Best Time to go???

[lizet313]

Hi Disiers. I went on my First Trip to WDW in Feb. 2009 I want to go again but everything changed so now I am thinking of going at the end of the year. I don't know yet.

When do you like to go?
Are crowds an issue for you?
Themes?
Hours?
I am still a beginner and would like to know when you think would be the best time to go?


I know I am asking for opinions and that I will get different answers. I am still very interested in knowing what Experienced and Inexperience traveler's think.

When I went in Feb. The crowds were not bad. It was good and fun. I had started a PTR but it was closed due to inactivity. I had a lot of things happen. My plans kept changing. If you would like to have a little more background then feel free to check it out.

The traveling persons have changed and well I do not have it complete on who is going for sure but I am very excited that I will get the opportunity soon I hope.

Thanks to all for reading and for giving me your advice.

 

[slipheramickey]

We hate fighting the crowds, so we try to pick the slowest week of the year and plan around that. Obviously, it's WDW so there are always thousands of people there, but some weeks are much lighter than others.

Our favorite time is after Thanksgiving but before Dec. 15th. The crowds are very light and the parks are all decorated for Christmas. The weather is very mild, also. Over the years, we have visited in Spring, Winter & Fall (never Summer) and late Nov / early Dec fits us best. Early October is usually pretty light also, with warm weather and the MNSSHP.

Go to the TouringPlans website and check their Crowd Calculator. We have found it to be the most accurate crowld level indicator available. It gives a rating (1-10) for crowd levels every day for the next 365 days.

If the crowds and long wait times don't concern you, then I can't help much!

Good luck!

 

[lizet313]

It does concern me because my Traveling Buddies are not very patient. I remember getting out of line or skipping rides just because of the lines .

Thanks for your information I will go to Touring Plans.

 

[hf6895]

We are leaving Oct. 3 and everyone says this is the best time, cause kids are back to school. Not sure if they are right, but we will see in a couple weeks. We also use the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World for planning and it has given a lot of good information!

Good Luck!

 

[lizet313]

Thanks for the Info would like to hear how it went when you come back.

 

[JennisDisneyMom]

Our family goes the first week of March every year...we have for the past 26 years!! Depending on when Easter is, sometimes its busy and sometimes its ok. The main reason we go during that time is because usually by March we are DYING to get to good weather since its usually below zero and 20 feet of snow here!
We have taken second trips the week before Thanksgiving a couple of times and that time has been great!! Crowds are very low and the weather is just perfect!
A few years ago we spent October at Disney World and the crowds were ok...except the heat almost killed us! (Though we think anything over 75 is a heat wave!)

 

[delaneyc52]

If you don't have to worry about school aged children, September (before the wine & food fest) is just wonderful! We go several times a year, but September is the least crowded. We just got back and never had a wait of any longer than 10 minutes for any attraction. Even Downtown Disney was a pleasure -- we were able to try out Characters in Flight. Normally the balloon will go up for a 10 minute flight, but without lines of people waiting for the attraction, we were up there for 15-20 minutes enjoying the view! September gets my vote!

 

[solar]

I've been in Feb/March/June/July/November...and just took a last minute trip this week. I just got back Wed night...

...by far September was the best with Feb following a close second. The only reason I give Sept the nod over Feb wasn't about crowds, but because the weather was more comfortable for swimming...and we love the pool.

Both in Sept and early Feb it was "walk on" at many places

Now that I saw how fab this past week was with low crowds, etc...It's a week I'll remember for the future.

June/July - crowded, hot, etc

Nov - I'm going down Thanksgiving week -- before the holiday it's lovely and not crowded, but once Thurs rolls around the crowds pick up...otherwise, we love the weather this week

I hope you find answers that help you out.

 

[scrappinannie]

DITTO! We have gone in mid September (01) and early October (07) and both trips we had moments it was so blasted hot we swore we were going to expire right there standing in line! In 2001 I vividly remember standing (not sitting, cause there weren't any seats) on the Liberty Belle Riverboat, waiting for it to fill up so we could pull away, and I was drinking liquid fire from my water bottle when i turned to DH and said "Let's go back to the room. I'm about ready to pass out!" The only thing that saved that day was when we got off the Liberty Belle, there was no line for the Haunted Mansion. We made a bee line for it and thoroughly enjoyed the quiet, air conditioned doom buggy ride.

So yes, this time of year is still quite hot, but crowd wise, it was very manageable. Not bad at all.

 

[lizet313]

I live in Houston TX so Hot for me is high 90's 70's is really good for me Thanks for all your opinions I was thinking early Feb. Sept. I think they are my two tops choices now becasue of the economy I think I am going to choose Early Sept. Just to have extra time to save money.


Thanks to all for your opinions.

 

[Wicket's Mom]

Hello, new to this board, I have been reading all summer & getting great tips. Just got back last night from WDW. It was terrible, was expecting light crowds like past trips. Masses of people & kids were there. Our days were 16 thru 20. In past years kids were in school & rides were walk ons. All in all we had a good time, just not as great as in past years.

 

[lizet313]

I can imagine how crush you must of been. Well school is starting later now less holidays less everything at least in Houston maybe because of Hurricane Ike but this year school started late. I am glad you had a good trip even if the crowds didn't meet your expectations.

 

[Sleepingbooty]

We've been May, June, August, and September. I'd have to say I prefer September. It is still pretty hot then (but we like to swim and go to the water parks, so thats fine), but the crowds are very low - and that is probably the most important factor to me.

 

[laceemouse]

Hi Disiers. I went on my First Trip to WDW in Feb. 2009 I want to go again but everything changed so now I am thinking of going at the end of the year. I don't know yet.

When do you like to go?
Are crowds an issue for you?
Themes?
Hours?
I am still a beginner and would like to know when you think would be the best time to go?


I know I am asking for opinions and that I will get different answers. I am still very interested in knowing what Experienced and Inexperience traveler's think.

When I went in Feb. The crowds were not bad. It was good and fun. I had started a PTR but it was closed due to inactivity. I had a lot of things happen. My plans kept changing. If you would like to have a little more background then feel free to check it out.

The traveling persons have changed and well I do not have it complete on who is going for sure but I am very excited that I will get the opportunity soon I hope.

Thanks to all for reading and for giving me your advice.

go to mousesavers.com and you can see the different prices for the different times of year
Different special deals come out at different times. Fall is when Disney generally offers the "free food" deal, and this year they extended it through December. Last year February was during the 4/3 deal, but we don't know if they will do it again next year.
Yes, Orlando is hot and humid like Houston, but standing around out in it all day it a little different story. December and Jan/Feb are great cool times to go to WDW, just avoid all holidays.
Schools in Texas all start later in August now, the government didn't like schools starting in early August because all of the teens quit their jobs and went back to school. Now they start later and have no fall break. Schools all over the country have different calendars though, and they all can affect crowds at WDW.

 

[blogposter12]

I used to live there, and tuesdays are by far the least crowded.

 

[slipheramickey]

I live in Houston TX so Hot for me is high 90's 70's is really good for me Thanks for all your opinions I was thinking early Feb. Sept. I think they are my two tops choices now becasue of the economy I think I am going to choose Early Sept. Just to have extra time to save money.


Thanks to all for your opinions.

If you do choose February be very careful of President's Day weekend. This is always one of the absolute busiest weekends of the year for WDW.