Best Month to Go to WDW

[momimouse27]

For weather and crowds, November is great, especially the week before Thanksgiving. For crowds, I'd say September. It's been several years though since we've been in September and I'm hearing the stories. I'm starting to worry because too many people around me who wouldn't be going during that week are planning a trip just for the football game we are going to. I know it may be a drop in the bucket, but still makes me a smidge nervous.

 

[ArwenMarie]

February has crazy crowds around Presidents Day. Nice weather though and the time of year when we are most in need of getting out of the winter here.

We went once right before Thanksgiving. That was probably our best trip.

 

[Shanti]

So I've been to Disney many times and am planning many more trips, but want to get it down to a specific month I like best to travel.

I've been in -
January - love it, went in 2014 low crowds, but a little chilly and couldn't really visit the pools.
March - went in 1999, weather is really nice, but spring break is rolling in and crowds are getting high toward Easter
May - went this year in 2016 Memorial Day. Heat was terrible, 90's every day. Crowds weren't bad.
August - went in 2009, heat was unbearable. Crowds were definetely low.
November - planning this for 2017, can't wait. Hopefully crowds are low and weather is still nice.

Never been any other month, but really would like to know experiences. Definetely want a April, October and December trip in the future.

We've loved our trips in July. Deluxe resort prices are lower in July & August than for most other times of year, & then there are strong resort discounts on top of that. Staying at a Disney deluxe really adds to the magic of our trips, as well as the convenience & ability to have some pleasant down time each day.

The crowds were quite low this July, too- loved that. The Disney water parks & resort pools are fun & refreshing in summer, and it's great to not have to worry about getting wet on rides like Splash Mountain- even if you get drenched you'll be dry in less than an hour. There also tend to be fewer ride closures mid-summer than at other times of year.

Lots of people on these boards complain about summer heat, but we also visited this January during a cold snap when it was literally freezing all day (including the wind chill). That was miserable. We're life-long Texans & used to hot summers, & even love the daily rains, which we don't get in arid Texas. Florida is green and beautiful mid-summer, whereas much of Texas turns brown.

You've got to pack carefully for a summer trip to Florida, just as you would for a winter trip to Colorado, in order to enjoy it. I pack Teva sandals, a UV umbrella, sunglasses, and then it's off to WDW to enjoy a magical trip.

 

[lustergirl]

I have been in:

February: cold but crowds were minimal
End of April: Just starting to get hotter but crowds were minimal
Last Week of September: Free dining but way too hot
Beginning of May: HOT
December: perfect time to go, as it is cooler and xmas decorations are up.

Next solo trip is the first week of November, something new for me.

 

[yngsj]

Our favorite is Oct., the weather is great and the crowds are low.
I will never go in Jan. or Feb. again because it is way too cold for us but we're used to the Las Vegas mild winters. I would rather be too hot than too cold!

 

[Jen07030]

Week after Labor Day in 2012 - super quiet/hot
Week after Labor Day in 2013 - low crowds / hot
Week after Thanksgiving in 2014 - low crowds / beautiful weather
Last week in January 2016 - moderate crowds / rain, rain and more rain!

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

This month, of course.

Seriously though, we have been to WDW several different times of year. My favorite is October because I like the MNSSHP decorations, the weather is a bit cooler (especially at night), the crowds can be manageable, there is often a promotion (free dining, anyone?), and it fits my schedule better than some other times of year

 

[Princesca]

I don't know that I would make any decisions based on crowds anymore. Disney's efforts to spread crowd levels out throughout the year seem to be working, from what I've heard. I would base it on average weather and basic ticket and resort prices. (Not counting on discounts.)

 

[mickeyluv'r]

EVERY time of year has pros and cons. some folks focus on crowd levels, others on weather, others on prices, others on the number of park hours or special activities/decorations....(FYI: we've been every month except June, and quite a few trips total.)

Truly though, while come general trends are true, each of those variables also has an element on unpredictability. I've experienced low crowds at times that were supposed to be high crowds, plenty of unseasonable weather!, unusual discounts, last minute changes to park hours, and underwhelming/better than expected special events.

Much of your experience also depends on which random CM's you happen to get. A great CM can make your day, while an inexperienced or rude Cm can put a big damper on your day.

Which time of year you prefer is going to massively be the intersection of all of the above plus personal preferences.

It sounds like you hate being hot. I also find it funny that you didn't mention hotel rates when talking about Jan vs. March. March rates are substantially higher than Jan rates.

 

[RustManFan]

Our trips have mostly been in August and November and we are going again Nov 2017. I think this is my favorite time to go since I really need more than one or two consecutive vacation days off work by this part of the year.

I have never looked at crowd levels to make a decision. When we went in August it was due to the fact that my kids were than school age.... not any more!

 

[mort1331]

Our ideal time would be the shoulder week from Oct/Nov. This way we can catch hopefully Food and Wine, Halloween, and Christmas all in one vacation. best of everything. Weather is good and crowds are very manageable.