Is it any fun at all?

[goinback]

Anytime I have been to WDW, it has been in the off season with low crowds. For those of you who go during peak or holiday times, Do you have fun even though it is so crowded? It would be nice to be able to go when the kids are out of school, but I really hate the thought of waiting and waiting and waiting in line. I'm used to a mx wait of 20 min.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

My absolute favorite time to go is mid-January when the crowds are low. It makes for a very relaxing trip. DS is older now and it is close to impossible to go off season for more than a long weekend so we go over MLK weekend in January and then again in the summer.

It's definitely busier, hotter, and different but we have a great time. We build a lot of down time/pool time/water park time in and don't even attempt to ride every ride and see every show. We use fastpass for the important stuff and get to everything else if the wait isn't horrible.

We have a lot of fun on our summer trips. I'd rather go off season, but I'll take Disney any way I can get it.

 

[kimluvswdw]

You Can Still Have Fun At Disneyworld With High Crowds. Just Go There Knowing The Crowds Will Be Heavy And Use The Fastpass. You Can Take Advantage Of The Emh Also. If You Are Ok With Not Cramming Everything Into One Day, You Will Be Fine. Disney Is About Enjoying Your Family As Well As Disney.

 

[teach22180]

I kind of have to go in the summer, but we found Fastpass helped a lot last year! We also don't ride the biggest rides, so we may not be the best judge. I also really enjoyed the evenings in the parks, so I was glad to be there when the parks were open later! It was cooler and less crowded and a bit magical!

 

[Mrs. Nesbit]

Any time is a good time to visit WDW!!!

we always go in the summer and have a great time. give it a try and see for yourself if you mind the crowds. everyone you ask will have their own opinion. if you are really worried about crowds, i recommend Tour Guide Mike. If you follow his plan, you will never wait more than 15-20 minutes for any ride even in the summer. and its only twenty bucks last time i checked. if you arent looking to spend that extra money, just go with the flow. hit the big rides early in the morning and relax in the afternoon when the parks are most crowded and hot. also, use your disney common sense. if a park had EMH the night before, chances are it wont be as crowded as the other parks the next day. im sure i dont have to tell you this, but if you have a plan you will have a great time. have fun!

 

[Samantha/NC]

We went last July--at the end of the month. We knew it would be crowded. We knew it would be hot. We PLANNED!!!! Our longest wait was on BTM-and that was b/c they kept stopping it for thunder and lightening--we waited for no ride longer than 10-15 minutes. If we waited that long we thought it was too long!!! We used fastpass all the time. We got to the park at rope drop times. If it was EMH at one park--we went to another
We saw parades and fireworks--then on our next visit we went and rode during those events--we rode POTC two times during wishes fireworks. We would have no problem going back during the summer. This year we are going duing Thanksgiving!
Have Fun!!
Samantha

 

[gianna2006]

Also remember that when the parks are most crowded, the park stays open longer. You can always park hop if one park gets to be too much with the crowds, or go for a mid-day break and go back later. As long as you plan for the crowds and have a little pixie dust with you you will be fine!!!

 

[bettyann29]

we generally go during the busy times because as my kids are getting older they would rather not be out of school because it is more difficult to make up work that they miss.. so we usually go on spring break or over Labor Day, etc.. although the parks are crowded the wait times are minimal.. we utilize fastpass and normally dont wait more than 15 minutes or so in other lines.. I know Peter Pan and a few other rides do tend to have longer waits but we do the best we can and we have a ball!!!

Just me and DD15 are headed back over Laborday this year and are looking so forward to spending this time together..

 

[Tam1067]

We always go in July which is hot and crowded. I'm a teacher who does not get vacation except during those really busy times when all the kids are off school! We also do not take our kids out of school for trips, so we'll always be there during the crowded times.

That said, we love going in July. I'm a huge UG fan, and if you follow those plans, you will never wait in line. We honestly didn't wait last year, and I'm not expecting to have huge problems this year because the touring plans really do work!

I can't imagine going when Spectromagic is not offered nightly, for instance, or when the parks close early.

 

[disnut8]

We went as a group during the week between Christmas and New Year's. All of us had been there before so we knew what we were getting into. Even though we had a seven year old female with us, we never went through the turnstiles at Magic Kingdom. It was just too much of a hassle to deal with (we stayed onsite which is invaluable for anytime you are there in peak seasons) if the park closed. Even if it did close, we didn't want to be where the crowds were. So we concnetrated on Epcot (the seven year old's favorite park anyway), MGM (she's a movie nut like her step-dad) and Animal Kingdom (where she got more than a normal dose of nature education thanks to her grandfather and great-grandfather). We didn't rush out in the morning and we didn't stay until the parks closed. We just did what we wanted and if something was too crowded, we moved on to something that wasn't. It's a great way to experience things we wouldn't normally do. I was in a similar situation a few years ago and decided to duck into Flights of Wonder at Animal Kingdom at the last minute. Now we have to see it ever trip.

70% of the battle with dealing with peak season is knowing what you are getting yourself into. Then go and have fun.

 

[Praying Colonel]

In the past, we've only been able to go during the summer due to the kids' school schedules. We chose early August, hoping to get a little bit of a break on the crowds due to some schools on a year-round calendar starting back in early August. We've had fun both trips, especially last year. We found that if we followed the TGM/UG advice on park best and worst days, got there at rope drop and used FP that we could deal with the crowds really effectively. Last August our longest wait during the week was 35 minutes for Great Movie Ride (because they had no FP's for it). Otherwise, we walked on most attractions either standby (by getting there early) or using FP. So summer doesn't have to be a sentence to big crowds and long lines.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

We always go in September, October or January, this past June was the first time we ever went during peak season with the kids. DS (9) wanted to go for SWW.

Yea, we had fun and yea the parks were open later, but will we ever go during this time of the year again? No! I'll admit it we are spoiled and my kids and husband were the worst. Its tough going for 8 years during off season when the wait time for Space Mountain at 2pm is 20 minutes, then being thrust into the summer crowds.

When DS can't be pulled out during the school year anymore maybe we'll reconsider, but for now we're going back to off-season.

 

[sassyat30]

Our last trip, we went June 24th-30th...NEVER AGAIN!

It was hot (like practically crippling hot) and crowded and the wait times were horrendous! When you have two kids with you, waiting in line for three hours (when FP weren't available) isn't possible.

That's why when DH and I go back alone, we're going in January. No heat, less crowds and I'm hoping this trip will be much more enjoyable.

 

[tasha99]

we generally go during the busy times because as my kids are getting older they would rather not be out of school because it is more difficult to make up work that they miss.. so we usually go on spring break or over Labor Day, etc.. although the parks are crowded the wait times are minimal.. we utilize fastpass and normally dont wait more than 15 minutes or so in other lines.. I know Peter Pan and a few other rides do tend to have longer waits but we do the best we can and we have a ball!!!

Just me and DD15 are headed back over Laborday this year and are looking so forward to spending this time together..

You're scaring me--according to everything I've read, Labor Day weekend isn't that busy at WDW. I so hope that's true since we'll be there!

 

[EmptyCinema]

I've never gone and not had fun.... that being said, off-peak has always been more fun. I feel bad for my GF... I admit the heat made me very impatient and intolerant of lines.... the lines to meet the characters at camp minnie-mickey were unbearable until we got in front of the misting fans.

I've also been there for New Year's Eve (supposedly the busiest day of the year) and it was absolutely crazy, but I had a great time. (Except for the horns they give everyone....)

 

[EmptyCinema]

You're scaring me--according to everything I've read, Labor Day weekend isn't that busy at WDW. I so hope that's true since we'll be there!

Labor day's not too bad. I've been during the Christmas/New Years season, and Labor Day would be empty compared to that...

 

[tasha99]

Labor day's not too bad. I've been during the Christmas/New Years season, and Labor Day would be empty compared to that...

Whew! We went the week after Labor Day last year, which was heaven since almost everything was walk on. I'm sure it will be crowded in comparison, but we have TGM/UG and are prepared to be there at rope drop.

I wish I could go in September again, but DS is getting too old to miss school (and it was really bad to have him miss the first week last year. That was a bad parenting decision, but we enjoyed the heck out of it. Probably never again, though.)

 

[mill4023]

We went to all the Disney parks and both Universal parks on our spring break trip last year. The first 2 hours at each park was great, with very little waiting. By late afternoon, it was packed and lines for the big rides were 60-90 minutes.

The key is to be at the parks when they open, hit the big rides, then take your time, relax, enjoy the atmosphere, and use FastPass for the rest of the day.