Best time of year to go

[sadie]

Hi! I'm looking to plan a Disney World vacation. Is there a "good" (less crowded) time of year to go or is it now crowded at all times? I haven't planned a Disney trip sonce 2007 and it was adults only. I'm looking at non-summer months and am ok pulling kids from school if needed.

[meganew]

I used crowd calendars to help me plan our first trip about 6 years ago because I wasn’t working (teacher) and we could go whenever. We wound up there in mid April when Easter had been earlier and we had very light crowds. However, I don’t know that there are light crowds like that anymore. That being said, we’ve been there twice since- and during the spring break weeks when crowds are pretty heavy- and never felt like it was overwhelming or took away from the vaca at all.

[imimahoney]

We went this past August and the crowds were light compared to the high season. Prices were also much cheaper than they are during the school year.

But of course the weather was awful so you pick one over the other.

[CrazyLucky]

We went to Disney the second week of November and had light crowds. We went to Universal in early February and had light crowds. Plus good weather. I'd recommend both of those times, but only if you're ok with pulling kids out of school.

[steamboat185]

We’re going the 2nd week of May this year (first time since pre COVID). I would have preferred to go the week earlier, but can’t due to work schedules. I’m not sure there is a true slower time- so many schools have different school schedules and days off that trying to hit the tiny slow windows is nearly impossible (we have 2 kids in the biggest school district in the state and a friends go to the 2nd and 3rd biggest school districts our vacations never match up). As long as you can avoid the busiest times it all seems to be about the same.

[sadie]

Thanks, this is helpful. I'm thinking early November or early February will be our timeframe. I really loved the weather when we went in January; we were there during marathon weekend.

[Scout'sHonor]

We just went the week after thanksgiving and it wasn't too bad. Busy but not insane and the weather was warm but not hot (like the beginning of Sept when we went in 2018). End of Jan and Feb are good too.

[mrsslocombe]

I went last week of Jan/first week of February this year, it was the busiest I have seen it for that time of year, but not peak crowds by any means. some things to keep in mind for that time of year:

-Festival of the Arts is going on at Epcot, it did get very crowded around the World Showcase. But there are more fun food options to try and new things to look at.
-Park hours are shorter (9pm was the latest anything was open in 2022).
-weather is all over the place, sometimes it’s 35 in the morning, sometimes it’s 70+. If swimming is important it’s not the best time to go.
-even though crowds are lighter than the busiest times, they have fewer cast members working, usually rides that can load from two sides are only running one side, etc. So wait times can be longer than you expect for the crowd level.
But all that being said, it’s still my preferred time of year to go.

[ssmjlm]

September is light because school is back, but also hurricanes.

February (non-President's Day) tends to be lower crowds.

We went the week right after Thanksgiving and it wasn't bad. We've also gone the first week in May and that was also light crowds, but definitely was warm.

[Patsy Baloney]

I’ve been: mid-May, early November, week after Thanksgiving, first week of June

My mom has been at all those time, as well as during October and mid-March (spring break)

All were fine. I think it’s always crowded 🤷🏻‍♀️ I’d pick the time to go that has the most stuff you want, whether it’s a season or a festival, and go for it.

[midwestmama]

We have been in October/November, early December, late July, and early August. By far, my favorite was the October/November trip for a few reasons: 1) crowds were reasonable (we went in 2016, so not sure what it's like now), 2) weather was good (generally past hurricane season, but still in the 70s-80s), 3) if you go the week where Oct 31 and Nov 1 overlap, you'll get to see both Halloween and Christmas decorations, and 4) you'll be there during the Food & Wine Festival.

[Doggy Mommy]

I've been President's Day weekend in Feb, End of May (week before Memorial Day), and Fall Break twice (October). May was by far the least crowded. February was the worst. I agree that it's pretty much always crowded but you can have so much fun anyway!

[susiebw]

We went the first week in October last year and it wasn't too bad. All of our park days were weekdays. I think it's always crowded, but if you avoid holidays/weekends/school break weeks, it's better.