When not to go???????? Avoiding groups??

[rapunzels]

I'm not sure why I'm not finding it, but isn't there a thread that usually runs, letting people know when NOT to go?? ie, not picking like a pop warner week, ect... Just back after Thanksgiving, but planning next trip... The best week I've been is Jan (2nd-3rd week). The worst was Feb. (3rd-4th week) when every person from Louisiana came to get away from mardi gras, 2 years ago. Thinking of Jan 2012..

 

[gacompguy]

We've been twice during Pop Warner week, including the notorious week where they had several groups get kicked off property for fighting. If you make sure to stay away from the 'official' Pop Warner resorts, you should be totally fine. Both weeks that we were there, we only encountered unruly kids a few times. Honestly, I've seen more unruly kids with there parents present during non-Pop weeks.

 

[Chuckers]

Do not go in July and most of August. Aside from the American tourists, the place is PACKED with large tour groups from Brazil. The tour groups are loud and unruly. They screw up the fast pass lines and the single rider lines.

Luckily, we stayed at the GF and they don't stay at the more expensive hotels. If they stay on property, they stay at the less expensive hotels. My eye doctor said she goes every year. She stayed at one of the AS resorts and it was horrible. The groups were up until 2/3 am every morning except the one night several hotel guests complained and they shut their party down at midnight.

Avoid the first Saturday in June because that's the unofficial Gay Day at MK. The crowds are HUGE. Aside from NYE at Disneyland, it's the only time I have even been in a Disney Park where they have closed the gates due to capacity.
But the beginning of June is a decent time to go, just avoid MK on that Saturday if you are there.

 

[sunshineNJ]

We can only go in the summer due to school schedules and not wanting to deal with holiday crowds and pricing. We go the last week in August. It is very hot but crowds are very low. When my kids were much younger and I took them out of school to go we went the first week of Oct. which was nice. We went once th4 first week of May, which was in the 90s but low crowds. If I didn't have to worry about school schedules I would go right after Thanksgiving. Good Luck!!

 

[BiggFam8]

The best time we've found to go is the first two weeks in December. You get all the Christmas joys and none of the Christmas woes!

 

[MedicGoofy]

How do you find the weather in December? I have been in November before and it has begun to get colder. Usually when coming in the later fall, I am looking for something warmer than home (home being snow and cold).

December would be wonderful, Christmas decorations out

 

[Minniemouse07]

Pop Warner is a total non issue...I've been to WDW twice during that time staying at POR (where the cheerleaders stay) and other than a full but not impossible food court (it was much more crowded during our recent trip in June) we barely knew they were there.

I definitely wouldn't group Pop Warner as one of the groups to avoid!

 

[CandyMandy]

Do not go in July and most of August.

If you can take the heat and humidity, the last half of August (particularly the third week) is actually a great time to go. Not only are the tour groups gone, but most of the sunbelt (their schools are back in session by then). So crowds are very reasonable, which means by getting to parks by opening and making strategic use of Fastpass you can have a truly line-free visit. And to boot park hours and entertainment schedules are still good.

The larger gospel here are the benefits of going during the transitional periods between high and low or low and high seasons. Late August is one of the former, with early May being one of the latter. They both share the same benefits - smaller crowds but the resort is not in full off season mode.

 

[rapunzels]

The hotels have never been a problem for us with LARGE groups, as we stay the pricier places rather than budget. What gets us is the park crowds. We've been in Jan, Feb, July, November and December. Literally, when mardi gras/presidents day week hit , it was miserable. WAY to many people. I had no idea people in the south had presidents day week off. That gave them 2 weeks off from school. It was bad timing for us. In fact we, thought July was better than Feb, Nov and Dec (the first week). I think I will plan for Jan or Oct and see how it goes with that.

 

[Minniemouse07]

The hotels have never been a problem for us with LARGE groups, as we stay the pricier places rather than budget. What gets us is the park crowds. We've been in Jan, Feb, July, November and December. Literally, when mardi gras/presidents day week hit , it was miserable. WAY to many people. I had no idea people in the south had presidents day week off. That gave them 2 weeks off from school. It was bad timing for us. In fact we, thought July was better than Feb, Nov and Dec (the first week). I think I will plan for Jan or Oct and see how it goes with that.

Our favorite time to go is the first week of December (overlaps w/ Pop Warner) and we thought the mid June crowds were significantly heavier than early December.

 

[klacey1]

If you can take the heat and humidity, the last half of August (particularly the third week) is actually a great time to go. Not only are the tour groups gone, but most of the sunbelt (their schools are back in session by then). So crowds are very reasonable, which means by getting to parks by opening and making strategic use of Fastpass you can have a truly line-free visit. And to boot park hours and entertainment schedules are still good.

The larger gospel here are the benefits of going during the transitional periods between high and low or low and high seasons. Late August is one of the former, with early May being one of the latter. They both share the same benefits - smaller crowds but the resort is not in full off season mode.

I agree-- we always go the third or fourth week of August and find low crowds but the parks still open early and close late.

 

[tiggerplus5]

We were thinking of going the first 2 weeks of April. I know the 3rd week is April vacation in the Northeast and Easter is at the end of the same week. Touring plans is grading it a 10 on the crowd calendar. I'm thinking earlier in April might be a good bet. Anyone else go the first 2 weeks of April?
thanks.