Switching up WHEN to go to WDW

[Claudia Kellenberger]

Hi Everyone! I usually go to WDW somewhere within the first 2 weeks of December. I am thinking of changing this for 7 nights, sometime within the first 2 weeks of NOVEMBER. Please tell me, is this a crowded time? If it is crowded then, WHY is it crowded. Thanks so much!

 

[Genie+]

Whatever week is Election Day (which falls on a Tuesday sometime between Nov 2 and 8), that’ll be busier than the surrounding weeks. The timing of Veteran’s Day (which falls on Nov 11) can worsen that.

How late Thanksgiving falls impacts how busy the week before is. The less time between Halloween and Thanksgiving, the more busy the week before Thanksgiving will be.

I point these out because year to year things change. Being aware of potential causes helps future planning.

Personally I’d most likely opt for either the week before Thanksgiving or the week that covers Halloween (Oct going into Nov).

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Election Day falls into Jersey Week (NJ schools have off the Thursday and Friday of the first full week of November and some schools get off election day also) and can roll into Veteran's Day also. I have been that week twice and didn't find it outrageous crowd wise except for Epcot on the weekend due to Food and Wine.

I just came back from my first time going in December and I only want to go when it's cooler now. December to March. November can still be quite warm.

Honestly Disney is always busy. Aside from major holiday weeks I would go whenever I want to go and not worry about crowd levels. If you have a decent plan you'll be fine.

 

[bdrex28]

Hi Everyone! I usually go to WDW somewhere within the first 2 weeks of December. I am thinking of changing this for 7 nights, sometime within the first 2 weeks of NOVEMBER. Please tell me, is this a crowded time? If it is crowded then, WHY is it crowded. Thanks so much!

I have gone the end of October and at Thanksgiving , so I can only speak to the crowd calendar on Touring Plans that shows past days which end up being actual crowds that were observed.

the first week of Nov was 2, 4, 4, 3, 3, 4, 3
second week was 4, 5, 5, 4, 4, 2, 3

December through the 11th:

3, 2, 4, 2, 3, 4, 2, 4, 2, 3, 2


I've always been told the first two weeks of December are great but I've never been during that time. I would like to at some point

We have gone mid to late sept many many times. october, may, april, august, january and feb. and thanksgiving week once.

We have really liked January and first week of February. Weather is great and crowds felt low. Plus, and it's probably weird but since the sun goes down early you can see the glow of Avatar each evening which is fun.

 

[hardcorestitch]

Hi Everyone! I usually go to WDW somewhere within the first 2 weeks of December. I am thinking of changing this for 7 nights, sometime within the first 2 weeks of NOVEMBER. Please tell me, is this a crowded time? If it is crowded then, WHY is it crowded. Thanks so much!

It’s gonna be a whiplash between Halloween and holiday! Most folks are still in school or work, so you should be safe going to the parks on a weekday. Those first two weeks don’t have separately ticketed parties. It’s mid-November where you have to be cautious about the 6pm closures at MK.

 

[SL6827]

The month of January has and is continuing to be on Disney's radar. Disney is realizing that more and more people will not pay thousands of dollars on a sweatbox vacation. The rates in January are not as friendly as they used to be and the crowds are picking up more and more. People will pull thier kids out of school (like I did for the last 20 years) to be able to enjoy this investment. And that is what it is, an investment, because of the high cost.

So the cooler times, later times in the year, early times the following year are atrracting the crowds.

 

[focusondisney]

Those first two weeks don’t have separately ticketed parties. It’s mid-November where you have to be cautious about the 6pm closures at MK.

That’s not really accurate. The first week is mostly party free. But Christmas party started on November 7th this year, (November 8th in 2024). There were 5 parties between the 7th & 14th. Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios was held on Saturday November 8 & 15th, so weekdays weren’t affected for those. But MK only had 6 days between Halloween & Christmas parties, by the end of the 1st week, party season is in full swing.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Jersey Week, F&W marathon & Veterans Day are what happens around then that can influence crowds. If they coincide closely look out, if they’re more spread out you’re better off.

Book your hotel early, we have seen complaints of people who think they’ve discovered some low time in early Nov and are shocked the hotels are filled a few months out for the dates they want. Those complaints were particularly noticeable when the marathon was around Halloween a couple years ago.

 

[DizDaD7]

Hi Everyone! I usually go to WDW somewhere within the first 2 weeks of December. I am thinking of changing this for 7 nights, sometime within the first 2 weeks of NOVEMBER. Please tell me, is this a crowded time? If it is crowded then, WHY is it crowded. Thanks so much!

IMHO the absolute best time to go is in Nov. As you can see in my Signature, that we've done Jersey week, quite a few times now, and really loved it. The weather and crowds were a lil better than they've been recently , but quite honestly I still think it's manageable. We've also don Thanksgiving week the past 2 years and absolutely love that as well... So I'd think you'd be fine with either.... Keep in mind that if you go @ the very end of Oct. you'll get the Halloween decorations & then immediately afterwards you'll get the XMas decor, which is nice... Also you'll have the last lil run of F&W Fest too.