Best time to visit WDW

[luckycharmaine]

This will be our first visit and would want to do it when the Christmas decorations are up. But we don't know when will be the best time to go. Less crowded and hotel room prices are lower. Thank you!

 

[OKW Lover]

We like the first week of December. Parks are all decorated but crowd levels aren't bad.

 

[Fernandak]

I went the first 2 weeks of January, we enjoy all the Xmas decoration, low crowds. We really enjoy it. But... The parks close earlier and it is very cold at night ( not that much during the day) if you want to go downtown or dinner to other resorts.

 

[purple figment]

The Christmas decorations in the parks and resorts will go up gradually during November. Holiday activities will start around the second week of November (usually the first Christmas party and Osborne Lights). The day after Thanksgiving is the official start of the holiday season so some things like Candlelight Processional and the Epcot Storytellers won't start until then. If you want to have everything decorated and all the activities in full swing you'll need to wait until after Thanksgiving. The only thing missing will be the big tree in Town Square which won't be up until after the Christmas parade taping in early December.

We went at the beginning of December. Although it has gotten busier over the years, it is still far less busy than later in the month. There have been room discounts and dining specials during this time, although not during Pop Warner week.

If you wait until after New Year's, this year many of the resorts took down their decorations on New Year's Day and some of the activities (like the Candlelight Processional and Epcot Storytellers) are over.

 

[MichaelH]

The first week of December is when we like to go. Crowds light at that time, but the closer to Christmas the more crowded it gets. The Candle Light Processional is nice to do also.

 

[Howgreat]

I'm not telling!! Then, everyone will want to go!!








Just kidding. It's a toss up between December and September. I love the Christmas decorations and festivities in December, but last year, we went the week after Labor Day and--wow! Crowds were super, super low and the weather is still very warm. Plus, free dining (for last year anyway; we never know what will happen this year). Fall decorations are gorgeous as well.

EDIT: Poo! I just saw you want to go when Christmas decorations are up. Sorry! My best friend loves the first week of December as well because crowd levels are low and you still get to enjoy the decorations.

 

[pixiemama91]

We went the first week in May on our last trip and plan on doing the same on our trip next year. School breaks are over so the crowds are fairly low. You have the F&G festival which we really enjoyed. The weather was perfect. It was cool in the morning but warmed up quickly and wasn't too humid. At night it cooled down some but was still pretty warm. Except for the day we arrived, which wasn't a park day, it never rained.

 

[Pluto Fan 4]

We are going to Disney Jan 25 through Feb 1. Will the crowds be very bad this time of year?

 

[siskaren]

We are going to Disney Jan 25 through Feb 1. Will the crowds be very bad this time of year?

Not at all:

http://www.easywdw.com/category/calendar/01-january-2014-crowd-calendar/

 

[onenursebrandy]

Wanted to chime in...I went last year (seems like forever, but only a few weeks ago!) and stayed Dec. 1-7 at Disney. It was our first Christmas trip and first trip to stay onsite. I literally cried when I seen the Castle in lights!!! My 7 year old son gave me a big old hug and said, "it's OK Mom, it's not broken, they just decorated for Christmas!!!" So, In my opinion, it is a WONDERFUL time to go.

BUT please beware......what is described as LOW crowds, are LOW crowds for DISNEY. Not that there will be small crowds, just that there are usually tens of thousands, there will only be ten thousand....and even this is putting it lightly.

For a first trip, in my opinion, there are two things that are difficult to wrap your brain around before experiencing for yourself....1) the enormity of "Disney World"-meaning all 4 parks, DTD, Disney Hotels, and Water parks. 2) What a crowded really is!!!!

Whenever you decide to go....it is a Magical Place, and you will have wonderful time!

 

[luckycharmaine]

You are right about the castle. I might breakdown and cry when I see it with all those lights but i heard about that event called Pop Warner week that happens around first or second week of dec. i think we might avoid that.

 

[onenursebrandy]

I am not sure about Pop Warner.....but we were in Magic Kingdom while they were filming the ABC Special. We had an 8:15 reservation at Crystal Palace, and a band called "The Wanted" was filming, they were literally singing Christmas carols while we walked up main street. My DD17 thought I planned the whole thing!!! Apparently they were her boy band of the month. I just took it as my pixie dust for the day!

But my point was....even with the filming the crowds were not terrible, the afternoon of thousands of cheerleaders wasn't that bad either.

 

[luckycharmaine]

Still looking at airfare prices and looks like its $500 pp around that time.

 

[KalamityJane]

Still looking at airfare prices and looks like its $500 pp around that time.

We are going during that time in Dec, I watched prices this year for airfare and they drop about 2-3 months before.

 

[luckycharmaine]

We are going during that time in Dec, I watched prices this year for airfare and they drop about 2-3 months before.

Good to know! I will watch it like a hawk.

 

[mommajo143]

The . We went at the beginning of December. Although it has gotten busier over the years, it is still far less busy than later in the month. There have been room discounts and dining specials during this time, although not during Pop Warner week. .

Curious, pop warner is 2nd week of 12/2014, right ? BB offers are blacked out for week 1 of dec but not week 2? Odd...

 

[dalayney]

Our next trip, we plan on going the first week of december also. Don't forget to take a little time and visit the resort lobbies for some gorgeous displays! I can't wait to visit the grand floridian to see the gingerbread house.

We like to go the end of Febuary, the week after MLKing weekend. You just have to double check to see when the cheerleading competitions are and the marathons. There is a week in there that has pretty low crowds, and usually discounted rooms or dining plans.

 

[br7305]

We are looking to go Dec 17-23. Any thoughts on these dates? We have gone twice before in the Spring. Never at Christmas time. We went on the Disney Fantasy Cruise in Dec. 2013 & it was amazing. Just loved the Holiday Disney Experience. Are we crazy to choose dates @ Disney World, all the way up to Christmas Eve?