When is the best time? Small crowds?

[Mary L]

I thought I had it all figured out. We'd go in November when the kids had 2 days off midweek. Everything looked great but now I hear about Jersey Week. I see nothing posted about that as a crazy crowded time. Are there truly least crowded times to visit?

Mary L

 

[PlutosFriend]

I thought I had it all figured out. We'd go in November when the kids had 2 days off midweek. Everything looked great but now I hear about Jersey Week. I see nothing posted about that as a crazy crowded time. Are there truly least crowded times to visit?

Mary L

Welcome to the DIS
I have been in Jan, Feb, April, May and November. I would for sure say that January was the least crowded. November wasn't bad either tho. Weather is decent too.

 

[kandmwedding]

I think early December and most of January are both good times to visit - very low crowds. We also had low crowds on our early May trip, but it was a little hotter and rainy-er that I'd like.

 

[deekaypee]

I've been in January, February, March, April, May, July, and December. (I'd like to work on the fall months next!)

Of these, I've like the April off-season the best for the compromise between crowds and weather. Then February, before the start of a log of spring breaks. The slowest period was the beginning of January, and the weather decent.

 

[laceemouse]

I don't think Jersey Week will be terrible, moderate crowds maybe but nothing like summer or holidays. The weather should be nice too. There is hardly any time of the year now when there is nothing special going on to increase the crowds. If nothing much is going on at a given time, Disney will invent something or offer some special deal to get the crowds up. We have been at all times of the year, and even when it was crowded we did fine with FP ect. Another pointer, DON"T stare at your watch!! I can honestly never tell you how long we waited in line for each and every ride because I just don't dwell on it. KWIM?If a line looks too long we skip it and try to come back later (or get FP where we can.) When we do get stuck in a long line we chat and amuse ourselves, people watch, ect....If it were a "once in a lifetime" trip I would be more worried, but since most of us go again and again don't sweat the small stuff!!!

 

[STEPHILL]

When is Jersey Week?

 

[Dopey Sharon]

This year it's the week of the 6th.

 

[OKW Lover]

Anytime from the 2nd week of January (to avoid the residual New Year's crowd) to the 2nd week of February is pretty good from the small crowd perspective.

 

[TinkNH]

My last 2 trips (95 and last year) were in the first week of October, and the crowds were not bad at all. Last year when we were eating at AK, the CM told us it was just starting to pick up again as September is quite slow...so this time taking the 4 yr old in mid september. Not worried about the crowds from free dining..cause they had that last year too, and in the CM's words "September is dead round here!"

 

[Judge Fudge]

I went several years ago right after new years. Talk about a ghost town...the parks were eerily empty, kinda lost some of it's spirit.

 

[First-timer]

my family went in march (4th through the 10th) wow the weather was great and hardly any waits for the rides....... i thought it was a geat month to go.... vicki

 

[dpic]

We love October. To me, WDW was made for Halloween. The crowds were manageable, and the weather was great--and we loved MNSSHP. We went the first week of Dec last year, and I didn't like it as well. It seemed more crowded, and I missed the Halloween parties. This year, we're going the first week of January because the kids and I have Winter break through the 8th, and we love those value season rates and (hopefully) low crowds. But if I had my first choice it would be October.

 

[blondeheroine]

I think early December and most of January are both good times to visit - very low crowds. We also had low crowds on our early May trip, but it was a little hotter and rainy-er that I'd like.

Ditto. We went in January once and walked on just about everything. The parks close earlier, but you can do more in the amount of time given.

 

[english rose 47]

How is laye April/early May for crowds and weather??

 

[blondeheroine]

How is laye April/early May for crowds and weather??

Weather is warm, but fairly moderate. However, as far as April, make sure you're not going during spring break. I can get quite crowded during that time.

 

[english rose 47]

If Spring Break is Easter we are fine I checked when Easter is and booked almost 3 weeks after, thinking that should avoid that crowd. Glad it is nice weather wisetoo!I really wanted to go in October but DD heard Hurricane season and freaked!!

 

[cruiserkaren]

my family went in march (4th through the 10th) wow the weather was great and hardly any waits for the rides....... i thought it was a geat month to go.... vicki

We were there this same week of this year too. We had also went Labor Day week of 2005, 6 months apart. There was a huge difference between September and March. March wasn't horrible but compared to our September trip it was a madhouse. We're going back this Labor Day week too, and have told my parents it will be a lot different. I hope we're not jinxing (sp?) ourselves!!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Welcome to the DIS.

Traditionally, the two or so weeks after Thanksgiving have been the slowest.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

My last 2 trips (95 and last year) were in the first week of October, and the crowds were not bad at all. Last year when we were eating at AK, the CM told us it was just starting to pick up again as September is quite slow...so this time taking the 4 yr old in mid september. Not worried about the crowds from free dining..cause they had that last year too, and in the CM's words "September is dead round here!"

I went a couple of years ago in September in between 2 hurricaines...I just about walked on every ride I wanted...waited 10 mins. for TOT... That is my definition of Slow..Others may have a different definition of slow...like a 60 minute wait? That isn't slow to me.

 

[LisaMaz]

Welcome to the DIS.

Traditionally, the two or so weeks after Thanksgiving have been the slowest.

I have heard that this is not the case anymore and it's actually quite busy at these times which is quite dissapointing because this is when we are going!