The slowest time to go

[Brodiecat]

When is the absolute slowest time of the year and where can I get this info?

 

[yesdisneyfool]

I can't remember where I saw it here, but I believe Jan and Sept are the slowest times. Hopefully someone these boards will remember and post a link.

 

[dturner]

From wdwig.com:

The Lowest Attendance --

* January (except New Year's Day) until just prior to Presidents' Week in February
* The week following Labor Day until the week prior to Thanksgiving
* The week following Thanksgiving until mid-December

More Moderate Attendance:

* After Presidents' week in February through early March
* Late April through early June (except Memorial Day weekend)
* Columbus Day Weekend (October)
* The first part of Thanksgiving week

Highest Attendance:

* Presidents' week in February
* Mid March through Late April ("Spring Break")
* Memorial Day weekend
* Mid June through Labor Day
* Thanksgiving Day and weekend
* Christmas week through New Year's Day

A recent inquiry of Disney regarding which days to visit which parks had the following response:

"During regular attendance periods, our parks tend to be the busiest on the following days:

* Magic Kingdom: Monday, Thursday, and Saturday
* Epcot: Tuesday and Friday
* Disney-MGM Studios: Sunday and Wednesday
* Disney's Animal Kingdom: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday"

Hope this helps.

 

[kdibattista]

We always went the week after Labor Day... it has been described as the slowest week of the entire year!!!

 

[rlduvall]

I know the guidebooks still say October is one of the slowest times of the year, but I don't completely agree. It is considered regular season, not value, by WDW and with Jersey Week, the PGA open and other things scheduled that month, it is getting pretty busy.

 

[Dznefreek]

October 1st is the slowest day of thew slowest month. That is why for a time new rides, shows, parks were opened on 10/1.

 

[Pig Pen]

I have been multiple times during different times of the year and this is my experience....I cannot recall going in January, July, or November...but it is possible...I just can't remember them all.

Slowest to busiest:

1. Sept after Labor Day - DEAD
2. First week in December - almost DEAD
3. May - weeks between Mother's Day and Memorial Day - very manageable
4. October - I don't remember big crowds
5. April after Easter - More lines, but still manageable...probably even more so with FASTPASS
6. February before President's Day - I recall long waits, but before FASTPASS and the Dis.
7. June and August - HOT & CROWDED - avoid if at all possible. I remember 1 1/2 hours for Space Mountain and running from shade patch to shade patch to try to stay cool. Miserable.

 

[MrShiny]

I would tend to agree that October is not as slow as it once was. Disney' fiscal year starts 10/1, but it seems to be busier tha it was in the past. December before Christmas week (in fact before Christmas day) is very slow. It can be cold then, but the parks are decorated and there are usually ample special events and fireworks.

 

[excitedmom]

for those of us who are not american, can you translate the holiday names for dates? i can barely remember some of my own national holidays, much less those of another country lol

 

[CWIPPERMAN]

These are the main holidays discussed above. Most of them are not always a set day of the year (like Christmas is December 25th), but are a set day of the week.

Martin Luther King Day - The third Monday in January
Presidents Day - The third Monday of February
Easter - Third Sunday of April
Mothers Day - Second Sunday of May
Memorial Day - Last Monday of May
Fathers Day - Third Sunday of June
Independence Day - 4th of July
Labor Day - First Monday of September
Columbus Day - Second Monday of October
Halloween - October 31st
Veterans Day - November 11th
Thanksgiving - Last Thursday of November
Christmas Day - December 31st
New Years Day - January 1st


So..... generally speaking most US Holidays are observed on Mondays - making for 3 day weekends (Saturday, Sunday, and then the Monday). These weekends are almost always much more crowded than the average weekend. MOST US School years run from around Labor Day to around Memorial Day. During this period, you will generally find lower attendence. The exceptions during this period is the week of Thanksgiving (From The Saturday before - to the Sunday after), when most schools are out. Also, the week of Christmas - until AFTER New Years Day is also crowded because again schools are out.

Of course there will always be some crowds at WDW. In 1994 I was there during the week of Thanksgiving - and it was a madhouse. Last year, we were there the second week of September, and many rides were walk-on. When planning - and looking for a slow time - just try to pick times when kids will be in school. It is during these times that WDW will be less crowded.

Hope this helps - and if I messed up on my Holiday Conversion Chart, I'm sorry...... I don't have a calendar in front of me.

 

[CWIPPERMAN]

Just an afterthought here. You can also watch the Disney Hours posted on their site to see which days are traditionally busier. If you notice that the park is normally open from 9AM - 5PM (0900 - 1700) every day - and suddenly is open until 9PM (2100), then that should tell you that they expect a larger attendence that day (that is why weekends traditionally have loger hours than weekdays). Also look for clues about projected attendence like extra parades or shows scheculed for that day. Keep track of their "special events" calendar. What may traditionally be a slow time of year may be very busy due to a special event they have that day or week (this years' big pin trading event is around September 20th or 21st at EPCOT.... it should be very busy at EPCOT that day).

Unfortunately Disney hours are only posted for 3 months in advance, but you can fine tune your park touring schecule by using these hours - and avoid the parks that may be expecting higher crowds on a particular day (we will be avoiding EPCOT during this years trip on the pin trading days).

 

[Virgo10]

I'd have to agree with September being slow. That is usually when I go to WDW and it's wonderful. The rides are almost all walk ons. On the down side, the hours are cut to the bare minimum but with so few people there, it's easy to do everything you want to do.

The only time I've found crowds of any sort is at the MK if they're showing Spectro and the fireworks.

Roberta

 

[Jay Since 72]

I've been there the week after Thanksgiving, and I've actually been the only person in a Magic Kingdom restroom. If that's not a good indicator of low crowds, I don't know what is. Plus, the Christmas decorations are up, which is fun.

 

[nowellsl]

So far, the slowest time I've been was the first week of December. Never been in September so I hope you all are right about the low crowds!!! We're going this Sept.

 

[Gillian]

The first week in september is very, very slow. By the middle of the month it starts to pick up, but it's still a slow time. October is now considered regular season, not value season, and it's become very popular. Lots of conventions, golf things, the Halloween parties, etc.

Early Fall is nice because the weather is still warm so you can swim. January is also a slow time, but the weather can be terrible.

 

[jeannej]

The time frame my family goes is from mid January to mid Febraury. Very few lines, no waiting at resturaunts etc. Family really enjoys staying on property then. Only draw back is that it may or may not be warm enough to swim.

jeannej

 

[beccasmom]

The first few weeks of December are pretty slow, but sometimes heavy Disney Cruise crowds can change that, as it did when I took the cruise in 1998. The weather was terrific, although that is a variable......I froze one year there in December!

Early May is good - my preferred time to go - and late August through September is good as well. October seems to be a month of many golf tournaments. We went one year in mid-January for my birthday and it was a mob scene - many people taking a long weekend for the federal holiday.

 

[beth j]

can anyone tell me what jersey week is? i gather it starts o nov 2, so does my holiday but what is it and will it affect the crowds?
thanks