn't too hot. The park hours are shorter however, but you do have Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party which keeps the MK open late on certain nights.

 

[DemoBri1]

I'd have to vote for mid-November. You can get some hot days, but more than likely it will be warm enough to swim, but not oppressive. The crowds are a bit lower and Food & Wine Festival is going on @ Epcot.

My second choice would be first or second week of December. That's when we're headed down this year. The Christmas decor is up and the crowds are down. So long as the temps hold out it should be a great time. Keep in mind the pools are heated. If it's a bit chilly take some sweats to cover up with when getting out.

Brian

 

[cristen]

WOW! Thanks guys! I was still at Deb's web site looking around when I saw all the replies. Thank you for fast replies. I guess everyone likes Nov. to go. I had heard that was a really good time to go. I was just afraid I wouldn't get to see Fantasmic (my favorite show ever) & I am really looking for to Illuminations. I hear it's pretty awesome. If those two are going in Nov., I wouldn't mind going then. This is a bit overwhelming. Thank you for making it a bit easier. Now I have to decided where to stay!!!!!!

 

[sherrie]

THE HEAT IN MAY THE PAST 2 YEARS HAS BEEN OPPRESSIVE. THE PARK HRS. ARE SHORT BUT THE CROWDS ARE LOW.

 

[disneymania]

I think it is usually the first week in November. We went in 2000 because kids had off for Veterans Day & Election day in same week but because of that & Jersey having big vacation then, the parks were packed. They were at least as busy as 3rd week of May (which we have been 2 x) but at least not as hot. We went 12/11 - 12/17 this past year & loved it. No crowds & cool temps. They were having unseasonably cold Dec so it was a little too cold for my taste (temps were same as they were back home in CT) so if you go in Dec, be sure to pack plenty of warm clothes. We are wearing the same pants & sweatshirts on every picture because we brought mainly shorts & tshirts. Kids still swam because pool was heated & didn't have to hassle with sunscreen or overheating1!!

Have fun!!!

 

[clutter]

Fantasmic and Illuminations run daily year round, I believe. I've been in early Feb with fantastic weather no crowds, May (twice) in HOT HOT weather low and no crowds, September in HOT weather and NO crowds (2001, really eerie), December (twice) in nice weather, and cold and rainy weather and low crowds. But every trip had Fantasmic and Illuminations every night.

Do you want to do the Christmas stuff? It's awesome, gotta be done once. Or twice. Or more.....

 

[cristen]

Clutter,

I do want to do the X-mas at Disney really bad. But I think that the party we are going with can't do December. You said you went in May & the crowds were light? But the weather was hot? I think I will take hotter weather over bigger crowds any day. I have never been to Florida at all. I saw on Deb's site that the average temp in May is 88. And with all the bad things I have heard about the humidity, I am a little afraid. I have lived in Hawaii, & I never thought of them having humidity, I LOVED the weather. But people say Florida is much more worse than Hawaii. So I don't know. When exactly in May, I heard the last two weeks are slower? How about April? anything on April? Thanks everyone. I am being a little anal with my first trip. I want it to be PERFECT!! I know, I should just go & have fun & I will. As soon as the details are taken care of I will relax. Thanks, Cristen

 

[ncbyrne]

DH and I like to gow when crowds are low and hotel rates are better. My favorite month is September, as soon as all the kids are back in school. The weather is completely unpredictable. We've had terrific weather in September with moderate summertime temps. We've also had HOT, and one year rain, rain, rain. There's just no telling what it will be like. The crowds are low and it's still perfect swimming weather. (We love Typhoon Lagoon!)
We also like May for the Flower and Garden Show time. Crowds are managable, but not as low as Sept. and it's a tad bit warmer I think.

 

[beattyfamily]

Out of all months mentioned so far, May will be the hottest and busiest...

A friend of mine just came back from her 5th trip to WDW and said it was VERY crowded the last week in May and VERY hot.

Of the more peak months, May might be less crowded but of all the months mentioned here so far January, September, Oct, Nov and December will be the least crowded with probably October and November having the best weather of them all. Of those 2 months, I'd choose October for weather, crowds, the Food and Wine festival, and the MNSSHP's going on all month!!! Great fun! My second choice would be the week after Thanksgiving to see some of the Xmas decorations. In my Disney guide it says the weeks before and after Thanksgiving are very slow.

Good luck!

 

[kilee]

I think someone else mentioned it already, but I am going to say the first 2 weeks of February, it has to be before President's Day weekend. It was "ideal" park temps. Most afternoons reached about 70-- very sunny still. The nights were alittle cool-- upper 50's lower 60's. January you run the risk of it being winter jacket and mittens cold. May is really HOT! The crowds in February were great too. We were there 2/7-2/15. President's Day weekend began 2/14 this year. We never waited more than 10-15 mintues for any standby lines, we even walked on a few rides. Also, we saw all the shows. Other than Mermaid-- it was in rehab.

 

[Puffy2]

October will still be rather warm and some days especially for the MK, crowded. May is Hot.

Perfect time, January (some days might be cold - need a jacket or sweater but often it is very mild. First two weeks in Feb. are good too. After that, the rates go up (for hotel and airfare) week after Thanksgiving and first two weeks in Dec. are supposed to be decent as well.

I love Jan/Feb - NO crowds, cool weather - it has been the most enjoyable time in the parks.

 

[AimeeM]

Cristen-
We have gone every january for the past 5 years. We also snuck in a Thanksgiving trip last year too! This year we are trying October as our 2nd trip of the year to WDW. We love January as a time to go. We live in PA and the winters here have been horrid. Even a 50 degree day was WAY better than the -5 degrees here in Jan!! Haha. Some times in Jan, the weather has been in the 80-low 90's, and this past Jan we had to bundle up. But the parks are dead! Its great!! The parks close earlier, but you still get to do so much since there isnt any crowds. Most nights in Jan, we park hop to Epcot at night since its always open until 9pm off season. By the time you see Illuminations and go catch the bus back to your room, its 10 at night anyway!

Last year we arrived at WDW on Thanksgiving day. We had Thanksgiving dinner at Epcot. I was expecting the crowds to be horrible, but we walked into Epcot on Turkey day about 5:00 and there wasnt a single soul in line for Spaceship Earth!!! 0 minute wait. I found that the parks were a little more crowded than January, but our plan of staying away from MK until the Monday after T-day worked out well. We were there to see the Christmas decorations go up, and got to go to Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party!! you just HAVE to see Disney decked out for Christmas! Its beautiful. At the party, they make it snow on Main street!!!!!! That alone was worth it all!!

This year we are taking an extra trip from Sept 30-Oct 7. I am now dying to go Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party!!!

How many people are going with you? Any kids? Where do you want to stay? We do the all stars. Its the cheapest and it fits us all just fine ( 4 of us AND a baby). Just remember that you most likely wont be in the rooms much at all. We have never come back for naps, or to hang out. We sleep there and that was it. Dont pay for more than you need, or something you arent going to use for more than sleeping!! Keep us posted on your plans!

 

[Pryncess'mom]

Jersey week this year will be Nov. 1-8. We teachers get off on Thurs & Fri for the NJ Teacher's Convention. My last (and only) trip during that time was during the millenium celebration. Not only was it extremely crowded, but also hot (92, 93 humid) All in all a somewhat disappointing trip. Good luck with your decision!

 

[MiaSRN62]

I've been to WDW during part of every month of the year.
We've done the very end of October thru around Nov 9 three times now and love it. I know Pryncess'mom said it was very hot and crowded one year----this was 2000 I'm assuming ? That year we went in late August, which I consider the best summer time period to go <shhh> because most of the southern schools are already back in session.
But back to early November-----we had almost perfect weather in '99, '01 and '02. We did Halloween in the MK and never saw any major crowds. Most rides were 5-15 min waits. IOA and Sea World were deserted ! We walked on everything at IOA numerous times.
In '98, we arrived the day after Thanksgiving and stayed for 2 weeks. It never rained once and the weather was a perfect 78-85 degrees all 14 days. I know we got very lucky on this, because the day after we left a cold front came in and temps dropped into the 60's during the day and mid 40's at night !
I also like mid to late September----though it can be quite hot and rainy, the crowds are almost nill.