oct/nov/dec..when

[cruzmouse]

We are planning trip to disney and want to know which month will be the least crowded..The FT pkg sounds great but im wondering if it will increase the crowds to where oct wont be such a pleasant time. ds is 4 and not yet in school so im very flexible with dates..is sept too hot??? Grateful for any advice..cruzmouse

 

[nativetxn]

I think your four year old would love October because of Mickey's not so scary Halloween party (MNSSHP).

I love December because of the Christmas decorations (put not close to Christmas because the crowds are insane).

Before Thanksgiving the crowds are very reasonable.

I don't know what to tell you to choose, I love all three months in WDW

I'm going to bump this back to page one for you so that our veterans can give you some advice too.

 

[beattyfamily]

I've gone Sept (1), Oct (1) and Dec (2).

They all have their good points!

September is probably the least crowded but it's the hottest and it rains just about every day for at least 5 minutes. We went mid-Sept.

October had beautiful weather and also Mickey's Not so Scary Halloween party! It wasn't very crowded either! We went the last week in Oct.

December has unpredicable weather. It can be hot and then it an be very cold. Low crowds, beautiful decorations and xmas music everywhere, and there's Mickey's Very Merry Christmas party too!!!

I think our favorite time to go is December followed by October and then Sept. Everyone's priorities are different though. Some people want low crowds but don't mind the rain or heat. Some want no heat. It's up to your preferences!

 

[laceemouse]

We have been at all three times also. Early December the decorations are awesome but the year we went it was very cold every evening. I would choose an earlier time so that it will still be warm enough to swim.

 

[phlufster]

First week of December is always good because the crowds are really low then, but it will be cooler. All of the hoiday decorations are up so it is very festive! That is my favorite time to go visit the parks just because you can walk right on most of the rides and you aren't tired by 2 because of the sweltering heat!

 

[Magic2000]

We usually go to Disney in the summer, since I have two teenagers (and one in grade school).
We've gone in Dec three times now, always the week AFTER Thanksgiving. As far as crowds, it was wonderful! Most rides were a walk on. (Magic Kingdom on Saturday afternoon was still busy!) The decorations are beautiful - and the Christmas tree at the Grand Floridian is breathtaking!!! Its really great! In 2000, it was nice during the day, but got kind of cold at night. In 2001, it was nice, warming during the day, just cool at night. In 2002, it was cool during the first day or so, but got cold for our last few days and nights.

This is our first time visiting in October! We'll be there Oct 13-18, and will do MNSSHP on Oct 14, and possibly again on Oct 16! Its going to be a Mom and Me trip - just me and my 7 yr old to go trick or treating at Disney! Can't wait!! I'm just hoping for some nice weather for swimming!!! Also, we're trying to decide what we'll dress up as for the Party - I'll just be wearing a Halloween shirt, but she's trying to decide - princess or what??

Anyway - have fun choosing!!!

 

[WDWorBUST]

Oh boy - this is a tough one - I have gone in September, October and December. I am going this year in September....but it's the only feasible time for us - I'm pregnant and due 11/13 so any later wouldn't work. I do love September - very LIGHT crowds but it is very HOT too. October you do have MNSSHP which was a blast and the weather was great (I had one cool day the year I went). Then I absolutely love December. The Christmas decorations are great and MVMCP is a blast too. We have went two years in December - last year when it rained at least 3 out of our 6 days for a good chunk of the day - and the year before where we had incredible weather - so I guess I would have to say December is unpredictable....but I don't think there is any time that you would definitely be in the clear as far as weather goes.....when we went in September we had about a half hour rain shower every day - that was fine though it didn't go on forever. But ranking them by my favorites it would probably be December, October and then September. Mainly because of MVMCP and MNSSHP. Crowdwise I would say it was a tie between September and December and October it was a little bit heavier. Good Luck deciding

 

[momof2inPA]

We have been all three months. November was the least crowded(except Super Soap weekend), but October is only crowded around the holiday weekend or if the Florida kids have a long weekend, and December is just too-o-o cold (but the decorations are pretty). Early October would be my choice for the best weather, but we are going October 11-19th to max. my husband's vacation time using the holiday weekend.

We went late December 2001. Our last day, it was 37 deg. when leaving the park and 37 deg. when we got home to PA.

 

[AKASnowWhite]

We've been in Oct, Nov and Dec.....

I guess it depends on what you want to "see".....

Oct was beautiful....still warm enough for a water park day....not crowded, except for Columbus Day weekend itself....

November has the Food & Wine fest at Epcot....yum! We really enjoy that! We've had mixed weather, always nice, not too hot, but not always warm enough for me to want to spend a day at a water park. Again, not crowded, except Veterans day weekend.....LATE November begins some of the Christmas events....

And of course December.....there is NOTHING in the world like Christmas WDW-style! That's a whole thread in itself!

The later months do have shorter park hours.....which can be a bit of a deterant for some.....we almost always end up with evenings at Epcot

 

[Beanie]

I have to agree about the Christmas decorations in December! They are beautiful and we go every year the first week in December just to see those alone! We have also been in October, the second week and it wasn't busy at all then! There were plenty of people, but we walked on every ride and never had to wait in lines!

Have fun no matter when you decide to go!

 

[cruzmouse]

Thank you for all the wonderful advice....I am leaning towards oct ds will turn 5 on the 9th and i do think he would enjoy mnsshp....I am a little concerned about the impact the fairytale pkg will have on oct however..it seems throughout these boards that many are going in oct...I dont know if I can wait till dec....Is sept really really hot??? ..and is it slower the days following labor day or the 2nd wk of sept?

 

[kda]

We've been there three times in late September. It's HOT. The crowds were light, so that made it much more tolerable, but I'd definitely plan for a slow pace and a pool/nap break in the afternoon. Humidity was high and there were almost-daily showers, which usually didn't last long --- not such a big deal. It was better than the end of August, but I prefer 80 degrees to 90 degrees any day.