Slow Season - RIP?

[jerseyduke]

Whomever is still saying that early December is a slow time isn't really looking at current numbers. It's been years since I'd have called it a slow time. It's not a holiday but it's not slow.

I called it slow. And while it might not be the slowest of slow times, last week was easily double what it had been on the various weeks I had been there between Thanksgiving and Christmas between 2012-2016.

Comparing it to comparable weeks over the previous 5 years, there was no comparison. The difference was night and day.

Also, Pop Warner was not the week I mentioned, it was the week before.

DVC adventure season is Jan, Sept. and the 1st two weeks of Dec.

I was there 12/10/2016 - 12/18/2016 and 12/9/2017 - 12/17/2016 so, basically the same week. If there is no slow time then so be it. But week #50 in 2017 was double what it was in 2016. I was also there week after Labor Day 2016&2017. plus last week of sept. The September weeks had a mild increase this year over last. Nothing compared to what I experienced last week. And, labor day week this year had F&W, unlike 2016, and the increase for that week was minor.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I called it slow. And while it might not be the slowest of slow times, last week was easily double what it had been on the various weeks I had been there between Thanksgiving and Christmas between 2012-2016.

Comparing it to comparable weeks over the previous 5 years, there was no comparison. The difference was night and day.

Also, Pop Warner was not the week I mentioned, it was the week before.

DVC adventure season is Jan, Sept. and the 1st two weeks of Dec.

I was there 12/10/2016 - 12/18/2016 and 12/9/2017 - 12/17/2016 so, basically the same week. If there is no slow time then so be it. But week #50 in 2017 was double what it was in 2016. I was also there week after Labor Day 2016&2017. plus last week of sept. The September weeks had a mild increase this year over last. Nothing compared to what I experienced last week. And, labor day week this year had F&W, unlike 2016, and the increase for that week was minor.

We've consistently gone that second week too sometimes getting into the 3rd week and sometimes the first week but as I mentioned I really haven't considered it slow for quite awhile. I was there the 1st week of Dec this year and many were commenting about that time too but to me it really wasn't outside my expectations. I'm not saying that I don't miss the slow time though.

 

[Micca]

If I'm Disney (and I'm not) I'm looking at these posts and preparing my presentation for "How we Triple our rates" for a non-busy time. I'll be including the savings we'll see on hourly employees (because of fewer crowds at $300 per day) and the profits we'll see @ X3 our normal rates. It's only a matter of time.

 

[Tigger1]

We were there D2c 2 to Dec 9th. Felt as busy as going in July.

 

[J and R's mom]

Yes it was more crowded than I ever remember in the beginning of December. This was the first time I was in MK and heard over a loud speaker that the viewing area is full. Stay where you are to watch.
Never heard it before but heard it every day we were in MK.

 

[JLitfin]

We visited the week of Dec 8 - 16 and I would of gone crazy if I hadn't planned ahead of time. We had all our dining reservations and was able to pick up the ones I needed while walking through Hollywood Studios on day one and we also had FP+ for all our park days. The wait for FoP was about 3 hours at one point and the River of Navi was about an hour and a half. I had FP+ for the FoP and got on the Navi ride right after breakfast around park opening with no wait. Planning ahead is very important these days since WDW has become very busy with no slow period. We were talking to the CM while waiting to enter AK for our early breakfast and she can't wait till Star Wars opens, that way everyone will head to HS and lighten the crowds at AK once again.

Bobbi we were also at the MK on 12/10 and was it crowded, more crowded then I would of thought for a party night. We did speak to several while waiting in lines and everyone we spoke with was from the area and visiting for the day which makes for more crowds. I picked our park days from the crowd calendar and discover that the days I picked increased once our week hit. We still had a good time and yes I'll do it again, love being at Disney during the holidays.

 

[goofy4tink]

I've been going down that first week or so in Dec for almost 17 years now. It's gotten worse and worse over the past 5 years. I think my last trip will be my last at this time of year. We arrived the day after Thanksgiving, the 24th, I left on Dec 6. I have never seen crowds like I saw then. I know some people think the crowds weren't all that bad, but for me, when I think of how it used to be? Nope, 45 min waits for IASW aren't my cup of tea!!!
I was there from Labor Day on...got trapped due to Irma, so stayed about 3 days longer than I had planned. The crowds were hefty then too!!! Same for race weekend! We got to do the FP attractions we had booked, and maybe one other ride. But that was it.
I'm looking forward to going the end of January to see what the crowds are like then!

 

[Meriweather]

We should see you then!

I hope so.....when are you going?

 

[bobbiwoz]

I hope so.....when are you going?

Too early to book, but we are considering 1-15....some tweaking of dates.

 

[Kidanifan08]

Our son is now in middle school, so we are traveling in the summer. We have gone in July the last two summers, and the crowds have not been that bad. Our last F&W visit was October 2015 -- and I really mean that was our last! I won't go again until the next recession. We just booked 5 nights at OKW over Thanksgiving weekend next year. We were there for TG last year and it wasn't too bad. We'll be at Epcot next Friday before our cruise on the Fantasy, and I am dreading the crowds. Luckily it is a one day stay and we have FP for the rides we want to do; and CP dinner reservations at Via. Fortunately, the next 6 years of my son's schooling will keep us in the hot and humid June/July period for WDW traveling. It's the new "low season"!!

 

[Meriweather]

Too early to book, but we are considering 1-15....some tweaking of dates.

Not booked yet, but also looking at 1-15!!
Maybe we can finally met yo again.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Not booked yet, but also looking at 1-15!!
Maybe we can finally met yo again.

That would be great!

 

[Wakey]

In going 21 July next which I think may actually be slower now than many other times of year.

 

[ellynsoh]

December 4-12 was also very busy. The parks were manageable with adrs and fastpass, but I was shocked to see hundreds of people waiting for the monorail at Grand Floridian and Polynesian. At GF, five pm on a weekday, the line extended into the resort to the elevator. I knew enough to take a launch, luckily.

 

[amccu18007]

Summer, to me, IS the new slow season. July and August this year were far slower than October and December. We were at MK on December 10th and it was insane. We hopped over to Epcot for the Candlelight Processional and DVC party and it too was busy. The weather was cold which I believe kept people in the parks that would otherwise be enjoying the resort pools so that did not help.

 

[amccu18007]

I will add that on the morning of the 14th, I went over to MK and ended up doing 5 rides in an hour and 10 minutes. I got FP as soon as I walked in the park and kept on adding FP's as soon as I scanned onto a ride.

 

[dclpluto]

I was at wdw three times this year. 7 nights first week of June. 10 nights for the hurricane in September. Than 7 nights first week of december. First week of dec was a lot busier than the first week of June. Remember the economy is really good it’s goimg to be bad.

 

[citivas]

The current slow seasons are:

Midwinter: mid-Jan through February, except for holiday weekends, and

Midsummer, except for July 4th

What is your definition of the range of the "mid summer" slow season? Crowds remain high all through July. Perhaps "late summer"? as they do get better starting the last week of August and in September. Though even that isn't what it used to be. We have often gone at the last week of August right before our school starts but after others already have. Last time the crowd calculators said it was 2-4's but it felt more like 7-8's versus our previous experiences. Without FP's we would have been in a lot of 1 hour-plus lines.

 

[Shanti]

What is your definition of the range of the "mid summer" slow season? Crowds remain high all through July...We have often gone at last week of August...

I would consider midsummer to be from mid-June through early August (not counting the few days around July 4th). From your response, it doesn't sound like you have actually visited WDW in July in recent years, but we have. Crowds were not high. In late July 2016, crowds were actually low. I haven't seen crowds that low since January 2009.

 

[Wakey]

I would consider midsummer to be from mid-June through early August (not counting the few days around July 4th). From your response, it doesn't sound like you have actually visited WDW in July in recent years, but we have. Crowds were not high. In late July 2016, crowds were actually low. I haven't seen crowds that low since January 2009.

Good. I used to aim for late August (UK school vacations late July to early September) on the theory that many US States have returned to school by then. Next year we are 21st July, so maybe will not be too bad.