What do YOU think is the BEST time to go to WDW?

[BlondeAppetit]

We are heading to WDW this September for the first time since 1984!

Now that we have two little girls, I am considering taking advantage of a potential bounce back offer to plan a second trip!

I would love to stay at the Poly (after construction!) or maybe GF.

We would always be driving since we live in SC.

I have found the weekend after Labor Day to be fairly easy to book ADRs and possibly a slower weekend based on published crowd reports.

Free dining was announced and it is during MNSSHP. Epcot Food and Wine Festival seems like something we would enjoy and it begins a week or so after we leave. Also, Christmas seems like a fun time too!

When do you think it the best time of year to travel to WDW?

Based on crowds, events, and price.

Thanks!

 

[babydoll65]

With the way the crowds have been increasing, I'd say the month of September,second and third week of November. I used to go in October but that month has been increasing in crowds since alot of schools have fall break. We will be trying The third week of September next year. Never been in September so I guess I'll have to put up with the heat but at least the crowds should be better.

 

[glassslippergirl]

! When do you think it the best time of year to travel to WDW? Based on crowds, events, and price. Thanks!

My favorite time if year to visit is Christmas, but I am generally a huge Christmas lover. The decorations make it even more magical. Stay at GF if you do go a Christmas; their decorations are the best with a huge tree in the lobby and a life-sized gingerbread house where they sell gingerbread. The Candlelight Processional in Epcot is probably my favorite special event, like a Christmas pageant on steroids. Early December is good for avoiding crowds. Attend a MVMCP for all the special holiday offerings at MK.

Crowds are supposedly pretty low around Labor Day (never been then as I'm a teacher), but it's still very hot, and there's no special events. Adults will love F&W, but I'm not sure your little ones would find it as exciting. Plus, I've read some reports here the last few years that it's getting a little rowdy in the evenings-- haven't experienced that myself.

Either way, have fun on this trip and your first trip in September.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

If our kids were pre-school, probably September.

As is, late May or early June. We love the water parks & wouldn't have any interest in a cooler time of the year

 

[nooneshome]

Sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The decorations are up, the weather is tolerable and you may get FD.

 

[mggeary]

If missing school is not an issue, I'd vote for last week Jan/1st week Feb. Almost Sept level crowds and in our taste perfect weather 60s/70s. Also week before thanksgiving to see Xmas stuff.

 

[NC State]

I love going the week after Labor Day. School is back in so the crowds are low but it's HOT! My second favorite time is mid-late February. Extra low crowds but the temps can be chilly.

 

[staceyrhood]

The first week of December is a great time you can see decorations and crowds are not bad. Also first week of February and right after labor day have very low crowds.

 

[mslhb]

First week of December is my favorite time to go. Christmas stuff is in full swing, cooler weather and moderate crowd levels.

 

[Surfinpiratee]

How do you guys feel about May??

 

[Kristine316]

Personally, I don't think September crowds justify dealing with the stifling heat and humidity. I think at one time September crowds were so low that dealing with sweat dripping down your face and pouring rain every afternoon was probably worth it but, now the crowds that time of year aren't even that small anymore.

We are going back in September (only because it was the only time that worked for us this year) and as much as I can't wait for our vacation, I am also a little hesitant about what we will find with FP+, the heat and probably more crowds as it seems WDW gets busier every single year no matter what month a person goes.



Some may find this hard to believe but, our late September trip in 2012 was actually the busiest one we have experienced. There were a ton of people around.. DTD was absolutely jammed on the night we went, we could barely walk. Our resort was really bustling, restaurants were packed with folks using the FD offer. We did walk right on some rides like HM, LWTL, POTC, Figment...
but, from what I understand even during slow times these rides have lines now because of FP+.


The best crowds we have experienced was late January 2011.. the crowds were great and the weather was just beautiful.

In my experience the end of January is one of the best times to go but, I don't think there is a definitive right answer because everyone has different things they are looking for in a WDW vacation and no time of year is perfect.
One family may not mind the heat but, would hate a trip where the temps were on the cooler side.. for me I hate the heat but, would enjoy a trip where it was cooler. Some families may love the late night hours that summer provides but, another family may like the idea of lower crowds and don't mind missing out on some attractions and the longer hours.

 

[lauradis]

Any time we can. but never during holiday weekends.

Loved the middle of October but whine and food fest ruined it.

Next trip is First week in December because we haven't been during Xmas in long time.

 

[aimeebarb]

How do the bounce backs work?

We are going the first week of December, which I hear is a good time. We don't want to pull the girls out in the future though, so we will have to go when they are off.

Someone posted this the other day and it's helpful to see crowd rates and prices at the different resorts. I was surprised that the whole month of August is a value season. I know it's HOT, but we might have to go then in the future...

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/disney-rates.htm

 

[FancyNancy]

We really enjoy the last week of April into the first week of May. Crowd levels are usually 3 or 4 and you have the Flower and Garden Festival.

 

[Surfinpiratee]

We really enjoy the last week of April into the first week of May. Crowd levels are usually 3 or 4 and you have the Flower and Garden Festival.

Oh really?! I'd love to see Flower and Garden!!

 

[illinidp]

My favorite time to go is late September once the Halloween stuff is out and the Food & Wine festival is going on. Fairly low crowds and usually pretty good weather.

That said, I've been at Christmas. Everybody should go at Christmas at least once. Early Dec through Dec 22 or so is the best time to go then. If you can time your trip to end after the first couple of days the Christmas party is included in the park ticket, that works well.

 

[Wood Nymph]

How do you guys feel about May??

We really enjoy the last week of April into the first week of May. Crowd levels are usually 3 or 4 and you have the Flower and Garden Festival.

The very end of April and first part of May is a great time to go. The crowds are fairly low, the weather is great for swimming but not too hot for parks, and the Flower and Garden Show is great. I love the addition of the food kiosks.

How do the bounce backs work?

We are going the first week of December, which I hear is a good time. We don't want to pull the girls out in the future though, so we will have to go when they are off.

Someone posted this the other day and it's helpful to see crowd rates and prices at the different resorts. I was surprised that the whole month of August is a value season. I know it's HOT, but we might have to go then in the future...

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/disney-rates.htm

Here is a picture of the 2014 bounce back offer in the Be Our Guest booklet in our packet when we were at the WL the first week of Dec 2013. There should be a similar one for 2015 when you are at WDW this December. You have to look for it in the folder with all the other information.

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[Amy&Dan]

How do you guys feel about May??

Early to mid May is absolutely my hands down favorite time to go and I have been every month of the year but July to WDW (over 20 trips total over ten years).

I like May for the warm but generally not humid sticky weather. No hurricane threat. No schools are still in, spring breaks are long over. Good deals on the resorts.

You do have to work around Grad Nites at the Magic Kingdom but we have always made that work.

We used to go this time of year (late April into the first two weeks of May) when my kids did year round schooling. It was a SAD day for me when they switched to traditional calendar because we had to give up this time frame. But next year dd graduates high school the third week of May and I am already thinking we will go!

 

[librarymom2007]

We went the second week in November. It was warm but not humid, crowds were low, food and Wine was there, and everything was decorated for Christmas. That was the best time.

 

[MystikaFaith]

We last went the beginning of December and it was delightful for the following reasons.

#1. The Christmas decorations were up and they were spectacular.

#2. The weather was lovely. There was one day where it was simply too hot, but the others were very comfortable (BTW I'm a Canadian and I simply hate the heat). Because the temperatures were cooler, we practically had Blizzard Beach to ourselves. I believe one of the cast members said that there were only 20 others in the park when we entered and they were all Canadian too lol. We barely saw any of them and it was so so nice to have an entire water park to ourselves. It really wasn't that cold and the water was heated. It was bliss. It only rained once during the 8 days we were there and the rain was light and only lasted an hour.

#3. No crowds. I had seen so many images of Disney with people EVERYWHERE. I dreaded the thought. But the beginning of December there were very low volumes of people and no wait time for the lines. With the exception of the last two days we were there (which would have been the Thursday and Friday before Christmas break officially began), it became quite congested then and we actually had to wait for rides

#3. Hurricane season is over.

#4. It's colder, so snakes (I have a HUGE phobia) are less active or so I keep telling myself