October or November?

[Betsyp]

guess I could even consider December…

But either way, I want to plan a few days at WDW and take advantage of my annual pass. It doesn’t really matter to me when I go - but I’d prefer avoiding huge crowds, and if possible, to get a decent price at the Yacht Club (I stayed there last year and fell in love).

If October, it would be middle to late, since I’d want time to plan.

I actually did go early November a couple of years ago -if there were huge crowds, I don’t remember. What I mostly remember is Hurricane Nicole and getting caught in the downpours

Because I can go whenever I want, I don’t have the pressure to go on all the rides …I’ll focus on the ones I really want to do.

**December would be last choice because I’d like to be there for Food and Wine fest

Thank you!

 

[bdrex28]

I can't offer much advice other than we have a trip booked for 10/28-Nov 3 and are doing the MNSSHP on the 29th.

We've been September a lot, we've been in November at Thanksgiving which I'll never do again due to crowds and the fact we had a 9 person group, I've been 2nd week of Dec which was actually quite nice and we also have a trip booked late January of 2025.

I'm looking forward to the October trip, my hope is weather will be nice and crowds good. touring plans shows it to be a pretty decent week crowd wise.

we're kind of trying to try out every month of the year to find out our favorite time.

I have a feeling it may end up being January.

 

[Betsyp]

I can't offer much advice other than we have a trip booked for 10/28-Nov 3 and are doing the MNSSHP on the 29th.

We've been September a lot, we've been in November at Thanksgiving which I'll never do again due to crowds and the fact we had a 9 person group, I've been 2nd week of Dec which was actually quite nice and we also have a trip booked late January of 2025.

I'm looking forward to the October trip, my hope is weather will be nice and crowds good. touring plans shows it to be a pretty decent week crowd wise.

we're kind of trying to try out every month of the year to find out our favorite time.

I have a feeling it may end up being January.

Ooh, have a great time!

Thanksgiving time is a no go for me, too - and to be honest, a lot of it is luck weather wise.

Last January and into spring, the weather was perfect for me - essentially Fall, in the 60’s much of the time. I miss that weather so much, so yeah - I can see January being ok (one year, decades ago, it was so cold they had to cover the orange trees, so…who knows?)

I feel like October - outside of Halloween - would be the best bet. I’ll plug in hotel dates and see

Have a great time, and thanks!

 

[bdrex28]

Ooh, have a great time!

Thanksgiving time is a no go for me, too - and to be honest, a lot of it is luck weather wise.

Last January and into spring, the weather was perfect for me - essentially Fall, in the 60’s much of the time. I miss that weather so much, so yeah - I can see January being ok (one year, decades ago, it was so cold they had to cover the orange trees, so…who knows?)

I feel like October - outside of Halloween - would be the best bet. I’ll plug in hotel dates and see

Have a great time, and thanks!

I hope it goes great for you.

I have been looking at historical temps for Orlando on time and date. You can go and look at past weather for every day of the year going back like 8 years.

https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/usa/orlando/historic?month=10&year=2023

Just adjust the drop down menu on the right to the month you want to look at.

end of Oct is interesting as it can range from 65 high to 85 high.

January seems pretty consistent. I imagine that is because Oct is a shoulder month.

I use touring plans or thrill data to get an idea on crowds, although since Covid that's been a bit harder to define. It does seem this year is seeing lower crowds than touring plans has predicted.

 

[beccasmom]

October is the only month we have not (yet!) visited WDW.

We have visited in early and mid-November, most recently the first week of November last year. The weather was fine - no rain, warm (a bit humid). I remember the MK being very busy the day we visited (a Wednesday) and Epcot was also quite crowded in the late afternoon and evening of our visit (a Monday), focusing on World Showcase.

Our next visit is in late January and I much prefer it for the cooler weather. I well remember some very chilly (and downright cold) weather on some December trips, but that was quite a few years back. In late January 2020 it was chilly (50’s/60’s) and overcast, but we didn’t need a coat and got by with jackets.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

You might also look at Disney daily ticket prices to see what days Disney expects to be busiest.

 

[imbelle]

There always seems to be a big crowd surge around Jersey week. I think it's 11-4 through 11-9 this year.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

There always seems to be a big crowd surge around Jersey week. I think it's 11-4 through 11-9 this year.

You know, I keep reading this but I looked in depth at the prices (Disney tickets and also Universal tickets, Express Passes, and hotels). There is a distinct consistent drop in prices from Halloween week to election/Jersey week. Universal & Disney both think that Jersey week is lower crowds than Halloween week this year. I shifted my trip to Jersey week based on the lower prices - hopefully those prices didn't lie to me.

 

[imbelle]

You know, I keep reading this but I looked in depth at the prices (Disney tickets and also Universal tickets, Express Passes, and hotels). There is a distinct consistent drop in prices from Halloween week to election/Jersey week. Universal & Disney both think that Jersey week is lower crowds than Halloween week this year. I shifted my trip to Jersey week based on the lower prices - hopefully those prices didn't lie to me.

I used to do a trip every year that hit the last MNSSHP and the first MVMCP. Crowds would be low and then first weekend affected by Jersey week, they would shoot way up. Jersey week is also the only time I've ever seen a fist fight at WDW. A couple of years ago I finally threw in the towel and started altering my fall trip to get the heck outta Dodge before Jersey week hit. Hopefully, it will work out for you.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I agree, and we have done Halloween week with very good crowds (and also edging into Jersey week with low crowds) - granted that was Universal and not Disney. But I just can't believe that both Universal & Disney are oblivious and booked up, and haven't adjusted their prices accordingly. Plus I saved money on the hotel.

 

[Betsyp]

I hope it goes great for you.

I have been looking at historical temps for Orlando on time and date. You can go and look at past weather for every day of the year going back like 8 years.

https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/usa/orlando/historic?month=10&year=2023

Just adjust the drop down menu on the right to the month you want to look at.

end of Oct is interesting as it can range from 65 high to 85 high.

January seems pretty consistent. I imagine that is because Oct is a shoulder month.

I use touring plans or thrill data to get an idea on crowds, although since Covid that's been a bit harder to define. It does seem this year is seeing lower crowds than touring plans has predicted.

Thank you for the info - definitely going to look at it

Though I think honestly, I don’t think I’ll have much choice - I’ll need to take what I can get because I’m not sure I’ll be able to find any rooms, lol

 

[Betsyp]

October is the only month we have not (yet!) visited WDW.

We have visited in early and mid-November, most recently the first week of November last year. The weather was fine - no rain, warm (a bit humid). I remember the MK being very busy the day we visited (a Wednesday) and Epcot was also quite crowded in the late afternoon and evening of our visit (a Monday), focusing on World Showcase.

Our next visit is in late January and I much prefer it for the cooler weather. I well remember some very chilly (and downright cold) weather on some December trips, but that was quite a few years back. In late January 2020 it was chilly (50’s/60’s) and overcast, but we didn’t need a coat and got by with jackets.

I’d give anything for temps in the 50’s & 60’s. I might be forced to consider January since I tried plugging in a few October dates, and…nothing

 

[Betsyp]

You might also look at Disney daily ticket prices to see what days Disney expects to be busiest.

Thank you, I will!

I really just want to avoid huge crowds on holidays …

 

[Betsyp]

There always seems to be a big crowd surge around Jersey week. I think it's 11-4 through 11-9 this year.

I think I was there once during Jersey week - I didn’t realize it was going to be an issue, lol. I don’t recall having real issues, but it’s hard - I think I’m conflating the most recent trips in my mind, lol

I’ll always avoid it in the future, though

 

[Mousetopia]

guess I could even consider December…

But either way, I want to plan a few days at WDW and take advantage of my annual pass. It doesn’t really matter to me when I go - but I’d prefer avoiding huge crowds, and if possible, to get a decent price at the Yacht Club (I stayed there last year and fell in love).

If October, it would be middle to late, since I’d want time to plan.

I actually did go early November a couple of years ago -if there were huge crowds, I don’t remember. What I mostly remember is Hurricane Nicole and getting caught in the downpours

Because I can go whenever I want, I don’t have the pressure to go on all the rides …I’ll focus on the ones I really want to do.

**December would be last choice because I’d like to be there for Food and Wine fest

Thank you!

I am going week of Nov 11 coming in day after Veterans day ..per disney tourist blog its a lower crowd sweet spot.

 

[beccasmom]

I’d give anything for temps in the 50’s & 60’s. I might be forced to consider January since I tried plugging in a few October dates, and…nothing

I’ve been noticing the humidity really plays havoc with my asthma, so changing to a cooler month just made sense. We are DVC, so I just went ahead and booked back in July. We have normally visited in the summer (teacher and students in family at the time) and spring. But we experienced very humid weather on our trip in early May this year and I found it to be more bothersome than usual. Winter visits may be our new “normal”.

 

[Betsyp]

I’ve been noticing the humidity really plays havoc with my asthma, so changing to a cooler month just made sense. We are DVC, so I just went ahead and booked back in July. We have normally visited in the summer (teacher and students in family at the time) and spring. But we experienced very humid weather on our trip in early May this year and I found it to be more bothersome than usual. Winter visits may be our new “normal”.

I have bad allergies (hay fever) that often leads to bronchitis, so I’m very careful to try and avoid triggering a hay fever attack

I’m going to try going for a couple of days before the end of the year, and then maybe a longer stay in January - since it’s cooler & a slower time

 

[disneyseniors]

I agree, and we have done Halloween week with very good crowds (and also edging into Jersey week with low crowds) - granted that was Universal and not Disney. But I just can't believe that both Universal & Disney are oblivious and booked up, and haven't adjusted their prices accordingly. Plus I saved money on the hotel.

Looks like we will be at Universal over Jersey week. TBH, we used to go to WDW during Jersey Week, and we never even noticed an increase in the crowds, other than the Jersey accents, LOL. That was a while ago though, but people stated back then that it would be crowded. It didn't seem any more crowded than any other time to us.