2011 Disney World Week Picker
OVERVIEW
The 2011 Walt Disney World Week Picker is designed to show you the best weeks for your 2011 visit to Walt Disney World based on what’s important to you.
This site’s various “Weeks to Visit Ranked in Order” pages, 2011 Weeks, and 2012 Weeks, are designed to yield answers for the “typical family.”
The Week Picker, instead, provides guidance on the best weeks of 2011 for you to visit Walt Disney World based on your family’s exact preferences.
(For the 2012 Week Picker, see this.)
HOW THE WEEK PICKER WORKS
You will be asked to pick the best answer for your family to three questions:
- The first question—later on this page—is about the importance to you of crowds. You click the best answer for your family out of four possible answers. (See this for why crowds matter.)
- The second question–which you will be sent to once you click the link answering the first question–is about the importance to you of prices. You will also answer this by clicking a link. (See this for why prices matter.)
- The third issue is about the importance to you of avoiding certain types of weather. (See this for more on weather at Walt Disney World.)
Based on your answers to these questions, you will be shown the best weeks of 2011 for your family visit!
Note that you will be given two sets of results: one for value and moderate resorts, and another for deluxe resorts. This is because the resort groups have slightly different price seasons.
If you aren’t sure which group you wish to stay in, check out Where to Stay at Walt Disney World first, then come back to this page.
Ready? Let’s go!!
2011 WEEK PICKER: FIRST QUESTION
The first question is what is your family’s attitude towards crowds?
Read through the four numbered answers in bold, and click the one that best represents your attitude towards crowds.
1. You are seeking the lowest crowds
2. You are seeking to avoid higher crowds
3. You are seeking to avoid the highest crowds
4. You don’t care about crowds
39 comments
[...] this post, he is going to talk about the his 2011 Week Picker—a tool to suggest the best times to visit Disney World based on your family preferences about [...]
Question?
Our trip to Walt Disney World was scheduled for Halloween 2010. Was instructed to purchase our tickets for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party early, as they sell out fast. We were so excited to be there during Halloween! But due to unforeseen circumstances; our trip has now been postponed until Spring Break 2011. Is there no way at all to exchange these tickets for another event along that timeline? Anything??? I can’t believe there is no other solution other than just losing $500. If anyone has any suggestions or answers, I welcome them!
Valarie–dumb question–have you caled Disney back to see if you can return them for full credit? Otherwise–unless someone has a better idea–try ebay, craigslist, or a classified ad in the Orlando Sentinel…
Hola,
yourfirstvisit.net – da mejor. Guardar va!
Edwas
When does the 2012 week picker come out?
Also, I printed out the 2011 week picker a few months ago, but I noticed it changed – how often do you update the rankings?
Thinking of going the week of January 1st to 6th. What do you think of those dates? I know the marathon is the 6th-9th the 6th would be our checkout date
Megan–the 1st will likely be very crowded, and the 2nd might be. The rest of your dates should be very low crowds!
Alicia–my first draft of 2012 weeks ranked in order will come out in the next week or so. I’ll then revise it at least twice–once in late spring 2011, after 2012 school year calendars are mostly out, and once in late summer 2011 after Disney finalizes its 2012 price seasons.
Thanks for the quick response Dave – looking forward to seeing it! Keep up the good work!
we are staying at disney from 4th-11th april 2011
then going to four point studio city 11th -18th april 2011
what will the crowds be like first week at disney? then second week, universal studios, sea world?
taking 10yr old first time vist
Richard, in your period, crowds should begin OK, then really lighten up beginning 4/11. They will then begin to build Friday 4/15 and be VERY heavy the 17th and 18th.
thats great news, we fly in on 4th and back to uk on mon 18th so we should just miss the rush if what you say is correct?whats the pop century hotel like as thats where we are staying at disney first week? also how much would a cab cost from disney to universal as we need to srt one to take us to our second hotel.
thanks
richard
For Pop, see this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/03/22/review-disneys-pop-century-resort/
Not sure about the cab price–I’d estimate around $40.
Trying to decide a date for our 2011 trip. How about the last week in March? Probably will not be able to do the whole week so we’re thinking about March 30-April 3. Thanks
Ellen–your dates straddle periods I’ve ranked 27th and 15th in the material that starts here: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2009/11/20/2011-weeks-to-visit-walt-disney-world-ranked-in-order/
How is the weather & crowds in disney in March? And which week is best to go in march?
Joe: for weather, see http://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/when-to-go/next-best-dates/weather-and-when-to-go/
For crowds, see http://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/when-to-go/next-best-dates/weeks-to-visit-ranked-in-order/estimating-walt-disney-world-crowds/
For best weeks, see http://yourfirstvisit.net/2009/11/20/2011-weeks-to-visit-walt-disney-world-ranked-in-order/
Which week do you think is better in march 2011
Joe–The best March week is the one that begins Sat Feb 26. The only other week on March I recommend is the next week–beginning Sat March 5.
Dave,
Your site is incredible.
My family is making our 1st visit the 1st weekend of May ’11. We’re thinking of staying at PopCentury based on your recommendation. Can I get your opinion of my plan? We are staying in St. Pete for the begining part of vacy then going to Disney for the remainder. We’d arrive on Wed, stay at PC do pool and downtown disney/Thday Animal Kingdom/Fri Magic Kingdom. 2 day pass with dining make most sense? Do you think stay &play pkg. is a good option? Thanks very much!
Hey Bob, thanks!
I’d actually change a lot. (The below assumes you are arriving at WDW Wednesday May 4th–if I’ve misunderstood your calendar, let me know and I’ll start over!)
1. Skip the dining plan. As short a time as you have, you should be grabbing fast meals from counter services rather than doing sit-down meals.
2. Buy straight tickets with no add-ons
3. Go to the Magic Kingdom on Thursday. It opens an hour early for WDW resort guests, is open til 11p (you can take a break mid-day), and is showing the evening parade at 9 and fireworks at 10. On Friday it’s open just from 9-7 and doesn’t have either the evening parade or fireworks.
4. Keep your plans for Friday open. It’s a fine day for AK, but you may end up deciding to go back to the Magic Kingdom for more!
Hope this helps!! Dave
Great advice! I will recommend your site to any one considering a WDW vacation!
1 last question…We really want to do the Princess lunch/dinner for our 5 yr old daughter and something in the same vein for our 8 yr old son. What do you recommend?
Thanks again Dave, you really have taken the guess-work out of the trip for me.
Hi Dave! We will be staying at a Disney resort 4/9 – 4/15 (we are not traveling on these days). Which 2 days would be the best to visit Magic Kingdom? We plan to visit all of the parks, but I am most concerned with crowds at Magic Kindom. Also, we plan to take 1-2 days off from the parks to visit Downtown Disney and enjoy the pool. Any recommendations on a day to avoid all parks. Also, please let me know if you have an indication on how crowded it will be on a scale of 1-10. I see that you show the week of 4/11 as having the lowest crowds of the season.
Thanks Bob!!
There’s three princess meals. The hottest ticket is for Cinderella’s Royal Table at MK. You may have a tough time getting a booking for it this near to your dates. The second favorite is at Akershus at Epcot, and Epcot is (correctly, given your constraints) not in your plans. You could do it Weds night instead of Downtown Dinsey, but that’d require a third day of tickets, which will cost an arm and a leg. The third alternative is the Princess Dinner at 1900 Park Fare at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. This is your best bet, if not sold out, as you don’t need a theme park ticket for it–it’s in a hotel. I’d do it Weds night, skipping Downtown Disney.
For your son, given your calendar I’d suggest lunch or dinner Thursday at the Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom–Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, and friends. This isn’t particularly “boyish,” but it’s not in the least girlish…the next best bet is late brunch or lunch Thursday at Chef Mickey’s at the Contemporary Resort–Mickey and Donald etc. This is easily accessible from the Magic Kingdom, but not as convenient as the Crystal Place, which is in the park…Chef Mickey’s is also more likely to be sold out.
Hi Sandra!
I’m still forecasting relatively low crowds for your period, because the March rush is over and hardly any kids are on break that week. I expect that the busiest days in your period will be 4/9 and 4/10, and possibly 4/15. The best days for the Magic Kingdom will be 4/12 and 4/13.
Hope this helps and have a great trip!! Dave
[...] way to decide when is the best time for your Disney vacation, especially when you pair it with his week picker app. Share this post [...]
Dave,
Great web site
We are going to Disney Sept 26-Oct 1st – How will crowds be that week? Also we are not going to animal kingdom we are going to a same park 2 times ( no hopper passes) for a 6 and 3 yr old which park should we do a second day.. Magic kingdom ?? Thanks
Hi Tracey!
That’s a great week, crowds should be low.
The best 2 day park is indeed the Magic Kingdom!
Have fun–Dave
[...] mentioned Dave’s great site before including his 2011 Disney World Week Picker, but when I saw the new 2012 Crowd Forecasts in the new easy to read bar graph format, it was [...]
We are debating between two different dates in 2012. We are looking at March 1- 8 and the other is April 18-27, 2012. Out of those 2 sets of dates, which is the best and what days do you recommend going to Magic Kingdom? Thanks
Hi Kellie!
Of the two I prefer your April dates. They will have better weather, lower crowds, and lower prices. See http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/10/20/2012-weeks-to-visit-walt-disney-world-ranked-in-order/
Can’t advise you on the best days at MK until the April WDW calendar comes out, which will be in a couple of months…if you need to know now I can give you a guess based on past practices…
[...] is also a 2011 version if you’ll be going to WDW this [...]
[...] Your First Visit 2012 Weeks to Visit Walt Disney World, Ranked in Order The Your First Visit 2012 Walt Disney World Week Picker Your First Visit 2011 Weeks to Visit Walt Disney World, Ranked in Order The Your First Visit 2011 Walt Disney World Week Picker [...]
[...] Your First Visit 2012 Weeks to Visit Walt Disney World, Ranked in Order The Your First Visit 2012 Walt Disney World Week Picker Your First Visit 2011 Weeks to Visit Walt Disney World, Ranked in Order The Your First Visit 2011 Walt Disney World Week Picker [...]
[...] 2011 Week Picker [...]
Dave – Love the site!
Ready? One day trip to Magic Kingdom – Nov. 18th or Dec 2nd???? Thoughts?? The less crowded and annoying the better
Thanks,
Rachael
Hi Rachael–I’ll be equally annoying both dates
I’d pick 11/18 hands down. You’ll miss the Thanksgiving crowds that day, whereas I project xmas crowds will start being real around the 22nd.
OR…
Some random friday in January??? Thanks for the help! Can’t wait to see the mouse
Rachael (again)
I like the 20th and 27th of the January Fridays. The earlier ones run up against the Marthon and MLK holiday weekends
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