Does this time of year exist?

[_auroraborealis_]

Late January-Early February, avoiding any federal holidays or runDisney, is probably the best intersection of the desired attributes.

 

[anniemae]

March is prime spring break for many places, no matter when Easter falls. If you want lower crowds, only the first week of March would qualify - and it's usually a great week of moderate crowds and nice weather. But, spring break will hit with a vengeance the second week of March, which is rated a 9 by Touring Plans.

Josh has posted recently about how they're not fully staffing the parks during slower times anymore, so you might wait just as long during low crowd periods as you would during high crowd times. He didn't mention MM+ as being a factor, but I think you're 100% correct on that.

This is my thought too. I think Disney wants to even things out so there is not a time when waits are really low, or really high. I think they want it to be steady year round (excluding the busy holiday seasons) so no matter when you go, the wait times are roughly the same. This is there way of spreading out the crowds a bit.

 

[spinandmarty]

once up on a time!!! but you will still have a blast....

 

[tndisney5]

We LOVE the firstish week in February. The weather for us has always been great around that time of year. We go the 2/3 until the 6th or so and always have lower crowds. I would say to avoid parks with EMH at this time also - they were always more crowded and our day at MK with EMH was a hot mess...lots of people!

 

[nooneshome]

The week before or after Thanksgiving. The crowds are manageable and I have extra MBs for NBFPs!! The Christmas decorations are up!!! It stinks that the Osborne lights are gone but it is still is magical!!! The weather can be hit or miss but most of the times it is great!!! And the rates are low and FD!!!!

 

[dkrauss]

They seem more and more willing to take that risk lately for the payoff.

It must have a lot to do with all the new things that are "eventually" coming.............Disney's really counting on Pandora...........Toy Story land...........and Star Wars land. Hope I'm not 90 when they do arrive

Doug

 

[RedAngie]

Josh has posted recently about how they're not fully staffing the parks during slower times anymore, so you might wait just as long during low crowd periods as you would during high crowd times. He didn't mention MM+ as being a factor, but I think you're 100% correct on that.

Anymore? I doubt they've EVER fully staffed the parks during slower times since the day they opened. Even 25 years ago during slow times, they might only run two trains on Thunder Mountain, have many refreshment stands closed, and there might still be a wait at half empty restaurants because of limited servers. Perhaps it's fine tuned now to the nth degree, but lower staffing in the off seasons has pretty much always been the case.

 

[PSUGuy]

Until we fell in love with Food&Wine we went the first week in March. In about 6 or so trips of 8 days each we had 1 1/2 days of steady rain and only a few sprinkles otherwise. With the exception of 3 days in the 60s, all other days hit the 70s at least, half the time making 80. If not for F&W we'd still be going then. Crowds were noticeably bigger than the first few days but all told I'd call levels 'Moderate' at worst.

Bill From PA

 

[MomofKatie]

Best time for nice weather (70s and little to no rain) and lowish to moderate crowds is the tail end of October through the third week of November or just after Thanksgiving through the week before Christmas.

We have been several times in late January through mid February and it has been cold (highs in the 50s) at least half of the time each time. Early March can be great weather, but spring breaks are starting, so crowds can be high. Early May is great, crowd level wise, but temps are getting up there.