January, February or November??

[loveshak22]

I usually plan a trip to WDW every two years with either my DH or my parents and a child they have custody of who is now 14. Over the last 7 years we've planned trips at the end of January, mid-September, and December (at Christmas). I did not like the mid-September trip because of the heat and it was a lot more crowded than predicted. I think temps were still in the 90's with 90% humidity. The Christmas trip was also ridiculous with the crowds.

The first January trip (the last week of the month) was amazing - low crowds and amazing weather. However, our last trip (also the last week of January) was a lot more crowded than I expected and we ran into a lot more large tour groups, which were really frustrating because we couldn't even walk and get around the large groups of people that were all in one place. Our first January trip was in 2007 and this last January trip was 2013, and I know that as a whole crowd levels have done nothing but continue to rise and a result it's probably not fair for me to compare low crowds in '07 to low crowds in '13.

With all that said, I'm starting to plan the next trip for me and my DH. Since we are flexible with our travel dates I was thinking of trying the first week of February (in hopes of good weather and lack of large tour groups) or the week before Thanksgiving. According to Easywdw the crowd levels are about the same both weeks but I thought I'd see if anyone had any thoughts?

Thanks, in advance!

 

[travelin' tigger]

Since we are flexible with our travel dates I was thinking of trying the first week of February (in hopes of good weather and lack of large tour groups) or the week before Thanksgiving. According to Easywdw the crowd levels are about the same both weeks but I thought I'd see if anyone had any thoughts?

Thanks, in advance!

I usually go over the days leading up to Veteran's Day weekend in November but this year I moved it back a week (Nov. 13-18) and it was great! Crowds were low, there was lots of availability and airfare was a little cheaper. Plus the weather was great - no rain except Monday aft and temps in the 70s!

 

[stinkpickle]

I went for the last week of January this year AND the week before thanksgiving (last week), also. Both times had decent weather but with some cold rainy snaps. That can be expected, but crowd-wise, January was much better.

 

[beccasmom]

We were there 11/10-14. The weather was fine, but it was more crowded then it has been in recent years. Nothing overwhelming though. Early February is a slow time, but of course weather is unpredictable. Late January is also pretty slow. Avoid the Federal holidays because folks use the time for long weekend visits.

 

[jimandami]

Although I love January, I vote for November. Crowd levels and weather should be fairly similar (although maybe warmer in Nov but you never know) but you have the Christmas decorations going up and MVMCP...and hopefully some form of the Osborne Lights!

 

[loveshak22]

I went for the last week of January this year AND the week before thanksgiving (last week), also. Both times had decent weather but with some cold rainy snaps. That can be expected, but crowd-wise, January was much better.

This is a perfect comparison for me!! Did you notice a big difference in tour groups there in that last week of January? When we were there that same week in 2013 we got stuck several times where we couldn't even walk through parts of HS and Epcot because the tour groups were going really slow, stopping a lot, and took up the whole sidewalk. To me that was almost even more frustrating than large crowds. At least with the large crowds you can find paths through the crowd but not so when you get stuck behind the big tour groups - - - did you notice that?

 

[loveshak22]

Although I love January, I vote for November. Crowd levels and weather should be fairly similar (although maybe warmer in Nov but you never know) but you have the Christmas decorations going up and MVMCP...and hopefully some form of the Osborne Lights!

Good points!!

The other plus that I failed to mention is my birthday is the week before Thanksgiving so it would be a great birthday trip for me. My DH's birthday is the last week of January so he's got to enjoy WDW twice on his birthdays!

 

[tinkerbella16]

I would say January or February... probably Feb! I just got back and was there Nov 12-18th. Been going this week for years and years, since 1995! It was the most crowded I have ever seen it during this time. It used to be a great week to go. Now the cats out of the bag. MK was a madhouse, except for the 16th party night. It was awesome and the only time the park actually felt empty! Epcot is always my favorite and we spent lots of time there so we had a great time. It is so spread out, so it never feels crowded. I would love to go during Flower & Garden Festival. I think that starts in Feb.

And I must add.. we had GORGEOUS weather all week! The highest it got was 80 degrees, no humidity. It was 71 one day- just perfect! The only time it rained was on the 17th, in the afternoon/evening... our last full day. Couldn't have been more lucky! I seen what it has been like since we've been home and it is not pretty!

 

[anniemae]

Nov is my favorite time. Then Feb.

 

[Frozen2014]

Subscribing as I'm dreaming of another trip someday and am wondering how January and February travel is at Disney. First I've heard of the large tour groups. How frustrating. I've had that with one person, where you are behind them in a narrow spot and just cannot pass them. So can imagine when it's an entire group.

 

[WDWLODGE]

We were just there 11/12-11/22 and it was more crowded than predicted. Disney is doing a great job of filling up the parks during times that were once considered "slow".

 

[nkereina]

We've gone the week before Thanksgiving three times now. The crowds were great the first two times. Last week was busier than we'd seen previously but nothing crazy. The unfortunate thing for us though is that all three times, the weather has been poor and unpredictable. First trips it rained more than half the time. In November, it's that all day type of rain and not your quick downpours. Last week, it was COLD! One day, the high was 49. Some mornings were in the 30s. We were freezing even though we had North Face jackets on (came in from Buffalo) and found that less enjoyable than being hot in September. Also didn't get to use the pool at all. This cold snap is not the norm for November but goes to show that it's possible, and I think even more probable in January and February.

We can travel any time of year (no kids) so we're looking at late April next year instead. Maybe more moderate crowds, but I think a better chance of decent weather.

 

[PoohsFan1]

We will be there from 1/23-1/30 and according to easywdw.com's crowd calendar, they are projecting crowd levels to be 1s, 2s, and 3s. This is the lowest that I have seen crowd levels for any of our trips in a few years so we are really excited by it. However, I know the weather will be unpredictable but we plan to dress for it .

 

[twoplustwins]

We were just there 11/12-11/22 and it was more crowded than predicted. Disney is doing a great job of filling up the parks during times that were once considered "slow".

This!! Nov used to be my favorite time to go. This past trip was way more crowded than we thought it would be.

 

[stinkpickle]

This is a perfect comparison for me!! Did you notice a big difference in tour groups there in that last week of January? When we were there that same week in 2013 we got stuck several times where we couldn't even walk through parts of HS and Epcot because the tour groups were going really slow, stopping a lot, and took up the whole sidewalk. To me that was almost even more frustrating than large crowds. At least with the large crowds you can find paths through the crowd but not so when you get stuck behind the big tour groups - - - did you notice that?

I didn't see many big groups last January...a lot of smaller ones, though. They weren't a problem.

 

[Frozen2014]

From 'your first visit' website, it marks Jan 25 & Feb 1 as the Lowest crowd levels but yet marks ranks these weeks as 47 & 48 to visit (which is pretty much the worst weeks in the year).

Anyone know why? Is weather that bad (cold, rain?, other?)

 

[loveshak22]

We were just there 11/12-11/22 and it was more crowded than predicted. Disney is doing a great job of filling up the parks during times that were once considered "slow".

I guess that's great for WDW and their business plan but disappointing for those of us who love Disney and want to visit at a time with low crowds. After our last trip my DH and I decided that if our next visit is as crowded we may stop visiting. But we realize that's just our choice and lots of people are still loving WDW, crowds and all.

And I know our version of "crowded" is nothing like the summer and December crowds but for our expectations it was disappointing. I love the parks but since we don't have kids the rides aren't fun when we have to wait 20-45 minutes for rides and that's the "slow" season. But we'll see how the trip this year goes.

I was totally set on November last night but then the follow-up posts about people who just got back from the parks and they were more crowded than expected makes me rethink that decision! So tough choice!

Again, any other comments on the tour groups versus higher crowd levels? I'm wondering if we'd be happier with more crowds than I think as long as they aren't the big tour groups that move as a herd and were blocking everything - sidewalks, lines, buses.

 

[loveshak22]

I didn't see many big groups last January...a lot of smaller ones, though. They weren't a problem.

Thanks! I thought I read on here somewhere (if I'm not going crazy) that there weren't as many tour groups visiting these days...or maybe I read it on some other forum?

Also, I think what hurt us big time was we decided not to do the park hopper option in 2013. We went for 5 days and decided just to spend a day in each park to see how that worked. I think if he had the park hopper we could have left the parks where the groups seemed to be congregating. I'm not exaggerating when I say that the night we scheduled for Epcot we could not walk around World Showcase at times. We were stopped by groups that spread out across the entire sidewalk. if they stopped to look at something or stand in line for something it stopped he whole pathway. It wasn't anything they did on purpose but just that they were traveling as a group and that's how it goes. We tried to be polite and then just wind our way through the group but then we'd run right into another stopped group and once we got around them we didn't get to see anything for trying to move through the crowd so we just left the park. It was 2 hours for Soarin' and Test Track and we just skipped them and left. Again, if I would have been there in August or December I would have expected that but to go in January that's just not what we expected.

 

[loveshak22]

From 'your first visit' website, it marks Jan 25 & Feb 1 as the Lowest crowd levels but yet marks ranks these weeks as 47 & 48 to visit (which is pretty much the worst weeks in the year).

Anyone know why? Is weather that bad (cold, rain?, other?)

It may be weather? Also, sometimes during the slow seasons that's when they refurbish rides so maybe because some rides are closed they don't suggest visiting then?

When we were there we felt comfortable with the weather. One year in January (2007) there was a cold snap and all the workers were bundled in jackets and gloves but my DH and I were in jeans and long sleeve t's and a light sweater. For us it was comfy because we were cool but not cold and we weren't sweating from the humidity. In 2013 it was cool but this time we ore jeans and just long sleeve t's or light sweaters. My DH may have even worn shorts a day. We didn't have any problems with rain on either trip. If anything there might have been a morning shower or a quick afternoon shower and then it passed.

We don't swim at the hotel, even though the pools are heated, but that may be another reason for the lower ranking? If you can't swim or enjoy the water parks your options are limited as well at this time?

 

[JeninTexas]

I would pick January or February. We just returned and November was much more crowded that I anticipated. We were at MK on days that were predicted to be level 3 crowds and on days that were predicted to be level 8 crowds. I could tell very little difference. The wait times were a little higher on crowd level 8 days, but regardless, it was always crowded, always hard to walk, waits for food, bathrooms, etc.

I think the Free Dining promotion brought a lot of people in. You probably wouldn't have the same issue in the winter.