What time of the year is the Slowest?

[RuthieT]

Was wondering what time of year was the slowest and least crowded. Any help with that would be great!

 

[kbtennant]

There are a couple of different times we have found it to be great. January-after Marathon Weekend. February-before/after President's Weekend. September-after kids are back in school. December-the first 2 weeks (added bonus-all the holiday decorations, parades, etc.

 

[PudgetteD]

We go every year in October, sometimes the middle (like this year 11th-17th) and sometimes the week before Halloween. It's never been too crowded then. DH and I did a last minute anniversary trip last year in Sept. (14-17) and it was more crowded than Oct., but still not too bad.

 

[Sherrkel]

We went in Feb 2007 the last week after president's week (NH school vacation week). It wasn't terribly crowded; and during the weekdays the wait times were reasonable. We're scheduled to go again in Feb 2009, however, I'm a little bit leary this time because Madi Gras is 2/24/09 (during our vaca week) and I hear it can be more crowded with those from N.O. who go to Disney to escape the madness.

 

[suzimar57]

whenever we've gone the weekend after labor day (for a week) we've found it less crowded than any other time of year (until the recent "free dining" took hold....)

of course, going then also has other downsides: hot, humid, rainy, buggy, humid, rainy, hot and buggy.

but the crowds had been lighter!

year round there is always some promotion or other to draw people in, things going on, events scheduled - hard to say when the exact "lowest crowd" week is, if one even exists at all - guess it's more what you're willing to give up and put up with (weather, shorter hours, more hungry people)

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

September has got the be the absolute slowest time...I think it's definately the only time of the year that you actually can stay on the rides because there are no lines. And I have yet to see FastPass up and running for anything but EE.

 

[5 for WDW]

September has got the be the absolute slowest time...I think it's definately the only time of the year that you actually can stay on the rides because there are no lines. And I have yet to see FastPass up and running for anything but EE.

Wow, I guess we were there at different times in September...lol.

We have gone in September the past 12 years. Usually the second or third week. Free dining has brought in more crowds in our opinion. We had to use FP quite a few times each day this past September. Yes, the lines are mostly manageable but, I have not stayed on a ride in September in a few years. Except for our MNSSHP at around 11pm. The parks are more crowded too.

Of course, everyone's opinions are different...I just want to know when you are there so we can join you. We are skipping September for the first time this year.

 

[King Tritan]

went in sept a couple of years ago..we went on splash m. about 4 times in a row without getting off. We were leaving that day and asked the kiddies what their fav. ride was so we went on it until we had to leave...I think it was a total of 8 times in an hour or so.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

We usually get there the Thursday/Friday after Labor Day and stay for a week. We've definately been able to stay on Splash Mountain and Kali River Rapids over and over (which I find so odd...you'd think the water rides would be packed since it's so hot). In 4 years, I've never used FastPass. We do find, with free dining, that the restaurants are packed but I haven't noticed too much of an increase in the parks themselves.

 

[wedance6]

We went the middle of Sept. last year and found it to be no less crowded than we went in May. It wasn't terrible though. Most rides an hour before park closing or during EMH were walk ons, otherwise middle of the day waits were around 20 to 25min, for the popular ones
Soarin was always 50min.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Wow, I guess we were there at different times in September...lol.

We have gone in September the past 12 years. Usually the second or third week. Free dining has brought in more crowds in our opinion. We had to use FP quite a few times each day this past September. Yes, the lines are mostly manageable but, I have not stayed on a ride in September in a few years. Except for our MNSSHP at around 11pm. The parks are more crowded too.

Of course, everyone's opinions are different...I just want to know when you are there so we can join you. We are skipping September for the first time this year.

I totally agree, September does not have low crowds anymore. The Free Dining secret is out. We were there this past September 14 - 22 and we used Fastpasses at every park everyday that we were there. Both of the Saturdays that we were there the MK was mobbed. Space Mountain had a 75 minute wait the afternoon we left. I know, that is nothing to you summer, Christmas, Easter and Spring Break people, but the crowds were not low. I did all kinds of research on these boards before we left and I unfortunatley believed all of the "...oh, the parks are dead...", "...the parks were empty..." and of course the "... we walked on to all the rides ..." posts. We found NONE of those statements to be true. Yes, we did have fun, but I wished we had been more prepared for the free dining crowds.

The slowest times we have visited were the last week of January, the first week of Februay and the second week of December. All of those times had much lower crowds than what we experienced this past September and not to mention that the weather is also so much better. My husband said Disney in September was like vacationing on the surface of the sun. We are hoping to return this coming December.

 

[disneylyn]

I will be going to Disney on 9/27-10/2 I have a few questions.
How are the crowds?
How hot will it be?
What is the free dining all about?

Thanks

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I will be going to Disney on 9/27-10/2 I have a few questions.
How are the crowds?
How hot will it be?
What is the free dining all about?

Thanks

Since 2005, Disney has been offering Free Dining (regular dining plan, not deluxe) during the last part of August until the end of September, give or take a few days. It has already been offered to UK visitors for this September and to those of us who were there at WDW during Free Dining this past September for the dates of August 30 - September 27 2008 as a bounceback. The free dining dates for this year are supposed to be announced on this Monday, April 7. The rumored dates for this year, I believe, are August 24 - September 20, 2008. The first couple of days the promo will only be open to Disney Visa holders and then will open up to the general public. Please see my above post as to heat and crowds. Hope this info helps.

 

[tiggerx3]

We went last year 9/22 TO 10/6 and the crowds were low, except when the food and wine festival started in early October. Some things we decided to do -
Did not take too much advantage of the EMH offered at the parks
Avoided MK on Monday's
Road the more popular rides earlier in the day.

I love going in Sept, it's nice and hot (too hot for some) but last year we had more rain than we cared to see.

We've also traveled in early February and the crowds were low then too.

 

[LisaGoeke]

Our last trip was the week after Thanksgiving. It was perfect!! I would go every year at that time if I didn't have to take the kids out of school for a week.

 

[diswed0407]

For the past few years we have gone Columbus Day week in October. We've been many other times of the year and found this to be the slowest. You still have the warm weather of other times of the year with much shorter lines! On a side note, we were just there the week before Easter, and it was BY FAR the busiest I have ever seen it! Avoid the week before and after Easter!!

 

[ilovediznee2]

I'm going for my 7th time this September, and I'd have to say that the week following Labor Day is the best week that I've gone. We went this week before, and my daughters and I rode Tower of Terror 8 times in a row without getting off!! There were no crowds, it was still warm, and it was over-all, the best time we had!

 

[wedance6]

I totally agree, September does not have low crowds anymore. The Free Dining secret is out. We were there this past September 14 - 22 and we used Fastpasses at every park everyday that we were there. Both of the Saturdays that we were there the MK was mobbed. Space Mountain had a 75 minute wait the afternoon we left. I know, that is nothing to you summer, Christmas, Easter and Spring Break people, but the crowds were not low. I did all kinds of research on these boards before we left and I unfortunatley believed all of the "...oh, the parks are dead...", "...the parks were empty..." and of course the "... we walked on to all the rides ..." posts. We found NONE of those statements to be true. Yes, we did have fun, but I wished we had been more prepared for the free dining crowds.

The slowest times we have visited were the last week of January, the first week of Februay and the second week of December. All of those times had much lower crowds than what we experienced this past September and not to mention that the weather is also so much better. My husband said Disney in September was like vacationing on the surface of the sun. We are hoping to return this coming December.

We were there the same exact time. I agree!!!! I think I'll try first week in DEc. this year