Best (cheapest) time to visit?

[c3h3a3r]

Hi, I am looking to visit WDW with my hubby for 2 weeks sometime in 2019 to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary, which is in July. Most are recommending mid Jan/Feb or during September. Our sons birthdays are both in September so probably not the best time for us. (Neither want to revisit). My question is when is the best (cheapest) time to visit? If we are looking at mid Jan/Feb, will we be restricted with park hours and ride maintenance?

Also, any recommendations for (cheap) things for 2 adults to do?

Any advice appreciated. Many Thanks.

 

[Marionnette]

Hi, I am looking to visit WDW with my hubby for 2 weeks sometime in 2019 to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary, which is in July. Most are recommending mid Jan/Feb or during September. Our sons birthdays are both in September so probably not the best time for us. (Neither want to revisit). My question is when is the best (cheapest) time to visit? If we are looking at mid Jan/Feb, will we be restricted with park hours and ride maintenance?

Also, any recommendations for (cheap) things for 2 adults to do?

Any advice appreciated. Many Thanks.

Jan/Feb have shorter park hours. More attraction maintenance is scheduled. Hotel rates are cheaper but the cost of tickets is the same unless you're purchasing just 1-day passes. January can be cold - like wear a winter coat COLD. You have foreign tour groups visiting (it's summer break south of the equator). You also get a lot of visitors from New Orleans at Mardi Gras time (schools close).

Personally, I like Oct/early Nov. Mild weather. Decent park hours. Fewer ride rehabs. Fall rates are among the lowest. However, fall is busier than Jan./Feb. There are also Halloween and Christmas parties that restrict MK park hours on many nights. But there's the Food & Wine Festival at Epcot that can be fun (just avoid weekends, it gets crowded).

 

[pinkxray]

Oct/Nov would be my top pick but it seems like fall gets busier and busier every year.

Early May has always been a good time for us. We went a few times mid May and it was beautiful weather, schools weren't out yet and Easter/spring break was over. My sister has traveled the first week of May multiple times and says it has gotten busier every year so I don't think there is really a non busy time to go anymore. May was not the cheapest time but unless you wait until the end near Memorial Day rates were mid range and you could find some decent deals.

Jan/ Feb not including holidays or marathon week/ Princess half weekend might be ok but I hate that Splash mountain is usually down. I haven't been on Splash in years since we traveled in Feb last time (need to travel on DDs school breaks now)

 

[tvguy]

Used to be if you went when schools were in session, the crowds were smaller. Although many parents are not reluctant to take their children out of school for a vacation. But to be honest, it seems some large chunk of schools are on break almost any week of the week anymore. Jersey week. Fall break. President's day week off. Thanksgiving week off. All weeks off I never had when I was in school, and seem to be big Disney weeks.

 

[Alesia]

In my opinion, the cheapest time isn't necessarily the best time. You should also factor in park hours, weather, crowds, ride refurbishments, etc.

I think early to mid May gives the best balance.

 

[c3h3a3r]

Thank you all for your replies...such a hard decision.....

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I would avoid the first full week in November. That is when NJ schools close for at least the Thurs & Friday for a teachers' convention in Atlantic City.
Some school districts close the whole week. Even for those that don't it's a very popular week to vacation. We live in NJ and only went to WDW once that week and it was mobbed. Never again.
Instead we've found it's a perfect week for DCL.

I agree with pp about Jan and Feb weather. Coats, mittens, hoods up, wind blowing our hoods off.
Then rain blowing, ponchos on, shoes soaked on Superbowl Sunday.
Finally after 3 consecutive January trips like this dh turned to me and snipped, "Stop picking January! Try March instead." Well he was right. March weather has been way better but crowds are heavier too.
It's a trade off.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

We always go the first week in March. The weather the last two visits has been in the high 70s/low 80s, which i think is perfect. Rained maybe once during the two trips I think. It is right before Spring break, so it is less crowded than later in the month. It is also the start of Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, which we love.

It isn't the cheapest time of year but it also isn't the most expensive. We find it to be a nice balance.

 

[jsmla]

Just my experience but I go a lot and pretty much every year in late January into early February and early-mid September.

Late January/early February
Pros
-lowest onsite prices if you're not interested in Free Dining
-weather can be very nice with highs in the 70s
-overall generally lower crowds
-last year Epcot had the International Festival of the Arts while I was there.
Cons
-large tour groups of undersupervised teens are very common
-weather can sometimes be very cold
-one of the water parks will be closed

Early September
Pros
-generally the lowest crowds of the year (in my experience)
-very good deals on off site accommodation
-Free Dining at the onsite hotels
-swimming weather
-MNSSHP
-Epcot Food and Wine Festival
Cons
-generally very hot and humid, can be very rainy
-in park ADRs can be difficult to pick up due to Free Dining

The weather in early September is almost guaranteed to be oppressively hot and humid but I'm from south Louisiana and it doesn't bother me as much as it might someone from, say, Colorado.


I used to love the first weeks of October and November but it's gotten a tad busy for my taste.

 

[Marionnette]

Just my experience but I go a lot and pretty much every year in late January into early February and early-mid September.

Late January/early February
Pros
-lowest onsite prices if you're not interested in Free Dining
-weather can be very nice with highs in the 70s
-overall generally lower crowds
-last year Epcot had the International Festival of the Arts while I was there.
Cons
-large tour groups of undersupervised teens are very common
-weather can sometimes be very cold
-one of the water parks will be closed

Early September
Pros
-generally the lowest crowds of the year (in my experience)
-very good deals on off site accommodation
-Free Dining at the onsite hotels
-swimming weather
-MNSSHP
-Epcot Food and Wine Festival
Cons
-generally very hot and humid, can be very rainy
-in park ADRs can be difficult to pick up due to Free Dining

The weather in early September is almost guaranteed to be oppressively hot and humid but I'm from south Louisiana and it doesn't bother me as much as it might someone from, say, Colorado.


I used to love the first weeks of October and November but it's gotten a tad busy for my taste.

I would agree that Sept would be ideal if it were not for the fact that the OP dismissed it as a consideration.

 

[lanejudy]

We used to go in early February and loved it at that time. As for weather, yes it can be cool or warm, but that also somewhat depends on the weather you have at home at that time of year. We come from the northeast, so 50s or 60s in late January/early February is very spring-like to us. DD has been the only one swimming but we weren't cold since we'd left in minus-zero temps with feet of snow on the ground.

Lower crowds = lower resort cost, but also means shorter hours. Rides are down for maintenance at any time of year, maybe a couple more during the off-peak.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[Jennifer Shull]

What about early December? I'm thinking about booking the second week of December in 2018. I'm hoping the weather is still OK and the crowds low. Any insight? No one seems to be recommending that time of the year. Am I missing something?

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

What about early December? I'm thinking about booking the second week of December in 2018. I'm hoping the weather is still OK and the crowds low. Any insight? No one seems to be recommending that time of the year. Am I missing something?

That time of year is very popular with DVC and so the DVC resorts are usually booked up very early on. I haven't been that time of year, so I can't comment so much on the weather or crowds. I just know DVC books up fast in early December.

 

[lovesmurfs]

What about early December? I'm thinking about booking the second week of December in 2018. I'm hoping the weather is still OK and the crowds low. Any insight? No one seems to be recommending that time of the year. Am I missing something?

I took the kids there for a week in December when DH was deployed back in 2006 the second week of December, and then a week later in 2009 after he was back, returning Christmas eve. The first trip had much fewer crowds -- got busier every day closer to Christmas.

It was a fairly economical trip. We rented a house (the days before AirBnB -- maybe used VBRO) and had breakfast at the house most days (except for a character b'fast we did). Rented a car, and bought Park Hopper tickets, as well as Christmas Party tickets.

It was a great trip, and loved the time of year.

Universal Tourist has a crowd calendar -- might be helpful. https://www.undercovertourist.com/orlando/crowd-calendar/

 

[Marionnette]

What about early December? I'm thinking about booking the second week of December in 2018. I'm hoping the weather is still OK and the crowds low. Any insight? No one seems to be recommending that time of the year. Am I missing something?

We were there for a conference last Dec. Christmas decorations everywhere. Very festive. Candlelight Processional. Christmas Party in MK. Holidays Around the World in Epcot. Parks close earlier, except for Epcot which rarely changes its hours. Parties at MK can mean it closes at 6 PM to guests without a party ticket on those nights. Makes it more crowded on the non-party nights. Can be nice weather or freezing. I've been there when it drizzled for days (bone-chilling), warm and sunny skies other years, hat & winter coat weather another year. Pop Warner football championships are the first weekend of Dec. They can overrun the Value Resorts.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

End of August is low crowds and you can get great deals on deluxe hotels but it's hot and the risk of hurricanes.

 

[wendow]

I am partial to end Aug/beg of Sept but I see you have said no to Sept. My next rec would be early Dec. We went Dec 9-Dec 17 2014. The crowds were moderate. Temps were a bit cool for my taste (prefer heat) but most seem to prefer cooler. The decorations were so festive and lovely. Honestly, that got me in the 'Christmas spirit' like nothing else could. We did the MCMCP and loved it!

I'd do that time period again in a heartbeat except... I have two high school aged kids now and we homeschool part time and public school part time so it is easier to miss the beginning of the school year (Sept) than right before finals (mid-Dec.)

 

[adelaster]

Can be nice weather or freezing. I've been there when it drizzled for days (bone-chilling), warm and sunny skies other years, hat & winter coat weather another year.

The average low temps are 50's- and it appears that the record lows for the area are 20's. Geographical standards come into play here. I don't wear a coat until it goes into the mid-low 30's.

OP, for what it's worth, we went at the end of August/September last year and many rides were down for rehab and weather the day we spent in the park. It rained almost nonstop, and was very hot and humid when it broke. It's doable, but it wouldn't be a first choice return time for us.

 

[wendow]

OP, for what it's worth, we went at the end of August/September last year and many rides were down for rehab and weather the day we spent in the park. It rained almost nonstop, and was very hot and humid when it broke. It's doable, but it wouldn't be a first choice return time for us.

I'm sorry that was your experience. It sounds pretty miserable. We go every year at this time (for the last many, many years...). Last year, BTMRR and IASW were both down at MK during this time which was a huge bummer. This year, Splash will be down and I could just cry as that is a top 3 fave. But we are going anyways cause there are so many other attractions to enjoy. I would say that we've never, ever had all day rain. Typical afternoon storms and in 2012, those afternoon storms ran into the evening quite frequently. However, last year, we arrived on Aug 30th and there was a hurricane coming through Tampa area (can't remember the name) but it sure did dump a lot of rain on WDW for about 2 days. It also cleared the parks. And I mean CLEARED! Like everyone either left early to fly out or they stayed at their hotels or cancelled their trips. You could not have picked a better time to be there If you didn't mind getting wet, you certainly had the place to yourselves.

 

[adelaster]

I'm sorry that was your experience. It sounds pretty miserable. We go every year at this time (for the last many, many years...). Last year, BTMRR and IASW were both down at MK during this time which was a huge bummer. This year, Splash will be down and I could just cry as that is a top 3 fave. But we are going anyways cause there are so many other attractions to enjoy. I would say that we've never, ever had all day rain. Typical afternoon storms and in 2012, those afternoon storms ran into the evening quite frequently. However, last year, we arrived on Aug 30th and there was a hurricane coming through Tampa area (can't remember the name) but it sure did dump a lot of rain on WDW for about 2 days. It also cleared the parks. And I mean CLEARED! Like everyone either left early to fly out or they stayed at their hotels or cancelled their trips. You could not have picked a better time to be there If you didn't mind getting wet, you certainly had the place to yourselves.

We were calf deep in parts of the magic kingdom & disney springs. I've never been wetter. We still laugh about it.