What is "low crowd" season these days?

[isyt]

www.touringplans.com

Thanks Maine, exactly what I was looking for!!!!

 

[jann1033]

not to be rebellious but does it seem strange to anyone else that the first couple weeks in Jan are rated as busier than Oct? unless something was crazy when we have gone in Jan( 04 was the last Jan trip) everything was a walk on except once at rnr we waited maybe 15 mins( maybe slightly busier than other yrs but nothing to fret about). so that would lead me to believe virtually no one was in the parks at all the last few days of sept and first week of oct...was that when the hurricanes hit or something that might have skewed the statistics?

 

[airtime]

maddhatir, don't worry. Not that many schools are on year-round schedules, and the ones that are schedule their breaks for various times, so they are unlikely to pile up on your week. Relax!

jann1033, if you are looking at TouringPlans.com's crowd ratings, note that the numbers relate to the projected peak wait time for the MK mountains on the given day. They don't reflect the particular crowd level throughout WDW. If you are an informed guest who knows what days to visit what parks and knows to visit in the morning and stay away in the afternoon, you may never see these peak wait times, and the parks may seem deserted even during a busy period. Conversely, by going mid-day to the busiest park, even the slowest time of year may seem crowded. Even a "3" crowd level represents a peak wait of about 1/2 hour at the mountains.


Tim, who has always loved the lack of crowds in mid-January!

 

[jwfla422]

In 2005 we went the following times:

May - First week, fairly empty, and we were there for the kick off for the Happiest Celebration on earth, even with press events and early park closures, we found the parks quite comfortable.

August - The last week, very empty and kinda yucky, lots of rain and of course hot & humid which is to be expected, but rides were all walk-ons.

October - Late October into the first week of November. VERY busy the first few days due to hurricane Wilma evacuees and refugees (that was us), but after the weekend, very low crowds during the week. Halloween night at MK was sold out and packed from what we heard but we enjoyed a fun Halloween party at the BW!! Would do it again in a hearbeat. (not the hurricane part though)

December - Mid month about 1 1/2 weeks before Xmas, ok the first day but then PACKED, will never go again at this time, packed, too busy for us "off-peakers"

So, I don't agree that there is no more "low crowd" season. Most of times we went above were low crowds except December. I guess it's all relative on what your comparing with. I just know that we were comparing everything to the other months when we were there in December and couldn't believe how busy it was more than a week before the peak holiday season.

I have relatives who went the first week in January and said it was empty. I also agree with September although we try to avoid this time anymore because we always get stuck dealing with some sort of storm. You can have days and days of rain if there's a tropical depression although lately it's been pretty popular having to dodge major hurricanes instead.

 

[maddhatir]

maddhatir, don't worry. Not that many schools are on year-round schedules, and the ones that are schedule their breaks for various times, so they are unlikely to pile up on your week. Relax!

im still just a little bit scared but thanks for helpin'

 

[Brooknwdw]

Well we are planning our next trip for Dec 11-16....this is a week BEFORE my kids get out for xmas break.
I planned it this way largely in part to avoid large crowds. I believe we will just miss the throngs. Plus we've never been at this time.

According to the UOG book 2006 I just bought, these days rank 4 on crowd level...which is about the lowest that I saw for the entire year!

So hopefully I am on key for a low crowd trip.

(Keep in mind I've been in June twice, so I know the heat/crowds of summer, compared to that SURELY we'll have less crowds!)

 

[tink4ever]

I think that now Disney offers so many different things. Like in March there are HS cheerleaders, in January there are the college cheerleading comp., Baseball, soccer etc.. So I think they fill in the slow times with conventions and competitions etc which boosts the attendance. But the funny thing is that my DH prefers the crowds. Out of all of the times we have been to Disney his favorite is Christmas. He rather be in a park when it is crowded than when it is empty. Isn't that odd? Don't get it but to each their own. and since I book all of the trips oh well. We just booked again in Jan 2007. There were 20 minute waits in Jan 2006 but thats not too bad. We are going March 21-26 and this year Easter is in April so who knows how bad the crowds will be. It is college spring break so we'll see.

 

[maddhatir]

Well we are planning our next trip for Dec 11-16....this is a week BEFORE my kids get out for xmas break.
I planned it this way largely in part to avoid large crowds. I believe we will just miss the throngs. Plus we've never been at this time.

According to the UOG book 2006 I just bought, these days rank 4 on crowd level...which is about the lowest that I saw for the entire year!

So hopefully I am on key for a low crowd trip.

(Keep in mind I've been in June twice, so I know the heat/crowds of summer, compared to that SURELY we'll have less crowds!)

keeeep an eye out for decembers POP Warner - i dont think it is shown on WWS yet. it is usually the beginning of december though.

 

[aterriq]

we were there in dec 2005 and were on small world- there were NO crowds so we just asked if we can stay on (it was for our 4yr old niece!- i would not torture myself like that! )



BREAK???? what break-- i thought i planned my vacation to the T checking out school holidays, WWS events, crowd levels and now you throw this at me!

we are going sept 16/24th- please dont tell me there are going to be crowds because of breaks!

maddhatir. It isn't that many kids who are off at once. Probably 120-130 kids. Our school uses 4 tracks. There are usually 2-3 tracks in school at one time with at least one track off for their 3 week break. There are only a few districts in Colorado who have year round school for elementary kids. Not all elementary schools in the district will be year round either. Don't stress about it. Last year in our kids first grade class, there was one other family that planned a trip to WDW during the September break.

 

[Joann]

We were there may 4th to the 14th last year and it wasn't bad ... walk on TOT evertime we were there except a few times a 10 min wait longest wait was RNR 30 mins even soarin the first time we checked 2 hour wait went back next day 10 min wait even tho it said 40 we are going again this year in the begining of may

 

[AllNamesTaken]

Thanks Maine, exactly what I was looking for!!!!

Once you're in this web site, where do you go to see the days rated?

 

[antmaril]

We went the second week of January this year. We walked on to everything except Soarin'. In the morning it was a walk on, but in the afternoon we took a FastPass. It was the only FastPass we needed while we were there.

 

[DVCJEN]

The last 2 years October has been much busier than in years past.

 

[AllNamesTaken]

www.touringplans.com

Sorry for the repeat post, put quotes around the wrong thing. Where on this site do you find the days ranked?

 

[HydroGuy]

Once you're in this web site, where do you go to see the days rated?

The exact page you want is here:

http://www.touringplans.com/BestDays.htm

 

[ead79]

Our recent trips have been as follows:

December 16-21, 2005
May 14-17, 2005
January 8-11, 2005
November 28-Dec. 4, 2004

All of these trips, with the exception of the May trip were supposed to be during low crowd times. We didn’t encounter huge lines, but the crowds have definitely increased overall compared to our trips in 2001-2003. People do seem to be traveling again, which is a good thing.

Of the trips, I would say that our trip from Nov. 28 – Dec. 4 was the least crowded, followed by January 8 – 11. None of those trips had huge crowds, so we don’t mind the overall attendance increase. I do think the “low crowd” windows have shrunk.

 

[AllNamesTaken]

The exact page you want is here:

http://www.touringplans.com/BestDays.htm

Thank you HydroGuy!!