When is the best time to visit Disney World?

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Mushi404's picture
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When is the best time to visit Disney World?

We were wondering when the best time to visit Disney World is (slowest & least expensive). We just got back from our trip that overlapped Halloween, and it was a little crowded....like get hit with baby strollers and scooters crowded. Or is it inevitable at Disney World? We had an amazing time regardless, but it did put me in a grouchy mood when I got shoved, hit, or got attitude from someone who thought that where they had to go was more important. Surprisingly though, it wasn't packed on Halloween, we went to the party and got to see everything (we didn't ride anything) but got to take pictures with the dwarves and other characters. We even got prime spots for the fireworks and parade, both times people came in late and stood right in front of us......but luckily, we were still able to see, so I guess it all worked out. Long story short, when is the best time to go? We got free dining this time, but is it available during November? We flew out on the morning of November 1st, so we didn't get to see the Christmas decorations in all their glory Sad lol. Is it less crowded then? Granted, most of our waits were at the longest 20-30 mins, and that's wayyyyy better than the 100+ mins I've heard of. Btw, Universal was AMAZING during October. Not crowded at all, and the worker in the Harry Potter area said it was really slow. I wish we spent more than 2 days there. Most of the lines had at max, a 15 min wait. No one bumped into us or hit us there, it was nice Smile

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The week after Thanksgiving is usually slow. September and October are slow as well. I think most of January and February are slow as well. May wasn't bad except on the weekends. If you are an DVC member you can look at your points book for booking a room. When the rooms don't cost a lot of points, are the times when Disney thinks it will be slow. Free dining is usually offered in slower times.

Mushi404's picture
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Thanks Mandy! We were thinking about going during early November, but the rooms are more expensive than when we went in October, but it's only slightly. We're not DVC members, but we're thinking about it! I kept wanting to pick up brochures when we went there, but I got steered away by the hubbub. I just really wanted to see Disney decorated for Christmas. We just missed it this last trip.

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November wasn't bad except last week for Thanksgiving and the last week of Food and Wine.

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I like early October and February myself, though I think that statistics show January and September are the slowest times.

A lot of it being crowded can be worked around by putting the right parks on the right day of the week. The Touring Plans website has a fantastic crowd calendar that I use to help schedule. The Halloween Party on Halloween? Yeah - that's going to be nuts no matter what you do because there is a big local draw. Food & Wine Festival on a weekend and after 4pm - forget it. Mad House. Disney time management is an art form.

VelcroPooh

Mushi we were just there at the same time as you and I thought the crowd levels were really low. I'd say 75% of the time we walked on or had a 5 minute or less wait for everything and everything else was 15 minutes or under, with the exception of about 5 of the rides.

I wonder if we just hit the right parks the right days?

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We went the second week of May in 2012 and 2013. It was really nice and not crowded at all. Very pleasant trip.

Mushi404's picture
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VelcroPooh wrote:
Mushi we were just there at the same time as you and I thought the crowd levels were really low. I'd say 75% of the time we walked on or had a 5 minute or less wait for everything and everything else was 15 minutes or under, with the exception of about 5 of the rides.

I wonder if we just hit the right parks the right days?

I made reservations at the parks with the EMH, it was my mistake :/ Later I read to avoid those parks, but it was too late to change the plans. I think the longest line we waited in was 20 mins, maybe. We used the fast pass+ whenever we could. I think we'll try for November this time, lol, but I LOVED the food and wine festival. Maybe we can try for the tail end of it so the other half of our vacation will be more mellow.

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Last year (2012) we went Nov 11-17 and got to enjoy the last 2 days of the Food and Wine festival and also enjoyed the Christmas decorations and MVMCP. Crowds were ok, so that's a great time to go if you want to enjoy it all! I would definitely go back at that time.

Mushi404's picture
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JanJ wrote:
Last year (2012) we went Nov 11-17 and got to enjoy the last 2 days of the Food and Wine festival and also enjoyed the Christmas decorations and MVMCP. Crowds were ok, so that's a great time to go if you want to enjoy it all! I would definitely go back at that time.

That sounds perfect! We didn't get to take full advantage of the food booths, it was one of our few regrets this past time. Thank you! Smile awesome biggrin

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We went the third week in October last year and crowd levels were pretty low. It was busier at Universal then it was at WDW when we were there. We never had over a 20 min wait at WDW where as most of the big attractions at Universal were 40+ min

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Maybe we just missed the major crowds. I think the only downside of going to Universal around Halloween time is that it closed early for their own party. You're right though, I think we should just try to go around the same time next year, maybe early November. We just need a strategy for the crowds after the fireworks show, etc, at MK.

Revroy's picture
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The answer is anytime you can. A bad day a Disney is better than a good day anywhere clapping

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Revroy wrote:
The answer is anytime you can. A bad day a Disney is better than a good day anywhere clapping

I like the way you think awesome