When headed to Disney World, there are two things most people are afraid of: the expense and the crowds. Obviously the ideal situation of any trip is to avoid the heavy crowds. Now don’t get me wrong, there are times when you just have to prepare for large crowds in Disney (i.e. Christmas and New Years). However, if you have a somewhat flexible schedule it can be pretty easy to plan a trip to avoid waiting in long lines.
When Sam and I went to Disney in September, I thought for sure the parks were going to be packed because of the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot. I couldn’t be convinced otherwise, even though I consulted two different crowd calendars. I was pleasantly surprised that I was wrong. The parks were not crowded at all and we had very minimal wait times on all the rides. Some rides we were even able to *gasp* walk right on. I have been to Disney many times in all different months of the year but this was by far my best experience as far as crowds go.
Before we dive in, please note: These recommendations are generalized and an estimation based on previous years. Obviously crowds can differ on specific dates based on special events and such. The best tip I can offer you is to check the Disney World calendar once you have some potential dates narrowed down. While there is bound to be something going on in Disney World, this should help you avoid the major busy events such as the Disney Marathon.
The Best Times
Majority of January
January tends to typically be one of the slowest months of the year in Disney. Couple this with Orlando’s average 72 degree weather, this makes for an awesome time to visit the Disney parks. Keep in mind, the water parks are closed this time of year.
Avoid:
- The first few days of the month- the parks will likely still be crowded from New Years.
- Disney Marathon Weekend- usually occurs in the middle of the month, the marathon can draw large crowds.
February
February can be hit or miss as far as crowds go. We actually just got back from Disney and the parks were packed to the brim. However, when I was there in February a couple of years ago the parks were practically empty. The thing with February is the weather is usually perfect- so if you hit a low crowd day to go it’s awesome. The problem with February is there’s usually a ton of high volume events. Last weekend when we were there, Disney was hosting the National High School Cheerleading Championship which accounted for the high crowd volumes.
Just like in January, the water parks will still be closed but with the weather in the low to mid 70s you probably won’t miss them too terribly much.
Avoid:
- President’s Day weekend- Avoid the third week in February like the plague! Kids are off school and families flock to the parks.
September
As I’ve already mentioned, September is another great time to visit Disney. Kids are just starting back to school so crowds are low. The weather is also fantastic- it’s still hot in Florida so pack your sunscreen! September is considered off season so prices are lower than the peak times. This is also the time of the year Disney tends to have Free Dining offers. If for some reason you still need some motivation to book in September, let me offer you my favorite reason of all: It’s Food and Wine Festival time at Epcot!
November
As long as you avoid Thanksgiving week, November is another great time of year to avoid crowds at Disney. In November, the weather is warm during the day and a little cooler at night. Even though the full holiday decor isn’t on display until December 1st, you might get a sneak peek of what’s to come if you visit later in the month. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party kicks off in November, though, so if you’re feeling festive be sure to check that out.
Avoid:
- Thanksgiving Week- Thanksgiving is super crowded, as is every winter holiday in Disney.
The Worst Times
I’ve already mentioned most of these park no-gos, but I think it’s definitely worth mentioning again. Keep in mind I’m talking about the worst times to visit Disney World in regards to crowds only. Holidays, for instance, can be a blast at Disney- you just have to be prepared for lots of people and long wait times.
Marathon Weekend
The Disney Marathon usually occurs in mid-January and brings with it an influx of runners and their families.
President’s Day Weekend
President’s Day is in February. This is a biggie- since kids are out of school for a long weekend the park can get as crowded as it is on Christmas and New Years.
End of March-Beginning of April
While maybe not the worst time to go to Disney, this is prime Spring Break time so the parks may be a little busier than normal.
Late May- Beginning of August
It’s no secret that summer is my least favorite time to go to Disney World. Kids are out of school so the parks are packed. It’s also the hottest time of the year in Florida. 100 degree temps + long lines + crowds = my personal nightmare. If you do go this time of the year, make sure you schedule plenty of breaks at the hotel pool to give yourself a break from the heat.
Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year
The winter holidays are notoriously packed for the holiday season. That being said, it’s one of the most magical times of year to visit the parks so if you’re going to brave the crowds this is the time to do it! The first weeks of December tend to be less crowded than the holiday weeks themselves so if you’re set on seeing Disney in all it’s holiday glory, this is the best time to go.
Tips:
Purchase Tickets As Soon As You Decide to Go
This may seem like a no brainer but tickets should be one of the first things you purchase. Whether you purchase a vacation package off of the official Disney website or use a third party website for discounted tickets, make sure you get them ASAP. Having your tickets in hand will allow you to book your dining reservations and Fast Passes as soon as it opens up for you. This is crucial if there’s a restaurant you’re dying to eat at (Be Our Guest anyone?) or a particular time you want for a Fast Pass.
I personally buy my Disney tickets from Undercover Tourist. In particular, I like this site because 1) tax is already included in the price 2) I have found over the years that it provides the most consistent discount pricing for park tickets. I also like using Undercover Tourist because they have a handy crowd calendar (see next). For our recent trip, I think we ended up saving around $60 total for our six Park Hopper tickets!
Consult a Crowd Calendar
If you’re looking for crowd insight specific to your trip, try consulting a crowd calendar. Undercover Tourist offers a free calendar on their website. I also like using touringplans.com‘s paid version for a little bit of comparison. Sites that offer crowd calendars gather daily info on the park crowd levels and use this info to predict crowd levels on any certain future date. I’ve found Undercover Tourist and touringplans.com to both be pretty accurate.
What are your experiences with Disney crowds? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!
