When are the parks empty?

[dutton]

We just returned(friday 9/30-tues 10/4) and while I thought the parks were manageable, the nightmare for us was at the restaurants. I guess for the special pkg they were all booked. Anyway, we usually go first or second week of dec., but wondering if this is picking up b/c everyone knows it is traditionally slow. How about Jan or September. We had fall break this week so i was trying to keep from taking kids out of school, but won't worry about it the next time. Not worried about swimming b/c we live near coast of Ga and could take a water park trip earlier or just to to the beach! So, when are crowds non-existent?
Thanks,

Suzanne

 

[unixadm]

We just returned(friday 9/30-tues 10/4) and while I thought the parks were manageable, the nightmare for us was at the restaurants. I guess for the special pkg they were all booked. Anyway, we usually go first or second week of dec., but wondering if this is picking up b/c everyone knows it is traditionally slow. How about Jan or September. We had fall break this week so i was trying to keep from taking kids out of school, but won't worry about it the next time. Not worried about swimming b/c we live near coast of Ga and could take a water park trip earlier or just to to the beach! So, when are crowds non-existent?
Thanks,

Suzanne

We went Sept 17th-24th and it was fantastic. Very little crowds in the parks. We had ADR's for all of our meals, so had very little problem in the restaurants as well, but I know most were booked because of the free dining plan. I saw many people trying to do walk-ins at TS meals and were turned away.

You MUST plan for Disney, no matter what time of year you go.....take a look at my ITINERARY.

We have gone January 2nd-7th 2004 and the crowds were light as well (there were some crowds on the 2nd, but by the 3rd, the parks were empty)

I also suggest subscribing to http://www.tourguidemike.com or getting the Unofficial Guide to WDW, or the Passporter. All of them have sample touring plans, or information you can use to make a touring plan as to which parks to hit on which days, and which rides to hit first. I have The Passporter and also subscribed to TGM. I made a touring plan of each park as to which rides we wanted to see and in which order. I know it was light crowds anyway, but we didn't have more than a 10 minute wait on any ride.....and most were walk on because of when we hit the rides. We hit 11 rides plus the WDW Train all before lunch (with a 9am opening of the park).

 

[BriarRosie]

We just returned(friday 9/30-tues 10/4) and while I thought the parks were manageable, the nightmare for us was at the restaurants. I guess for the special pkg they were all booked. Anyway, we usually go first or second week of dec., but wondering if this is picking up b/c everyone knows it is traditionally slow. How about Jan or September. We had fall break this week so i was trying to keep from taking kids out of school, but won't worry about it the next time. Not worried about swimming b/c we live near coast of Ga and could take a water park trip earlier or just to to the beach! So, when are crowds non-existent?
Thanks,

Suzanne

January, right after New Year's. I was there mid-January a couple of years
ago a few days before doing the Disney Magic cruise, and Test Track
standby line was a walk on. I haven't gone in January since then, but I'd
hazard a guess that it's pretty slow as long as it's not around the Martin
Luther King holiday weekend.

 

[Dale-Not-Chip]

I think some of your resturant problems is the popularity of the Dining packages. Getting more people to sit down for a good meal.

 

[dutton]

Ironically, I have subscribed to tourguide mike 3 times and found his advice to be very valuable. However, we went same five days as last year and found it to be much more crowded. Guess we are spoiled by low crowds in December. I had to deviate from TGM's plans somewhat,(had to do Epcot Sat. night) and won't do that again. For this week his crowd level was a five!! I am leaning toward first two weeks in Dec, but am considering Jan. Would consider Sept, but my extended family would refuse due to the heat. Found this year to be not as hot as last year. blizzard beach wasn't crowded at all on Monday, but closed due to rain. I had to go with a large group and had to go with their wishes even though most were against TGM's advice. Did find MGM to be manageable on Saturday though. I think what I missed was ability to ride what we wanted, eat where we wanted, and see characters all without waits. This year we waited in long lines for PS at times that TGM would have been proud of (actually we didn't wait) and lines for characters were always long. but we had a great time, just felt we didn't get as much accomplished as we usually do. Well , thanks for the help!!
Sincerely,

Suzanne

 

[Deb & Bill]

From about midnight to about 8AM.