Best time of year for a line-waiting snob?

[minmate]

Yup. I'll admit it, I'm a line waiting snob. So, wondering when the best time(s) of year would be to go. I know all about utilizing FP and EMH and all that, but I still would like to go when it's less crowded so maybe I don't have to worry quite so much about running around to get FP's and scheduling strategically to use EMH... if I don't want to!

Thanks@!

 

[Metsoskil]

From the crowd calanders I've seen, late October seems to be the least crowded, followed by late January.

 

[PiratesRock]

We went the 3rd week of October, 2006. A couple of times we had to wait 20 minutes in line but usually much less. We did use the Fast Passes when available and we went during the week, which helped a lot. I also used a calender I found on Undercover Tourist which showed which areas were busiest on which days, like every body goes to Magic Kingdom on Mondays so we went on Wednesday. Anyway, good luck!

 

[carlbarry]

First time I went was to Magic Kingdom on a Wednesday, and EPCOT on Thursday, early March 2006. There were virtually no lines. Second time I went was a Thursday in early December 2006, to what was then Studios. Again, virtually no lines . . . shortly after 9 am I visited "Sounds Dangerous" and there were 9 people in the audience, and I was alone in the psot-show room! Next I went to Star Wars; my "shuttle" wasn't even filled . . . the preshow was empty except for me and one family.
I suggest going to the Disney World web-site and checking out their "magic weeks" or "wonderful weeks" calendar, or whatever they call it. That will show you the slow times.

 

[GumDrop11]

I was on the College Program in the fall of 2006. My roommates and I went into the parks at least once a week the entire time we were there. We thought the shortest lines were in September- AFTER Labor Day. None of us had ever seen Space Mountain with a 5 minute wait...the Rock-n-Roller Coaster with no wait...it was quite wonderful!!

 

[jcarter29]

week after labor day (can check in as early as labor day itself) has been hands down the least busy even with free dining. We have been there 5 times in that same week including the week of Sept 11, 2001 (had checked out that morning) and even during free dining last year with a 3.5 yr old daughter. We never waited in line more than 10 minutes including mid day. I did notice lines of about 20 minutes at peak time of day for the thrill rides. It is by far my favorite time to go. This time we are going the last week of April because of a business trip...I hope it isn't too bad! I so prefer Sept!
kim

 

[collcass]

since we are going 4th of July but I had to tell you that I was last night reading your TR. You are a very well spoken writer! (Not to mention rather entertaining). I only got to your first day since it was so late that I was reading, but after reading it I added in a car service to the airport to ensure dh doesn't leave me alone w/ the bags and the 4 kids!!

 

[minmate]

Thanks Colcass (for the writing compliment)...
You are far more thoughtful than I was - by planning for a car at the airport! Since then, I had another "event" where I was not only was at the airport check-in alone, but flew alone with the four kids as we made a very spontaneous move from Massachusetts to Minnesota. They were 6, 5, 4, and newly 3 at the time. Thankfully it was a direct flight and our seats were at the back of the plane near the bathrooms!
So, I had a good laugh a few weeks ago remembering all that when my friend was telling me her dh was going to be at a business meeting in the carolinas for a Mon-Wed. He was then flying home Wed night to Minnesota only to turn around EARLY Thursday a.m. to fly down to Florida with her and their two boys. I asked why they didn't just all meet in florida since he was nearly there already and her flight was a direct flight.
"Are you kidding? And fly alone with the two boys (who are 9 and 6 and very well-behaved and Nintendo DS-occupied quite often!!!!)"
We do what we gotta do! But I know my dh - love 'em, I do -- he would not have taken that return flight home just to turn back around the next morning!
I am so glad I wrote that trip report. Something about writing it all down really cements the memories in my mind for me. We took a trip to Disney Land last March and I never got around to writing about it -- sadly, some of the details of the trip are fuzzy now.

Even though one might think it would be good to forget, in particular, the moments of frustration with four kids in tow, looking back on them, they are funny... maybe it's because a sense of humor is needed to try to do some of the crazy things we do!

 

[lollidrop]

After new years up until mid February are slow. Late September to early October isn't bad either.

 

[WillCAD]

The first two weeks of September, right after schools start, have always been the lowest-crowd, shortest-line times of the year, followed closely by early January (after the New Years crowds clear out.)

The last few years, schools around the country have been starting a week or two earlier, and the last week or so of August has also been deserted.

A lot of people on the boards keep saying, "There is no slack season any more!" but that's just not true. Some folks have trouble getting resort or dining reservations during the slack season and take that to mean that overall crowds are heavy- again, not so. Resorts undergo rehabs during the slack season, reducing the number of available rooms, and the Disney Dining Plan, especially when it's offered free in September, has resulted in a higher percentage of those crowds eating in the table-service restaurants, but overall crowds in September and early January are still the lowest of the year.