When do you feel it's LEAST crowded?

[4boysmom]

Trying to dream up a vacation for me & my sister (30s) & our Mom (late 60s)for next year. When do you personally think the crowds are lightest? I'm thinking that Sept will be too hot for my Mom so it would be Oct, Nov (except Thanksgiving) or December (before Christmas).

How are the crowds the week following Thanksgiving (eg, is there any leftover heavy traffic from the holiday break?)?

Also, any word on whether free dining will be around next year (might influence our decision)?

Thanks!

 

[Sammie]

Since the difference in crowds will be hardly noticable I would go right after Thanksgiving for the Decorations. Just don't go the weekend of Thanksgiving.

October has become very popular due to Food and Wine Festival, and I would avoid any weeks getting near Christmas.

Second choice would be the first week of December.

If free dining is offered it will probably be middle August through September during hurricane season and still very hot as it was this year.

 

[karrit2000]

Of your poll choices the slowest times are the week after Thanksgiving weekend & the first 2 weeks of December. It is probably a little slower even than that during September when they have offered the free dining option the past two years. It gets really slow after Labor Day. The only downside to September is it is Hurricane season & still very hot. But most attractions are walk right on. The other really slow time is during January but after the Marathon weekend. If you want to see the Christmas decorations than early December is a great time.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Early December.

 

[unbroken chain]

I would say early December, but if you get the Unofficial Guide to Disney book (or just look at it in the library, etc.), it has a table with the relative crowd levels for each day in each of the four parks.

 

[Leota]

I would say mid-Novemeber is the least crowded (be sure to go between Jersey Week & Thanksgiving)

Early Dec used tobe the least crowded, but the word is definately out about how great it is to go & see the decorations.

BTW - For a Dream Trip, I would suggest Early Dec for the decos, even if I think it's a bit more crowded. It is gorgeous & very special.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

For low crowds, you should choose between early November and very late November/early December....and then decide whether the Food and Wine Festival is more to your liking, or the holiday decorations.

Incidentally, we were there during Veteran's DAy weekend last year, and while vacant rooms were probably hard to come by, getting around the parks was easy.

 

[JulielovesDisney]

September is hot, but it's definitely the LEAST crowded. All of the stores and rides have the AC cranked to about -20 degrees, so you can always go into stores if you get hot.

But if you still don't want to do that, then go for early December. That's usually very empty too, and the Xmas decorations should be up too, which is very pretty.

 

[gbrogers]

When we went in September 03 (before free dining), the parks were relatively empty. But there were lots or refurbishments going on - things like RNR, BTMRR, Philharmagic, and Festival of Lion King.

We are going the week after Thanksgiving this year, and all attractions are scheduled to be open.

 

[LoriMistress]

DH and I went to WDW around the first week to second week of November and it wasn't that bad. The longest for lines where 45 minutes. Though, we're going for our next trip around the first to second week of December, and from what I've heard the crowds seem to get larger each year.

 

[pixie@heart]

Wow ... wish I could go at any of those times.

But unfortunately, being a teacher kind of restricts us to school vacation times.