When are the best crowded times to visit?

[Grim Grinning Marathon Runner]

If you look on the INFO CENTRAL secion, at the "Crowds - when to visit" page, you'll see that the best time to visit are basically times when school is in session, and the worst/most crowded times to visit are when schools are out for some sort of holiday.

Taking that into consideration, many of us have children in school, work in school systems, or have some other ties that mean the only real times we can visit are those times when Disney is historically the most crowded.

So, of those crowded times, when are the best ones to visit?

[grumpypima]

We've been during Christmas twice. The first visit, we arrived on December 26th and left January 2nd. The other, we arrived a couple of days before Christmas and left on the 30th. We loved it!! The parks and resorts were decorated so beautiful, I can't wait to go back!

Also, we visited over the 4th of July week. It was great then too. We did water parks only! We are from Northwest Florida and know how hot & humid it can get, but it was particularly hot & humid that week. I won't say we will never visit for 4th of July again. But if we do, we will plan dinners a little later in the evening and drive our own car instead of using the busses.

[Strmchsr]

If it makes you feel better, the parks are pretty much crowded year round now. Some times are more than others, but there's not an "empty" time any more. Good times are early June (as soon as the kids get out), your spring break (as long as it's not near Easter), and, if you get Mardi Gras out of work/school in Mobile that can be a good time to go.

[buzznwoodysmom]

We visited during Thanksgiving week last year and it was one of our best trips ever. We arrived the Thursday night before Thanksgiving and left the Saturday afternoon after Thanksgiving. We would be going back again this year, but DH has other travel obligations. However, without a doubt we will be headed back Thanksgiving of 2009! Can't wait.

[Grim Grinning Marathon Runner]

If it makes you feel better, the parks are pretty much crowded year round now. Some times are more than others, but there's not an "empty" time any more. Good times are early June (as soon as the kids get out), your spring break (as long as it's not near Easter), and, if you get Mardi Gras out of work/school in Mobile that can be a good time to go.
Yeah, Mardi Gras is definitely what we're thinking.

And hey to you from down south, and WAR EAGLE!

[merlinmagic4]

I agree that most of the year is probably busy but we have been in late August and it was great (low crowds) and during our April break which is fine as well. When you know the parks well and have lots of information, you can get around just about any time of year! I think many, many people pull their kids out for trips and those of us that don't are in the minority. So, those school vacation weeks may not be as bad as you might read!

[Strmchsr]

And hey to you from down south, and WAR EAGLE!

I have to respond with a "Roll Tide!!!" or DW (a UA alumnus) would kill me. :D

Just got back from Mobile, BTW. We had a hurricane preparedness conference there last week. Good info.

[Mousemates]

New Years...we did it last year and have kind of settled on doing news year at WDW for a while...yes, the crowds are bad on new years eve...but you still get to enjoy the Christmas decoration, you get to see DHS fireworks, celebrate the new year at the happiest place on earth, and if you can hang around a few days after JAn 1st before your school crnaks back up...enjoy both low rates and lower attendance for a day or two.

[TikiGoddess]

My DH and I are both teachers (on a traditional schedule). For a long vacation, we can only do summer. We're hoping that mid August is the best time to go in the summer -- it's Value season and according to a popular crowd calendar website, should be less crowded than July. Seeing that southern schools are back in session at the beginning of August, that should help with the crowds. We can't afford the airfare in Feb and won't go during Easter or Christmas.

Although, this year our spring break was the third week of April and Easter was in March. That would have been a good time to go, I bet... somewhat lower crowds and beautiful weather.

TikiG

[merlinmagic4]

Although, this year our spring break was the third week of April and Easter was in March. That would have been a good time to go, I bet... somewhat lower crowds and beautiful weather.

TikiG

It was a good week to go. Next year our break (and it looks like yours, too) is the week after the week after Easter. Crowds are a 10 at the beginning of the week but we're still going. You can google and find Easter dates for the next few years; you should try April when Easter is in March again!!!

[Meteora]

My family has always had to go during school vacations--my parents both work in schools and I was a teacher for awhile. No matter how crowded it is when you go, if you are willing to get up early, stay late, and go home and take naps or play at the pool in the afternoon, it's manageable. You just have to be wise about it.

We usually go during Christmas and have a wonderful time. :mickey:

[Tinkerfreak]

What a great question. We have always gone at the end of oct. into early nov. and pulled our girls out of school. This nov. will be our last time being able to do this because the year after that older DD will be going in to high school and it will just be too stressful for her. I always said I could never do Disney in the summer because of the heat but I have to admit the idea of no Disney is worse than Disney in the summer heat. We have also considered going Thanksgiving week because the kids only have 1 and a half days that week so they could miss that no problem.
Thanks to all of you for making it sound not quite so bad.

[IloveDisney71]

I live across the bay from you. I really liked going the week-end before Thanksgiving and the week before Christmas but I usually have to work around the school calendar. So...when I can, I like to go the week after Memorial Day or the first week in June. It's hot but not July/August hot and it's not as crowded in my opinion.
But I agree with a previous poster that there don't seem to be too many slow times at Disney anymore.

[texasteacher]

I am a teacher so have to go either during the summer or holidays. My family members prefer driving down which takes us 2 days. I have gone Thanksgiving week and spring breaks many times. The weather is great, but I feel rushed and have no vacation left to do anything around the house when I return. Plus I have college age kids going now and they tell me that they usually have papers to do during Thanksgiving and Spring Break so would rather go during a longer holiday when their school is out. Last year we were there Dec 26 through Jan 2. We loved it, but I got a little tired of Christmas music around the parks. Even the Voices of Liberty sing Christmas songs and I really love their tradition American songs more. I hope I don't sound like Ebenezer Scrooge! So while I loved going at Christmas, I want a change next time.
My family and I are discussing summer for our 2009 trip, even though I swore back in 1994 (first and last summer trip!) that I would not go back that time of year because of the heat ( I live in Houston and you would think I would be used to the humidity, but I still hate being in it). So my family and are debating whether to go in July or Aug (I teach summer school during the entire month of June so that month is out) or if we want to wait and go at Christmas again.
Crowd wise and money wise it sounds like August would be better. We are realy good at avoiding lines since we get to the parks early, use fast passes, take a midday break, and then go back and stay late so maybe I could survive a summer trip . Last summer trip I stayed at the parks all day without a break. I am older now and have learned that is not the best thing, no matter what time of year.
I really don't think I can wait till December. I am too anxious to go again!
I have been checking the discussion board to find out if people are really enjoying their summer trips, despite the heat. But then I rememberthat it is Disneyworld. How could you not have a great time?