What is the best month to go?

[zachnlucy]

We're flexible here. I am a transplanted Floridian and went to WDW a couple of times a month until about 10 years ago (except in the summer when we never went). We're interested in minimal crowds and decent weather. Any ideas?

 

[PeepleMoovr]

I'd say most of May and Mid-September (NOW!) through mid-October. The weather is warm (good for swimming, water parks, night-time short wearing) but not very hot and the crowds are usually very light (this past weekend every ride was a walk-on, i.e. no wait times).
Other people may have different experiences, but these are my favorite times of year in WDW for weather and (lack of) crowds. The Sept-Oct thing gets tricky with hurricanes, though, so go mid-May if you really want to play it safe all around.

 

[crzy4pooh]

We love to go during the end of January and February (avoiding Valentine's weekend) - crowds are not too bad and the weather is great!!! (Of course, my definition of good weather is cold and not raining...) We were there last Saturday, and the morning was nice (no crowds), but by 11:00-ish, it was boiling hot!!! We are headed back Saturday for the triathlon stuff - hope it's a bit cooler this weekend! October is fairly good weatherwise (unless a hurricane comes), but you do have the MNSSHP crowds and the food/wine festival crowds. Hope that helps your decision...

 

[zachnlucy]

MNSSHP crowds? Huh? All of these abbreviations are killing me!

 

[Redbudlover]

MNSSHP - Mickey's Not So Scary halloween Party - go to disboard home and look for page on abbreviations....

We love late Sept. early Oct - value season since we start vacation in Sept and plus we get to go to both MNSSHP and Food and wine festival. The best time of all as far as we are concerned. Low crowds, nice weather, but you can still swim.

 

[jann1033]

for us the best time of yr is Jan. no heat no crowds ( if you bypass MLK weekend). weather is cold sometimes but hey no time is perfect so guess it's which less than perfect thing bothers you least ...or something like that

 

[addicted2disney]

Another vote for January/early February. As you can see from my signature, I love it then!! My second trip of the year is turning into a Thanksgiving/first week of December tradition now!

January is extremely low crowds ( except MLK *martin luther king* weekend) The weather is unpredictable, but I will take jeans and a sweatshirt in Disney for low low crowds ANY day. Plus, it gets me away from the cold, snow and ice Pittsburgh usually has in Jan!!!! ANYthing in FLA is way warmer than PA in January!!

We have been making 2 trips, and 3 of the 4 times has been over Thanksgiving ( this will be trip #3 in Nov ) My kids are off which is a big bonus. All of the christmas decorations are up and all of the special holiday things are going on. Its awesome. Disney at Christmas is just beautiful!!! If I could go the whole first week of Dec, I would. The crowds are low, the weather is nice, its value season, and you get to do the the holiday things.

 

[dani0622]

I've only been in April, summer months, and October, but I can tell you when I went in October of 1999 we LOVED it! It was the first week I think, so no Halloween crowds. The parks were empty, we wore shorts, and walked on every ride!

 

[sweetinmaine]

We just got back last week and couldn't believe how easy it was to get around. We asked the CM's and they said that the slowest times were the three weeks after Labor Day. We were told that the DVC resorts were at 26% capacity. I don't think we had more than 15 people on any of the Disney busses at one time. We went to Wishes at Magic Kingdom, walked back from the castle and got right on a bus. No waiting. We now believe that if we can dodge any potential hurricanes, September is a nice time to go. The temps were a little HOT (mid to high 90's) but we managed. The other time of year that we go is in March and that is only to get away from the cold winters up north

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

We like this time of the year. In fact, we are leaving in a couple days. January is nice if you don't want to swim and like the cooler weather. But we were there this past January and it was down right cold. I wish I would have brought my mittens. I don't like that, when I go to Florida, I want it to be warm.

 

[Zandy595]

Early November, in the middle of the week, not around Veteran's Day weekend though. Best time of year! It starts to cool down a little, but is still warm enough to swim. Hurricane season is over then. Yeah!

I'm not happy about going mid October, but I didn't have a choice because BIL couldn't get time off in November.

 

[addicted2disney]

Its not always cold or even cool in January. We have had more nice, warm sunny weather, than cold weather. This past January it was nice. Had one cloudy cool day. Most of the other were nice, and a few were so warm the kids wanted to go swim at the Boardwalk pool.

Im coming from Pittsburgh, and ANYthing is warmer than our weather in January!! Even the one year it was freezing in Disney, it was -13 without the windchill back home!! -30 WITH the wind chill. Thats why I will take January anytime. Even if I do need mittens some evenings.

Ive been there in Jan. when its been in the upper 80's. I couldnt handle that in the summer... the heat.. the lines.. the crowds.. ugh!! I was cranky when we went in early October one year!! LOL It was sooooo hot!!

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I guess it all depends on what you want. We have also been many times in January and we also come from Pittsburgh. But I absolutely hate cold weather! If DH could get a transfer, I would move out of here and never look back. Our summer this year was the hottest we've had in a while, and I was in heaven. DH feels the same way addicted 2 disney feels, anywhere other than here in the winter is better , even if its a few degrees warmer. But when we were there last Jan. it was in the 30's at night. COLD!!! Yes, weather fluctuates significantly there, because the week before it was in the 80's. Figures! I think it all depends on the weather you want. I don't think I'd want to be at WDW in July, but even if now is too hot for you, there are plenty of other nice weather low crowd months. We have also been at the end of October. It was a little more crowded, but not significant and it was a little cooler.

 

[addicted2disney]

roliepolieoliefan-
WHat dates were there in Jan? We were there the last few days, and then into the first 5-6 days of Feb. This coming January will be 20-29. Our coldest ever trip was in 2003. We woke up one morning and it was 28 degrees in Orlando. They called it a state of emergency. Back home it was -30 with the wind chill!! We spent that day at DTD. Most of our other trips have been nice.

As for our summer this year.. IM SO SICK OF IT!!

Im ready for fall!!!

What part of Pittsburgh are you from?