Best Month To Visit?

[GeorgiaHoo]

What are the thoughts on the current best month to visit Disney? Thinking about a trip after Star Wars land is open (so maybe 2020?) but not sure about dates. In the last 15 years or so we've been to Disney in January, February, late April/early May (twice), late October, and early November. From a crowd perspective, the best trip was in January, but I want to say that was in 2003 or so, when you could take advantage of the old FP system, and I understand even January is pretty crowded now. We also found it too cold to use the pool in our February trip, and some of the January trip was the same, so probably leaning towards a spring/fall trip. Our first late April/early May trip was pretty good from a crowd perspective, and the crowds weren't bad for the second one, but it rained a ton, so weather is a concern. Late October trip a few years ago was pretty good for both crowds and weather. Our November trip last year had great weather, but fell on the last week of Food & Wine and Jersey Week, and it was much more crowded than I like (certainly won't go again that week).

I guess I'm leaning towards an October trip again, and April/May is in the mix, but could be convinced that other dates are as good or better. Regards.

On edit, I should mention that our kids are older now, and we split our time about equally between each park, and spend each afternoon at the resort pool.

 

[CAL2]

Hi, many posters will tell you there is no low time any more. I can only imagine that after Star Wars land opens the crowds will increase. I think the best advice is to if possible avoid UK and US holidays, such as Easter, spring breaks, Thanksgiving, Christmas etc. Be prepared for it to be more crowded than previous trips, use FP+ and go with the flow and have fun.

 

[CynBeth]

I would do end of November or early December to experience the holiday stuff.

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

I would do end of November or early December to experience the holiday stuff.

Yeah, that might be an option. This past trip the first week of November we did the Christmas Party for the first time, and that was ok, but none of the resorts were decorated when we left.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Fall used to be a great time to go, if you could hit it when there were no hurricanes.

But I’m disillusioned with that time of year after going the week of Matthew in 2016 and just after Irma last September.

Having no MK 3 or 4 nights out of a week long trip due to MNSSHP is a downer, but maybe when you’re planning and everything is open at the Studios, the crowds will be more spread out.

 

[Shanti]

I recommend late April or early May. Avoid fall, which is the new high season at WDW.

 

[isabellea]

I would also choose late April/early May.

 

[rpb718]

I would also choose late April/early May.

I've seen a lot of "late April/early May" recommendations on the Disboards for the last year or so. We were going anyway since it has been 5 years since we've been to F&G and I wanted a long-ish trip since we didn't end up going anywhere special for vacations last year. Don't ask me why, but I'm truly expecting it to be crowded.

 

[isabellea]

Usually in late April/early May kids are still in school and spring breaks are finished (depending on Easter of course). When we visited late April a few years ago the weather was gorgeous and crowds were lower than other times we visited, especially at Universal Studios where it was dead. But like any month of the year, it's probably much more crowded now than before but at least it will be warm without having crazy humidity like in July or August.

 

[mdelano4]

I don't know if you will find a down time anymore. We always go late August. Yes, it's hot, but the southern schools are back in session and the camps from overseas are done for the summer. It was pretty easy to get on whatever you wanted with short waits (except for a few rides). IMHO, Disney killed this with FP+. The last 2 trips, even August seemed like it was packed. When we really got down to it we realized that the food/merch lines were fine. It was the attractions that were jammed. Coincidence? I think not. Epic failure on FP+.

 

[mjohnson96]

We used to go Early May before my oldest hit High School, it was a great time to go because the weather was nice and most kids were in school. Now we tend to go Late May, Early June because Florida schools are still in session and the crowds are manageable and you will get a little (or lots) of rain. Our schools tend to start early, end early so we have a couple weeks of decent 5/6/7 crowd levels.

Of course, I am being crazy and we are heading during Spring Break this year . Our trip last June ended up being a bust because it was so humid and wet our youngest ended up with a double ear infection a few days into the trip and she was pretty miserable, I know she was not feeling well when she did not want a dole whip at the resort and did not want to go back over to the parks or pools and just slept most the time So we are heading out this Spring Break to hit rope drop and have fun until the parks get super crazy and then back to the hotel for swimming, and I am bringing extra swimmers ear and plugs this time.

 

[DWillowBay]

The best month for me to visit .....is whatever month it is RIGHT NOW!

 

[VAtink]

We have found mid-late September to be fantastic (besides of course the hurricanes). We went last year in early May and found it to be far more crowded than both our September trip last year and this year. Granted, last May we somehow managed to pick the park all the masses of cheerleaders ended up at each day, so that didn't help!

Another thing we discovered, coming from the north where temps were still in the 50s-60s in May down to Florida where it was in the 90s the week we were there was rough! Definitely easier to manage the FL heat in September after being semi acclimated to it over the summer!

 

[Mrjoshua]

I was wondering if anybody had an opinion on the first or second week of December. I realize that there really aren't slow times anymore, but I've been told that there are times to definitely avoid (Thanksgiving week, close to Christmas, etc).

 

[Mrjoshua]

I was wondering if anybody had an opinion on the first or second week of December. I realize that there really aren't slow times anymore, but I've been told that there are times to definitely avoid (Thanksgiving week, close to Christmas, etc).

 

[CAS239]

My favorite times to go are about Dec 15th-Feb 21st. Right around in that window we do a couple trips.

Christmas decorations, great weather, art festival

 

[hereforthechurros]

We did May 14-18 last year and it was great. No rain, warm temps (90s) and lower crowds. Instead of months or even weeks being good/slower, it seems you have to get lucky with random sweet spots here and there. I’m eyeing up the week before Thanksgiving for our next trip and just hoping for the best.