Slowest week of the year?

[kermit116]

Last year we got to go to WDW twice - once in February around Super Bowl weekend (not President's weekend), and again the week after Thanksgiving. I had always heard the week after Thanksgiving was a great time to go because crowds were low and the Xmas decorations were up.

While we enjoyed the week-after Thanksgiving trip because of the Xmas decorations, the crowds were more like "regular" season than low season. The first week of February was much more quiet. Although it was too cold to swim, we really enjoyed that time of year because the lines were not bad, it was relatively simple to get dining reservations, and in general everything was less packed and less crazy.

 

[KungFoomF]

If September is an option, go for that...week after Labor Day or the week after that.

Came here to post this. I went Labor Day week and it was the lightest I've ever seen it BY FAR. I've been in early October and the second week of December based on word of mouth but neither of those even came close to what I experienced on September. The entire week was lineless. It was incredible. It was almost TOO light.

Of course Toy Story Mania was still a good wait. But it was the only fast pass we got all week. Seriously.

 

[DizneyLizzy]

The problem is, crowd level is totally subjective to what "feels" crowded to you. To me, since I normally travel during spring break when I've traveled over Memorial Day, or MLK weekend, I've felt like the parks were "empty." I can't even imagine what Oct, Nov, Dec must feel like, and I can't imagine complaining that any of those times are "crazy" or "crowded."

 

[chuckml]

Came here to post this. I went Labor Day week and it was the lightest I've ever seen it BY FAR. I've been in early October and the second week of December based on word of mouth but neither of those even came close to what I experienced on September. The entire week was lineless. It was incredible. It was almost TOO light.

Of course Toy Story Mania was still a good wait. But it was the only fast pass we got all week. Seriously.

This was our experience exactly last year the week of Labor Day. We got there the Saturday of Labor day weekend and stayed for 7 days, Absolute ghost town. Soarin had a wait of 5 minutes at 1:00 in the afternoon the day after Labor Day. Only used FP for TSM, didn't need it for anything else the entire week. We are going back the same week this year.

 

[disneychic2]

We've been in January, March, May, October, November and Dec. The best trip for us regarding the crowds was mid Decemeber (10th-18th or so).

Other than Soarin and Toy Story, I can't remember ever having to wait more than 10-15 minutes for any ride. I do know that our last day was the Saturday that started the week of Christmas and the crowds seemed to quadruple overnight.

Still for the decorations/crowds, we would choose early Dec if given a choice.

TX

We were there last Dec 1st to the 8th and we didn't like the crowd level at all. But then, we usually go in September when we just pretty much walk onto everything except Soarin and TSM. I would love to go the week before Thanksgiving sometime.

 

[TinkBride]

The week after Thanksgiving USED to be slow. But after free dining and deep discounts for that time of year, it has increased. But it is still not busy by any means.

DH and I went the week after Thanksgiving last year and we had a wonderful time, weather was nice, crowds were moderate, and Christmas decorations were in their full glory. But, it was significantly more crowded than the same week in 2006 (last time I was there for that week.)

If you notice the window "slow" times of year is getting smaller and smaller, Disney has been marketing the heck out of these times of year with free dining, deep resort discounts, and the creation of festivals, parties, and marathons. You can't blame them, they are a business at the end of the day.

But, you can still find pockets of time were things slow down a bit, and the week after Thanksgiving is still on that list technically. But for true slower times, you need to look at the month of January post marathon weekend.

But with the slow times, comes refurbs, shorter park hours, and less shows.

So, I still count the week after Thanksgiving as a good week to visit for maximum exposure with smaller crowds..........for now.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

It was almost TOO light.

.

I know the feeling.

We ate at Peco Bill's one day around lunch time...and we were literally the only table in the big dining room off to the left when walking away from counter.

Like....the ONLY table. Felt like something out of a post-apocalyptic movie

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

We tend to go during THE slowest times of the year - late January (after MLK) and in September. In 2010 we also went the end of Nov (Monday after Thanksgiving) into early December (the 3rd).

I can tell you post Thanksgiving was significantly busier than Jan/ Sept but not crazy. The decorations were really neat to see and I'm glad we went but we probably won't be going back during that time of year again.

 

[britfish]

when do the christmas decorations go up?

 

[momof2cutegirls]

when do the christmas decorations go up?

They will start putting them up after Halloween, and they will all be up by Thanksgiving.

We went to the Halloween Party in 2008 on Oct. 31, and there were Christmas decorations up the next day!

 

[Don Disney]

Came here to post this. I went Labor Day week and it was the lightest I've ever seen it BY FAR. I've been in early October and the second week of December based on word of mouth but neither of those even came close to what I experienced on September. The entire week was lineless. It was incredible. It was almost TOO light.

Of course Toy Story Mania was still a good wait. But it was the only fast pass we got all week. Seriously.

Dude!!! Stop telling everybody!

 

[joelkfla]

They will start putting them up after Halloween, and they will all be up by Thanksgiving.

We went to the Halloween Party in 2008 on Oct. 31, and there were Christmas decorations up the next day!

Except for the MK, which last year did not get it's tree until the 2nd week of December, so as not to get in the way of the Christmas Parade taping for ABC.

 

[KingdomHeartsFan]

Except for the MK, which last year did not get it's tree until the 2nd week of December, so as not to get in the way of the Christmas Parade taping for ABC.

We are arriving the weekend of the Christmas Parade taping... will the tree be up during the week after the parade taping? Hope its up before we check out the following Saturday.

 

[JessiLynn015]

There are 3 times of the year that are "slow". When I say slow, I mean that I can walk onto rides and the longest wait is 20-30 mins.

The last week of April, the last week of August/first week of October, and the week before Thanksgiving. We do try to avoid going on weekends though so that makes a difference in crowd levels.

 

[mom2rtk]

There are 3 times of the year that are "slow". When I say slow, I mean that I can walk onto rides and the longest wait is 20-30 mins.

The last week of April, the last week of August/first week of October, and the week before Thanksgiving. We do try to avoid going on weekends though so that makes a difference in crowd levels.

Well, the last week of April probably won't be QUITE as quiet this year.......

 

[RMulieri]

We are arriving the weekend of the Christmas Parade taping... will the tree be up during the week after the parade taping? Hope its up before we check out the following Saturday.

They generally move it into place after parade taping weekend.You should see it sometime that week

 

[RMulieri]

when do the christmas decorations go up?

They go up starting Early November at the Mk ( except the big tree, which is placed after parade taping in early December)and maybe the Osborne lights will be up too.As for all the other parks and resorts, they go up throughout November to be ready for Thanksgiving week.Certain things like the Candlelight processional and Holiday storytellers at Epcot do not start till the day after Thanksgiving.

 

[antmaril]

My friend and I were at WDW last year from November 30th to December 3rd. I was very surprised at how crowded it was. We really just wanted to see the Christmas decorations in the parks and some of the resorts. We had fun and loved being there at that time of year, but it was not slow by any means.

 

[huspaint]

Well, the last week of April probably won't be QUITE as quiet this year.......

I have reservations for the May 5-9. And it seems to be the first weekend after the craziness of spring break. But I do plan on heading over to Epcot because I want to see the Fresh from Florida speakers and maybe the container gardener guy on the 11th. Its good to be only an 45 minutes away though. But the slowest time I ever been was the first 2 days after Labor Day. In the evening we parked in the first 5 rows at Epcot and was in Minnie at MK all on the same day.

 

[mom2rtk]

I have reservations for the May 5-9. And it seems to be the first weekend after the craziness of spring break. But I do plan on heading over to Epcot because I want to see the Fresh from Florida speakers and maybe the container gardener guy on the 11th. Its good to be only an 45 minutes away though. But the slowest time I ever been was the first 2 days after Labor Day. In the evening we parked in the first 5 rows at Epcot and was in Minnie at MK all on the same day.

I bet the spring break crowds come to the quickest slowdown ever! I bet you'll have a great time in early May.

You guys are SO tempting me for that week after Labor Day. But being as heat-intolerant as I am.........I'll have to pass. Heat is the only thing that trumps crowds in my book!