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

[TeamJones22]

Thanks so much for all of the replies! Not too much the wiser as yet but will read over the replies so far carefully again and keep finding out things. In the meantime i think i may do a poll!

 

[Silock]

This week is far more crowded than it should be for this time of year.

 

[lugnut33]

I'm from way up north and like it when it's sort of hot in Florida. Best weather I've ever experienced in FL was beginning of May when the humidity wasn't horrible, but the temps were in the upper 80's. Perfect.
During that time I didn't think crowds were terrible either. I would suspect that very end of April would also be the same way.

 

[Jay1992]

I went to WDW for the first two weeks of December in 2012 - Very little crowds- Went on everything loads and loads of times. The weather was great to, Only had two days of rain out of 14 which weren't bad at all! Went to DLR for the same two weeks in 2013 - A little more busy there, but I suppose its to be expected as It is a small resort. Going back to WDW this December for the first two weeks so hoping ti will be as Quiet

 

[Kristine316]

I don't think there is a definitive answer... as you see everyone has their own opinions about this.

I have some experience in "slower" periods because that is the only time we have taken a WDW vacation. After experiencing the slower periods, I know without a doubt I wouldn't want to set foot on Disney property during summer or Christmas... the slower times feel bad enough, I cannot imagine what a "busy" time would be like.

A note.. our three trips have been in what was considered literally the slowest times of the year by the crowd calendars.

We have been the last week of January. The weather was amazing and the crowds seemed fairly quiet. I had nothing at that point to compare it with as it was our first WDW trip but, I do recall I thought for being such a slow time it should have felt well,.... "slower" but, looking back this was the quietest of our three trips crowd wise.

We went the first week in February. More crowds but, very similar to January. I didn't notice much of a difference but, the two trips were technically only about a week apart in terms of a calendar year.

We went in September. Very hot. The weather was not so fun for me as I hate humidity. I spent the week with my hair a frizzy mess and sweating constantly. This trip was our most recent and was the most crowded. The parks were filled with seniors and foreign tourists.. I didn't notice large TG's but, there seemed to be lots and lots of families from other countries. Like others have said the parks themselves seemed pretty busy but, the lines for rides were not bad at all. I have to admit I was sort of disappointed in September crowds because I was expecting it to be very quiet and even though the lines weren't that bad, the walk ways and resorts and restaurants were jammed. My personal observation from September was that the crowds coming that time of year were probably less likely to ride rides and more likely to go to shows, shop, and of course take advantage of the Free Dining.

Another observation... it seems WDW gets busier every year. Someone may tell you they went in January 4 years ago and it was dead but, I don't know if that will truly show how January crowds are going to be now or in the future. One theme keeps coming up in this forum and that is threads started about how the crowds they are experiencing are more than the same time in the past and this seems to be the case for every single time of year anymore.

 

[DisneyFanEmily]

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.

When did you see the btg in June? we are planning to go the first week and are trying to avoid them, which seems a lot harder now. I thought June was a decent month not to run into them lol.

 

[BrittyRo]

I'm trying to decide when in September to go.
I have it narrowed down to:
September 4-September 13
Septemeber 22-October 2
September 28-October 8

(I pick these due to FD but if it's not offered this year I'm up to suggestions)

What do ya'll think about these dates? Any better date suggestions???

 

[Damien2213]

Usually its more about weeks within months that are good versus months themselves. I went Feb of 2010 first week and crowds were a heck of a lot better than just okay. Toy Story Mania was by far the longest wait and it was new. Nothing else was ever past 20 minutes the whole trip. Most were just walk on. So that is an excellent time to go. You do have to watch out for special events but they usually only happen on the weekend unless they are Holiday related.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I'm not sure why OP said something to the effect of BTGs "ruining everyone's trip."

I was just at Disney 2 weeks ago and I saw them in the parks, but they didn't bother me. I just made sure not to get into any ride lines right behind them.

I rather enjoyed going in January. It was nice not to walk around the parks sweaty all day.

 

[TeamJones22]

I'm not sure why OP said something to the effect of BTGs "ruining everyone's trip."

I was just at Disney 2 weeks ago and I saw them in the parks, but they didn't bother me. I just made sure not to get into any ride lines right behind them.

I rather enjoyed going in January. It was nice not to walk around the parks sweaty all day.

I said that after spending an hour reading posts on the forum about them yesterday; the majority of which broke into arguments about racism after a bunch of people said it ruined their holiday and they had gotten into fights and people had been trampled, i even read one that said a Brazilian person had defecated on the floor in a theatre. Ive never been to WDW and we definitely dont hav that in DLP, but its been mentioned so much on here. Search Brazilian tour groups on the search page and look.

Thank you all for your opinions. Leaning towards October/November time, seems the best bet and my fiancee will love F&W. Can always go to Seaworld or the Kennedy Space Centre on a busy day, right?!

 

[nkereina]

I'm trying to decide when in September to go.
I have it narrowed down to:
September 4-September 13
Septemeber 22-October 2
September 28-October 8

(I pick these due to FD but if it's not offered this year I'm up to suggestions)

What do ya'll think about these dates? Any better date suggestions???

I'd probably go with 9/22-10/2. Your first range may cross over with Labor Day crowds, and maybe some Northerners getting in a last minute vacation since many schools up here don't start until the week after Labor Day. Your last range crosses over with the initial draw for Food & Wine crowds. 9/22-10/2 may experience higher volumes near the end, at least at Epcot, due to the start of Food & Wine which has become increasingly popular in recent years. We saw a big spike the first weekend of F&W when we were there a few years ago, and it seems to have worsened crowd-wise since.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm trying to decide when in September to go.
I have it narrowed down to:
September 4-September 13
Septemeber 22-October 2
September 28-October 8

(I pick these due to FD but if it's not offered this year I'm up to suggestions)

What do ya'll think about these dates? Any better date suggestions???

9/4 to 9/14.

I bet it's the slowest week of the year at WDW.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I said that after spending an hour reading posts on the forum about them yesterday; the majority of which broke into arguments about racism after a bunch of people said it ruined their holiday and they had gotten into fights and people had been trampled, i even read one that said a Brazilian person had defecated on the floor in a theatre. Ive never been to WDW and we definitely dont hav that in DLP, but its been mentioned so much on here. Search Brazilian tour groups on the search page and look.

Thank you all for your opinions. Leaning towards October/November time, seems the best bet and my fiancee will love F&W. Can always go to Seaworld or the Kennedy Space Centre on a busy day, right?!

I think a lot of people make WAY too big of a deal out of the tour groups. I've been there the past 2 Januaries (when they're known to be out in full force). I've not had problems with them. It's not too hard to stay out of their way as they don't move very quickly. They literally walk around the parks following a guide with a flag. They're also very noticeable, so you can turn around and run in the opposite direction if you feel so inclined.

And...people do gross things every day at the parks. I saw a thread the other day about a mom who plopped her baby down on top of a table at Flame Tree BBQ and changed his diaper. That's pretty disgusting...some unsuspecting person may have been EATING off of the table after that happened!

I have and will continue to recommend January as a good time to go. Crowds aren't terrible and January has the coolest temperatures of the year. I find my stamina to be much greater when I am not completely sweated out after 10 minutes.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

9/4 to 9/14.

I bet it's the slowest week of the year at WDW.

This - by far the slowest week.

 

[Mikelly1221]

The best time to go is the week of Labor Day and the week after. Yes, it's hot. However, crowds are nonexistent. Example: I went to EPCOT during the second week of September 2-3 years ago. Between 1pm-2pm Soarin' wait time was 10 minutes, no exaggeration. I took a picture of the empty line.

 

[Mikelly1221]

9/4 to 9/14.

I bet it's the slowest week of the year at WDW.

Yep.

 

[sethschroeder]

Don't think I saw this yet but:
DONT GO IN JANUARY

If this is a once in a lifetime event you want to go when all the rides will hopefully be open. From what I have read in the past January through March is a big re-tool time at Disney and they shutdown rides.

Check-out the rehab for 2014
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/rehab.htm

Dont make January your only trip to WDW

 

[KrazeeK120]

Don't think I saw this yet but:
DONT GO IN JANUARY

If this is a once in a lifetime event you want to go when all the rides will hopefully be open. From what I have read in the past January through March is a big re-tool time at Disney and they shutdown rides.

Check-out the rehab for 2014
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/rehab.htm

Dont make January your only trip to WDW

The only attraction of note that was closed in January was Splash Mountain. FOTLK is closed for 6 months, and only this year (so that's going to affect roughly 1/2 of this year's guests anyway, including the Easter crowd and part of the summer crowd). The Backlot Tour is closed, but many (most?) don't think it's that great of an attraction anyway. It is true that Blizzard Beach is closed.

Unless you HAVE to visit both water parks, the only thing you really miss by going in January is Splash Mountain. And chances are, if you go when crowds are low, SOMETHING is going to be closed. If you go when crowds are high, most likely everything will be open, but there will be a lot more people trying to get on all of the rides as well.

If you plan a January trip, you have to weigh which is more important, riding Splash Mountain or lower crowds & temperatures.

 

[BrittyRo]

I'd probably go with 9/22-10/2. Your first range may cross over with Labor Day crowds, and maybe some Northerners getting in a last minute vacation since many schools up here don't start until the week after Labor Day. Your last range crosses over with the initial draw for Food & Wine crowds. 9/22-10/2 may experience higher volumes near the end, at least at Epcot, due to the start of Food & Wine which has become increasingly popular in recent years. We saw a big spike the first weekend of F&W when we were there a few years ago, and it seems to have worsened crowd-wise since.

I think that's the one were gonna end up since I might not be able to get off work for the beginning of September. I think it'd be nice to see some F&W (I've never seen that!!) and maybe catch MNSSHP ?
I don't need dead empty, but would this week offer low crowds? It's my boyfriends first time and I want him to have the best experience possible!

 

[nkereina]

I think that's the one were gonna end up since I might not be able to get off work for the beginning of September. I think it'd be nice to see some F&W (I've never seen that!!) and maybe catch MNSSHP ?
I don't need dead empty, but would this week offer low crowds? It's my boyfriends first time and I want him to have the best experience possible!

We went 9/24-10/1 about two years ago, and most wait times were 20 minutes or less with the exception of headliners in the middle of the day. We never found anything to get crazy, and found it to be very tolerable. We also did MNSSHP and caught the very beginning of F&W, and were glad to get out of there once F&W started up - noticeably busier for us. But we are big Epcot people so we noticed.