Slowest 2 weeks of the year

[matsterrocks]

When are the slowest two weeks of the year for Disney World?

 

[Bill From PA]

The week starting a day or 2 after New Year's Day, we were there on '05 from 1/1 - 10 and from 1/3 on we owned the place, I actually wished there were more people there, if you can believe that. I'm told that somewhere between Thanksgiving itself and a week before Christmas is the same but I can't verify that.

Bill From PA

 

[mickey0216]

While I can't point to a book and state with any authority that the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is less busy than other week.... I can tell you that after several trips to WDW, my new favorite week is the week after Thanksgiving. We did so last year, and I am considering going back this year for the same week.

All of the Christmas decorations are up and operating, and the crowds are more than manageable. Lower than any other week that I've been there. Further, I checked over the weekend and I can still get "reasonable" airfare and a room in the category that I want at the GF, which says a lot about room bookings.

 

[Harambe]

We've gone twice in January, and DH swears that Disney handles the slower volume accordingly - by having fewer registers open in gift shops, fewer busses, shorter park hours,etc. One night we went to Epcot, and both the boat rides in Mexico and Norway were closed for the night. CM couldn't give us a reason.

I don't really agree with him, but he argues the point well!

We now go last week of August. It is crowded but doable with Fastpass. And the heat kinda forces you to slow down, which isn't a bad thing.

 

[KingdomHeartsFan]

While I'm not sure about other times of the year, the 2nd to 3rd week of December was great. December 13 - 16 it was like we had the whole place basically to ourselves. December 15th, Magic Kingdom was a ghost town... we basically walked on to every ride in the park. Wait for Peter Pan was like 5 to 10 minutes all day. When the weekend arrived it was a different story. The crowds started arriving for Christmas week and the whole place became a madhouse. Either way we love it!

 

[BlindTyldak]

My three prior trips were the middle of Sept in 1996, first week of December in 1998, and the third week of October in 2004. The least crowds were the September trip, around Sept. 10th or so that year, where the longest wait we had for any ride was five minutes for Space Mountain. The December trip wasn't too bad, average wait of 15 minutes for most rides, longest wait 45 minutes for Splash Mountain one day. October 2004 was INSANELY busy with average ride waits in the hour range, half hour to 45 minutes WITH Fastpass; CM's said that it was mostly people who had rescheduled because of all the hurricanes that hit Florida that year.

This year we're timing it between MNSSHP and MVMCP, so hopefully we'll be really slow again.

 

[Junebugwv]

We went early October 2001. I'm sure the other 23 people at the parks would tell you it was ghostly quiet.

 

[Smileybug]

I really like what I am hearing about the low crowds after Thanksgiving. We are going the Sunday after for a week!! Hopefully good timing!!

 

[goofie4goofy]

Since we don't have kids we usually go off season. Last year was our first time going in December 10-15 and it was pretty good however it was more crowded than Sept. As we were leaving to go home TONS of people were checking in. We do go every September and we have found the crowds to be the lowest at that time....most rides are walk on. We usually go during the 2nd week of Sept or so, the downside is that it is very hot and steamy and always an afternoon shower/Tstorm. Since we have already been on everything due to low crowds, it's no biggie.

Another good time is just before spring recesses and just after......the dates fluctuate, so you would have to check the calendar. Watch out for long weekend holidays like Predidents Day...I have heard the crowd levels are really high.

 

[erinch]

i read on another board that the Pop Warner cheerleaders are there Dec 3-9. Don't know how much they go to the parks, but they certainly affect the resorts they stay at.

 

[sharibrat]

Last year we went the week BEFORE Thanksgiving. The buses were not crowded and there were virtually no lines. We even cancelled some ADR's and easily got in elsewhere. The Christmas decorations were up to enjoy also at this time.
We are going the same week this year!

 

[kaze1sd]

According to the Passporter the absolute lowest time of the year is after middle two weeks of January (call January 8th to 22nd'ish). Its a little graph in the book... I'll scan it when I get home.

That being said, the graph doesn't really jive with the Unofficial Guide's best days calendar. According to the best days calendar the absolute best times to go are:

January 28-30
September 4-14, 16, 19, 24, 26-28, 30
October 29-31
December 10-15

The above dates are all at crowd level 4 which is the lowest on the calendar. There are not two consecutive weeks at a crowd level 4 but many of the dates surrounding the above dates are at a 5-6 level. You will have to choose according to what best fits your schedule.

IMHO, I do believe the UG's best days calendar more because I believe they are constantly testing and taking data in the parks. You can find the best days calendar here

Hope this helps!

 

[dixiedizfan]

The week starting a day or 2 after New Year's Day, we were there on '05 from 1/1 - 10 and from 1/3 on we owned the place, I actually wished there were more people there, if you can believe that.

Bill From PA

This is not true anymore! We were there January 1 - 8 of this year, and it was the most crowded week of any that we've been, including March. January 3rd in MK was PACKED. Most schools in the southeast have Christmas break til the second week of January, which accounts for most of the crowds. And tons of foreigners account for the rest. Next year New Years Day falls on a Monday, so I expect the parks will be even more crowded.

 

[freediverdude]

I think the absolute lowest crowd levels are a toss up between early to mid September (the 2 or 3 weeks after Labor Day), and early to mid January (the two or 3 weeks after the New Year's weekend). But also, they tend to close the parks way earlier during those times and also tend to have some less popular things closed for refurbishment or open limited hours. January tends to be pretty chilly though, so I think September is the best time.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I have always read that, traditionally, the first few weeks after Thanksgiving have been the slowest. I have been there at that time for the past 7 years (hope 8 this year) and I can say it is quite slow. You still do need to be aware of which park//which day/night (TGM)

 

[antmaril]

We go the second week of January. We went this year and are going again in 2007. Just love it. The weather is very nice. (We are coming from Michigan, so anything in the low 60's to 70's feels fantastic in January). The crowds are almost non-existent. We think it's a great time to visit WDW.

 

[clori]

I've been early January and the first week of February. For whatever reason we found that the early January had more crowds than early February. I think it was because last year many schools had the first week of Jan off. I know have a school age kid but otherwise wouldn't hesitate to go the first week of February again Sure the hours were shorter but other than things with exact times like shows we walked onto everything and the weather wasn't hot/humid but it did get nice enough to swim a bit.

 

[dnoyes]

Twice in December 17-27 low crowds but a little cooler then we care for.

Twice in September 15-25 MUCH warmer and very low crowds, shorter park hours are not a problem when the parks are empty. We rode RnR 4 times and TOT twice in about 1 hour Walked in to Boma 3 times without ADRs and never had to stand on a bus.

This year we are going on the same dates (that's only 43 days away folks)

 

[PandaBear & Boo]

This is not true anymore! We were there January 1 - 8 of this year, and it was the most crowded week of any that we've been, including March. January 3rd in MK was PACKED.

This is when we were there and I've never seen it so packed before. This time we are trying the end of September. I think that the crowds all depend on what days the holidays land on and as well as the school breaks. The one reason we went the first week of January is because I read that it was one of the slowest times. I just hope that the end of September is slow and that the F&W crowds come the day we leave.

 

[oldschooledge]

My wife and i are planning on going from jan 13th to the 20th this year. i like what i am hearing about the crowds