Need a new time of year...

[ols386]

Last week of November (if it's not Thanksgiving week), or first week of December.

 

[Dentam]

I wouldn't write off an entire month because of one Hurricane. The chances hurricanes directly hit Florida like Irma is VERY rare.

I agree - but I'm kind of hoping a lot of people will write off September so it will be even less crowded! I've already booked my trip (rented DVC) for Labor Day week of 2018!

 

[AprilDreamsOfDisney]

Hurricane Irma scared us away from September, so we need a new time of year to travel to WDW. What's your favorite week to go??

I'm the odd one out I think!
We went once at the end of January (the very last week) and it was AMAZING. NO lines (like BTMRR was ever only at 10 minutes, which was really walk-on), got reservations for everything we wanted, and the weather was lovely. We began our day with pants, t-shirts and sweaters. By afternoon, we tied our sweaters around our waists.
If I could, I would always go then.

 

[Darbie]

It will be slammed. It will be a bit better from 1/2-to 1/3 or 4 but that whole week is still very busy.

Yes, it will which is why we are arriving January 7th.

 

[hertamaniac]

I'm looking at the various crowd calendars and I see low crowds at the end of January and most of September. I see April much lower than June/July. Four different calendars from four different sites. They seem to show that there is an off season. What am I missing?

The crowd calendar for this past September, from my perspective after being at WDW for 2 weeks, was not accurate. I cross-referenced several crowd calendars into a spreadsheet, but to no avail. As a local that has an AP and visits regularly during "low" crowd periods, people tend to think the crowd calendars are accurate; they are a guide, but can be flawed.

 

[Babsy]

I'm looking at the various crowd calendars and I see low crowds at the end of January and most of September. I see April much lower than June/July. Four different calendars from four different sites. They seem to show that there is an off season. What am I missing?

For one thing, I think that it is harder to predict crowd levels than it once was.

Also,
There was a time when slow season meant virtually empty parks. Pictures without anyone else but you in them were easy to get. Almost all rides were walk ons, especially in the mornings. Those times were sometimes even less crowded than PPO 8:00 am breakfast time can be now. Resort discounts were as much as 40 - 45% off and not that difficult to get. That was a slow season. Today there are varying levels of crowds, but there are always crowds of people. Even IASW usually has a line. There was a time when it rarely had any line at all. Discounts are rare, prices are high and any discount that is offered is a very small percentage. (Nowadays, 25 - 30% off is considered good.)

It is relative, I suppose, but 'slow season' may mean something to people that have been going to WDW for decades that will probably not be seen again. As the internet is used by more and more people, the times that were historically 'slow' are advertised as such and are getting busier and busier. Hence the claim that there is no slow season anymore. That ship has sailed. We book for weather and convenience for travel these days - not for any thought of how busy WDW will be when we get there. We, personally, book FP+ and use breaks to deal with the crowds.

 

[wdw4rfam]

April/ November

 

[StageTek]

Thanks for that, Babsy. Makes it more clear to me. There are currently times when it's slower than other times but not like it was many years ago.

As a relatively new visitor (my first time was 2007) I was comparing month to month rather than year to year.

 

[Tomh]

For me, personally, Late August, now more than ever, in hopes that many will shy away from the beginning of Hurricane season, as they did after the storms in 2004, making it a lower crowd time once again.

 

[magicwdw]

I'm the odd one out I think!
We went once at the end of January (the very last week) and it was AMAZING. NO lines (like BTMRR was ever only at 10 minutes, which was really walk-on), got reservations for everything we wanted, and the weather was lovely. We began our day with pants, t-shirts and sweaters. By afternoon, we tied our sweaters around our waists.
If I could, I would always go then.

You are definitely not odd choosing late January. This has been our go to time for years. A cold day here and there as well as the occasional ride closure, but the crowds are so low and the weather for us is great.

 

[SDSorority]

You are definitely not odd choosing late January. This has been our go to time for years. A cold day here and there as well as the occasional ride closure, but the crowds are so low and the weather for us is great.

Ok so late January... coming from close to the "great white north", I'm sure to us it would feel like a heatwave, but how cold is it down there during that time? Jeans/Jacket weather? Probably not swimming weather, right?

 

[Darbie]

Ok so late January... coming from close to the "great white north", I'm sure to us it would feel like a heatwave, but how cold is it down there during that time? Jeans/Jacket weather? Probably not swimming weather, right?

I have gone in January a couple times. One trip we wore t shirts and shorts the entire week and our last January trip had us wearing jeans, long sleeves and jackets. We come from the Great White North too, so it wasn't because we weren't used to it. It was cold!

 

[StageTek]

I was there early Feb (6-11) of this year (2017) and it was low 70's to low 80's (25°C to 27°C) the whole week.

 

[Jchoma]

Mid April.

Nicer weather, Flower & Garden Festival at Epcot still happening, but the Spring Break crowds have left.

We went third week in April in 2016 and the weather was perfect. Not too humid and crowds weren't bad because Easter/ most school spring breaks were much earlier that year. I would avoid the weeks before & after Easter....I think that is when a lot of school spring breaks occur.

This year we are going first week in Dec. and I'm excited to experience that time of year at WDW!

 

[DanielNYC]

We don't mind the heat so we love going mid to late August. Way lower crowds. If you can't stand the heat though I wouldn't go then. But for us it's worth it! We never have any trouble getting ADR's or FP's. It's a great time to go!

I second this. We went late August this year and thought it was great. The heat can be oppressive and crowds a little high; however, everything is still running at 'peak capacity'. By this I mean, rides are still running at full capacity, registers are all open as restaurants, ect.

Yes and yes. We've done the third week in August for the last two years and both times we had low crowds and minimal rain. Yes, it's hot, but that's not a deal breaker for us.

 

[Gentry2004]

I was there early Feb (6-11) of this year (2017) and it was low 70's to low 80's (25°C to 27°C) the whole week.

I would not count on this though. We've gone a few times in Jan/Feb. Once it was a cold front and in the 30's - upper 40's. Another time we had the 70's/low 80's you mention. I think more typical is upper 50's - upper 60's.

 

[kiford]

Any time from the weekend after US Thanksgiving to the end of the first two weeks in December. Not too hot, not too cold, not too busy, decorations are up, flight costs are not too high. Reasonable ability to book ADRs, FP+, and resorts. It's become something of a tradition for us. We went once in May for the F&G show which was lovely, but it was too hot for us in general. I'd also like to go to MNSSHP but the timing just isn't good for us.

 

[Alexsandra]

End of feb/early march before spring break. Warm days, Cool nights. No hurricanes, chances of rain are minimal. Great weather for park touring and still warm enough for swimming in the afternoon. Lower crowd level and low room prices.
I also love October with all the Halloween decoration even though it's hurricane season.

 

[StageTek]

I would not count on this though. We've gone a few times in Jan/Feb. Once it was a cold front and in the 30's - upper 40's. Another time we had the 70's/low 80's you mention. I think more typical is upper 50's - upper 60's.

I apologize. I didn't mean to give the impression I was expecting people to count on this. My only intent was to join in the discussion and mention my personal experience.

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

We are also abandoning September mostly for the heat and humidity.

We like late April/Early May and the first 10-15 days of December.
We find the weather to be pleasant and the crowds to be decent.