Realistically speaking, what is a crowd level of 1-3 like?

[Regan1103]

my mom and I are planning a trip to take my son to MNSSHP this fall and are looking at the first week of parties. We, at this time, are not planning on park days since we just had a big trip over spring break and will have time in MK during the party. However! Those low numbers are making us rethink not hitting the parks. We have never been during off season and When we go parks are no less than a 7 (normally 9s) and we always have a great time.

Is it worth getting tickets to experience crowd levels that low or since crowds in general have drastically increased over the past few years would we really not notice too much of a difference?

 

[Skywise]

It's like a unicorn maaaaan!! It doesn't exist anymore!!!

I would think a 1-3 is something like EMH hours or just after opening or a rain storm. The park feels REALLY empty. i was there during Christmas Week and walking around the parks themselves weren't too much of a problem even with crowd levels of 10 (except for "Event times" like during the parade and castle lighting) Ride wait times were, of course, over the top so that might be a more important factor for crowd levels - Otherwise though the crowd levels didn't bother me too much.

 

[Regan1103]

Haha! It seems a too little full of rainbows and glitter to us to be something to get excited about haha. Crowds don't bother us at all. We always get everything we want done during super crazy times (like Xmas/nye week) so we were just so curious

 

[Mikie]

I travel in the increasingly-popular October time frame and I thought I could really tell the difference between the parks we were in on days with a 4 level vs. those on that same trip that were rated as a 7. I definitely think it would be noticeable to you to see some 1-3's especially if you're used to 9's!

I have heard repeatedly that present-day 1-3 is not the same as that reported crowd level 5-10 years ago, but it would still be dramatically less than your most recent trips in a busy time. About 5 years ago, we went late Sept and it was sooooo much slower than last year's October trip for us. One day in DHS actually felt like we were the only people around - I almost wished there were a *few* more people because it lacked that high-energy feel of a happy crowd!

If you weren't planning on getting any tickets at all, deciding to go for just a day or two is a pretty big jump in expenses, but if I were in Orlando during crowd levels that low, I wouldn't be able to stay away!

 

[sweetnjmom]

The only trip to WDW that I had with crowd levels of 1-3 was back in November 2001 -- two months after 9/11. My friend and I went for 2 days (staying at All Star Music) with hoppers and managed to see a LOT with near empty parks. But that was a different time where people were afraid to fly and everyone was affected by the tragedy. We had booked the trip prior to the events.

 

[nilla]

Heaven.

A 1-3 day is like Heaven.

 

[LaurenT]

Huge difference - we usually travel twice a year. Presidents week or Easter week and then a longer trip at the end of August. End of August is much more laid back - but, though it seems counter intuitive, it's even more important to follow recommended days. The recommended parks will be delightful - if you go to the ones to avoid... The ones everyone who is around is going to because they have the MSEP that night - or the park isn't closing early for a party, etc, you'll wonder why anyone would call it a slow season.
If you plan to go back again in the following 12 months, I would recommend getting an AP. That way you're not really spending much more to include park days this trip, and you can take advantage of the various discounts.

 

[starsweeper]

Our first trip with kids in January 2009 was crowd days of 2-4, it was fantastic! Short lines, plenty of availability for ADRs and wide open walkways.

 

[vrajewski10513]

IDK why a 1-3 crowd level would deterr you from going? That would draw me in even more!

 

[DisneyFive]

Pretty much all of our days at WDW have been 1-3's (we go late Sept). It's not like the parks are empty by any means. There are still people everywhere. Standby times regularly still get ridiculous (120+ minutes) for the really popular attractions. ...but it's not WALL TO WALL people. You aren't bumping shoulders with anyone. Park opening is VERY quiet for a while.

We do easily notice a significant crowd increase on the days when we've been to parks that are a 5 or higher. It's only been a about 5 times that we've hit a 5 or higher, but Yes, it's noticeable. All of our other days, about 30, have been in that 1-3 range.

Dan

 

[Regan1103]

Haha those low numbers are attracting not deterring for sure! Thanks for all the input! I am pretty sure we are going to end up rearranging our stay some and getting tickets. Our original plan was to do the out of park experiences we have never done (pony rides, mini golf, pool days) but we already discuss the inevitability that we will get tickets haha