Least crowded week or weeks at Disney

[Park City]

I'm sure this has been covered, but I'm new here so I need to ask. We are very flexible on when we can visit WDW and I'm curious if there are always certain weeks of the year that are less crowded.

Thanks!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Early Sept, late August, second week of January, maybe early May.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

The last two weeks of January. We used to go during week 4 which was a bit of a gamble weather wise. The azaleas hadn't bloomed and it could be in the high 50's or the high 70's. MLK week was pretty empty too...but crowded on the weekend.

 

[Entropy]

Just before Christmas.
The weeks before Christmas have a very low attendance level probably because folks have other things to do. However, be careful, the week between Christmas and New Year is one of the most crowded of the year.

 

[Caskbill]

Keep in mind that while these times may have low park attendance, they can be higher demand times for DVC villas because points costs are lower, and the crowds are lower.

This is especially true before Christmas. The 1st 2-weeks of December will book very early.

Crowds are down
Christmas decorations are up
DVC points are Adventure Season

All the above = high DVC bookings.

 

[fishermouse]

Also keep in mind that these less crowded times are when WDW and DVC does most of thier maintenence. Parks etc. close earlier and weather can be COLD even for us northerners, maybe not in the single digits or below zero, but 20's and 30's are not unheard of. On another note I to pick off peak times but usually not the slowest. Oct and April are IMO the best times weather is usually nice and crowds are low (by Disney standards). Just watch out for spring break. We are trying Jan this year but it's a first, will let every one know what I think about it later.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We love December and January. True that temps can dip, but never as cold as at home, and never lasts more than a day or two. For us, it is so worth it for the lower crowds. Some of those low DVC point days require some agressive preplanning though. A stay during October during F&W festival or during the first 2 weeks of December have become the most popular for DVC resorts, so crowds will definitely be heavy at the resort itself during those times, even if the parks are lower crowds. December rarely has closed attractions because of the holiday spirit, but January through Februrary usually has lots of attractions in rehab status.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

I think our favorite months are November (not Thanksgiving week) and May. Crowds are down, maintenance at a minimum, hurricanes gone or not started yet, temps are reasonable. Just good generally good months for us.

BTW, Steve Birnbaum's WDW reference will tell you exactly which weeks are low or peak.

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

We really like January. We seem to luck out with the weather though - we have generally had mid 60's to mid 70's during the day and have yet to experience a cold snap, so maybe that colors our view a bit.

Our trip in January '07 is the first one where rehabs will really affect us - Splash Mountain will be closed . However, since it is not a once in a lifetime trip, that is just a little disappointing, not devastating.

I would love to try early December though - I've never seen the Holiday decorations throughout the world!

 

[fishermouse]

I would love to try early December though - I've never seen the Holiday decorations throughout the world!

Anyone know when they take them down.. saw them at DL a few years ago. Plus at DL they do up the Haunted Mansion with the nightmare before Christmas in October for Halloween. Pretty cool!!!

 

[byoung]

Mid Dec Here!

 

[lisaviolet]

Anyone know when they take them down.. saw them at DL a few years ago. Plus at DL they do up the Haunted Mansion with the nightmare before Christmas in October for Halloween. Pretty cool!!!

Other DISers have mentioned that some are still up in the first week of January. But by the end of that week they are gone. The Osborne Family Lights are left up until January 7th I believe.

It's all so beautiful.

 

[MiniGirl]

I'm not a DVC member yet, so I can't speak to that end. My favorite time at the parks though is March -- as long as it is Spring Break time. This past March we could walk down Main Street with our arms stretched out and not hit anybody. No waiting in lines. On several rides we were told to just stay in our seats if we wanted to go again. It was GREAT!!!
Eva

 

[3DisneyKids]

You are getting lots of right answers here...Sept, early Dec., and January are historically the lowest attendance times. Sept. after Labor Day...literally everying is a walk-on. The downsides are that it is still WAY hot, and it if is not blistering hot, you are having a hurricane, and more recently, love bugs! All that being said, we have gone in Sept. 04 and 05 and had not one drop of rain and did not see one love-bug. It was definitely hot, but b/c the crowds were so low, we could pop into a/c any time we wanted or needed to (I think we did iasw 3 times in a row--didn't even have to get out of the boat--because we felt that staying in the air for a while was worth having the song stuck in our heads for the next few hours! )

 

[bom_noite]

I'm sure this has been covered, but I'm new here so I need to ask. We are very flexible on when we can visit WDW and I'm curious if there are always certain weeks of the year that are less crowded.

Thanks!

If I told you then you and others may go the same week - and - it would not be so sparse!

So, I will suggest: The week of Christmas and Spring Break Week!

Just kidding! We just got back from a week in September 17th to 22nd - I think! Anyways, ran in to a friend at the MK and he said: "The crowds are so low that it is the first time I was ever able to see the Concrete in the park!"

It was just a fantastic time of year - good weather and low crowds!