When Are Crowds Not So Bad?

[drue4bama]

Hi, I'm brand new to this board, so I hope I'm doing this right...

I have a pretty big window of when I can go to Orlando for a long weekend to visit Disney Parks and I'm wanting to know when is the best time to go where the crowds won't be as bad? I've heard that September is really great, but my wondow is October or November of this year. I'm wanting to come down with my family for a Friday thru Tuesday 5 day trip and would appreciate any advice anyone can give as to when we should come down and not have to wait in line as long. Thanks!

 

[zippy doo dah]

Welcome to the DIS

IMHO, I would say any weekend (non holiday - as in no school) would be good. Depending on when you go, you could do a MNSSHP (Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party) or in Nov MVMCP (Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party) and see all the holiday decorations. Either time is a wonderful time to go and both months are generally lower in attendance and are not very rainy. You can still have very warm temperatures, but without the humidity.

 

[bradisgoofy]

Any of the first three weekends in November would be your best bet. It still may be a little crowded because the locals usually come in on the weekends.

 

[RaindropsOnRoses]

I have found the first and second weeks in December to be nice and "quiet".

 

[Wild4Walt]

I've been in OCT and it's been great! We love it then because we can hit the Food and Wine Fest at Epcot. The weather is also great in October on average. You may run into some rain, but typically not a lot and not park prohibited. And the crowds are not bad at all. Some of the weekends are still pretty heavy, but the weeks are terrific!

 

[Boog's Mommy]

I would say the 2nd or 3rd weeks in November would probably be good. Halloween time is crowded because of the MNSSHP and the end of November is crowded because of Thanksgiving. So those 2 weeks seem to work. I have also been to Disney during the first 2 weeks of December and it very nice.

One tip for you though is if you don't plan on doing the Pirate/Princess Party, then don't go to the Magic Kingdom that same night. Do another park that night. I was at the Magic Kingdom with my family in January and this is normally one of the least crowded times of year. However, that night the crowds were ridiculous. Me and my family got split up and were never able to get together again during one of the parades, because it was grid lock. Apparently, there were tons of people there that night, because they were staying for the Pirate/Princess Party. Had I realized that was going on, I would have gone to another park. It was the single worst experience I ever had at Disney. I will never go when it is that crowded again.

 

[sweetinmaine]

Hi, I'm brand new to this board, so I hope I'm doing this right...

I have a pretty big window of when I can go to Orlando for a long weekend to visit Disney Parks and I'm wanting to know when is the best time to go where the crowds won't be as bad? I've heard that September is really great, but my wondow is October or November of this year. I'm wanting to come down with my family for a Friday thru Tuesday 5 day trip and would appreciate any advice anyone can give as to when we should come down and not have to wait in line as long. Thanks!

When are the crowds not so bad? hmmmm......
at about 2 o'clock in the morning!

Actually we found that the second week in September was the least busy. The heat is on full blast during that time but the crowds are way down. We found that the beginning of November wasn't bad either. We went last Nov and it wasn't too bad at all. The nice thing with going in November is that the humidity has let up a bit and we had absolutely beautiful weather. Enjoy your trip!!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Hi, I'm brand new to this board, so I hope I'm doing this right...

I have a pretty big window of when I can go to Orlando for a long weekend to visit Disney Parks and I'm wanting to know when is the best time to go where the crowds won't be as bad? I've heard that September is really great, but my wondow is October or November of this year. I'm wanting to come down with my family for a Friday thru Tuesday 5 day trip and would appreciate any advice anyone can give as to when we should come down and not have to wait in line as long. Thanks!

We were in WDW last September 14 - 21 and I did not think that the crowds were that low, maybe medium-ish. Since they started offering Free Dining in 2005, the September crowds just keep growing and growing each year. And the heat, OMG, the heat! It was so hot. We did have fun and the MNSSHP was great, but we are planning a cooler time to visit this year, we will be there December 12 - 21 (one of the very slowest weeks of the year according to the UG crowd calender).

The last week of October would have the lowest crowd levels for the time period you are thinking about going. The first two weeks of November are still not too bad, but Jersey Week and Super Soap Weekend bring in the crowds and make the numbers for those weeks higher than the last week of October.

Hope this info helps and ya'll have a magical vacation, no matter when you decide to go!

 

[bamanukes]

Don't go the week of Christmas, Christmas Eve and Christmas day are madhouses. It did slow down the day or two after, but will pick up again on new years.

 

[mbanks21]

Theres really no "slow" time at disney anymore. The first 2 weeks or so of december used to be slow and the resorts are pretty much all booked up. The parks may be a little lighter but "slow" and "disney" dont really go together anymore

 

[luvtogo12]

Also, there is the "Jersey Week" that is very crowded. Not sure when in November it is though. It is when we have our Teacher Conventions and the kids get a long weekend. We went one year and although it was nice to meet so many people from Jersey, it was packed.

 

[luvtogo12]

Just got the school calendar, NJ Teachers Convention is 11/6 and 11/7. I would avoid that week.

 

[kimis]

A crowded day at Disney is better than any day in reality. LOL
No we go the end of Jan and beginning of Feb and it isn't bad. I don't think there is a real slow period ever at disney. However we enjoy our time frame. Few crowds and good weather however the word keeps getting out because I notice a lot more are coming at this time. Enjoy

 

[brekin67]

We try to go in September. We have never felt like it was crowded. Bus wait is about 15 minutes, and most rides we can walk on up to pretty quickly. We have waited about 30 minutes for Soarin and Mission Space, but not complaining. That is a good time to go for my family.

 

[thedisneydiva]

We enjoyed going in early February. The weather was great, it was not crowded, and we were able to attend the Pirate and Princess party.

 

[Mkat35]

We have always enjoyed the 2nd week of December- nice weather, low crods and decorations are up-- enjoy!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

We have always enjoyed the 2nd week of December- nice weather, low crods and decorations are up-- enjoy!

Pop Warner and Mousefest are the second week of December this year and a number of people have posted on the Resorts board that they are having trouble booking a room for that week, so I would say it will be busier than normal this year.