Please Help me find the OH SO SLOW season!

[daisyduck123]

We pulled the kids out of school & went for 8 days (I think it was Jan.22-30) this past January & it was great!! The only ride we had to stand in line for was Winnie the Pooh. Loved everything about that trip!!

 

[engle]

I was lucky enough to go twice last year...once during the last week of Sept into early Oct and then again the first week of Dec. That first week of December was NOT crowded. If you thought that was VERY crowded...10 minutes wait was the top....you're looking at the wrong vacation for peace and quiet. It is only going to get so slow. Remember, it is Disney World, one of the top vacation destinations in the world.

 

[phillybeth]

We have been twice in January, and going again next January. I can't stand waiting, nor can I stand crowds in the sweltering heat. January, for us, is perfect. Mornings in the park result in perhaps 10 minute waits at most. We have a picture of the two kids standing outside Space Mountain at 10:00 am and not another soul in sight! The afternoons, from about 1 until 5 were busier, but from 5 to closing, again waits were almost non-existant. The trade off is little chance of visiting the water parks, cooler temps and shorter park hours.

I agree. January is a great time to go. There is some heavier attendance for the Marathon Weekend, and again on MLK weekend, but even those are just blips. We wre there in January of 2005 and the weather was fine- low 70's during the day- it did go down into the 50's at night but you don't feel the cold in the hot tub!

 

[ccgegg]

I agree with engle about early Dec NOT being crowded, but people's definition of "crowded" is so subjective. That's why I suggest you take a look at UOG's "best days" calendar. It's based on statistical data that they've accumulated over a long period of time (years). Or you can sit here-- like me-- wondering why someone thinks early Dec is crowded. Did they arrive at the early EMH park at 11am everyday?.... Did they go to MK during the taping of the Christmas parade?.... Most importantly, did they have a good touring plan? UOG's data compares apples to apples. Our longest wait for a ride last Dec 11-16 was 20 minutes for Soarin (WITH Fastpass). Typical wait times were 5-10 minutes max..... not what I'd call "crowded".

Perhaps some people are comparing early Dec 'today' versus early Dec 5-10 years ago. Sure, it's getting a little more crowded, but so is every other time of year. WDW as a whole is getting more crowded. But I think that's a good thing. Because maybe they'll build a 5th theme park in my lifetime.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

There is no such thing as slow season in WDW anymore. There used to be. Not anymore.

January you have to deal with the marathon, MLK weekend & conventions (the builder's one is huge). Feb is still conventions & Pres weekend among other things. The brainiacs in marketing have ensured that September will never be quiet again thanks to free dining then you hit F&W & MNSSHP.

Are there times less crowded than summer? Yes, but they are getting farther & fewer between.

My best advice is pick a time when you think you would like to go & get yourself in the right state of mind re: crowds & have fun! After all, you are in WDW. How bad could life be?

 

[jann1033]

the slowest we have found is someplace beginning around Jan 6. the longest we ever wait is a rare 15mins...most things are walk on and lots of times fast pass isn't even open except maybe for rnr or something like that in the afternoon.of course you exchange "no waits" for iffy weather but i'd rather wear a sweatshirt sometimes than wait in line an hr. it used to be dead quiet in early Dec but from posts it is no longer so ( haven't gone then for a number of yrs)

imo the marathon doesn't have a great deal of impact unless you are at a park when they pass through it, then some things are delayed opening...MLK is really only for that weekend . then it is busy and i 'd skip the parks then . conventions have more impact on resorts than parks from what i have experienced

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

The lowest crowds we have ever experienced at WDW was in mid-March a few years ago. It was still 4-5 weeks before Easter. The lines were relatively small at MK both days we were there. The one thing that sticks in my mind was that we walked in just as Fantasmic was beginning one evening at MGM and had perfect seats. In our trips we have been: Mother's Day weekend (first trip -did not know what a crowd looked like; I was too busy gazing at the castle); mid-April (pretty crowded!); mid-March (not crowded); mid-June (not very crowded/ early closing hours at MK /HOT!); November (the days just before T-Day = increasingly crowded); early May (kind of crowded... more so than I expected); January after MLK Day (1 day only; shockingly full at MK)

We are going for 5 days starting 10/24. First ever MNSSHP . I have enlisted the help of Tour Guide Mike to help us beat whatever crowds we may face.

 

[disney09]

I too love to read about September being a very low month... If I can get into Splash Mountain 3 times in a row, they that'll make my day!
I don't like hot & humid, neither does DH, but... hot & humid, Disney and small crowds?? Bring 'em on!! Disney here we come!!!
can'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twait!!!!!!

So happy now I could cry...

 

[Leanne1977]

I too love to read about September being a very low month... If I can get into Splash Mountain 3 times in a row, they that'll make my day!
I don't like hot & humid, neither does DH, but... hot & humid, Disney and small crowds?? Bring 'em on!! Disney here we come!!!
can'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twait!!!!!!

So happy now I could cry...

So i take it you can't wait then?

I, too, am very very excited and it can't come quick enough for me. As i am from the UK we have to book early to try and get the best price on flight etc so i have been waiting over a year.

Come on September hurry up!!!!!

 

[steffali]

I have a trip planned for the end of Sept. to first week of Oct. but I am concerned with the Free Dining Plan that it will be crowded We are thinking of switching to January now. Does anyone think that with the FDP it will be more crowded than usual. HELPPPP!!!! Thanks

 

[carolinagirl]

Last week of Sept!

Shhhh! That week has become our annual WDW vacation time. My kids are out of school for three days every year during the last week of September. How perfect! Add to that the fact that they have started having MNSSHP during that time and the Free Dining Plan last year and this year............SWEET!!!!! But let's keep it under wraps about the low crowds....OK?!

 

[Bob P]

I have a trip planned for the end of Sept. to first week of Oct. but I am concerned with the Free Dining Plan that it will be crowded We are thinking of switching to January now. Does anyone think that with the FDP it will be more crowded than usual. HELPPPP!!!! Thanks

I posted this on another thread. I'll repeat it here:


Everyone take a deep breath!

The parks will NOT be crowded.

I'm not saying you can walk on to everything.

I'm not saying it will be empty and that you and a dozen others will be the only ones there.

But this September--and every other September until they change the school calendars in the U.S.--will be as empty as you will ever see WDW.

Enjoy your trip, everyone...I wish I were going with you!