Who's experienced the least crowded trip to WDW??

[wendyl]

I'm curious--since we just got back from a summer trip--we decided our next trip needed to be in an off time.

soooo--who has had a trip to WDW during what you think was the least crowded time? When was it? Where did you stay? What days did you go to which parks? What did you waits for rides look like?

I know what the planning books say...I want to hear from the experts

 

[jcemom]

This year, February 3-12. Here's what we did:
Wed 4 - MK from 9-11: Dumbo x2, Pooh, Peter Pan, Snow White, Carrousel, Small World, BTMRR x2, Pirates, Tiki Birds, met Peter Pan, Hook, and Smee, had Dole Whips (the longest lines were those for the characters...everything else was walk on)
Fri 6 - MGM at opening: RnRC x2, TOT, Playhouse, picture w/Sorcerer Mickey, HISTK playground, Sci Fi lunch, Muppets, Star Tours, TOT again...that was 9-2 (longest wait was TOT at 10 minutes)
Sat 7 - AK at opening: Pangani Trail, Safari, TriceraTop Spin, Primeval Whirl, Dinosaur x2, Boneyard, lunch at Flame Tree BBQ, ITTBAB, Maharaja Trek, Flights of Wonder...that was 9-2 (longest wait was TriCeratop at 5-10 minutes)

Obviously I skipped some days. You get the idea. The whole trip was that way. Overall the longest wait was for Test Track, it was usually 60 minutes, but we FastPassed it. We showed up for the MK afternoon parade at 15 before 3:00 and got a space in front of the train station.

 

[WendyCFG]

My least crowded trip was the week after Labor Day in 2002...

We arrived on the Friday after Labor Day and the place was empty. We walked right on to EVERYTHING... no wait anywhere. And some things we could stay on and ride again without even getting off.

 

[kbkids]

February, hands down, is my favorite time to go. Just don't go President's Day weekend!! Just like the above poster, I would suggest as early February as possible. We rarely use fast pass in February because it almost slows us down. We'll be killing time waiting for our fast pass time to show up sometimes. I remember bypassing Dumbo one time because "I'm not standing in line for 20 minutes!" That's really about the longest wait time I have ever seen that time of year.

I love the weather - it does get cold at night - but we kinda like bundling together to watch the fireworks - sorta cozy!

 

[Alice28]

I know my best friend went at probably THE least crowded time EVER---she and her hubby went on Sept. 17, 2001 for 5-6 days and said the place was a ghost town.

Of the times I have gone, (January, late Feb/early March, mid-October) I have to say January was the least crowded. DH and I waited no more than 15 minutes for any attraction (I think we waited awhile for the Jungle Cruise or something like that)--even Tower of Terror, which was very new (this was 01/95), had less than a 10 minute wait. We were there MLK day thru the following Saturday. The only time we experienced crowds was the Saturday we left- we went to the MK from 9 until 1 and it was starting to get pretty crowded.

Late Feb/early March wasn't bad at all either. The only REAL crowds were at the MK the Friday before we left; but not bad, esp utilizing fast pass.

 

[cooldisneymom]

Originally posted by WendyCFG
My least crowded trip was the week after Labor Day in 2002...

We arrived on the Friday after Labor Day and the place was empty. We walked right on to EVERYTHING... no wait anywhere. And some things we could stay on and ride again without even getting off.

Ditto, Week after Labor Day also - any year!!!

 

[CamColt]

Sad as it was, the parks were dead 9/23-28 2001. We walked on just about everything. I actually videotaped a major walkway in Epcot around 2:00pm one day. There was not another person in sight. It was freaky!

 

[daisy112878]

We like the couple of weeks before Christmas. We walked onto everything in MK the first day we were there. No waits and didn't have to do fast pass. It was awesome. Also we love the christmas decorations and the MVMCP.

 

[Geomich]

We were there the week of September 13th, 2001. We had to drive since flights were not leaving.

It just got slower as the week went by. We were staying at the contemporary, by the end of the week they even closed the pool bar outside-if you wanted a cocktail you had to go up to the bar in the tower. There was not one ride that had a line-Space Mountain didnt even open the other side of the ride. Epcot was creepy it was so quiet. There were only 4 tables of people at the Garden Grill one night for dinner.

September is a great month to go (crowd wise) dont usually wait more than 15 minutes for anything.

 

[disneyvoice]

My first visit was during the last week of January and the place was basically deserted! We NEVER waited in line - EVER. We literally walked right up to the loading area for every single ride. I had put together a two day touring plan for Epcot. By about 2:00 on the first day we had completed the ENTIRE two day plan!!!

We laughed because all of the line areas were still set up for larger crowds. So we still had to walk through the maze of ropes and bars to get to the loading area. Then the CMs would still ask "How many in your party? Two? Row 4 please." It just cracked us up.

It was very cool that year however, so I imagine that's why the parks were so dead. We only spent one day at the pool and never even ventured to the water parks.

 

[dizneefreak29]

I went December 4 - December 9, 2000. It was empty. We never waited more than five minutes....had all the beautiful Christmas decorations....it was great!

 

[Missy1961]

I went the week of Hurricane Floyd in 1999 (Sept. 14-Sept. 20). We were on the last flight out of NY before the hurricane, so when we got to WDW, we started to sense something was off. It turns out they had closed the park--for the first time ever! (the second time was Sept. 11, 2001). So we couldn't stay at Fort Wilderness--they were worried about the wind. So we stayed at Port Orleans instead. The next day, they only opened AK for resort guests. We were able to walk on all the rides--we even were able to ride Kali River Rapids multiple times without getting off! And since flights weren't leaving we had no lines the rest of the week.

 

[trracers]

We go the week after Labor Day. My DH and I slipped off for a no-kids vacation once and I remember asking if there was a bomb threat or something because the parks were deserted. The lady laughed and said that it was just that the first two weeks in September are always like this, I guess because school has just started. Anyway, that is our favorite time to go now!!

58 days and counting!!

 

[arizonacolbys]

We always choose to go during the slower times - we find that we enjoy the parks so much more then.

January 9-16, 2000 was probably the slowest time for us. I believe Fastpass was a new thing back then & many CM's were trying to push it. When there's noone in line - there's simply no reason to use the Fastpass. After that trip, we decided we never wanted to go during peak times again.

August 29 - Sept 9, 2001 was probably the 2nd slowest time - it was a bit more crowded over Labor Day weekend, but wait times were still very low & the nice thing was the weather was much warmer than Jan.

December 6-17, 2002 was also a great time to go. We really loved seeing all the holiday decorations & the crowds were very light at the beginning of the month. I think more & more people are going now in Dec to see the decorations. We can't wait to go back again in Dec in a couple of years.

We'll be down again in Sept this year - but are going later in the month than last time - hoping for very low crowds & some waterpark weather!

 

[kellyb2000]

Another vote for September! We were at the MK on September 12th last year and it was absolutely wonderful. We're trying the week after Thanksgiving this year so hopefully it will be just as good, if not better.

 

[DVC-Don]

Last week in August 2001 & 2003. At times in the WS at Epcot it seemed there were only us and the CM's.

 

[ahilly]

The week after Labor Day
We were there last year and they didn't even have fastpass available.

 

[crazywig]

another sept 11th 2001 wdw vacationer here (sept 8-15th). really deserted after the 11th. literally walked on dumbo on a friday night. almost spooky.


jan 18-25th 2003. great time to go, hardly any waits. universal was even more deserted, walked on the hulk front row multiple times! unfortunately they had 30 degree temps a few days down there LOL.

 

[Nickunited]

Last week in August for me is always the best - The parks close earlier and you might miss out on Spectro but if you are looking for less lines then that is the time to go!

 

[CindyBella]

My favorite time: first week of February!

Crowds are minimal and the weather is COOL!

My dream time: First week of December. I hear it is fabulous .