When is the absolute slowest time at disney?

[dtsaos]

We're thinking september or november. We prefer it to be warm enough to use the pools which is why we haven't considered january. The last time we went in April the crowds were a bit much! Our kids will be 5, 3 and about 9 months old. What'da ya think? Thanks!

 

[F1Julie]

I haven't gone at this time, but I've heard that the week following Labor Day is the slowest. Friends that have gone that week have walked onto nearly every ride. The only downside is you are in prime hurricane season. November won't be all that empty between Jersey Week, Super Soap Weekend, and then Thanksgiving. If you can plan around those times, you should be okay.

 

[sanibelover]

This year the week before Thanksgiving (Mon - Fri only)was pretty quiet. There were plenty of people around and the Magic Kingdom was pretty busy(40 minute wait at one point for BTM - no problem with FP though) Lots of things can affect Nov. as the previous poster said - Epcot Food and Wine, Super Soap Weekend, Jersey week, Festival of the Masters,etc. The weather was also pretty nice.

The week after Labor Day week seems to be pretty quiet as does January (well after New Years)according to recent trip reports I've read.

 

[sanibelover]

I didn't notice the part about the pools before. We have been twice in Nov. lately (2002 and 2004). The weather was nice for touring, but when we were there, it was a little chilly for swimming - especially at night. Sweatshirts were necessary most of the evenings we were out and about. We did go to the water park one day and it was just at the edge of comfortable. IF you were in the sun it was OK, but it got chilly if the sun went in for even a moment. Also got too chilly by 3 p.m. to stay.

That said, Nov. can be quite hot - it's a crapshoot at that time of year.

I think I would consider Sept. if pool time is important - especially with little ones who could get cold that much more quickly.

 

[Lesley]

If you go by DVC point schedules (and this matches my experience...) the slowest times are September, January and the first two weeks of December.

September is hot and I think a lot of folks don't go then because the kids just started school...therefore the earlier in September the better.

January and December have unpredictable weather...could be hot, could be cold....and I think because of the holidays and the weather people are either too busy, recovering, or just plain don't want to risk going to WDW and not being able to swim!

We've enjoyed all these times...have fun!

 

[gabbygrennell]

We go the week after labor day... well actually, we usually leave home on thurs or fri of labor day weekend... but our first day at WDW is actually labor day... and we usually do one of the water parks.. which i thought would be crowded.. but it was not bad at all!
All four parks, walked onto most rides! At MK, we stood in line for a few things, but never more than 10 or 15 minutes! It was amazing!
The weather is great too!
80's! one day we had a small rain shower, in the evening right before illuminations, lasted about 15 mins and that was it!
As for being hurricane season, yeah it is... but hurr season runs from june 1 thru december, so you cant really plan around it!

Gabby

 

[princess-rn]

October is a really good time to go...maybe the first week or so. That's when we took our honey moon in 2000. It was still summer weather..but the crowds were very thin.

 

[ToyStory Fan]

We've been to WDW at the end of Jan- begining of Feb (just got back) and we literally walked on to every ride at WDW and US/IOA (standby entrance times of 10 min or less). But the weather was inconsistent - very cool in the mornings/evenings - much warmer in the day - we're talking 25 deg temp. swings.

In Aug/Sept it was too hot and the love bugs were everywhere. - Crowds weren't bad, but not as light as Jan/Feb.

We've also been in Oct - it is our favorite time of year to go - light enough crowds and perfect weather (occasional thunderboomer, but that passes quickly)

We've also been for New Year's and the week after - I've never seen bigger crowds and then a complete 180 - the place empties the days after Jan 1. At the time we went we really lucked out with weather and it was in the 80's, but that is hit or miss.

 

[G00fyDad]

bout 4am.

 

[DeniseD]

We went the second week of Sept. this year and it was fantastic!! The parks were empty! We literally went on Buzz 5 times in a row with no wait at all. It could have been the hurricane activity but that time of year there is always the risk of hurricanes. We were only there for 4 days and did just as much as we did the year before in Oct. for a week. The crowds were not bad in Oct either. The longest wait time we had was 20 minutes.

 

[G00fyDad]

Why is late September/early October the slowest time? It would seem that since everyone knows it is slow they would plan for that time of the year. In effect making it one of the busiest.

 

[GaTech]

We have been the week after Labor Day and it was great! Very light crowds resulting in waits of 10-15 minutes max for the most popular rides. Most of the time the wait was around 5 minutes.

 

[onobono]

Some possible reasons for lighter turnouts
1. Families with children probably vacationed earlier during school vacation period
2. families with children are reluctant to take kids out of school early in their new year
3. Weather can be iffy, not only in FL, but in the entire South East
4. Sept./Oct. has beautiful weather in many other parts of the country

 

[brandip22]

We decided to go this year the week after Labor Day,too. And we really could have gone any time of the eyar as our DS is only 2 1/2, so no school worries. After lots of research, we decided it should be pretty slow. Mainly due to people worried about hurricanes and with school having just started- that's why we're going then and also why most people are not going then! Also, DVC points are pretty low at that time. Since we owners, that was a reason as well. We just aren't too worried about the hurricanes since we go through that all of the time living in South Louisiana.

 

[onobono]

I believe that WDW has witnessed steadily increasing attendance at it's parks this past year. During Martin Luther King week, crowds were generous- 20-25 minute waits at major attractions. Past attendance, especially the past few years, may not be entirely reflective of today's potential crowds. Also, the new ticketing changes tend to hold vacationers at WDW parks.

 

[dturner]

I went in September (18-24) back in 2002 and it was a GREAT time to go. It's was hot and very humid but we took afternoon breaks and went swimming.

The rides that we did have to wait,the wait was only 5 minutes.

 

[DreadpiratK]

What are crowds like on Labor day? Last time we skipped Monday because we thought it would be crowded, and went on Sunday instead, and it was packed! -Last day for the parades, so we went anyway. this year we are thinking of arriving on Sunday, and going mondy, labor day, but I'd like to know how bad it might be.

Just to let you know how low the crowds are, when we were there 3 years ago this week, we went on Kali 5 times in a row, without getting out of the raft, because there was no line at all! The CM just kept saying 'stay on if you want" Has a really nice conversation with others in the boat, and the funny thing is that it turns out everyone on the raft was from CT! Very funny.