2011 Weeks to Visit Walt Disney World, Ranked in Order
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OVERVIEW: 2011 WEEKS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
This site recommends arriving the second Saturday after Thanksgiving, or the weeks immediately before and after.
If you can’t go then, presented below are the weeks of 2011 in order of best to worst. (Revised August 2010.)
(Click the thumbnail to see the same weeks in a calendar view. For a calendar order list, click here.)
For another approach to figuring out when to go, see the 2011 Week Picker.
The ranking is designed for first time visitors who do not know whether or not they will return.
For visitors on a return trip, less concerned about ride closures, the January and early February weeks would be ranked much higher–with the President’s Day and Martin Luther King day weeks being the worst of these.
See this for recommended 2010 weeks.
CRITERIA FOR RANKING WEEKS
The most important criteria in creating this list were, in order:
1. Few attractions closed. Since this may be your only visit, go during a time when the rides and attractions are likely to be open. While they can be closed for refurbishment at any time, the most common period is January and the first half of February.
Over the last five years, closed rides have included Splash Mountain, Test Track, Rock N’ Roller Coaster, Buzz Lightyear, Mickey’s Philharmagic, and more. Splash Mountain has been closed very year, for periods ranging from 5 days to the entire time, and averaging about a month.
For more on winter ride closures at Walt Disney World, click here.
2. Lower crowds. The basic source for this is this page on forecasting future Walt Disney World crowds.
A great supplement to this is Testa and Sehlinger’s touringplans.com. Sign up for a fee (or buy their book,
The results so far were sorted based on three more points:
- Presence/absence of special events. One special event—Disney’s Christmas program—is a positive. Other special events are of less interest to first-time visitors, but do attract extra crowds, and are treated as a negative
- Avoiding the peak of the hurricane season, and
- Lower prices.
RECOMMENDED 2011 WEEKS
Based on this, the following 2011 Saturday arrival dates are recommended in order.
The first three are almost interchangeable: low prices, low crowds, wonderful Christmas programs and decorations
- 1: 12/3/11. Despite higher crowds than #2, slightly warmer. Those intending to stay at Pop or other values should consider week #2, as Pop Warner football makes the value resorts crowded and boisterous this week.
- 2: 12/10/11. A great week to visit. Could easily be ranked #1.
- 3: 11/26/11. Tail end of Thanksgiving week makes the first Saturday and Sunday of this week more crowded and expensive than weeks #1 and 2. The rest of this week is terrific
The next six share great weather, low crowds, and low prices
- 4: 5/7/11. Perfect weather
- 5: 4/30/11. Perfect weather. First Saturday and Sunday may be crowded from the tail end of the crowds from the prior week—which is the week that follows Easter
- 6: 10/15/11. Peak of hurricane season just over; perfect otherwise
- 7: 10/22/11.
- 8: 10/29/11. weather starts to become cooler and more variable
- 9: 11/12/11. Weather cooler and more variable than weeks 6-8.
The next three share higher to very high prices, but low crowds, and are your best Spring Break bets
- 10: 2/26/11. Weather cooler and more variable than week 12, but less crowded and less expensive. Lowest prices of these three
- 11: 3/5/11. Slightly better weather than 10, but with slightly higher crowds and higher prices
- 12: 4/9/11. Tucked between the March Spring Breakers and the later April Easter build up. Best weather of these three. Highest prices of these three
Week 13 has higher crowds but lower prices than 10-12. It also marks the beginning of the rainy season.
- 13: 5/14/11
Week 14 is very unusual. Christmas 2011 occurs on a Saturday. This means that most of the week before will be both less expensive and less crowded than is typical for a late December week. Crowds and prices will build towards the end of the week, but it is your best bet for a near-Christmas visit.
- 14: 12/17/11
Week 15 is similar to weeks 10-12—great weather, high prices, avoids the peak weeks of March and April– but is more crowded than weeks 10-12.
- 15: 4/2/11
This completes the weeks in 2011 that are recommended.
WORSE WEEKS
See this for the remainder of the weeks of 2011, which are not recommended, but are still ranked in order.
MORE ON WHEN TO GO TO WALT DISNEY WORLD
- For when to go to Walt Disney World, see this
- For the next best dates, see this
- For the best and worst times to visit, see this
- For 2010 weeks to visit, ranked in order, see this
- For the 2010 Week Picker, see this
- For 2011 weeks to visit, ranked in order, see this
- For the 2011 Week Picker, see this
- For forecasting crowds at Walt Disney World, see this
- For seasonal pricing at Walt Disney World, see this
- For 2010 price seasons, see this
- For 2011 price seasons, see this
- For projected 2012 price seasons, see this
- For weather at Walt Disney World, see this
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11 comments
Thanks to Lori, for pointing out the correct 2011 Jersey Week!!
Do you think 2011 will be less crowded because people will want to wait to go to until 2012 for the opening of the new Fantasy Land?
Great question–short answer is no. Some people will delay; but others will be drawn to town for Harry Potter and go to WDW as well…
Hi Dave,
We were considering going to Disney Jan 8-16, 2011. We have been before and will likely go again, but wanted to avoid the crowds. I know you rank that week 46. Is that only due to potential ride closures, or are there other reasons? We could go April 30th, but Jan works better for our schedule. What are your thoughts? Thanks!
Jim and Norma–the 46 is mostly for exactly what you note–ride closures.
However, your January dates straddle marathon weekend (Jan 6-9, 2011) and the Martin Luther King holiday weekend (Jan 15-17.) So both of the weekends of your visit will be busy; the weekdays will be dead quiet.
Your April 30 option will be much more expensive, and hit the tail of the crowds from Easter week for the first day or two. Weekday (and second weekend) crowds will be higher than the weekdays of your January option, but still very manageable. And the weather is likely to be much better–to me, this is the best weather of the year in Orlando…
Trying to decide on when to go in 2011 April/May or November. I found that the teachers convention is November 10th and 11th. Want to go when crowds will be low and weather good. Leaning toward November…what dates would you suggest for a 9 day stay?
Jennifer–the first week of either month would be great. Comparing the two, April will have higher crowds and prices, but better weather.
I want to plan for 2011. However, I am a teacher I can only go in the summer. When should I plan to visit in July.
Adrienne–the second half of July will be a hint less busy than the first half. Avoid the week that includes the 4th of July
Moreover, if you are thinking about a deluxe resort, prices for those hit the lowest level of the year in later July. (The moderates and values don’t see this price cut until mid-August.)
(See this for my projected 2011 price seasons–they will be finalized in early August 2010 when Disney announces 2011 prices.)
I was thinking of planning a trip the second week of May in 2011, but then I heard this falls in “lovebug” season where supposedly the area is overrun by a certain insect that comes out that time of year. Does this impact a stay at Disney World at all (outside walking around, in the pool, etc) or does it only impact people that are driving in the area? Is this something to factor into the decision of when to go?
Don–I’ve been with the bugs a number of times, and they are at worst a light annoyance. For example, they impeded the depth of my naps at the Fort Wilderness pool by their gently brushing against me every few minutes!
See this for more.
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