Your Opinion - Least Crowded Time of Year?

[dclDream2018]

Does anyone visit WDW at a time of year based on lowest expected crowd levels? If so, what time of year do you usually go? I am trying to hear thoughts on whether there is a better time than late January.

I just got back from a brief 2-day visit at WDW, visiting just MK for those two days. We seemed to have gotten the timing right - the crowds weren't as bad as I would've ever imagined for WDW (we rode nearly EVERY! ride, with the exception of one that was a closed and two others due to height restrictions). I had a wonderful first time at Disney, and now thinking about visit #2, #3, #4, #5...

 

[FutureDisneyEventPlanner]

When I went the week before Thanksgiving, it was perfect. The second week in December was also fabulous as well (been twice during this time). September is good, but it is HOT and you run the risk of having to reschedule your trip due to hurricane season...happened to me this past year!

 

[AllThingsMickey4]

We usually go late April/early May and love it. The weather is amazing.. mid 80's so not too hot or humid yet and it rarely rains during that time of the year. Crowds are relatively low (although, there really is no time at Disney where the crowds are extremely low). The Flower and Garden festival is going on at Epcot and in my opinion, Epcot looks 100% better when it is dressed up with the topiaries and flowers. We just went on our first fall trip over Halloween this year and the crowds weren't too much different than late April/early May... but it was of course cooler than Spring. We were still able to wear shorts on most days. We went to Epcot during the day on Halloween and I've never seen Epcot so empty.. we were able to do 12 of the Food and Wine food booths just in a couple of hours. Although, the Halloween party at MK on Halloween was a madhouse (as expected). I would personally pick the best time for weather since the crowds are hit or miss and honestly aren't that noticeably different.

 

[FutureDisneyEventPlanner]

We usually go late April/early May and love it. The weather is amazing.. mid 80's so not too hot or humid yet and it rarely rains during that time of the year. Crowds are relatively low (although, there really is no time at Disney where the crowds are extremely low). The Flower and Garden festival is going on at Epcot and in my opinion, Epcot looks 100% better when it is dressed up with the topiaries and flowers. We just went on our first fall trip over Halloween this year and the crowds weren't too much different than late April/early May... but it was of course cooler than Spring. We were still able to wear shorts on most days. We went to Epcot during the day on Halloween and I've never seen Epcot so empty.. we were able to do 12 of the Food and Wine food booths just in a couple of hours. Although, the Halloween party at MK on Halloween was a madhouse (as expected). I would personally pick the best time for weather since the crowds are hit or miss and honestly aren't that noticeably different.

sorry to hijack, lol...i didn't even consider early may...the crowds were bearable?

 

[lovethattink]

I'm not really sure there is, because even value season can feel crowded.

My son works at WDW. When he first started, his hours got cut if it was not busy. He hasn't had hours cut like that in years.

Rope drop is truly the least crowded time.

 

[hmcater]

We usually go last week in August/First week of Sept and have never felt as though it was overcrowded or that we waited very long for rides. It is HOT but bearable if you take breaks.

 

[AllThingsMickey4]

sorry to hijack, lol...i didn't even consider early may...the crowds were bearable?

The crowds aren't bad at all! We've seen it more crowded in the weeks leading up to Christmas.. the last time we went the week before Christmas our last couple of days were sooo crowded. Early May is awesome because you are missing the Easter and Spring break crowds and kids haven't gotten out of school yet. I went early May and the week before Memorial Day this past May and to be honest, the late May crowds were about the same as the early May, but it was A LOT more humid in late May and it rained a couple of times.

 

[ELLH]

There isn't a "slow" time of the year anymore. There's essentially "crowded" and "unbearable" (possibly an overstatement, but it's not too far off). These threads, all within the last couple weeks, cover the topic pretty well:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/i...-reliable-than-they-used-to-be.3664044/page-3
https://www.disboards.com/threads/i...-reliable-than-they-used-to-be.3664044/page-3
https://www.disboards.com/threads/c...n-toilet-paper-and-fake-dollar-bills.3662464/
https://www.disboards.com/threads/crowd-prediction-changes.3662451/

 

[plainoldt]

last week in august
right after labor day weekend
2 week in January

 

[DisneyFive]

Week after Labor day is historically THE slowest week.

As others have said though, I think it's now about managing expectations. With the economy doing well, and Disney offering their best deals during what used to be the really slow times, the old slow months just aren't that way anymore.

Last year, that week after Labor day was still 1's and 2's out of 10 though. The only time that has crowds like that anymore. No other week is close.

Dan

 

[OneinThree]

I just got back from a brief 2-day visit at WDW, visiting just MK for those two days. We seemed to have gotten the timing right - the crowds weren't as bad as I would've ever imagined for WDW (we rode nearly EVERY! ride, with the exception of one that was a closed and two others due to height restrictions).

Be very happy -you just caught lightning in a bottle. We were there between Thanksgiving and Christmas (slow, historically), and the crowds were so bad at times we found ourselves waiting in line -to walk. Likewise, we were there again the 2nd week in January (we're residents), and the same problem -ended up leaving AK after just a couple of hours because you literally couldn't move for the waves of people (not to mention the 3 1/2 hour wait times for certain attractions). Summer (after school begins) seems to be the best time to go these days. I've seen a lot of people say they don't like the thought of summer in Disney because of the heat. Maybe that's why the crowds aren't bad? Not a big deal for us because the temp and humidity is the same at Disney as it is in the back yard.

 

[4HOLIDAYS]

Jan/ feb avoiding races and holidays
End of sept beginning of sept-the slowest
week before thanksgiving

we dont always go during these times due to schedule and such, but these are the best in my mind

 

[kniquy]

I think any time you can plan it where it doesn't align with a holiday, school vacation or summer - you will likely have pretty decent crowds. Keep in mind that it seems the traditional crowd calendars have not caught up with the tiered pricing -- so a time that should be slower (January, early December) has been busier than it has been in the past. There are many reports of the early December time, which is usually wonderful crowd levels were much busier this past year than in years past. This year we are trying the week after thanksgiving - DD5 will be in kindergarten but figure this will be the one and only time we take her out of school to go to WDW. In years past this has been marked as one of the better weeks of the year to go --- so we shall see.

There really is no truly slow time and if the park attendance is low WDW will adjust staffing/rides so you will still encounter waits.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

Labor Day week usually sees the lowest crowds. We were there before the hurricane this year and it was very slow (and we sadly cut our trip very short as we did not want to ride it out and waste a lot of DVC points. Rebooked for May.) We have been for Labor Day week a few times but we will not travel during peak hurricane season again. It was a huge bummer to cut our trip short.

I would caution you against setting a crowd expectation, though. Prepare for it to be crowded and then be pleasantly surprised if it is not as bad as you thought Similar to your recent experience! I prefer to be pleasantly surprised over disappointed

People are always on here complaining when it’s more crowded than they planned. Don’t set yourself up for disappointment! A day at WDW is wonderful, crowds or not. We don’t ever stress about crowds. We go at busy times and slower times, whenever it works for our schedule (10-12 people in our group so it takes some work to find a week we all can go). Crowded or not crowded, New Year’s Eve or a slower week in May, we love being there and have a great time.