Is there ANY definitive answer for lowest crowds at WDW?!

[TeamJones22]

Hello all. Big Disneyland Paris fan planning a once in a lifetime trip to Orlando in 2016 from the UK thats been my dream for 25 years.

We literally have no plans so it could be any time in 2016 that we go. So i decided to start looking it up to find out when would be the best (quietest) time to go. Early indications seemed to point to January, End of April, September and middle of October. But then i started to hear/read the following:

January - Out of control 'Brazilian tour groups' ruining everyones holiday

End of April - 'Surprisingly' busy, no longer a quiet time

September - Ridiculously hot (Im from UK, im not exactly too used to hot) and people seeing the ever popular 'Brazilian tour groups'

October - Constantly packed due to Food & Wine and the Not So Scary Halloween Parties.

Usually i go to DLP late January for my birthday - its freezing cold but there are literally no queues for anything at all - maybe 5-10 minutes maximum. I appreciate there is no time like this at WDW; but there must be one time of year you can all agree on as a definite 'quiet time'?

By the way i appreciate the frustration a lot of you WDW Veterans feel. You come to see the quieter times at the parks as 'your' time; and then when people like me come along and make it busier and therefore less fun it must be tough. I know id be irritated if end of January started getting busier at DLP.

I think like 20-30 minute queues would be okay for some of the bigger rides but wouldnt queue for longer than that personally. But we will be starting a family and we are getting married next year and i dont think ill ever be able to afford this kind of holiday again, ever. I dont wanna spend all my time queuing. But, then, i guess nobody does (thats the problem)!

So my question is, after all of the hundreds of 'Is INSERT MONTH HERE quiet?' threads; when is the definitive best time to go to WDW if you can only afford to do it once in your life and despise queues?

Thanks for the help.

 

[kapoof]

Here is when I have been..

January...weather was good, we even swam a few days, crowds were o.k. We went during mlk holiday and would not do that again because I think people have caught on and will pull their kids from school during that time...so it has gotten busier...I would go the last week however. When most of the btg are gone or so I would hope.

February...again good weather, crowds...just o.k. I would go at this time during the first week.

March...awesome weather probably the best time to go weather wise. Crowds pick up for Easter/spring breaks big huge crowds...the kind that ruin your trip and make you want to go back home early.

June...hot hot hot and crowded as longer you get into the month. Btg and there and very very pushy and horrible. I would not again this time of year.

September...hot hot...but the crowds are much better and we didn't see any btg rope drop is very doable, plus (a big plus) this is a cheaper time to go! Yes it is hot and it rains but I would anytime battle the weather than the crowds. This is our time to go.

 

[AmyB2006]

Traditionally, January, May, and September were the slowest months. April so so crowded depending on Spring Break from the schools. With October following as a close second.

However, you are correct, Disney has so many events going on at different times of the year that draws crowds year round now there really aren't slow times anymore. There are slower times than peak crowds, but sometimes still crowded.

I like October still towards the end of the month or the very beginning. Early November (not Jersey week, avoid that, usually first or second week). Early December is still a good time. January and February are still decent minus marathon weekend. March and April start to bring spring break crowds but can still be nice. Also flower and garden festival has started. May can be nice but it starts to warm up in May. I wouldn't touch Disney June through September personally. Too hot for me and I live in FL.

Those are my preferred times. Now keep in mind there are events and tour groups that can screw any of that up at any given moment. Lol. RunDisney races in November, January, February, and may. Food and wine festival, Halloween party, Christmas party, etc.

But with some planning of when and how to avoid peak crowds on certain days, totally doable and enjoyable.

Of course this is all just my opinion. . My favorite time is early December. Hands down. I love Christmas and love the decorations and everything. But if Christmas isn't your thing then keep that in mind.

 

[cmurray234]

I have been to the World in January, February, September, October and November.

Our best trip of all time was one we took during the second week of November. The weather was spectacular. Each day was 75-80 degrees, dry and sunny. It might have been SLIGHTLY more crowded than our September trip, but it still wasn't packed…and the difference in weather conditions was notable.

September is hot… but worse, it's wet. It rains all the time in September and makes for uncomfortable touring IMO. I enjoyed our winter trips, but the temperature is unpredictable. One year we went, the high was in the 40s and 50s. Warmer than upstate NY, for sure, but not the vacay we were looking for.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

We only travel during low crowd periods and we go a few times/year for a week or longer. Our favorite times to go and still be very confidant of low crowds are:

September - the week after Labor Day. I have never heard of or experienced a crowded day during this week. But it is hot/humid. We like the heat, but YMMV.

December - the week after Thanksgiving. Crowds not quite as low, but still low. Weather is awesome. Christmas in full swing. We love the Christmas stuff at WDW.

May - 1st week - but only if Easter fall early in April. Low/moderate crowds and perfect weather. Best weather of any of our trips.

January - after the holiday crowds clear out and before MLK weekend. Crowds are low, even with the marathon. Weather can be spotty. A cold day in WDW, with the high winds, can be miserable - yes, even in WDW.

 

[DizneyLizzy]

I'm a teacher, so I can only go at busy times of the year, but when I was in college, my mom and I used to go right after my final exams were over (first week of May) and it was fabulous. When I retire, that's when I'm going to go! September is too hot and humid for me, and January is too iffy with the weather and park hours. It also gets dark really early in January, and I like a few more hours of daylight - but that's just me.

If I could go to Disney at any time of year, I would go either in mid-December after Pop Warner week (to see the Christmas decorations with low crowds) or early May. In early May you'll have warm (but not super hot or humid yet) weather and low crowds. In mid-December you'll have low crowds, decent weather, but the Christmas season is in full swing. As much as I love the holiday season at WDW, there is so much to see it can be overwhelming, and if I were only going to go to WDW once, I wouldn't want it to be during the Christmas season.

I think if all you want is super low crowds and don't care at all about weather or park hours, then September and early February (like right now!) have to be the best times to go.

 

[nkereina]

Statistically, January is lowest crowds with the exceptions of New Years, Martin Luther King weekend, and marathon weekend. The downsides to January is that it can be pretty cold - no pools or waterparks which is a drag IMO, the sun sets early, park hours are shorter, and you have the highest probability of refurbishments due to the low attendance. Brazilian Tour Groups are a factor but we have also experienced them in September and November, so I don't know if you can truly escape them. When we encountered them, it was few and far between and was really not an issue.

September was also low crowds for us but it was HOT. Being from upstate New York, it took a toll on us. We were very tired very quickly and never felt like eating large meals so we couldn't take advantage of the dining plan. Days were long and you also got to experience MNSSHP which you may or may not be able to appreciate being from the UK.

Last trip, we went the week before Thanksgiving which we found to be almost perfect. Low crowds, temps in the low 80s most days (some rain and some cool days), and most things were decorated for Christmas.

 

[smbowtie]

Our favorite time is the 1ST or 2nd week of Dec. It's between our Thanksgiving holiday and the Christmas Holiday. Always seemed less crowded (kids in school) and you get to see all the great decorations at the parks and the big resorts. Weather can be cool.
Was there in July once, never again, HOT. Going in Feb. this year with some friends. Have done Feb. before, wasnt bad.

 

[ArwenMarie]

The week before Labor Day (last week of August) is a great week to go. That is going to be our set week from now on. Low crowds, no tour groups. Lower prices. It is hot hot hot but we didn't find it to be that bad. We used Frogg Toggs, got out early, wove in plenty of air-conditioned attractions and had lunch ADRs in the parks. Then we would chill at the hotel in the afternoon. And then would go back out at night.

 

[agavegirl1]

I like the weather and (in general) crowd levels from October (after Columbus Day) until November (before Thanksgiving). Food and Wine can make Epcot busier during the weekends but weekdays were fine. Epcot is a large park that can absorb a lot of people without the "crowded" feel. Using a good plan, these times can still seem relatively uncrowded. The time of day you are attending and the day of the week you visit each park can make all the difference.

 

[shalom]

Traditionally, January, May, and September were the slowest months.

January is by far the best if you don't like heat -- last time we were there in January, some days were in the eighties and my daughter who is least tolerant of heat had to take breaks in gift shops while I took photos at times. But that's definitely not average.

The first time we went in May, all the kids grumbled about the heat; dunno if it was hotter than average or they just didn't expect it, because I thought the next May was about the same but got fewer complaints.

The crowds were a tad lower in January at WDW (and WAY higher everywhere else -- snowbirds shop!) than they are in May, but the May crowds aren't bad.

The real difference between summer crowds and most off season crowds is not how the parks "feel" but in terms of how long you wait for rides. In the summer, a lot of the crowd is stuck in line; off season, lines are shorter so, although there are fewer people, more of them are wandering around, making the parks "feel crowded." Aside from the first few hours after rope drop or the AK late afternoon, empty parks are pretty much a thing of the past, and, even when they happen, they can be unpredictable. Weather has a lot of impact on when parks are empty offseason -- if the weather is good, more locals head for the parks; if the weather is poor, more out-of-town visitors, are likely to do something else that day, so the MK on a nice Wednesday after a rainy Monday and Tuesday can be slammed even way off season.

I hate crowds myself, which is why we always make rope drop, but being mentally prepared for it makes a big difference, IMHO. People who've gone years past and expect light crowds seem to struggle more than people who associate Disney parks with horrendous lines and discover they don't have to wait more than twenty minutes for most rides.

 

[danceintherain]

Here's what I've experienced from when I've gone:

January: Probably my favorite. Cool weather and light crowds. Even marathon weekend wasn't bad. There is always the possibility of a freak cold front coming through, but if you're used to DLP in January, then you'll probably actually like it.

April: (when Easter is in March) The crowds were fine. The weather was a little hotter than what I expected and enjoy, but it was easy enough to avoid the hottest part of the day.

July: HOT! I didn't find the crowds awful with rope drop and/or late night touring, but I don't think I'd want to go during the summer again.

November: The weather was lovely and the crowds were low just about everywhere, except Epcot in the evenings on weekends. If we go during this time again, we'll probably just avoid Epcot on evening weekends for the most part.

New Year's/Christmas - Crowds were crazy, but the weather was nice.
I also went during March several years back, but I don't really member too many details. I was a teenager, so I think I just expected to wait in lines. I think the weather was nice though.

Ultimately, the best way to figure out crowd levels is to look at the pricing seasons. Value season = lowest prices AND crowds. For cool weather, you'll probably want January or February away from a holiday weekend.

Yes, there are always little details that can make or break a particular day, but there's something for every time of year, so it's not really worth obsessing over.

 

[LadyLuck24]

I have been in late Jan, mid Feb, early March, early May, late June, early July, and mid-November. Although 2nd week of November has become our "week" for the past few trips, early May will always be the best time to go, IMO. May can be hot, but is rarely too cold--and we had way more of what I would consider "perfect" Florida weather days (80s, sunny, little rain, and lowish humidity). There's also not much going on in early May that draws huge crowds (I mean F&G is beautiful but isn't the draw that F&W is). Of course there are always lines & good/bad times of day to hit whatever park, but overall crowd levels were great.

November weather was actually great too, but depending on the weekend you're there, the crowds can be crazy. Our 2nd week of Nov trips have been starting with Veterans Day weekend, which puts crowd levels at 9's. We just try to do DTD on those days or not expect much out of each park & we're okay. Then we use the lower crowd level weekdays to really see what we want to see.

Other notes:
Jan: very iffy weather (ie. you might not be swimming at all), every bug/virus in the world is going around, crowds actually larger than I ever would have expected (maybe from tour groups??)
Feb: not bad but again weather can be iffy and watch out for school vacation weeks--awful crowds
March: spring break crowds. NEVER AGAIN.
June/July: way too hot for me.

 

[pharaoh]

The slowest I have EVER seen it was in the first week of September. I was working at WDW at the time and I never saw the entire park so empty. I worked at EP so I came to MK a few times on my days off and all of the rides were walk ons and there were area that were completely deserted. Only downside was it is sweltering hot during September which didn't bother me at the time, but now I couldn't do it.

I just visited this year in January and it was great. It was A LITTLE too cold, but I am from Miami and am not at all used to temps below the 60s. Crowds were low. I hit RD on all days I was there. I was able to do rides/attractions, dining, shows, all with minimal waits. The longest waits I had were waiting for BoG to open in the morning (waited 25 minutes for that), and meeting Magician Mickey in the theatre at MK (didn't keep track but I think I waited about 30 minutes for that). Everything else I did was under 15 minutes for standby.

I'm definitely thinking of making January my annual trip because it was so nice. I was worried about tour groups thanks to horror stores in the DisBoards, and there were definitely a lot of tour groups, but I didn't encounter any rudeness, chanting, or bad behavior, so no problems there.

Last year I went in late February which is still supposed to be a low crowd time, and it was manageable but there definitely was a lot more standing around and waiting for stuff.

 

[glocon]

We have gone last week in April, last week in May/first week in June, and mid October. Hands down mid-October was the busiest for us. MK was insane!!!
Late April and late May/early June were hot but not unbearably so, and the crowds were much much lower.

If I were going again, I think it would be April/May, but not around Mother's Day or Memorial Day or Easter.

I mean WHEN I go again....

 

[ilovebassets]

Here's my personal take. It's not JUST about low crowds. If you are at all interested in enjoying the pool at your resort, the water parks (our favorite), or the water rides at the parks (Kali River Rapids and Splash Mountain specfically), you want at least somewhat decent weather. We've been in several different months--here's my thoughts on each.

EARLY December--you get to enjoy the Christmas decorations, crowds are reasonably low, the weather is nice but not warm enough for swimming to me.

September--beautiful weather in my opinion (but I am from Atlanta and am used to hot weather). It's quite warm but not brutally hot. Crowds are definitely on the low side. Free dining is often offered which makes the restaurants crowded, but we do like free dining! Overall, I think this is the best month.

February (NOT President's Day weekend)--by far the least crowded I have ever seen WDW. I mean, it was walk on to EVERYTHING at MK. However, the weather was lousy which makes me reluctant to go again at this time. But if low crowds are your number one priority, this would be the time.

EARLY March--We only stopped for one day at Magic Kingdom during our Disney Magic cruise. It was surprisingly uncrowded and waits were very reasonable.

October--Busier than I thought it would be though definitely not what I would call crowded. Free dining makes the restaurants busy. Perfect weather. Food and Wine is fun at Epcot but you have to time it right so you don't hit the crowds. You get to enjoy the parks in their Halloween decorations.

EARLY June--Surprsingly rainy and bad weather. Crowded parks. Definitely my least favorite time of all the trips I've taken. I would not go back in summer (June, July, August) again. Our trips will always be September through May only.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Check out www.**************.com
I don't like humidity at all. If it's cold, wear warm clothes

 

[tsme]

We usually go in early to mid September, & once in early December & once in April. Each September visit, it seems to be more crowded than the last. And it is hot & humid, but I'm from the south so we're use to it. Also you need to take into consideration September is the height of hurricane season, we had to cancel a trip & reschedule one year due to a hurricane, very last minute. (Like a few days before, because no one knows exactly where those things are going to go until it's done) December was nice, not bad crowds, the weather was nice too, plus all the pretty decorations. Never again in April, it was crazy crowded. It's all in what you like & what fits for you. If you don't mind the heat & can reschedule easily book September, if you want cooler weather & decorations book December, etc. I'm sure whatever y'all decide you'll have a great time.

 

[pixiemama91]

We have not been too many times but we really liked when we were there the first week in May. Most spring breaks are over at this point and the crowds are lower. The weather was perfect. It was cool in the morning and probably warmed up to about 85 every day. It was not humid which really helps. It never rained, but not sure if we lucked out or if that is normal. We also got to enjoy the flower and garden festival which was nice. We enjoyed this week so much, that we plan on going around the same time next year. Hopefully it will be just as good.

We have been in August and it was really it, humid, and very busy. That being said as long as you have a plan and take a break by the pool each day it is totally doable. I have been to other parts if Florida during other times. March is always nice weather wise in my opinion. Those trips were always to the gulf coast and not sure how the weather might vary.

 

[catra121]

September is my favorite. The crowds are really very low...which is important to me because of a medical condition I have that makes me very sensitive to touch. It's warm...but so much of what you do at Disney is inside in air conditioning...even a lot of the queues. I actually wear jeans and always have a jacket or sweatshirt with me because I get too cold in the A/C.

The last few years I have been in October, April, and September...and September wins hands down for me. October used to be my favorite but it HAS gotten noticeably busier the last few years and September has been the clear winner for me since 2010.