Off or slower times to go; are they gone?

[k5thbeatle]

Is there truly a slow time to visit anymore as in years past? Seems I talk to more and more people who always go at traditionally slower times only to come back and say how crowded it was and how it has changed in that regard compared to past trips? I suppose a more accurate statement might be that there are times that are indeed less crowded than others but the days of going when the parks are relatively empty are pretty much a thing of the past?

Thoughts?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

IMHO roughly Labor Day through the start of F&W is a truly lower/slower time to go. F&W looks like it's starting way earlier this year, but I still think that week or two is one of the best bets for lower crowds. Note I didn't say low, only lower.

I've also had great luck with the last week of Feb, but not when President's Day is later in the month like it is in 2017.

I was frankly amazed how manageable the crowds were the last week of July this past year. I feared the worst but was pleasantly surprised.

 

[kcjaye87]

I know people say this time of year is not a "secret" anymore, but I still vouch for the week after Thanksgiving through the first two weeks of December. Just got back from a trip November 29th-December 3rd. We had almost NO lines. The only substantial lines at all at any park were for Frozen Ever After, SDMT, and Toy Story Mania. The rest were less than 15 minutes, most were walk-ons. At Universial, EVERYTHING was a walk-on, including the new Kong ride. It was amazing!

 

[Disneytam]

We have only been here for two days but the crowds seem very reasonable. I spent a good part of yesterday at EPCOT and at least around the world showcase it was very enjoyable. Now if they can only get Frozen to stay running I will be a happy girl.

 

[fifthdimensiondweller]

I second Labor Day weekend. We went there during Labor Day in 2015 because it was the only time my husband would be off work for more than just the weekend for quite a while. I thought crowds were going to be awful but I was pleasantly surprised. Very manageable- we even got an ADR at Cinderella's Royal Table about 6 weeks out!

 

[mom2rtk]

Follow the kids. The only predictably low crowd time to go is the week most kids start school. Lots of people will take them out, but won't miss the first week. Schedules are all over the board, but most are back by Labor Day, which is why that remains low. Most don't go back the 2nd of January for second semester any more, but a few days later. So that second or third week of January is good if you can avoid the marathon and MLK day.

 

[CAS239]

There's a few times out the year that would somewhat be considered slow..but generally it's rare for a slow time at Disney.

Being that Disney World is the most popular theme park in the world, it's always going to be more crowded. Their slow days are way more crowded than a slow day at Universal, IoA, Sea World, and Busch Gardens.

Very end of November seemed to have a couple slow days.

 

[North of Mouse]

We used to find various slow times during the year, hasn't been our experience for several years now. Disney has managed to create strong 'drawing power' for all months/times. Plus, there are more home schooled children coming all year and others are pulling their children from school for trips.

 

[NH-to-FL]

I think Disney has done a good job with their incentives to fill in the "quiet times". Which results in...

Note I didn't say low, only lower.

I think the days of feeling like you are the only one in the park are gone.

We were in Epcot last Monday and AK last Friday and the crowds were "lower".

I also agree with:

Follow the kids.

When you visit during the lower crowd times what you will see is a higher ratio of adult to kids. Or perhaps another way to say it is that average age of the crowd goes up.

Overall I agree with the previous suggestions. Right after Labor Day. Right after Thanksgiving. January, especially late January/early Feb.

If you want a nice visualization, try the weekly crowd chart on Your First Visit dot Net.

 

[disnut8]

I think Disney has done a good job with their incentives to fill in the "quiet times". Which results in...



I think the days of feeling like you are the only one in the park are gone.

We were in Epcot last Monday and AK last Friday and the crowds were "lower".

I also agree with:



When you visit during the lower crowd times what you will see is a higher ratio of adult to kids. Or perhaps another way to say it is that average age of the crowd goes up.

Overall I agree with the previous suggestions. Right after Labor Day. Right after Thanksgiving. January, especially late January/early Feb.

If you want a nice visualization, try the weekly crowd chart on Your First Visit dot Net.

I agree as if there was a slow time, Disney put something into the period to get bigger crowds. Years ago, going in late September and early October was a great choice so now there's the Food & Wine Festival. March used to be good and now there's the Flower and Garden Festival. The first week in January used to be good and now there's a marathon that weekend.

Disney World isn't stupid - if there is a slow time, something can be added to bring in crowds and it doesn't have to be an attraction - just entertainment or an event.

 

[HopperFan]

Disney's #1 Goal = NO SLOW TIME

They will do that with tiered ticket prices, hotel prices, special events like the upcoming Arts Festival, limited time only upsells etc.

October used to be pure heaven at Disney, weather wise, crowd wise, cost wise ................... now a very busy time for them. September now a target .... Epcot Food & Wine has been expanded to cover the entire month.

January/February minus holiday times used to be slow ......... first the BTG sell but now that their economy is sinking Disney has probably seen reduced bookings and boom, Arts Festival and several upsell events put out there in last few weeks. Expect that time frame to begin picking up even more than it has.

 

[dreiwhit]

We went to WDW last week, from Sunday through Friday. It was the second time we had gone this year, the first being from Feb 29 through March 4. We had never gone the week after Thanksgiving before, but several friends of ours had over the years. We had actually taken their advise of it being slow and a great time to go.

I found Epcot to be much busier than when we went in Feb/March, which surprised me. There were definately more people there on both days we went last week. Twice I saw lines for Figment being 20-30 minutes. Living with the Land was 50 minutes at 11am and the FP line stretched to the entrance to the table area near Soarin'! Spaceship earth was 45 minutes one day, and Test Track 85. FWIW, the Future World east & west did get less crowded after the world showcase opened up at 11am. FPs, going at rope drop and a good strategy meant that we got to see and do everything we wanted to do. But, what we were able to accomplish in one day back in Feb/March took us two days this time. FWIW, my wife's theory is that the Candlelight Processional caused the increased crowds. She heard several people say that the only thing they came for was to see the Candlelight Processional.

MK seemed to be about the same or maybe a little more packed than before. Again, FPs, a good strategy and rope drop allowed us to see and do everything we wanted. We went on party days, and the crowds did pick up after 4pm when the party crowd was allowed to come in to the park.

DHS was a little busier than it was back in March. But, we were able to see and do much of what we wanted by keeping our same overall strategy. But, when the additional lands are opened up, its going to make it a two day park.

We didn't go to AK, so I can't comment on what the crowds were like there.

Compared to our friends experience, the week after Thanksgiving is now much busier than when they had went. I'm not sure there's going to be slow times anymore. Disney seems to be wanting to fill those slow times up. Also, I wonder if Disney intentionally or unintentionally wants you to spend more time in the park in order to get everything done that you want to do? Even though ticket prices between 5 and 6 days weren't much of an increase, the longer you are in the park, the more you are buying food, souvineers, drinks, ice cream, parking, etc.

 

[mindeola]

I still like the first two weeks of May- schools are not out yet and its too late ion the game for parents to let their kids miss school. It is not dead, but it is not too crowded either!

 

[WEDWDW]

I still like the first two weeks of May- schools are not out yet and its too late ion the game for parents to let their kids miss school. It is not dead, but it is not too crowded either!

Totally agree.

Also nice weather and the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival!

My favorite time of the year to be at WDW.

 

[Parker Clan]

If you can stand the heat mid -late August is a great time to go. All the local kids are back in school. Very low crowds. This is the only time of year we can go due to work schedules but we've done it six years in a row and have no issue with it. Lots of pool time is key though

 

[Toad_Passenger]

There are definitely slower times still out there. However, those slow times are nowhere near what a lot of us Disney vets used to experience. So a slow time these days are more like the 5's & 6's of 10 years ago.

 

[littledebbie335]

We went during the third week of January this year and it was definitely slow. The downside was that it was FREEZING out (some days in the 40s and very windy). Still, worth it in the end because we were able to do so much!

 

[Trixie Belden]

Looking at pictures of our trip the first week of October 1991, there is literally nobody in the background of any picture. There's a picture of my son and mom at Pecos Bill's with only one other table occupied in the entire restaurant-nobody around at all when we got their pictures with Mickey in front of the carousel. We thought it was packed and uncomfortable on Valentine's Day 1996, but that crowd is equivalent to about a 6 now. Up until about 8-9 years ago, we could reliably count on any time school was in being a much quieter, less expensive time to go but there's no real low season anymore.

 

[revdon64]

Wife an I went in January of 2006 - zero crowds. Most rides and attractions were a walk-on.
We've had mostly manageable crowds in early May, end of August, and beginning of December on trips with kids since. BUT... all of those were much more crowded than the first January trip. Crowds are definitely up all over the calendar. Nothing more planned now until January 2018, so... we'll see.

 

[stinkpickle]

We've had the occasional two or three day stretch of decent crowds (usually mid-week, during school), but I haven't seen a true week-long low crowd period in years.