2012 Weeks to Visit Walt Disney World, Ranked in Order, Continued
By Dave Shute
2012 WEEKS TO VISIT WALT DISNEY WORLD, CONTINUED
For the first page of 2012 weeks to visit Walt Disney World, ranked in order, see this.
2012 WORSE WEEKS
The remaining 2012 weeks are not recommended—but still presented in order:
Weeks 15-20 all have moderate crowd levels, with different prices and weather. They are in order of least to most crowded.
- 15: 5/19/12. Similar to week 12 but with higher crowds and more summer like weather. Crowds moderate-minus. Prices moderate to moderate-plus
- 16: 6/2/12. Like week 15 but with even more summer-like weather. Crowds moderate-minus. Prices higher than week 15.
- 17: 11/3/12. Like week 7 except more crowded because of “Jersey Week”—teacher meetings in New Jersey, leading to a massive temporary immigration of New Jersey families to Orlando. Crowds moderate to moderate-minus, prices low.
- 18: 12/15/12. Thanksgiving 2012 is as early as it can be, putting it 33 days before a mid-week (Tuesday) Christmas. As a result, the first part of the week beginning 12/15/2012 will be great. However, both crowds and prices, which begin low, will build towards its end. Note that some have suggested that December 21, 2012 will be the slowest day ever at Walt Disney World. I personally don’t believe this
- 19: 5/26/12. Crowds this week moderate-plus from Memorial Day. Prices moderate-plus to high.
- 20: 6/9/12. Similar to week 16 but crowds higher—moderate plus–as more kids are out of school by this point (60% vs. week 16’s 30%).
Weeks 21-28 have one thing in common: they occur during but the peak of the hurricane season. They include in weeks 21-23 some of the lowest crowd weeks of the year, and weeks 24-26 are also low-crowd weeks.
They are ranked in order of first crowd levels, and within the same crowd level prices.
You could easily view the first three as tied—lowest crowds and low prices. I rank them with later dates being better because they may be less brutally hot.
- 21: 9/22/12
- 22: 9/15/12
- 23: 9/8/12
Week 24 is slightly more crowded than weeks 21-23, because of the effects of Labor Day, but shares their lower prices
- 24: 9/1/12
Week 25 has similar crowds to 24, but slightly higher prices
- 25: 9/29/12
Week 26 is the last of the low-price weeks in the peak of the hurricane season, with slightly higher crowds than week 25 from the last effects of summer breaks:
- 26: 8/25/12
Weeks 27 and 28 have slightly higher, moderate to moderate plus, crowds compared to the others in this hurricane season group. More crowded in week 27 because of summer breaks, and 28 because of Columbus Day. Prices are lower week 27, and moderate week 28.
- 27: 8/18/12
- 28: 10/6/12
WEEKS TO AVOID
There’s two groups of weeks to avoid: high crowd weeks, and weeks when rides are often closed.
The first group, ranked 29-45, should be avoided because of crowds ranging from high to unbelievable. (Click the table below for the exact ranking of these weeks, and for more specifics on crowds and prices.)
This group includes all of later June, July and early August (massive crowds, higher prices). June and early August are better than July. Prices go down in Deluxes starting in mid-July, and in the other resorts in early August.
It also includes the busy March Spring Break weeks beginning 3/10/2012, and the holiday weeks—President’s Day week, the weeks before and after Easter, Thanksgiving week, and the weeks around Christmas.
The next group includes the January and early February weeks when rides are often closed for repair or refurbishment—weeks 46-53.
Many of these weeks have the lowest crowds and prices of the year.
(But not all–click the table below for details).
However, this is the peak time for ride closures at Walt Disney World, especially the January weeks.
If this may be your only family visit, why go when you know some of the best of Disney World will be closed?
If you must go during this period, avoid the Martin Luther King (1/14/12 arrival date) Day holidays.
The Marathon Weekend (affecting arrival dates of 12/31/2011 and 1/7/2012) complicates and slightly crowds the parks as well.
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 2012 weeks to visit, ranked in order, see this
- For the 2012 Week Picker, see this
- For 2013 weeks to visit, ranked in order, see this
- For the 2013 Week Picker, click here
- For 2014 weeks to visit, ranked in order, see this
- For forecasting crowds at Walt Disney World, see this
- For the 2012 Crowd Calendar, click here
- For the 2013 Crowd Calendar, click here
- For the 2014 Crowd Calendar, click here
- For seasonal pricing at Walt Disney World, see this
- For 2012 price seasons, see this
- For 2013 price seasons, click here
- For projected 2014 price seasons, see this
- For weather at Walt Disney World, see this
20 comments
Hi Dave! We are thinking of booking a Disney trip from Nov 21-Nov 24. How do you feel about the crowds on these days?
Thanks!
Kristy
Hi Kristy! Thanksgiving week is one of the busiest of the year at WDW, so I can’t recommend those days at all…
Hi! I am undecided on which week to go to WDW….. Nov 1st to the 8th or Nov 27th to Dec 4th? What do you think would be better? Thanks! Dee
Hi Dee! Of the two I’d pick the latter. Your earlier dates overlap with Jersey Week (see https://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/05/02/jersey-week-at-walt-disney-world/ ) but your later ones tie to the two best weeks of the year! See https://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/10/20/2012-weeks-to-visit-walt-disney-world-ranked-in-order/
My aging fold want to visit WDW and take in the christmas decorations etc. I have been several times, and I am not one to enjoy mass crowds, Any good weeks to accomplish my goal and avoid some crowds
Hi Paul, any of the first three weeks on this page would suit: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/10/20/2012-weeks-to-visit-walt-disney-world-ranked-in-order/
Hi Dave, I love, love, love your site! I can’t tell you how much it has helped my family plan our vacations time and time again. You are a God in the blogging world for WDW. My family want to go back to Disney but don’t know which weeks to choose.
I would love to see WDW Christmas decorations and activities (been many time but never during this time of year). I could go Dec.10th to the 17th (to get free dining), the week before is also possible but no free dining is offered. I am flying on points so only paying taxes for tickets. I can go late November but will not get to fly with points. I can handle some crowds but not 1-2 hour waits for each attraction. We are willing to skip rides and enjoy the sites.
If you think I should avoid WDW during this time then I can also go between Jan 1st to the 11th 2013. From Feb 6th to the 20th 2013 is also an option or Feb 27th to March 8th.
The later I travel the more $$ I can accumulate for my trip and can upgrade my stay to a deluxe resort (Poly if possible).
When do you recommend I visit?
Hi Alex and thanks so much!
I’d go the week of December tenth in a heartbeat. You need to see xmas at WDW, and corwds and prices will be low. It’s within my highest ranked week of the year! See this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/10/20/2012-weeks-to-visit-walt-disney-world-ranked-in-order/
Your next best choice is Feb 27th. Crowds are also low then, but prices are higher…it’s my 10th best week for 2013–see https://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/09/19/2013-weeks-to-visit-walt-disney-world-ranked-in-order/
Hi We are taking our son to Disney for the first time on 11/28-12/05, was wondering what you think about the days for crowds and weather?
P.S. I love this site!!
Hi Desiree and thanks!
That’s a great time to go–it overlaps my 2nd and 3rd best weeks–see this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/10/20/2012-weeks-to-visit-walt-disney-world-ranked-in-order/
dave, love this site!! Were planning to go to WDW 11/24-12/2. Now wondering if we should hold off for 12/8-15 so we can see FLES, but concerned about crowds. How bad do you think they will be? I’m sure we’ll be back to Disney, but maybe not before princesses have lost some of their magic for our 8 year old.
Hi Carole–not precisely sure what you mean by FLES–but if you mean the Fantasyland Expansion opening, previews will begin 11/19, so it both will be available 11/24, and also not have much impact on crowds…. see https://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/08/08/next-stage-fantasyland-expansion-set-grand-opening-126-previews-begin-1119/
Thanks Dave. Wha exactly do previews mean? Are the rides open only certain times and certain days?
“Preview” is a new word for Disney, but what I expect it to mean is that most of the new stuff will be open most of the time, but it may without notice open later or close earlier than expected, or close for an unspecified period at any moment.
Me, I’m not expecting much of this randomness as the stuff they are opening is pretty operationally simple…
I know crowds wont be great sat after thanksgiving but will sunday be ok?
Carole, Sunday will be great, as the Thx crowds will be gone or going by then!
I was wondering what the crowds might be like from 11/23/12 through 11/28/12. It would be just 2 adults, one of which will be a first timer.
Hi Amy! You’ll see high crowds the 23rd and 24th, moderating crowds the 25th, and low crowds the 26th through the 28th.
Thanks. What about 12/8/12 thru 12/13/12 and what about the weather at this time of year?
Amy, that’s also a great time to go! It shares with your late November option quite variable weather. The high temp could be 80 or 45…
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