Least Busiest Time of the Year?

[ILoveToRun]

The week right after Labor Day=hands down the least busiest week. You can include Labor Day too, it's not busy either, just that weekend is slightly busy.

September as a whole used to be less busy but it picks up again mid-late September so it's mid-low crowds. Now the sweet spot is that post LD week.

I've been every September for the last 18 years. The last two, we've arrived Labor Day and stayed 2 weeks and you can REALLY notice the shift in crowds. The first week almost resembles a ghost town and the second week resembles October.

 

[SDSorority]

Hello Disers!

Last year our family went for 10 magical days in the middle of the summer which meant tons of people. This year we are planning on a 5 day trip. We are flexible in regards to dates and therefore thought to consult the experts.

We love the 3rd week of September.

 

[DavidHobart]

I only state that because they state that the #1 criteria is lowest crowd, but their three lowest crowd weeks are ranked in the 20s as the best weeks to go. Why? Because the writers don't like the heat.

Speaking as the writer...the rankings are not based on "lowest" crowds, but rather on "low crowds."

E.g. in 2012 I get about 24 weeks that fit "low." These weeks are then sorted for first time visitors who may never return based on other factors. Low crowd late August, September and early October weeks get dinged because of the peak of the hurricane season, January and early Feb because of ride closures, etc.

My "lowest crowd" weeks are all in late Jan/early Feb and in September. These weeks all have a few things in common--they are at the beginning of school terms, and are right after major holiday breaks. Because of both of these factors, it's hard for parents to take their kids out of school then...

Free dining has much less of an impact on park crowds than many think, as it only applies to the WDW resorts, which will run at 65-75% capacity even without it.

So the incremental effect is another 10-20% of capacity utilization, or another 3,000-6,000 rooms, or 9,000-18,000 more people a day on property, divided over the parks, off days, and Universal...just not that big a deal from a crowd perspective...

Hope this helps! Dave

 

[jade1]

We always wondered about right now (1st week of May), or maybe last week (last week of April)-is it already summer traffic etc?

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

The week right after Labor Day=hands down the least busiest week. You can include Labor Day too, it's not busy either, just that weekend is slightly busy.

September as a whole used to be less busy but it picks up again mid-late September so it's mid-low crowds. Now the sweet spot is that post LD week.

I've been every September for the last 18 years. The last two, we've arrived Labor Day and stayed 2 weeks and you can REALLY notice the shift in crowds. The first week almost resembles a ghost town and the second week resembles October.

Agree Sept gets my vote too, but we have only been going in Sept for 10 years. We have been most other months of the year and Sept still by a long shot is the slowest we have found for an extended period of time. Jan/Feb/May/Nov have some slower weeks but its just a few days here and there or a week (Jan MLK and marathon weekend are nuts IMO), the entire month of September even with free dining is still slower.

 

[mousiemom]

just by our experiences sept is low crowds but is really hot/humid. mid Jan was always good weeks when we went (the week during MLK week) is was very cool temps but i love being cold in disney than sweating. our favorite time now is the week after thanksgiving or 1st of dec. cause of the decorations and good weather. anytime kids are in school, the crowds will be better too. we've been labor day week and the end of sept. and both of those were good weeks.
good luck!

 

[Satchmo128]

I would recommend the first week of September. HOT.....but the crowds were practically non-existent.

 

[mjallemand]

Last week of January 2014 is going on the books as our next trip, then.

I don't mind cold weather. In fact I love it.

 

[SapphireMarie]

We haven't been but are planning our first trip for mid Feb to avoid crowds. We'll see!

 

[Too Far From Home]

Speaking as the writer...the rankings are not based on "lowest" crowds, but rather on "low crowds."

Quote from your site:

Crowd levels are the key issue in timing your Walt Disney World trip.

I get what you are saying, but when you say yourself that the "key" factor to consider is crowds, then the most recommended dates all should be those with the lowest crowd ratings. You have done the opposite - 3 of the 6 lowest crowd weeks are not only not ranked highly by you, they are "Not Recommended" weeks. That is a contradiction if I have ever seen one.

January is perfect for you, even though you might need winter coats and water parks and pools are useless, and most years splash Mountain is closed for refurb. September is "Not Recommended" even though just as many rides are open in September as in January, water parks and resort pools are awesome that time of year and MNSSHP is in full swing.

So, it is clear that your #1 factor is not crowds, but weather.

 

[Iris]

We went the week leading up to Labor Day and it was a ghost town in all four parks. We literally walked onto Soarin', Dumbo, Peter Pan AND TOY STORY MANIA!

We didn't stay that weekend and when we were leaving on Friday of labor day weekend we noticed things picking up, but that entire week before was dead. We figured because young kids back in school, college kids back at college, etc. There was free dining but it didn't really seem to matter and we had no trouble getting into restaurants without any reservations.

 

[DavidHobart]

Quote from your site:

I get what you are saying, but when you say yourself that the "key" factor to consider is crowds, then the most recommended dates all should be those with the lowest crowd ratings. You have done the opposite - 3 of the 6 lowest crowd weeks are not only not ranked highly by you, they are "Not Recommended" weeks. That is a contradiction if I have ever seen one.

January is perfect for you, even though you might need winter coats and water parks and pools are useless, and most years splash Mountain is closed for refurb. September is "Not Recommended" even though just as many rides are open in September as in January, water parks and resort pools are awesome that time of year and MNSSHP is in full swing.

So, it is clear that your #1 factor is not crowds, but weather.

On your January point I plead innocent--January (and early feb) weeks are among my lowest-ranked weeks of the year--because of the ride closure point...in 2012 they are ranked 52, 50, 48, 47, 46 and 49.

I understand your thinking on "key." To me, "key" does not mean "only," just as "low" doesn't mean "lowest." But I see how my choice of words can lead to confusion--I'll rewrite this stuff so that "key factor" is changed to something like "the first factor to consider" and come up with a clearer way to put the "low" point!

Thanks--your comments will help me reduce a little how much I confuse people!

 

[Too Far From Home]

Thanks--your comments will help me reduce a little how much I confuse people!

Thanks - I love the work that you put into your site, but this part has always left me confused.

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

We have gone at the end of August twice, once was 3rd week of august, one was 4th week. The 4th week was not that busy, and VERY few lines except major things like Soarin and Splash Mountain

 

[DavidHobart]

Thanks - I love the work that you put into your site, but this part has always left me confused.

Fixed! See http://**************.net/2010/10/04/a-when-to-go-to-walt-disney-world/

 

[SoScary'09]

Thanks to lots of research and reading threads like these, our third trip is planned for Feb. 7th-10th. Compared to the temps at home it should be a piece of cake even if it does get a little cool.

 

[bedogged]

Late January was nice, but the weather was too variable. We're trying early November this year!!

We have gone in late January and the weather was variable. That means no matter what the crowd number for the day, MK will be packed if the weather turns nice!

 

[Colleen27]

Mid January to mid February. I don't think there's any question nowadays. September used to be great, but with promos ("free" dining, etc.), it's just not as good as Mid Jan- mid Feb.

I don't think that's true any more. Our trip this past January (last week, well away from both MLK and Presidents Day) was certainly not uncrowded. It was every bit as crowded as the week of Mardi Gras was last year. We actually encountered an extended line for Rio del Tiempo! I've never seen that before, not in August, Sept, December, or March. Keep in mind, free dining has been offered for the last two Januaries too, plus there are a lot of South American groups there during their summer break.

This is late Jan of this year -

I'll never go back in January again if there's any other possible time we can travel - the crowds aren't low enough to make up for the ridiculous number of ride and attraction closures and I'd rather the certainty of hot weather than the worry about how to pack everything from swimsuits to hats & gloves.

I think late Aug/early Sept is still the best time, because no matter how good the discounts the fact that it is the start of the school year limits how much the crowds can grow. There are plenty of people who won't or can't take their kids out of school to travel, and that keeps the overall volume down. In January, you're in the middle of the school year, some schools have a long weekend for MLK, others (like ours) have one the 3rd or 4th week for end of term, the school year routines are well established, and parents who are willing to take their kids out of school for vacation are more apt to do so then.